kevinyork

1 minute ago, skioncruises said:

That's my question as well.

 

We are due to fly to Tenerife on 17 April on Explorer for repo to Corfu.  Four weeks and counting.  Temperature getting a bit high and not from coronavirus!

 

Phoned yesterday to discuss extension for June cruise balance which is due in 10 days.  This was granted until 16 April.  No chance to have deposit refunded and no voucher could be offered for a future cruise.  We have decided to bite the bullet and lose the deposit but will wait until nearer extension end.  Refuse to fork out just under £5,000 not knowing what is happening.

 

At the end of discussion over June booking I mentioned April cruise and was told they were dealing with cruises up to 16 April.  No information as to what was happening to those waiting patiently for them to contact us. Want our £3,500 back before handing over any more to them.  Sadly call centre obviously can't process refunds like TAs as friends got their full refund for the same cruise last week.

 

31 years of cruising with the company and totally disillusioned with their handling of the situation.

 

 

 

Simon Calder today on Radio 4 said if you had paid a deposit on a package then If final balance is due then to pay it. If they cancel at any point you get it all back.  If you don’t pay your final balance you loose your deposit even if it’s highly likely they will cancel eventually.  

2 minutes ago, idh2019 said:

 

Take a look on CruiseMapper.com. Select Ships and the cruise line and ship.

 

Disco has been stationary off Singapore for the last few day after it left Laem Chabang on Monday (IIRC).

 

I assume the propulsion problems of January were fixed ( we were on her then), otherwise would it not use this pause in operations for repairs?

 

Tomorrow was supposed to be the start of the repo (from Langkawi?) but not much of that possible any more. No Malaysia, Sri Lanka, India. Haven't kept up to date with Middle East restrictions.

UAE not allowing ships from Asia and Oman not granting Visas for tourists for the foreseeable. Not that it really matters. Cruising is dead for many months 

1 hour ago, Rebel Rouser said:

Everybody on Disco 2 now heading home or are at home. 

A friend on board kept me informed over the past 4 days. even with captains announcements.

Regards

 

RR

Do you know where they are disembarking them to fly home!  She is just treading water off Jamaica currently. 

I see Discovery 2 is waiting off Jamaica.  Seems she called in there yesterday, maybe for supplies? Hope they stay virus free so they are allowed to disembark for flights home or they’ll have to head for Cuba as Braemar did. 

8 minutes ago, vwgolf said:

Just this second had a text from TUI. It's pretty standard but it confirms my cruise is cancelled and that for "customers due to travel between 20th March and 16th April we'd like to offer you the opportunity to amend your holiday to a later date if you wish." I think the sensible choice is to take a refund. In all likelihood I'll book another cruise at some point in the future but I think I'd rather my money be in my bank than there's.

I’d take the money too.  If Tui fold then claiming from ATOL or through your credit card provider could take a while..

1 hour ago, edinburgher said:

Saw that too.

 

Should trigger a massive demand on cruise lines, holiday companies, airlines etc for refunds so refunds may take some time.

 

May or may not need to claim on travel insce.  I am not 100% clued up on that, no doubt others are and will hopefully advise.

Most insurance companies are in the first place directing customers to seek a refund from the travel provider, that was the first recorded menu message when I called mine.  

7 hours ago, seapals2 said:

A huge sense of relief ... hopefully all passengers able to travel home.  No doubt many will find themselves with symptoms in the coming days and weeks but will have the reassurance of hospitals close to home.  Apart from needing transport they should spend little time in Cuba.  Four flights have been arranged with British Airways.  
Our friends onboard showing no symptoms at present but obviously will need to self isolate back at home.  It could have ended so much worse for many of them.  

Good on Cuba letting them fly back from there. It doesn’t answer what will happen to those that have already tested positive. Can’t imagine they can fly back and will Cuba want them?

30 minutes ago, Vitalsign said:

KevinYork   That's great your Mum is coming to stay with you My mother who will be 93 in May, hopefully, will not move!!! She's not gone out except to the dentist for 2 years Yes she still has her own teeth and smokes 6 ciggies a day!!! As long as she can still read and watch TV she's happy.

Strange to say but she’s probably safer than most of us given her fairly isolated situation.
 

I couldn’t trust my mum to stay isolated being at her home in Sheffield and with the number of visitors she gets, and hugs, and kisses,   Weird that today I’ve felt a bit chesty and warm.  Part of me wants me to get this thing and get over it then I can’t (hopefully) infect my Mum or diabetic hubby and can be there for them.  An expert on Woman’s hour on Radio 4 today said, we are all going to meet this virus which I found chilling.  If we are, I want it first and then can help hubby and .mum as best as I can.  

1 minute ago, edinburgher said:

Vitalsign, your birthday celebrations sounded like a lot of fun. You were so very lucky with timing.

 

Trying to make lemonade from lemons, the remaining four of us had decided to stay in at our home for family dinner, cake and champagne.

 

Daughter phoned earlier today. Having sleepless nights thinking about bringing possible infection into our house as she was socialising in pubs and clubs at the weekend. In tears as she has decided to stay away to protect us. As she and another guest were making the cake, I have asked that they not make it as we are now only three persons-and this is only Monday.  By Thursday/Friday we may not even be three! We can try to do something when all this is over, whenever that may be.

 

This "special" birthday is definitely  "special" for all the wrong reasons!

 

And Mother's Day this Sunday will also be different from previous ones.

Definately  a Unique birthday and Mother’s Day, but health come first.

Weve just made the decision to bring my Mum to ours for the foreseeable.  She’s been isolating herself in Sheffield for the last 9 days but couldn’t do that for three months so we are having her here so we can ensure she’s protected and we don’t really go anywhere apart from country walks around here so don’t mix with people as such and will be scrupulous about hygiene.  Her cat is coming too and will have it’s own bedroom, much better than a Cattery and Mum can spend time with her, helping each other.  
 

Strange times.  Cruising seems a distant memory and a fairytale ambition.

1 minute ago, vwgolf said:

Would refunds include any excursions pre-booked through their website? Or are they likely to rely on the clause that they are only agents and the contract is between us and the excursion provider, and thus have to claim via insurance?

You can cancel excursions booked via their website up to 24hrs before. Just log in and find the booked trip and click Cancel.

i cancelled ours for 16th April on Friday as it was looking impossible for it to go ahead and I wanted to ensure I got the money back in case they collapsed. Monies hit my account yesterday.

Just announced on GMB that Tui are suspending all holidays and cruises until further notice.

12 minutes ago, jono mono said:

Nancyneptune, i'm over 70,got bad lungs, should have gone on 25th March,got in touch with Marella (not easy) fri  eve ,no fuss got full fare back to card in 3-5 days (hopefully !!) . So I dont think they have a leg to stand on as far as repayment goes. hope customers in future remember the mess Marella are making of a horrible situation !! I WILL !!!

 

Glad you got your refund,  I agree with your final sentiment although I posted pretty much the same on a Marella Facebook group and got tore apart earlier from people saying they were wonderful.

Anyway I had been in contact with Tui via an email address (cares@tui.co.uk) ever since the UAE closed down and Oman stopped issuing visas.  They had said before we would have to wait and the cruise is planned to go ahead. But I emailed them again Friday advising we were in the risk groups (under 70 but with chronic conditions) and just received a response saying they are refunding us.    If I was to guess I think they knew that cruise would be cancelled shortly anyway.  But at least it’s now sorted.

18 minutes ago, shot2bits said:

The link was indeed there on Friday, it was what my TA referenced when told her on government advice I wanted to cancel. However, it has been taken down now.

It’s pretty underhand by Tui.  The FCO advice is there to protect the most vulnerable.  I’m pretty disgusted they have now removed it.

29 minutes ago, MrSilversurf said:

Kevin have you got a link to the TUI website please. I tried Travel Information at the top of page and this took me to "Coronovirus Information - updated Sunday 15th at 11:25" Lots of links to uk/gov sites but not the above rebook options. Thanks Paul

It’s was part of that information on Friday, very specific saying those over 70 can cancel or rearrange, they pulled it from the update advice, presumably as they were being inundated.  In any case they have to follow the FCO advice so if it applies to you get in touch with them.

2 minutes ago, jono75 said:

Hey Kevin, I just want a solid response from them like other lines have.

 

I feel for the staff, I used to work on a call center myself. To now I have found them very good.  This delaying tactic I find disappointing.

 

If that's slagging then off then yes, and I won't apologise for it.

Hey jono I didn’t read it as though you were. The drip by drip approach is just painful.  

4 minutes ago, Vitalsign said:

Jono75.   I'm waiting on 10th April cruise now, knowing tui they'll be hanging on until they have to

That is slagging them off in my opinion If he'd read the travel alerts he'd know the procedure It's a month away before his cruise

The other cruise lines don't have flights and cruises included generally so all they have to do is repay for the cancelled cruise TUI have to organise flights as well

At least with a package cruise that is cancelled by TUI you don't have to claim on your travel insurance as they are giving full refunds.

Ok, maybe that might be slagging them off but deservedly so in my opinion.  At least let people know further in advance. Not just two weeks. Their own Facebook page have been posting lovely pictures of cocktails etc all week whilst this has been going on and could have used that outlet to keep people informed and reduce the stress for passengers and uncertainty. As far as I’m aware all cruise lines have been refunding without the need to claim off their travel insurance. 

8 minutes ago, rkingphoto said:

OK, I'm confused, you also said this:-

 

Explorer 2 is off loading half it’s passengers tomorrow onto empty planes that are coming to fetch them but those who have only been on 7 nights are staying on.  I would place a bet that this remaining 7 night cruise with a half empty ship are going to struggle to dock anywhere and might even have difficulty offloading their passengers next weekend

The captain onboard announced that a couple of hours ago,  people due to get off tomorrow will fly back but the planes won’t have brought another lot of passenger out from the UK. Those that have only been on for 7 days are staying on.

u

1 minute ago, rkingphoto said:

Marella have cancelled all cruises until 28th March.

I know I referred to that matie. 

1 hour ago, Vitalsign said:

Jono75 Stop slagging TUI off If you read the latest update on their travel alerts 13.10 today they are dealing with the refunds in chronological order and obviously those passengers/holiday makers flying in the next two weeks are being dealt with first.

 

The Sultanate of Oman has stopped issuing visitor visas as from now until further notice see Omani police website - try to apply for an e visa and the message comes up

This means if it's still in force the cruise from the 17th April on Discovery will not go ahead, which is pleasing our friends as we can't now go from 10th April as we are 70 and they were joining us the following week

Was he slagging off Tui? If so I must have missed it.

At least they have cancelled a two week chunk of cruises.  Undoubtedly there will be more after that.  Other major cruise lines though announced longer cruise suspension periods and have dealt with the refunds which gives people peace of mind. A few honeymooners leaving tomorrow have been had their honeymoon ruined according to Facebook posts. I bet they could have done with earlier notification. 
 

Explorer 2 is off loading half it’s passengers tomorrow onto empty planes that are coming to fetch them but those who have only been on 7 nights are staying on.  I would place a bet that this remaining 7 night cruise with a half empty ship are going to struggle to dock anywhere and might even have difficulty offloading their passengers next weekend.  Personally Tui should have arranged to bring everyone home as soon as possible and cancel cruising for at least a month not this piece meal approach that looks unprofessional in comparison to other lines.

1 minute ago, Vitalsign said:

The Sultanate of Oman has stopped issuing visitor visas as from now until further notice see Omani police website - try to apply for an e visa and the message comes up

This means if it's still in force the cruise from the 17th April on Discovery will not go ahead, which is pleasing our friends as we can't now go from 10th April as we are 70

Saw that yesterday as we were due to join on 17th but knowing Tui they will still be telling us as we drive to the airport on the 16th that it’s going ahead as normal!

2 hours ago, idh2019 said:

Re Discovery, there was a TUI Dreamliner from Rayong (Thailand) to Manchester yesterday. Currently there is another over Pakistan en route from Rayong to Birmingham. 

Excellent detective work!

I see Discovery is on her way back to Singapore?  I thought they were flying their passengers home from Thailand today and tomorrow?  Hope they have not been denied disembarkation in Thailand.

3 minutes ago, bluewater2111 said:

Still Going ahead in the Caribbean according to the phone call to Marella cruises yesterday, though I find this hard to believe right now, I just wished they  would cancel them I can get my head round it.

Surely it's not even viable they'd be do many over 70s cancelling anyway...

It's still available to buy at about 1400 less than we paid for two weeks!!!

They are woefully slow to act and dreadful in updated their website info.  We are discussing it here days before they act or advise people.  The other cruise lines are making widespread cancellations for periods of time.  You don’t think Tui didn’t take out cancellation/pandemic insurance for their ships do you hence the hesitation?

5 minutes ago, rodndonna said:

Even Canada has now announced a ban on all cruise ships until July. I realize Marella does not cruise to any Canadian ports... just thought it was interesting and tends to lead me to think more countries may be about to do something similar. 

 

It doesn’t matter to Marella.  They will be sailing round trips from Southampton to Southampton to avoid port closures still some on the Facebook sites will be happy with that. 

2 minutes ago, jono mono said:

After a long wait on the phone got thru to Marella and cancelled our March 25 th cruise,very little questions asked as i'm over 70, no health question altho i told them. My wife is 67 but not asked about that and a full refund will hopefully be with me in 3 -5 working days .Just got to dodge the virus bullet .hope this helps !!!

 

Thanks for that update.  Stay safe and well