eldaradoe

One other thing to point out...the Viking Sky is still floating around as their cruise got turned upside down...so as early as Viking decided to suspend operations some of their ships are in the same situation.

Cruisers on the Sky Did you arrive back in Miami yet? What are they telling you? American Airlines is suspending all international flights effective tomorrow!

1 minute ago, Redtravel said:

On Sirena now.  In retrospect, I should have stayed home. While the crew at Oceania has been terrific, it is not exactly a pleasant cruise. As the comedian on the show said,”we can’t ignore the elephant in the room.”  His jokes about Coronavirus were both sad and funny.  Cruise embarked on March 8th. On March 6, we got the email announcing no cancellation fees for cruising starting on March 10th and forward. Had we canceled, we would have forfeited what we paid, so we went. That seems to be the attitude of guests on this cruise. As I said previously, Oceania put us in a no win situation. Stay home or cruise?  With out a doubt, we will not rebook on Oceania anytime soon.  We feel cheated. On a 10 day cruise, we had only 2 port days.  We keep hearing everything is being done for the health and safety of our guests and crew. This is not what cruising should be.  I realize this is a trying time. Next time, try a different vacation.

It's unfortunate....and at this point it doesn't even matter but O made a decision based on what they knew at the time and you in turn decided to go...Hindsite is always 20/20. I'm sure  you will now most likely get the 100% cash refund along with either a 25 or 50% FCC. Viking IMO came to a decision which was much easier since they are a foreign company and privately owned....they can react much easier since they don't have shareholders to account to.

2 minutes ago, Mura said:

Hope you didn't think my initial response was to say that the question was silly because I definitely did NOT think that it was.  We ask questions when we want information.  I haven't seen many "silly" questions in my time on earth.  The fact that there have been varying answers here proves that the question wasn't silly.

 

What is difficult is that it's impossible for anyone else to "guarantee" that your veranda will be useable on your cruise.

 

I really like taking a drink out to the veranda on sail-outs or -ins, but that of course is quite different from asking about what it would be like in open seas with variable weather.

 

Mura

Then how can it be answered... How do we know how the weather will be?? It's more usable than it's not that's for sure! I think it's worth the extra but I would never stay in a room without a balcony.

3 minutes ago, Zesty Italian said:

Thanks Hawaiidan for the comment about speed and wind.  That was my original question about how usable the balcony would be.  I'm sorry some people keep telling others that their comments are nonsense or silly.  Keep non helpful comments to yourself.

again it absolutely depends on the weather....I have been on 5 TA's and lucky that we only had 2 bad sea days. Some days were cooler than others but not any colder than up on the pool deck...do I sit out on the deck for hours....not at all....we are rarely in the room but for the couple of hours daily that we are up and in the room....before going out for breakfast....before dinner it's great to have and is useful. But all of this about the sea mist, winds and every other comment is kind of ridiculous....your on a ship in the ocean....if you can afford it go for it...the room is much nicer, brighter and airier ....if you don't want it that's fine as well! But the question and answers are what they are.

2 minutes ago, Hawaiidan said:

I was on the Marina...Raddison,at the time  soon to become  Regent later.   And  yes it was a real  eye opener..  They did maroon their passengers and sail off into receivership......... They could not believe it... and  I heard no one got $$$ because the company was bankrupt.....    

are you saying the Seven Seas Mariner

3 minutes ago, Hawaiidan said:

In  truth, having sailed in everything from PH to inside,   the answer is  no..   many of the times  the balcony is great if  you on port intensive  of sailing say Norway fjords or  around Tahiti with nearby vistas.   However, on a transatlantic  you sailing either early or late season  its cool and the weather is a real mixed bag .   Sailing from Miami or Rome   you may only have 3 or 4 ports  out of 16 days   Thats 12-13 sea days in the open ocean with nothing to see but open ocean and the weather.    and any time the ship is moving you have 25-30 mph wind....   If you are good with that then go for it.    Cost is not the factor..practical usability is, to me.

 In stormy weather a balcony is no advantage ....you might as well have an inside.    

By the way leaving your balcony door open will make you real popular with your neighbors because it will shut down their cabin ventilation/ heat or AC

that's not true about the AC on the new ships and I'm not sure with the older ones but if that's what you could afford I'm not arguing but the rest of what you are saying is nonsense. 

2 minutes ago, Queen of DaNile said:

Guess it depends on which TA itinerary and luck with weather.  Been on some in the North Atlantic when we couldn't even open the doors due to wind. Did Barcelona to Rio recently and enjoyed cocktails and sunsets on our Deck 10 balcony on many evenings.

 

 

and the fact that you can open the door to let some fresh air in itself makes it worth every penny but hey that's what make the world go round!

48 minutes ago, Hawaiidan said:

From my experience  on trans atlantic runs both ways,  the balcony was of little use... always windy rain squalls, not  much time to sun or see anything but the thin blue horizon in every direction...  If you dig that then go for it   If not  save $$ and sit on the pool deck 

Ask your self what is it that you expect to derive from having a balcony...  only you can answer .    We all are different.  

opening up the doors getting ready for dinner,,,,having a cocktail waiting for the ship to leave port....going out on the deck at 2am to see the stars,,,,if you like an inside cabin that's your choosing but a balcony is definitely better than a room without it...if you didn't have to pay more I bet you would ask for it every time!

1 minute ago, LHT28 said:

My goodness   what are you smoking ??😲

wow.....43k posts....that's  incredible! I wonder how many days at sea!

14 minutes ago, DJP31 said:

As I now know... and that must be the nail in the coffin. I’m a little surprised there’s nothing on the O website, early days perhaps but reading some of the comments here haven’t filled me with confidence on O’s customer relations. 

what else do you want to hear.....I mean this is ridiculous....all cruises are canceled....there are people sick all over the world and  "O" has I'm sure their entire company working on getting hundreds of passengers home safely....So what do you want to know....when the next sale will be....Crazy....but maybe it's just me! They didn't cause the virus but they surely have their hands full with trying to deal with it.....I think they know their priority!

7 minutes ago, roger b said:

Just had an offer From Oceania with a choice of 35 cruises from July 2020 to Dec 2020 for a 4 cabin upgrade and the ultimate Package , Trying to fill summer cruises  ???

https://www.oceaniacruises.com/special-offers/st-patricks-day-sale/

may just be bad timing with their marketing dept....

3 minutes ago, StanandJim said:

True, but this can be a classic case of not counting your chickens before they hatch.

 

When a much loved regular Poster on this Forum had his World Cruise plans disrupted by a just before the trip fire, he was over the moon about the generous compensation. He and I were hip deep in "the next cruise" preparations when  fate intervened.  He passed away mid voyage-

 

For people of his, and what is rapidly becoming our ages, Carpe Diem sometimes rules the day.

 

 

and so is life.....

3 minutes ago, RJB said:

Yup.  What a shame as some of the ATW people having been waiting a year or 2 for this cruise.  At least they got about half way there.  I guess better than nothing. 

i'm sure they all aren't complaining....I would guess they will be compensated very well and hopefully will be able to do it again.

4 minutes ago, Mura said:

My first reaction was, no that isn't a problem.  But then I re-read the question.  Our first cruise on Renaissance was on a Deck 7 veranda (the R2 now Regatta) and I used the balcony all the time.  But that was NOT a TA.

 

Our TAs on "R" ships have pretty much been on Deck 8 cabins but we never had a problem there.  And we never encountered storms ... but if we had, that would have been another question!

 

Remember:  there are no guarantees where weather is concerned.  That doesn't mean that you should assume you couldn't use your balcony on a TA.

 

Mura

it was a silly nonsensical question.....but we tried to answer....maybe the sea will be calm maybe they won't....maybe the wind will be blowing in  toward the balcony maybe it won't...14 days....maybe you will have seven good days....maybe you'll have seven bad....of course the balcony is useable especially on a transatlantic with 4-5 continuous sea days but it depends what you like.

3 hours ago, susiesan said:

Who remembers Renaissance?  I do. That is why I am leery to make the final payment. If the cruise end sup being canceled by O and I get a refund so be it. But if O goes under I am out thousands of dollars. As posters above said, no one knows what Oceania 's fiscal siuation is. With the publicly traded cruise lines we have some info on financiall health. We have none on Oceania. I don't think the travel insurance that comes with credit cards covers financial default. I can afford to wait 90 days for a refund but I can't afford to just lose the money.

oceania is a publicly held corporation....it's part of NCLH

4 minutes ago, Hawaiidan said:

can you say "Cash Flow"

they already spent the cash....imo

1 minute ago, Paulchili said:

You just left Miami 2 days ago - didn’t you?

What compensation are they offering to the passengers?

i would imagine a 100% refund and 25% FCC along with the few free days at sea....plus booking home

2 minutes ago, Zesty Italian said:

Would someone with experience on a transatlantic cruise tell me if you are able to use a balcony on deck 7?  I read awhile back that you would get wet from spray and wondered if that is true.  Now that we have to rebook our cruise, I'd like to know if a balcony is usable.  We will likely be on Riviera.

its very handy if you want to take a swim.....spray....maybe on the lower decks in bad seas....

2 minutes ago, YoHoHo said:

 

I agree but in fairness to O, yes I can balance my posts,  we dont know their business conditions nor the discussions they have had with Federal authorities, thier suppliers, lenders, insurers etc. MAYBE their insuracne will only cover then for 30 days with a revisit to the situation later. I think many here have the same impress as you do RJB that O is little and late when problem occur and maybe that reputation will bite them, warranted in this case or not.

 

I hope they survive and that they learn from this. I have little doubt operationally they have learned a lot and will and are doing things ven better but how they handle clients for booking issues / cancellations I will wait and see. Their on board experience has been (mostly) very good for us and familiarity certainly helps. But that goes only so far. I remain positive however and look forward to shopping for a new cruise on O in the future.

I agree....we choose O for many reasons....you go where you want...that's why the world is round!

10 minutes ago, marylovestotravel said:

 

I know there are several people on our roll call who have landed in Lima already. I hope that Oceania has contacted them about the cruise being cancelled. Did you get an official Oceania update about the cruise?

 

Mia

my TA informed me it's not official but it is.....they have only received the Official email earlier today for Regent.....it's just logistics as all the cruises are being terminated....I Couldn't imagine being in there shoes right now!

1 minute ago, marylovestotravel said:

 

John & Elda,

 

I don't have you on my cancellation list. Are you in Lima?

 

Mia

i didn't cancel yet but my TA knows my intentions....

1 minute ago, marylovestotravel said:

 

I'm afraid that is the scenario for the whole cruise industry. I imagine the market will shrink - perhaps remarkably. I am wondering if there will be a coronavirus associated recession, which will impact salaries and pensions. Those people who are living on the edge will have a tougher time!

 

Mia

yup....i for one rather get my cash back...no restrictions....as if they are giving something extra they will be trying to take it away from somewhere else...and that could be to service and quality...

2 minutes ago, marylovestotravel said:

 

There is absolutely no risk as if the vouchers are unused, Viking will automatically do a cash refund.

 

Mia

if they don't go into bankruptcy....I'm not saying they will but we do not know where this will end at this point.

3 minutes ago, susiesan said:

Hmm. Since I have not made my final payment yet, what I may do is cancel my cruise, get a refund, keep the flights and hotel reservations, and if the cruise does go as scheduled rebook it with what I hope would be sweet enticements to book a cruise. 

That is important information to all of us.