Cancellation of 3 night cruise on Boudicca

[annieuk]

:mad: I have just had a call from my cruise club telling me that the three night cruise on Boudicca due to depart from Southampton on Saturday has been cancelled. Apparently the ship has rudder problems and so they are taking her into dry dock for repairs.

Obviously I'm very disappointed - especially as we had been upgraded to a Marquee suite. I think they are giving a full refund, any out of pocket expenses (doesn't include new clothes!) and a 25% discount on any cruise up to 7 nights. I doubt if we will use this but will have to have a look at the schedule. We live very near to Southampton and so this 3 night one was ideal. Our first cruise was with Fred Olsen and we've been cruising with P&O since then.

Sorry, Pat when you read this. We were looking forward to our pre-dinner drink on Saturday night.

Boo hoo!

Carole

[Poodlecrazy]

We've just received that phone call too. No offer of money back for parking or hotel either. Must say I'm disgusted. We've never travelled with FO before, don't think we will in the future either now! :mad:

[Di13]

I have'nt actually had a phone call yet, I just thought I'd come on here and have a quick chat to other people that WERE going on the boudicca this weekend and I saw that it had been cancelled, I cant believe it. We are all absolutely gutted to say the least, we've all been out and bought new clothes etc plus booked time off work that I now cant cancel. I will NEVER use fred olsen again.

[MrsTW]

I had a pre Xmas mini cruise with Fred. Olsen cancelled last year with 2 weeks to go, tickets received, car parking, insurance paid for etc. Like you just 25% off another cruise was offered. I had booked direct and the letter received was worded with no compassion at all with a cheque for refund of the cruise attached. I was LIVID..........epecially as my daughter who I was taking as her Xmas present had turned down Xmas shifts etc at work

I wrote to Head office....created a fuss and eventually had letters and phone calls offering me 40% off another cruise upto 7 nights! :D

Insurance and car parking were both refunded but it took months to get it back :eek:

However because of the convenience of sailing from Dover and hearing good things about Fred I eventually re booked for a mini cruise this summer.......I'm glad I did as Fred certainly is now my favourite cruiseline and I have sailed with a number. Their crew are brilliant and I'm glad I gave them a 2nd chance........like cars , ships do break down...unfortunately they alsways seem to cancel the mini cruises .....less loss of money of course :rolleyes:

So write and get 40% off....and enjoy a future cruise! :D

[annieuk]

Hi Mrs TW, I wondered if you could tell me when they offer you 25% or whatever percentage off a future cruise what is is 25% off - if you see what I mean? Is it off the full brochure price, the book early price, or the price you get quoted from your agent? This would decide whether we take up the offer or not.

We already have a 17 night cruise booked with P&O next May and had a Norway fjords cruise this last July. So we would probably only be interested in a mini cruise with FO. Also how long does the discount offer last for? I will ring my agent to find out but I thought someone on her might have the answer.

I can understand FO cancelling the mini cruise rather than a longer one but that doesn't lessen the disappointment.

Carole

[MrsTW]

The 40% I got was off the 45% Cruiseaway discount in their brochure...... They gave me that on any 2008 mini cruise......HOWEVER......if you expain your circumstanes I'm sure they'll be willing to extend any time limit they give you.....mine was valid a year.

I wrote to Nigel Linguard Marketing Director and Chris Hutchings Passenger Manager at Head Office in Ipswich.

Just be polite and express your disappointment and say that you had looked forward to sailing with them but feel let down etc I also mentioned following year mini cruises being more expensive so that even with 25% the cost of a new cruise would be more etc, etc.

I finally enjoyed a mini cruise for less money and in a higher category cabin and in the summer! :rolleyes:

Let me know what happens!

[Deeliteful]

At least people got a phone call - I have just opened a letter from Fred Olsen on my return from work. Totally shocked - sorry Carole maybe next time for that drink - I'm just about to start surfing and get away somewhere!

(Just got a call whilst I was writing this - they did leave me a message yesterday on my phone but I wasn't around!)

Back to Celebrity and Royal Caribbean for me.

Pat

[Deeliteful]

I've just booked us a weekend in Cork so hope the Irish hospitality is great (as I'm sure it will be) and we won't miss our cruise too much. I am so disappointed - particularly for my sister who has never cruised before and wanted a "taster". Oh well.

As they say in Ireland - Slainte.

Hope you all enjoy the weekend whatever you decide to do.

Pat