Europe cruises/travel summer 2020 -Anyone else thinking of cancelling??

[BadPinkTink]

Now that is rubbing salt into a wound!

OOps soz but anyways, I have annual travel insurance as I travel alot during the year.

 

[disneyholic family]

I have the Hawaii cruise booked in May and a Baltic cruise end of July. I am a Canadian and we aren’t banning any flights from anywhere at this time. My fear is that because we are the country without any travel bans, other countries are going to ban us. My PIF is in a month for Europe but I have bought all my flights. Very nervous about everything and nervous about going and getting sick in a foreign country. Also, I just can’t do any more planning or getting excited. It feels so frivolous when everything is so up in the air. Very anxious. I can’t talk about it in my other group because people only want to be excited, but I just so nervous....I can’t even do any more planning.

if you do end up cancelling, don't write off your flights.
Call the airline and ask about what can be done if you're cancelling the flights because of coronavirus, saying that you had to cancel a cruise.
I know that the airline i bought my flights from is offering various compensation depending on when your flight is scheduled and the situation in the country where you're flying.
Right now, for the month of March, they're offering 100% refund for all flights to Europe, even though those flights haven't been cancelled. But if people want to cancel their flight to Europe they get 100% back.
And for other flights they're offering a change of dates without penalty.
Again, that's on the airline i use.
The point is, call your airline.
Do not assume that your flight ticket is a loss. Call the airline and ask what they'll do for you. Perhaps they won't give a refund, but maybe a credit for use on another flight.
Call them.

For Costa Rica, I am waiting. I asked the tour operator (Tauck) and they have said things are going as scheduled last week. That can change at any time I feel. I registered with the government to show I am travelling there with my family with our specific dates in case anything happens. I also did buy travel insurance sometime last month. If worse comes to worst, I will cancel and just see what the tour can do for me. I got insurance so I think i might get 50-75% back. Gotta recheck that. Flights are a lost cause I feel. Also starting to pack since I want to be prepared with whatever we need if the trip goes as planned or not as planned. Have some extra meds, extra snacks, extra clothes Lol. You get what I mean.

we are also booked for a med cruise and Spain for a week and a half in July. As it stands, I can’t do anything about my cruise already because this was moved from last year after PIF (due to a medical emergency). if I lose money on that, I will just have to accept it. I do have a ABD short escape before where my PIF is next week. I am probably going to move that to another adventure. I rebooked everything on our own with things that are cancellable (hotel and tours). It’ll be interesting to see what happens in the upcoming months. I will do whatever I can think of now as a precaution and everything else I will decide once it’s that time. are you already already at a point where you can’t cancel?

See the above about calling your airline. Do not assume that it is a lost cause.

.

 

[cwis]

Slightly offtopic, here is an interesting interview of the head of France/Belgium/Luxembourg at MSC (in French):
https://www.tourmag.com/Coronavirus...-Patrick-Pourbaix-MSC-Croisieres_a102557.html
He says that, despite reducing the deposit (only 50€ on Med cruises) and increasing the flexibility (PIF is now only 21 days before the cruise), many guests are cancelling their cruises this summer. Some might be rebooking for next Winter, as they see as increase in that period compared to previous year.

Regarding ports, he says that MSC is “flexible” and will consider all options. To this date, no change of itinerary is planned, even for Italy.

He also believes that they Diamond Princess fiasco will help understand what not to do when a quarantine is needed. He thinks Japan has made the wrong decision keeping the passengers on board.

On the note of safety, he adds that cruises are one of the safest way to enjoy a vacation, as no hotel or resort can screen their passengers like the cruise industry.

Last but not least, he expects some projects to be cut, as a cost-saving measure. Some “projects” have been delayed.

MSC is not a small line by any means, while they make it sounds like this is no big deal, they seem to be struck pretty hard. I start to wonder if DCL might be too confident by pretending nothing is happening.

 

[disneyholic family]

Slightly offtopic, here is an interesting interview of the head of France/Belgium/Luxembourg at MSC (in French):
https://www.tourmag.com/Coronavirus...-Patrick-Pourbaix-MSC-Croisieres_a102557.html
He says that, despite reducing the deposit (only 50€ on Med cruises) and increasing the flexibility (PIF is now only 21 days before the cruise), many guests are cancelling their cruises this summer. Some might be rebooking for next Winter, as they see as increase in that period compared to previous year.

Regarding ports, he says that MSC is “flexible” and will consider all options. To this date, no change of itinerary is planned, even for Italy.

He also believes that they Diamond Princess fiasco will help understand what not to do when a quarantine is needed. He thinks Japan has made the wrong decision keeping the passengers on board.

On the note of safety, he adds that cruises are one of the safest way to enjoy a vacation, as no hotel or resort can screen their passengers like the cruise industry.

Last but not least, he expects some projects to be cut, as a cost-saving measure. Some “projects” have been delayed.

MSC is not a small line by any means, while they make it sounds like this is no big deal, they seem to be struck pretty hard. I start to wonder if DCL might be too confident by pretending nothing is happening.

i've been wondering if the companies would shorten the pay in full date...
i have two PIF dates in the not too distant future..
one is 4 months in advance and the other is 3 months.
if they don't give some flexibility, then i'll have to cancel, even though the trips aren't for many months.

,

 

[mmmears]

i've been wondering if the companies would shorten the pay in full date...
i have two PIF dates in the not too distant future..
one is 4 months in advance and the other is 3 months.
if they don't give some flexibility, then i'll have to cancel, even though the trips aren't for many months.

,

Yep, I suspect it would be in their best interest to actually delay those PIF dates.

 

[disneyholic family]

Yep, I suspect it would be in their best interest to actually delay those PIF dates.

like Royal and MSC are doing (perhaps others as well).
It makes good business sense to let the situation settle a bit.
If people are forced to cancel 3 and 4 months in advance, the companies will be shooting themselves in the foot.

.

 

[GatorMomInNC]

like Royal and MSC are doing (perhaps others as well).
It makes good business sense to let the situation settle a bit.
If people are forced to cancel 3 and 4 months in advance, the companies will be shooting themselves in the foot.

.

Can you tell me more about MSC delaying PIF? I haven't heard that. My PIF is 3/23 for a Venice cruise. I was going to cancel now though,because of a report from someone on another site about difficulty in dealing with MSC...

 

[disneyholic family]

Can you tell me more about MSC delaying PIF? I haven't heard that. My PIF is 3/23 for a Venice cruise. I was going to cancel now though,because of a report from someone on another site about difficulty in dealing with MSC...

someone just posted an article that they've reduced it. Let me see if i can find it
.

 

[disneyholic family]

Can you tell me more about MSC delaying PIF? I haven't heard that. My PIF is 3/23 for a Venice cruise. I was going to cancel now though,because of a report from someone on another site about difficulty in dealing with MSC...

it's in this thread....it's post #123 above...
in the post, it says that MSC is reducing the deposit to 50euro and the PIF to 21 days before the cruise.
i read that part of the article - it says that they reduced the PIF to 21 days for cruises up to the end of june
does that help you? call MSC.

.

 

[monkeydawn]

He says that, despite reducing the deposit (only 50€ on Med cruises) and increasing the flexibility (PIF is now only 21 days before the cruise), many guests are cancelling their cruises this summer. Some might be rebooking for next Winter, as they see as increase in that period compared to previous year.

Can anyone confirm this (and is it for Americans as well)? Ive looked around and cant confirm this myself. Also, anyone know what happens to those that are past the traditional 90 day PIF...are we actually now in some sort of grace period?

ETA: I mean confirm outside of this article. Will be calling MSC when I can summon the will.

 

[GatorMomInNC]

it's in this thread....it's post #123 above...
in the post, it says that MSC is reducing the deposit to 50euro and the PIF to 21 days before the cruise.
i read that part of the article - it says that they reduced the PIF to 21 days for cruises up to the end of june
does that help you? call MSC.

.

Thanks, I actually just spent the last 20 minutes cutting and pasting the article into Google translate

I will call my travel agent and see if I can "re-book" at the same price with 21 day cancellation. I would definitely do that if it is an option, and a very good idea also.

I notice he mentioned no changes to Genoa, which is exactly what the other cruiser I mentioned (from another site) had an issue with.

I would love it if DCL did this also, as we have a September cruise and our PIF, I believe, is in May. I have already paid, but it would be nice to have a little more time to cancel.

 

[disneyholic family]

Can anyone confirm this (and is it for Americans as well)? Ive looked around and cant confirm this myself. Also, anyone know what happens to those that are past the traditional 90 day PIF...are we actually now in some sort of grace period?

ETA: I mean confirm outside of this article. Will be calling MSC when I can summon the will.

i think the only way you can be sure is if you call MSC.
I don't see how they can provide that for some passengers but not others.
If they did change to 21 days for the next few months, that's fantastic!!
i'll keep my fingers crossed for you

 

[disneyholic family]

Thanks, I actually just spent the last 20 minutes cutting and pasting the article into Google translate

I will call my travel agent and see if I can "re-book" at the same price with 21 day cancellation. I would definitely do that if it is an option, and a very good idea also.

I notice he mentioned no changes to Genoa, which is exactly what the other cruiser I mentioned (from another site) had an issue with.

I would love it if DCL did this also, as we have a September cruise and our PIF, I believe, is in May. I have already paid, but it would be nice to have a little more time to cancel.

i have a DCL cruise in october and an ABD tour in October. If they don't shorten the PIFs, i'll cancel.
No way am i throwing good money after bad.

.

 

[monkeydawn]

i think the only way you can be sure is if you call MSC.
I don't see how they can provide that for some passengers but not others.
If they did change to 21 days for the next few months, that's fantastic!!
i'll keep my fingers crossed for you

I know nothing is certain until Ive seen the changes on my reservation, especially with MSC which isnt the most reliable line (from what others say, in my limited experience they've actually done what they've said mostly). And MSC definately has different ways of doing things depending on your nationality and where the ship is sailing (like who gets free water in the dining room and who can remove their tips) so it wouldnt surprise me if some countries get a shorted PIF, reduced deposit, etc.

 

[GatorMomInNC]

I see a long wait on hold to talk to my travel agent in my future

 

[jlbf06]

We are booked on the ebta and I’m worried as there are six full sea days out on the Atlantic Ocean. Knowing that the virus can go undetected, what if someone onboard becomes ill, how would they manage this as presumably the Disney Magic wouldn’t have the necessary medical equipment to deal with the full on effects of the virus if pneumonia set in?

 

[Karin1984]

We are booked on the ebta and I’m worried as there are six full sea days out on the Atlantic Ocean. Knowing that the virus can go undetected, what if someone onboard becomes ill, how would they manage this as presumably the Disney Magic wouldn’t have the necessary medical equipment to deal with the full on effects of the virus if pneumonia set in?

With situations like this you shouldn't lose yourself in the many 'what ifs', because most likely Disney will not publish or reveal their exact plans. I suspect they are now coming up with as many possible scenarios as they can and depending on what is going on, they will chose the most fitting scenario and the possible solutions.

I think for the EBTA Disney will do the same what happens on planes when they have a seriously ill (not necessarily corona) passenger on board. Depending on where they are on route they either return to their origin, land at an airport inbetween, or continue to their flight to their final destination. There is a certain point in the route known as 'the point of no return'. My guess is that if something happens, DCL will try to return to land as quickly as you can.

 

[xavier2001]

We are booked on the ebta and I’m worried as there are six full sea days out on the Atlantic Ocean. Knowing that the virus can go undetected, what if someone onboard becomes ill, how would they manage this as presumably the Disney Magic wouldn’t have the necessary medical equipment to deal with the full on effects of the virus if pneumonia set in?

There is no treatment other than supportive care. Isolation, oxygen, IV fluids. If there was a case onboard I bet the whole ship would be quarantined. We are on the same sailing. I’m more worried about a cancel/re-route at this point.

 

[fredandkell]

Can anyone confirm this (and is it for Americans as well)? Ive looked around and cant confirm this myself. Also, anyone know what happens to those that are past the traditional 90 day PIF...are we actually now in some sort of grace period?

ETA: I mean confirm outside of this article. Will be calling MSC when I can summon the will.

“When I can summon the will”....bahaha! That sums up EXACTLY how I feel about calling any company!

 

[emilymad]

I think DCL is in a much different situation from the larger cruise lines. Other cruises have to continue summer Europe sailings because they don't have to places to put their ships. With only 4 ships DCL has different options. I am not saying DCL won't take the Magic to Europe but there is a higher chance then other cruise lines.

I don't think anyone can let their country, travel provider, etc make the decisions. Everyone has to make the decisions that are right for them about what they are comfortable with.