Experiences Getting Zuiderdam (4 Sep) Cruise

[dmeyer]

This is my first post and my first real (forthcoming) cruise. I have had some experience traveling on Troop Ships (3x):( and one great experience being one of about 150 passengers on a freighter back in 1974 :) .

I started with making my own itinerary for the 4 September cruise about two weeks ago. This included making my own air and motel reservations. About two days ago, I got a call from Hotels.com, who handled my motel reservations for the day before and the day after the cruise. They said they would have to cancel the first stay because the motel was being evacuated due to Hurricane Frances. I had almost been awaiting this call. I had them cancel the second stay as well. I was still awaiting for updates from HAL and my airline, which was Continental, booked by Expedia.com. As we all know HAL finally came up with a new itinerary. Later, Continental finally cancelled the leg of their flight going into Fort Lauderdale. This was when my problems began. I document them to serve as a learning experience for others.

When I tried to reschedule the Continental flight I was told I had booked a non-refundable ticket for my trip. I explained I knew this but I had thought this applied only to trips cancelled by me. They agreed and said they had a special solution for me. I would still not get a refund, but I would be given credit for what I paid....IF I booked a new flight with Continental prior to 10 Sep 04. Well, this fit in with my plan to take up HAL's fairly generous offer to take a shortened cruise. However, when I looked at the price of the new fair I was disturbed to see it was now well over twice the price of the fair they cancelled and almost three times the price of fairs currently being charged by Delta and some other airlines. I will actually come out ahead if I give up my credit with Continental and go with the cheaper (and better scheduled) fare with Delta. I am now only waiting for HAL to get back to the phones this morning to assure me that the new schedule will not also be postponed or cancelled. As I write this, the Weather Channel is now saying the hurricane may not hit the Florida coast until Sunday.

Sorry for the long post but I felt it might help someone else who books with Expedia.com and uses Continental Airline. I am also using up time waiting for HAL to return to their offices to take care of us travelers.

[peaches from georgia]

.....
......assure me that the new schedule will not also be postponed or cancelled. As I write this, the Weather Channel is now saying the hurricane may not hit the Florida coast until Sunday.

I have all the empathy in the world with folks who had planned for a long time for their 9/4 cruise and are now disappointed, but then again it is the heart of hurricane season and everyone knows that or should.

I just don't understand how HAL can be expected to "ASSURE ME THAT THE NEW SCHEDULE WILL NOT ALSO BE POSTPONED OR CANCELLED". How in the you-know-what can any cruiseline or airline be expected to know exactly what this storm will do, when it will come in, where it will come in, that Port Everglades will be open and working on Sunday afternoon and that the airport will be open????? Everyone involved is guesstimating on best-case scenario. I think it is time that everyone started taking responsibility for their own decisions and not expect the cruiselines and airlines to foretell the future for you.

[dmeyer]

RE: "I just don't understand how HAL can be expected to "ASSURE ME THAT THE NEW SCHEDULE WILL NOT ALSO BE POSTPONED OR CANCELLED". How in the you-know-what can any cruiseline or airline be expected to know exactly what this storm will do, when it will come in, where it will come in,....."

You are absolutely right! It was a poor choice of words. I guess I was tired from lack of sleep these past few nights. Sorry.

[Orcrone]

dmeyer,

Welcome to the boards. I'm sorry that your first cruise experience has started off with Frances. HAL is doing all they can based on their info. If Frances slows down then they may have to change the schedule again. Nothing they can do about that.

I just find Continental's approach appalling. Originally you probably booked a 7 or 14 day advance purchase fare. The reason the fare is so much higher now is that you are now booking a fare without the advance booking requirement. In this circumstance they should waive that requirement for anyone flying into or out of Florida. JMHO

[peaches from georgia]

Dmeyer- It's from 'frustration' with events beyond your control and that everybody understands! :D

[Tatka]

Sorry for your first exerience!!! :(

I hope at least these 6 days will be memorable and fun.

At least Zuiderdam hopefully will be sailing on Sunday at 8.

"Celebrity Century, normally scheduled to depart Port Everglades Saturday, on a seven-night sailing, will delay its departure until Monday, September 6, at 5 p.m. local time. The ship will sail a modified itinerary that will end as originally scheduled. Guests who sail on this cruise will receive an onboard credit of $500 per stateroom and a certificate for a 50 percent discount on a future Celebrity sailing of seven nights or less, which departs on or before December 15, 2005, excluding holidays. Guests booked on this sailing who cancel their cruise will receive a letter of credit for the amount paid for the cruise portion of their sailing. " Probably because of Eastern Itinerary??? Although 50% of future cruise does sound nice

[darnapar]

I understand the whole frustration at stupid airline policies. We ran into it for the 8/21 cruise with USAir who was over booked for the flight we were on but did not want to put us on a half empty flight without paying the $100 fee. I told them fine you can pay out free flights and they did. Could be why thay are all struggling and Southwest who would have done all it could is thriving and being begged to come to cities across the country.

[imsulin]

All major airlines have these same cancellation and re-booking policies. However, I've read that most of them are waiving the cancellation fee, but only as long as you re-book within a week. That's why you buy trip insurance.

[dmeyer]

Just wanted to give a conclusion to this thread I started. We have been living out of our bags for over two days now ready to get a quick flight out for Fort Lauderdale. Continental Airlines still won't give me a refund on my ticket and the credit they offered is worthless because all other flights are much cheaper (The credit is only good until 10 Sep). I cancelled the cruise 15 minutes ago because of the continued uncertainty of ever getting to the pier. Since our bags are already packed, we will be going to Las Vegas (by car) on 7 September after everyone else leaves Las Vegas to get back to work. Right now, I'm going to bed, after I find out which of the 13 suitcases my pajamas are in. At least one good thing came out of this. I discovered this cruisecritic.com board. Good luck to those who make the cruise. I envy you since you will now have an almost empty ship. Should get a lot of good service!

[dakrewser]

Just wanted to give a conclusion to this thread I started. Since our bags are already packed, we will be going to Las Vegas (by car) on 7 September after everyone else leaves Las Vegas to get back to work.
I do hope your Vegas gambling works out a lot better than your cruise 'gamble'. Good luck!

[Stevesan]

When I tried to reschedule the Continental flight I was told I had booked a non-refundable ticket for my trip. I explained I knew this but I had thought this applied only to trips cancelled by me. They agreed and said they had a special solution for me. I would still not get a refund, but I would be given credit for what I paid....IF I booked a new flight with Continental prior to 10 Sep 04. Well, this fit in with my plan to take up HAL's fairly generous offer to take a shortened cruise. However, when I looked at the price of the new fair I was disturbed to see it was now well over twice the price of the fair they cancelled and almost three times the price of fairs currently being charged by Delta and some other airlines. I will actually come out ahead if I give up my credit with Continental and go with the cheaper (and better scheduled) fare with Delta. I am now only waiting for HAL to get back to the phones this morning to assure me that the new schedule will not also be postponed or cancelled. As I write this, the Weather Channel is now saying the hurricane may not hit the Florida coast until Sunday.


It would be interesting to know if travel insurance would cover the differential in air fare. It was, after all, out of your control and weather related.

Of course, it's reprensible that an airline would take monetary advantage of a natural disaster. There are laws prohibiting the practice in commerce. I suppose the airlines are immune.

[Roadwork]

Maybe it is just me, but knowing what hurricanes do, why would anyone fly into Florida knowing a hurricane was on the way? The cruise line did offer to refund those who opted not to take the cruise.

As far as the airlines go, each one has different rules and offers but Continental sounds like they are taking advantage of those stuck in Florida.

[srpilo]

It wasn't you who canceled your flight, it was the airline, and reguardless of their reason, your'e not recieving what you originally paid for, so if airline won't give a full un-restricted credit or cash refund, I would contact my Credit Card company and dispute the charge... Remember an airline's refund policy does not exempt them from "back charges" by your Credit Card company ... They're like any other merchant who are "back charged" for not completing or providing the good or services you purchased..

No service..No pay !!

Srpilo

[superstein61]

It wasn't you who canceled your flight, it was the airline, and reguardless of their reason, your'e not recieving what you originally paid for, so if airline won't give a full un-restricted credit or cash refund, I would contact my Credit Card company and dispute the charge... Remember an airline's refund policy does not exempt them from "back charges" by your Credit Card company ... They're like any other merchant who are "back charged" for not completing or providing the good or services you purchased..

No service..No pay !!

Srpilo
I agree with Srpilo - dispute the charge with your CC Company. Continental did not deliver on what you purchased

[MortgageChick]

Nail the Airline!! I am sick and tired of the horrible service they all give.

I live in Canada and I just cancelled all my Air Canada flights for my upcoming November cruise, as they have changed the times for a third time making it impossible for me to make my connection in Boston to Barcelona or to get back from FLL after the cruise. No wonder they are Bankrupt! They could not organize a party in a liquor store!!!!!

I have received full refunds and all my aeroplan points have been returned. God knows what I will do with 115000 points on a useless airline!!

We are now driving to Boston and are taking Jet Blue back after the cruise.

I would dispute the charge with my credit card and I would not give in. I am at the poiint that if I was you I think I would sue them!! They all want their cake and eat it too. If you think I am pissed at the airlines right now, you are dead right!!!!!!

[dmeyer]

My appreciation to you and the others that have shown concern. I have contacted My Credit Card Company and they are now working on my behalf to get this bill cancelled. I had previously talked to a supervisor at Continental Airline and was told that government regulations permitted them to credit me, instead of refunding the money. She was very aggressive.

At this time I feel guilty about making my problems public. There are many people in Florida that have lost much more. My possible loses are nothing compared to theirs.

[Nasmas]

We were booked on Northwest. They changed the flight for us from Fri to Sun with no fees. Then I called back to cancel the whole thing Sun morning and the rep asked if we wanted a refund. So, as it stands now, they are refunding our money, and the fees are waived. We'll see if that's true. I certainly hope so, Northwest is the only line that hasn't totally ticked me off. There are certain ones that I will never fly again. Delta being the worst I've ever used. No wonder they are teetering on bankruptcy. Sounds like Continental is right behind them. I'm going back to work today kicking and screaming. I should be on my verandah having my coffee. I hope whoever got my suite is enjoying it. I want to re-book but my heart is not in it.

[Orcrone]

We were booked on Northwest. They changed the flight for us from Fri to Sun with no fees. Then I called back to cancel the whole thing Sun morning and the rep asked if we wanted a refund. So, as it stands now, they are refunding our money, and the fees are waived. We'll see if that's true. I certainly hope so, Northwest is the only line that hasn't totally ticked me off. There are certain ones that I will never fly again. Delta being the worst I've ever used. No wonder they are teetering on bankruptcy. Sounds like Continental is right behind them. I'm going back to work today kicking and screaming. I should be on my verandah having my coffee. I hope whoever got my suite is enjoying it. I want to re-book but my heart is not in it.Nasmas,

I took only my second flight on Northwest last weekend, and was very impressed. Unlike other airlines they give you 24 hours to change or cancel your reservations without penalty. And if you do have to make changes they only charge you a $25 change fee, not $100 like most other airlines.

[dakrewser]

I took only my second flight on Northwest last weekend, and was very impressed.
Ah yes, Northwest. We were seated at the gate when the gate attendant announced that the "seating chart" had been mistakenly erased from the computer, so would we all get on "at our leasure" and take any old seat. "Cattle drive" does not begin to describe it! It didn't appear to occur to anyone in NW mgmt that each of the pax already had boarding passes with a seat assignment printed on it which would still work no matter what had happened in the computer! I do avoid Northwest (along with America West & Delta).

[MBeamTX]

I'm waiting for the cruise lines to decide to sue the airlines for loss of business.;) Yes, I know that the weather is not the airlines' fault. But how many people cancelled their cruises because the airlines wouldn't be reasonable about rescheduling flights once operations resumed, like Continental did in dmeyer's case? My guess is that the cruise lines refunded a lot of fares to people would rather have been sailing, but couldn't get there on time or at a reasonable cost.

As for me - my sympathies to those whose vacations have been disrupted, but I'm glad I'm not sailing til December. :D

Happy cruising,
Susan

[BnCCruisers]

We flew from Denver to FLL on Frontier Airlines (Smaller company hubbed in Denver). We just got off the Zudi yesterday. I call Frontier to find out about my reservation, and they said I was all confirmed, ready to go.

DW and I show up at FLL, get in line and show our passports. They then tell me that my flight wasn't that day (Sunday) but rather today (Monday). The people at the (800) number failed to mention that.

So, armed with travel insurance, we found a really nice hotel, hailed a cab and extended our vacation another day, for free.

Frontier took care of everything (I should have asked for the date), and didn't charge a thing. I wish Southwest would come to Denver (bye bye United), providing us with two great airlines to choose from. Well, I guess one is better than none!

Let us know how it works out with your CC company...