Black Sea cruise change

I am pretty sure it is not Trades description law. Dashing out now, but will probably be able to post in the next 24hrs (or earlier), with some very reliable info.

Thanks - will be very interested to know what you find out.

I am told there are far too many 'ins and outs' to give any real assessment, (eg how many ports were changed cf number of ports on the entire cruise, as well as how many were in The Black Sea). Certainly when our cruise was changed we were hopeful that we would be able to challenge any resistance to cancellation, but we did not need to fight for it anyway. Our cruise initially lost 3 ports in Crimea during a 2 week cruise, and we felt that our 24 hours in Odessa, (which had been increased to a day and a half when Crimea was cancelled), was also at risk. As far as we know Odessa was eventually cancelled as well.

If you were to call P&O's bluff and go to the small claims court to reclaim losses, you would always be in the hands of a judge and just how his, or her, views were on the day, taking into account what stance has actually taken by P&O. The link someone has posted earlier to an article written by cruise critic said something about compensation packages, (I cannot remeber the actual words), so they would obviously be taken into account by a judge.

I would still, personally, want to fight the situation as best as possible though and would be miffed if the situation really is as was said by the OP. Then again, we would not take what I assume would be a lengthy cruise round trip from the UK with a very small amount of Black Sea content - which is why we booked a 2 week fly cruise that was almost entirely in the Black Sea.

Overall this thread, plus similar situations are putting us off cruises compared to land based holidays to a specific areas. Must go off and prepare stuff to pack for a cruise we have booked that has lost the West African ports of Dakar and Banjul. Combine this change with our Black Sea experience, (or more to the point not), is leaving us thinking that perhaps we should put out a public warning next time we book a holiday!!! At least the one we are preparing for does not feel quite so bad as we have had a couple of holidays in Gambia previously, and we are still hoping for three ports in Cape Verde (two of which are new to us), as well as a good selection or Canary Island ports over the 23 nights.

We are booked on P&O's 'Solar Eclipse and Northern Lights' Cruise next March, so are hoping we do get to see the lights - but we knew that was always going to be a chance we would have to take. We did have an excellent Greenland cruise with Fred Olsen this summer though, when our ship got into all three ports and was also able to sail through Prinscristiansund, which was extremely lucky - so we cannot be entirely jinxed.

Great advice. May just hang fire for the moment and think about all the options. Many heartfelt thanks for support. Haven't been put off cruises as yet. Had fabulous Celebrity cruise to Baltic this Summer so need to get things into perspective! Hope the lights are fabby Cool Cruiser!

Just make sure you do not leave a decision too long, as sometimes any alternative option is time limited, and doing nothing can be taken as an aggreement to the change. So you may need to ask P&O about timescale if you delay a decision. We once negotiated a future cruise voucher, (when in a similar situation), as an alternative to changing the deposit to another cruise. We were then able to use it a few months later when new cruises had been released - that was not P&O though.

We have not been put off cruises completely, but we are very keen to do what is available while we can - applies to age as well as world events!

Must turn to packing now as we are having 2 cases picked up on Tuesday and taken to Braemar for next Sunday. We head off by train to Southampton, later in the week, then will fly straight back to Manchester from Tenerife on the 16th Dec.

Good luck with your plans.

Barbara

Just to be a little scare monger - When do you think they will start to cancel St Petersburg - after all that's Russia and there is talk of more sanctions - piece of nonesense really

David E

Don't think the sanctions should affect tourism in St Petersburg. They will need all the money they can get!

We've been offered a no transfer fee for another cruise which is probably what we'll do.

We've been offered a no transfer fee for another cruise which is probably what we'll do.

Good news that they are prepared to do that........... some acknowledgment that they haven't got a cast iron case in relation to their T&Cs - or perhaps just good customer relations. If you're satisfied that's the important thing. Hope you find another cruise which appeals to you and that you have a brill time. :)

We've been offered a no transfer fee for another cruise which is probably what we'll do.

Good news! And the least I would expect really.

I see that both P & O and Cunard have cancelled ALL CRUISES TO THE BLACK SEA for the 2015 season. See under 'news' on this site

Thanks for update:)

I see that both P & O and Cunard have cancelled ALL CRUISES TO THE BLACK SEA for the 2015 season. See under 'news' on this site

Presumably that would entitle passengers to a full refund. Is that right?

Worth a letter I think.;)