Smurf2017

1 hour ago, Skipper Tim said:

My understanding is that the most valuable remaining asset of Pullmantur is the brand name. RCI have cleverly snatched the crew, customer base and repossessed the ships, if only to scrap them. There is not much else left. The liquidators will be looking to sell the premier Spanish-speaking cruise brand to the highest bidder - including back one of the three corporate entities that make up the existing Pullmantur, but free of debt.

 

So it appears, customers with already-cancelled cruises, until mid-November, will be given vouchers to sail on one of RCI's other brands, while those with bookings after *may* be put back with the new, re-born Pullmantur with perhaps just the one ship - Pullmantur Grandeur. 

 

Now I think I understand the Spanish meaning of 'reorganisation'!

What an interesting thought. We're in the "after" category and have already used our FCC to book for next May. If that could be the same itinerary and still as Pullmantur, but on Grandeur, my but that would be a great win for me. Grandeur was the first major cruise sailing for me back in the early 90s.

7 minutes ago, Plato123 said:

It is strange that Pullmantur's web site does not yet mention the restructuring, and still is selling cruises post November 15.  Also we keep getting emails from "Laura de Pullmantur" (in Spanish), promoting cruising and the merits of Pullmantur.

Maybe there will be a whole new Pullmantur in a year or two with newer ex RCCL and Celebrity ships as the Spanish speaking market in Europe and South/Central America will still be there.?

Whoa! That is bad and hopefully they're not actually taking any money from folk. Re your comment about newer ex RCCL ships, I think that it was Grandeur of the Seas that was supposed to be replacing Zenith.

5 hours ago, Skipper Tim said:

Zenith’s twin sister, Horizon, had last night in Salalah, Oman, presumably dropping off more crew after those she left in Mumbai. This morning she is underway at a relatively cracking 16 knots en route to the Suez canal (according to CruiseMapper and Marinetraffic). Perhaps also heading to Naples to be stripped?

 

I have had no word on our March 2021 Horizon booking despite asking our cruise agents a few days ago. 

I have built up a very good relationship with our agent in Madrid, an employee of Pullmantur rather than an High Street TA. She was genuinely surprised by the announcement and is in shock. She has no idea what the future holds for the staff there or when we can expect to hear anything from Pullmantur/RCL. She has promised to keep in touch and if there is anything relevant I will post back here Tim.

17 hours ago, GA Dave said:

Pandemic Has Claimed Its First Cruise Line

But sadly not the last I'm sure. Fred Olsen also seems to be in more trouble than most at the moment and is currently restructuring its UK head office:

https://*****/3drfTJv

2 hours ago, Roger88 said:

 The only question is - what kind of offer is it going to be? 

And would we have the option to reject it for a cash refund?

14 hours ago, Envelope21 said:

I wonder how this would affect future cruise vouchers issued by Pullmantur due to cruises being cancelled because of COVID

We're wondering the same. We should be on board Horizon cruising Croatia this week but have already used our vouchers for a Holy Land itinerary next May. If Pullmantur goes out of business now, are we:

1. A Pullmantur customer who would join the list of creditors

or

2. Would the parent company RCL honour our vouchers somehow. Doubtful!

Then we have the possibility of the TUI purchase thrown into the mix. As we  have a cruise already booked with Pullmantur, what would happen then? I really don't fancy having to go with TUI so would hope that a refund might be offered. 

We just have to wait to see.

1 hour ago, Skipper Tim said:

Horizon is on the move again. After a couple of days at anchor just outside Mumbai, she is making 11 knots Westwards in the direction of the Gulf of Aden. Though CruiseMapper still shows her destination as Mumbai, this may not have been updated. Returning to Europe and if so why? What was she doing in Mumbai? 

Marine Traffic is showing the destination as Salalha in Oman. Is she dropping off crew before the cold lay-up?

11 hours ago, aussie cruzer said:

I have seen online  rumours of Tui buying out Pullmantur and Rcl having a commercial arrangement with Tui.

For Pullmantur to survive Rcl would need to inject  cash ,can't see that happening. 

That's an interesting move. Watch this space! 

Now throw in the announcement today from Carnival that they are selling 6 ships and I think we can all see where this is going. 

I can't see them surviving and we've already written off our next cruise with them. Shame as it was a great itinerary to the Holy Land at a good price. 

On 6/12/2020 at 10:33 PM, aussie cruzer said:

Looks like the rumours are true.

 

https://www.yachtworld.com/boats-for-sale/type-power/class-power-cruise-ship/

I can find Horizon and Monarch, but not Sovereign. Have you seen it on the site please? 

I contacted my rep at Pullmantur who seemed surprised and said they weren't aware of the ships being for sale and not to worry about next year's cruise. Do we believe her? 

You should try the bureaucracy in Portugal. Here, offices of the same government department in different towns, will interpret the rules in a different way. In our local office for driving licences I even got different answers to the same problem from the different employees and one of those was the manager! 

10 hours ago, ducklite said:

Pullmantur is restarting operations 4 July.  

As far as ships repatriating crew, it makes sense, and can certainly be done at the same time that they are working on rescheduling cruises.  Because only about half the ships of any fleet (if that in some cases) will be back to a full schedule before 2021, it makes sense to send them all home and then cherry pick the best to staff the ships that will be sailing to be sure to offer the best possible cruise.  Guest retention will be first priority moving forward.

This is the third "restart date" from Pullmantur. Up to only two days ago they said they would restart on 12th June meaning our 13 June departure would go ahead. Yesterday we received an email cancelling our cruise and quoting the new "restart date" of 4 July. What do they say, "It ain't over 'till the fat lady sings!" 

9 hours ago, Charles4515 said:

 

As I read how the question was asked in the start post of the thread a speculative answer was intended. So the OP does not need to post a source. You can either agree or disagree with OP.




Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

The OP is 'cockneyjock' and I don't have a problem with his post. 

It is GrJ Berkshire who made a positive statement that, " "No European cruises in 2020 will happen." As I have a European cruise booked for 2020, I would still like to know their source for such a positive statement. 

On 4/22/2020 at 8:59 AM, GrJ Berkshire said:

UK govt sources. Virgin Atlantic is in big trouble as is BA , how much will survive?  UK regional airlines have gone bust already. We live 20miles from LHR, now so quiet only 50/ 60 planes a day was 700 . Only 1 runway open. Nearly all cargo planes.

2nd part read about Venice issues with large cruise ships and collisions in the Guidecca canal all year, this will not return.

What about your statement, "No European cruises in 2020 will happen." What is your source for that please?

According to the BBC, MSC Magnifica was the last past the post. She arrived in Marseilles yesterday (20 April) and offloaded 1760 pax. That was the first time they had touched land since leaving Australasia over 40 days ago.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-52350262

Thanks for the update. 

On 4/9/2020 at 11:24 PM, jocap said:

Only by ferry, I guess... the 2 day journey from Portsmouth to Northern Spain seems to be the nearest thing to a cruise...

Presumably Hurtigruten is still ferrying around Norway's ports?

 

And even the ferries are not operating. You'll need to swim across!

On 4/2/2020 at 2:24 AM, aungrl said:

I believe it’s the Sun that’s completing the World Cruise.

Viking Sun has left Lisbon after a 'technical' stop. Now en route towards the UK and showing Southampton as the destination.

We are supposed to be sailing with them out of Athens also, but in June. Up to now they have only cancelled up to the end of May, but I honestly cannot see that going ahead. I wouldn't give up hope for September just yet though unless your problem would be leaving and returning your home country.

We're coming up with plans B & C at the moment. B is to push ours back to nearer your date and C is to push it even further and visit the Holy Land instead. It's a waiting game.

On 4/10/2020 at 1:08 PM, marco said:

And yes...it is subjective.  Particularly after reading the preceding post.  We were on our 4th MSC cruise this past February and it was one of the better dining experiences we've had adn we've been on many cruises on many different lines and ships.  We sailed out of Miami to the Caribbean, we have never sailed on MSC in Europe and folks who have sailed both have said the difference is practically like sailing on two different lines and the overall experience was much better when sailing out of the US..  Also, we've noticed a big difference in the dining experience on different ships of the same line.

The first of our MSC cruises was also from Miami but to Central America. The second was in the Persian Gulf. I'm not at all a picky eater, but found it difficult to enjoy any of the food on either of these MSC ships. We followed that with a one night taster cruise with Pullmantur. Pricewise they are at the lower end of the cruising market but certainly not as far as the food and customer service were concerned. Both were above what we expected at the price. We should be cruising with them again in June in Europe but cannot see that happening now of course.

Thanks. I don't think that will ever be on my shopping list but good to know anyway. 

We travelled on only five of the major cruise lines and without any shadow of a doubt am happy to name MSC as the worst we have experienced. We have travelled on two of their ships and found both had poorly presented food which in the majority of cases was barely lukewarm. All that backed up with appalling customer service means we will not be trying them again anytime soon.

To avoid us having to go through all your previous posts for the answer, couldn't you at least point us in the general direction please?

On 1/24/2020 at 4:10 PM, K32682 said:

There are cruise lines that do not permit ESAs or pets.  There are others with more accommodating policies regarding support and companion animals.  Select your line accordingly.  

 Is there a list published anywhere of those lines that do not allow animals on board or do we have to work our way through the T & Cs of each line to find that out?