Cancelling Cruises because of the C word

[staygulf]

2 minutes ago, terrierjohn said:

It should not matter how you booked, direct or TA your contract is with P&O  a TA acts as agent for the cruise company.

That’s not quite right. If you book through a consolidator you have a contract with them as well as the cruise company. So you are bound by their terms as well. 

[Bedruthen]

14 minutes ago, staygulf said:

That’s not quite right. If you book through a consolidator you have a contract with them as well as the cruise company. So you are bound by their terms as well. 

 

Correct, I booked through a cruise specialist company. 

Edited March 1, 2020 by Bedruthen

[Harry Peterson]

8 minutes ago, terrierjohn said:

It should not matter how you booked, direct or TA your contract is with P&O  a TA acts as agent for the cruise company.

What he said!

[staygulf]

1 minute ago, Bedruthen said:

 

Correct, I booked through a very well known cruise specialist company. 

Then you are bound by their cancellation terms. I’m awaiting a refund for a cancelled Asia cruise booked through a consolidator. Never again. I will always book direct in future and just have 

[staygulf]

1 minute ago, Harry Peterson said:

What he said!

Wrong I’m afraid. See my post

[wowzz]

5 hours ago, jeanlyon said:

I posted earlier that P&O told me if I was denied boarding then I would be refunded.  Being denied boarding is not what worries me, it's being quarantined somewhere either in our cabin or ashore somewhere that bothers me.

To be fair Jean, the situation is exactly  the same for a land based holiday. Sometimes I think we are all becoming a little cruise centric here.

[terrierjohn]

3 minutes ago, staygulf said:

Wrong I’m afraid. See my post

I can understand that a package which includes flights, hotels and tours arranged by the TA will raise other problems, but the majority of passengers on P&O will have either booked direct or with a UK based ABTA travel agent, there are really only some Worldie segments that might be offered by consolidators, and only a small percentage of the total.

[majortom10]

17 minutes ago, staygulf said:

Then you are bound by their cancellation terms. I’m awaiting a refund for a cancelled Asia cruise booked through a consolidator. Never again. I will always book direct in future and just have 

Sorry  but do not think you would get your refund much quicker if you booked direct than with a TA and I would certainly never book direct with P&O.

Edited March 1, 2020 by majortom10

[Harry Peterson]

20 minutes ago, staygulf said:

Wrong I’m afraid. See my post

I'm inclined to agree with you for this particular booking, though I don't know the full facts.  For most cruise bookings, though, the contract for the cruise itself is with the cruise company - despite making the booking through an agent.

 

I've always booked through an agent, but when it comes to discussing the performance (or not) of the contract, the terms and conditions, and the financial consequences of cancellation, negotiations are always with the cruise company.  The agent acts, if involved at all, as a postbox, but you soon learn to cut out the middle man.

[staygulf]

14 minutes ago, majortom10 said:

Sorry  but do not think you would get your refund much quicker if you booked direct than with a TA and I would certainly never book direct with P&O.

In the case of these refunded Asian cruises the refund should be made within 14 days of cancellation whether by an agent or direct. Having just booked directly with PANDO (although I swore I would never sail with them again after a disastrous cruise) I am interested to know why you wouldn’t book with them direct. 

[majortom10]

1 minute ago, staygulf said:

In the case of these refunded Asian cruises the refund should be made within 14 days of cancellation whether by an agent or direct. Having just booked directly with PANDO (although I swore I would never sail with them again after a disastrous cruise) I am interested to know why you wouldn’t book with them direct. 

Incompetent customer service that dont know most of the time what they are talking about and after past experiences convinced that some have never even been on a cruise ship so how can they advise. Also cost as my TA always cheaper than booking direct by up to 5% which can be a nice sum.

[ann141]

7 hours ago, majortom10 said:

Incompetent customer service that dont know most of the time what they are talking about and after past experiences convinced that some have never even been on a cruise ship so how can they advise. Also cost as my TA always cheaper than booking direct by up to 5% which can be a nice sum.

I also book through a specialist cruise TA as I can get 5% discount and have found that it really does depend who you get put through to on the phone at P and O as to whether you get a 'correct' answer.Sometimes they are more inflexible as the TA wants to keep your business.However I have read that in the light of the recent cancellations,and the promise of a refund in 2 weeks some people have been told they have to wait longer with a TA because there is more for them to do e.g liasing with P and O first etc and if flights have been booked independantly through the TA etc.

[Tablelamp]

I see from the news that the PM is to hold a meeting,  following this, things may become clearer.

[Adawn47]

This is probably not relevant under the specific circumstances being discussed,  but my friend booked a Thomas Cook holiday through a TA. When the company collapsed it took 3 months to get her refund.

[Adawn47]

Just now, Tablelamp said:

I see from the news that the PM is to hold a meeting,  following this, things may become clearer.

Or not!!😕

[Harry Peterson]

27 minutes ago, Adawn47 said:

Or not!!😕

Very much or not! The words muddle, delay and impending chaos spring to mind.

[terrierjohn]

9 minutes ago, Harry Peterson said:

Very much or not! The words muddle, delay and impending chaos spring to mind.

We will be following in the same path as most other countries then Harry.😇

[Harry Peterson]

2 minutes ago, terrierjohn said:

We will be following in the same path as most other countries then Harry.😇

What concerns me, John, is that we'll almost certainly find ourselves with the same spread as China - a 70% infection rate is being predicted - but without the resources. I don't see any prospect of 1000 bed units being built in a fortnight.

 

Most people won't have any problems with the virus, but as one of those it will probably kill without an ICU bed (and there aren't enough of those even now) I'm more than a little concerned that the government's been sitting on its hands for weeks. It's been as plain as a pikestaff what the outcome's going to be.

 

In cruising terms, once we pass a certain critical point the cruise market will recover. It'll be almost as safe on a ship as on land, and the risk of quarantine will vanish.  Probably a good time to be grabbing a bargain, but ideally with a cancel for any reason travel policy if you can find one in the UK.

[Daveuj]

Hi all ,Just had a chat to my travel insurance (AA)policy is with AXA silver cover .They have confirmed by their technical team that if I am denied boardind on the advise of a medical professional (P&O Doctor ?)I can claim on my policy.(If I was unaware of the and did not have the Kung Flu when I took out the policy I am covered.Full steam ahead 

Azure 19 April and Iona 20 June.

[Bazrat]

1 hour ago, Harry Peterson said:

What concerns me, John, is that we'll almost certainly find ourselves with the same spread as China - a 70% infection rate is being predicted - but without the resources. I don't see any prospect of 1000 bed units being built in a fortnight.

 

Most people won't have any problems with the virus, but as one of those it will probably kill without an ICU bed (and there aren't enough of those even now) I'm more than a little concerned that the government's been sitting on its hands for weeks. It's been as plain as a pikestaff what the outcome's going to be.

 

In cruising terms, once we pass a certain critical point the cruise market will recover. It'll be almost as safe on a ship as on land, and the risk of quarantine will vanish.  Probably a good time to be grabbing a bargain, but ideally with a cancel for any reason travel policy if you can find one in the UK.

Harry you will find all the regions haves systems in place to deal with the outbreak,my wife as just been to another meeting on the subject as they say plans are ongoing,I am also in that position as I would not be able to survive a bout due to ongoing medical issues.

[Vampiress88]

Is it me or did p&o just write me a longer version of what they had already told me but I’ve had to wait all weekend for it. They still have not addressed a refund should we be refused boarding. They are skirting round it. I just want black and white answers right from the horses mouth. My cold is now worse today than it was last week and this makes me worried they won’t know how to distinguish between a cold and this coronavirus 

 

 

[Adawn47]

That to me sounds like the  typical "treat 'em like mushrooms" response.

[Harry Peterson]

16 minutes ago, Bazrat said:

Harry you will find all the regions haves systems in place to deal with the outbreak,my wife as just been to another meeting on the subject as they say plans are ongoing,I am also in that position as I would not be able to survive a bout due to ongoing medical issues.

I wish I shared your confidence that the NHS can somehow find another 300,000 or so intensive care beds, plus staff, plus ventilators, when it can't cope even with existing demands. Because that's the sort of number we're talking about with an infection rate of just 50% and 10% of those needing emergency respiratory treatment.

[terrierjohn]

5 minutes ago, Adawn47 said:

That to me sounds like the  typical "treat 'em like mushrooms" response.

I have had a similar non committal reply saying that my initial claim should be on my insurer, assistance would be available at the port, whatever that means, but no mention that P&O would consider a refund.

Needless to say I have asked for further clarification.

I will also be pursuing with my insurer to see if they offer the same cover as AXA.

[Adawn47]

Not only the mushrooms  theory but passing the buck as well John.