No Egypt Ports--and no notice from Seaboun to psgrs/agents yet!

[pmtime2cruise]

We also called to determine what the possible alternatives would be to the Egypt ports and were told the itinerary had not changed. Our first inquiry was in January. We tried to discuss changing to a different cruise, but were told we would incur the normal penalties for cancelling the original cruise. We finally received an email a couple of days ago stating the itinerary change and the $250 shipboard credit. It is extremely disappointing that we will not be able to see Egypt. I understand that the circumstances were beyond our (or Seabourn's) control. I understand the difficulties in scheduling the ship into ports. The customer service representatives really need some training, as the first one I spoke offered nothing other than "we haven't made any changes to the itinerary" and the penalties are the same for cancelling. I realize they had no information to give, but I called in reaction to the news and there should have been some response coordinated. Even "we are keeping an eye on the situation".

Hopefully, we will receive the normal excellent service on the ship that we always have on our Seabourn cruises. We were told the ship is full, so we will have plenty of company for our adventure. Let's hope for a relaxing, enjoyable journey.

[iramack]

I guess the bottom line is still:

 

Relax, Have a Great Time, and Enjoy the Trip........Wherever you end up going...........

 

Cheers!!

Steve

[alfa]

Hi primetime2cruise,

 

thank you for posting your experience on this matter. The longer this is discussed, the more it appears that clients have been affected by this matter even though they tried ever efforts to enquire and better inform themselves.

 

Reading your post, it appears that Seabourn have achieved their objective, in that, the cruise is full for our 20 day cruise (13 days at sea that is).

 

We will never know what the cancellations would have been, if we were told of the possible itinerary change when we all asked way back in January, but I guess Seabourn anticipated this which resulted in their timing advice of the itinerary change.

 

I further note your advice that when you tried to change cruises, they advised you that you would incur penalties.

 

Whatever happened to the caring, compassionate and understanding attitude for clients in circumstances that they have no control of ?

 

I agree the staff on the ships are second to none, but I am not sure I can say same for the remaining team.

[Ejl3 travels]

alfa, I agree with you. What they did is BS! All they needed to do was to be honest with everyone from the beginning.

[alfa]

alfa, I agree with you. What they did is BS! All they needed to do was to be honest with everyone from the beginning.

 

Hi Mate,

 

just had a thought, now that we are spending 13 days at sea of the 20 days, we are in essence doing a "transatlantic" type cruise.

 

Have a look at what the costs are on an average daily basis for a cruise of this nature and compare it to the daily rate that we have paid for. I'm only a humble engineer, but I can do the numbers and it amounts to a fair amount of hard earned dollars.

 

Then they offer some (as I haven't received it yet), $ 250 per couple compensation, as a good will gesture !!!!! (using their words)

 

Please,,,,,,,if they honestly looked at themselves in the mirror, they know what they have to do to resolve this matter, be honest, respond, take action by apologizing for their past conduct, learn from it and settle this matter satisfactorily like any other professional corporate identity should.

 

A simple solution really.

[alfa]

Hi All,

 

There are some clients of Seabourn, who are not members of cruise critic who have sent me an email after its address was posted in previous threads. They wished to express their disappointment and with their blessings, here is the contents of their email.

 

"I needed to vent to someone and I have been following the posts on Cruise Critic (although I am not a member). My husband and I are booked on the Dubai to Rome cruise sailing the week before yours (we're on the Spirit sailing March 21). First of all, I want to thank you for taking the lead on proactively attempting to squeeze any information from Seabourn. And for posting your experiences on a public forum. This was the only way I found out about the sneaky, underhanded change in our itinerary.

 

My husband and I were physically ill when we suddenly found out (through no notice from Seabourn mind you!) by checking our on-line itinerary that our trip-of-a-lifetime to see Egypt had been completely changed! We called our TA who made attempts to contact Seabourn, to no avail of course. Today, being Monday, my husband and TA both e-mailed complaint letters to the CEO and Guest Relations at Seabourn requesting a refund. I'm sure the e-mails will just get piled up with the other complaints and sit unread in their spam folder.

 

It seems ironic: not only are there are pirates in Somalia, but everywhere -- in the form of luxury liners! The cruise industry is the real pirate of the high seas! They have the "right" to hold us hostage on a ship with our money in their pockets! If we are stuck going on this cruise to places that we don't want to go, I'm considering dressing up as a lollipop and writing "Seabourn Sucker" on my back!

 

We are devastated. This is our first ever experience with Seabourn. And, will be our last. "

Thank you for letting me vent!"

 

I have received another email from these cruisers and they are leaving for their cruise in 2 days time. Their "once in a lifetime cruise" has been soured with the lack of consideration, compassion and appreciation, in them handing over to Seabourn their hard earned income for their cruise.

 

I wish I could do more for these guys and others, who have written to me sharing their experience and I am just a fellow cruiser, not an employee of Seabourn.

 

It is beyond belief, as to why has Seabourn, not responded to their concerns, emails and letters, as well as other affected. Are we all becoming herded cattle ?

[harbormaster]

We currently are on the Sojourn. We definitely empathize with your disappointment and anger at the lack of information. We have to tell you that some of the staff as of last night did not know of the port cancellations. So, it is not just the future passengers. We sincerely hope that this is not the first indication of HAL management, which, in our past experience has been the mushroom approach - keep them in the dark, etc. Also major problems in the past with cabins, etc on HAL have been met with stonewalling. Seabourn passengers expect and should receive better treatment. Otherwise, these beautiful new ships will be empty.

While this cruise has been excellent, and you can expect some wonderful experiences, we know it will not be up to what you had anticipated. Please keep contacting executives and please let the Hotel Director on the ship know of your frustrations.

[Margate Cruiser]

That any of you but some of you may know, that Seabourn is now almost being run by Holland America. Hardly anybody is moving to Seattle. My travel agent never even got notice of the change. They say they are going to be independent you know how well that was with Cunard. My wife and i have traveled enough to get our 2 eek plus 2 years ago. The personal service is gone who you get on the phone now is one of many who know nothing about Seabourn and the loyalty we all have with Seabourn. I sure hope they get there act together.

[alfa]

We currently are on the Sojourn. We definitely empathize with your disappointment and anger at the lack of information. We have to tell you that some of the staff as of last night did not know of the port cancellations. So, it is not just the future passengers. We sincerely hope that this is not the first indication of HAL management, which, in our past experience has been the mushroom approach - keep them in the dark, etc. Also major problems in the past with cabins, etc on HAL have been met with stonewalling. Seabourn passengers expect and should receive better treatment. Otherwise, these beautiful new ships will be empty.

While this cruise has been excellent, and you can expect some wonderful experiences, we know it will not be up to what you had anticipated. Please keep contacting executives and please let the Hotel Director on the ship know of your frustrations.

 

Hi Harbourmaster

 

thank you for your thread comment. I not only feel for us all, but also for the wonderful young crew on these vessels. Fancy those who represent them so proudly and passionately, not being advised by senior management even as of last night. It is a joke.

 

A true example of how not to run a 6 star cruise line.

 

I even sympathize with the cruise hotel director as in my past cruise, this person is a hard working warrior doing his job of ensuring we are all happy on board, but for those others within Seattle or Miami where ever, no sympathy at all.

 

Just got their official advice on the itinerary change. I will post aspects of it soon, as they are digging a hole of themselves that they cannot get out of.

[alfa]

Hi All,

 

as promised here are key aspects of Seabourn's official log awaited notification of the itinerary change in italic and red with my comment to such points

 

As you know, the U.S. Department of State has issued an advisory against unnecessary travel to Egypt in light of the recent political unrest in that region

 

A point of note here is that the initial advisory was issued on 6th February with this later being replaced on 17th February. No further alteration has been made by the US Department of State.

 

Accordingly, this alert was in place when I communicated to Seabourn seeking the status of the cruise segment, with this advisory being current then as it remains now and they advised on more than one occasion, the itinerary remains unaltered. Nothing has changed since the issue of that advisory, if anything, locally things have improved since them where our countries such as Australia and England have relaxed their alerts.

 

As noted in our brochures, on our website, and in your cruise contract, we do reserve the right to alter an itinerary in response to a number of valid situations, such as government issued travel advisories. Therefore, while we understand your concerns, we are not in a position to waive our usual cancellation policy, nor are we able to offer a refund or credit for another sailing

 

Let me get out the magnifying glasses, the writing is a bit small in my contract. Ah yes there it is, they can cancel or alter the cruise itinerary depending on the issued travel advisories. Why didn't they do that on the 17th February when the advisory was issued ? Why didn't they cancel the cruise when other cruise lines did. Why did they tell me after the 17th February on numerous occasions we are not changing our itinerary. For that matter, why am Ii Receiving notice of the itinerary change now when they did it on their web page 7 days ago ?

 

Too many questions, but no answers yet. I have asked them again to respond.

 

"as a gesture of goodwill, each guest on the affected sailings will receive a $250.00 per person shipboard credit applied to the onboard account"

 

Now that's a reasonable amount given that I am flying from Australia, paid around $ 20,000 for the cruise segment that included the absolute highlights, the ultimate bucket lists of Luxor and Cairo. Yep, the $250 will do.

 

Please,,,,enough, review, consider and act in the best interests and fairness of all. No more spin.

 

 

 

 

 

If they cancel the cruise

[Seabourn-nail]

http://www.breakingnews.ie/world/protestors-burn-egypt-poll-candidates-hq-553287.html

 

Situation in Egypt is very worrisome again....

[icat2000]

No different to when they set fire to the former President party headquarters which is next to the Eygptian Museum in November 2011. That happened five weeks before I visited Egypt and everything was fine.

 

You do realise this thread was created over a year ago?

[Seabourn-nail]

No different to when they set fire to the former President party headquarters which is next to the Eygptian Museum in November 2011. That happened five weeks before I visited Egypt and everything was fine.

 

You do realise this thread was created over a year ago?

 

 

 

I know... and I used it because I believe it is usance to use as much as threads that have been created before as possible, in order not to have too many;). And by the way, it only confirms that this area has been unsteady for a long time. We have also visited Cairo and Alexandria this spring and hope to do so again early October of this year. Unless the situation gets worse...

Marja

[wripro]

Marja,

 

I think you were right to bring up this concern again. Just because everything went well the last time does not mean it will be fin again this time.

[Seabourntraveller]

Positive thoughts would kill some people....:rolleyes::rolleyes::eek::eek:

[jagi]

Big difference between last March and now. The Islamist radicals are determined to take over the government, either by election or force (if they don't win at the ballot box). That will likiely mean a war between civilians. March 2011 the fighting was concentrated around Cairo and Alexandria. The intent was to leave archeological sites---and westerners--alone. I was not afraid to go in 2011,( but the Pride had not received an "all clear" warning). (We did this again in March 2012 to visit all 3 ports in Egypt with an overnight in Luxor/Valley of the Kings).

 

I would certainly think twice about going now or in the near future as Westerners may very well be targets in a civil war.

[conchyjoe]

Was in Egypt (Alexandria & shore excursion to Giza & Cairo) just the week before last, on the Quest.

 

Tourism has been severely affected by the change in government and the pathetic sensational media coverage. On the 3 hour coach trip to Giza there were many waves and smiles from locals and we did not feel unsafe at anytime. The Egyptian Police did provide an armed escort for part of the way and there were two very bored lads in dark suits and sunglasses with concealed automatic weapons aboard our group of coaches for the entire (very long) day.

 

I hope for the sake of future passengers that things do not change because the visit to the Pyramids was very, very special.

[redheadednancy]

Big difference between last March and now. The Islamist radicals are determined to take over the government, either by election or force (if they don't win at the ballot box). That will likiely mean a war between civilians. March 2011 the fighting was concentrated around Cairo and Alexandria. The intent was to leave archeological sites---and westerners--alone. I was not afraid to go in 2011,( but the Pride had not received an "all clear" warning). (We did this again in March 2012 to visit all 3 ports in Egypt with an overnight in Luxor/Valley of the Kings).

 

I would certainly think twice about going now or in the near future as Westerners may very well be targets in a civil war.

We are scheduled on Pride for March of 2013...hope it clears by then!

[arzz]

Last April we were on HAL's Prinsendam, expecting there to be no Alexandria or Port Said. At truly the eleventh hour the ports were reinstated and we had a once in a lifetime experience on our on-again-off-again overland between Alexandria and Port Said. We were the first ship into Alexandria after the "revolution" and were led to the base of the pyramids on the Giza Plateau by a young and very proud Egyptian guide. We were practically the only tourists there (the parking lot was almost empty).

 

Such was our experience that we now desire to see more of Egypt and have booked the Pride from Dubai next April. (redheadednancy I assume you are referring to the same cruise). We wish peace and self governance for the Egyptian people and, of course, hope that by next April Egypt will be available, once again, for us to tour. That particular itinerary would just be a lot of sea days without Egypt.

[alfa]

What a surprise it is to see this thread breath with life !

 

I have reflected on our last trip and I truly feel sorry for the Egyptian people. I am so thankful that we went there and embraced its history at the time. To get home safely was also a bonus :rolleyes:

 

I sincerely hope that future cruisers experience this mystical, historical and conflicted country. There is nothing like it on this earth.

[redheadednancy]

Last April we were on HAL's Prinsendam, expecting there to be no Alexandria or Port Said. At truly the eleventh hour the ports were reinstated and we had a once in a lifetime experience on our on-again-off-again overland between Alexandria and Port Said. We were the first ship into Alexandria after the "revolution" and were led to the base of the pyramids on the Giza Plateau by a young and very proud Egyptian guide. We were practically the only tourists there (the parking lot was almost empty).

 

Such was our experience that we now desire to see more of Egypt and have booked the Pride from Dubai next April. (redheadednancy I assume you are referring to the same cruise). We wish peace and self governance for the Egyptian people and, of course, hope that by next April Egypt will be available, once again, for us to tour. That particular itinerary would just be a lot of sea days without Egypt.

Yes we are on it, although maybe a little longer than you. We board in Singapore and depart in Athens. I would have started a roll call but think it is just a wee bit early. We are year ahead planners and I thought I would wait another few months. What part of the world are you from if you don't mind me asking?

[arzz]

DH and I are from the greater Chicago area and I actually did start a roll call the other day -- it is labeled for Dubai to Athens.

 

We, too, like to plan way ahead -- I almost cannot function without a cruise or two in the planning. For a variety of reasons we had to cancel our planned sojourn to the Amazon for this fall and thus we found this cruise.

 

We have enjoyed many cruise days but are absolute newbies to Seabourn. The questions are starting to bubble forth but reading this board has helped some.

[Keith1010]

I don't see this as being positive or negative. Rather I saw it as a good update. The world that we travel does change frequently.

 

Keith

[redheadednancy]

DH and I are from the greater Chicago area and I actually did start a roll call the other day -- it is labeled for Dubai to Athens.

 

We, too, like to plan way ahead -- I almost cannot function without a cruise or two in the planning. For a variety of reasons we had to cancel our planned sojourn to the Amazon for this fall and thus we found this cruise.

 

We have enjoyed many cruise days but are absolute newbies to Seabourn. The questions are starting to bubble forth but reading this board has helped some.

You sound just like my husband. He cannot function without a trip in the works. I am still trying to learn about our fall trip to Vienna, Prague and Budapest (not on a cruise, by land), and he keeps adding stuff on to the trip in March of 2013. My brain can't function that far ahead and digest all the information!! BTW, I went to boarding school in Chicago and my folks lived in Cary for many years. We are heading back this August for a Cubs game and to stay with friends who live downtown. We love Chicago! By now, you know I found your thread. If you want to talk online and not clutter up this roll call too much, I listed my email address! When we get closer, if you need a referral coupon I have one for you. Gives you $400 and us $400. Usually send in when you make your final payment three months out. It just has to be a first time cruise on Seabourn (by both of you) and no connections with travel industry that would allow you to travel on a heavily discounted fare).

[arzz]

We would be glad to accept a referral coupon -- sounds like a wonderful program and a winner for both sides. Our final payment is due at the end of December. Add this on board credit to what we have already received from our TA and our Carnival Cruise stock and we can have a wonderful time on board, or a few wonderful shore excursions! Thank you in advance. I have also placed an email contact on the roll call thread -- as there are usually topics much better discussed privately.