No Refunds with New Protocols?

[lobster1313]

1 hour ago, cruisinmeme said:

The one thing that bothers me is the testing.  My son in law was going to have a colonoscopy so he had to have a COVID test. Keep in mine he felt great, running 3-5 miles a day in south Louisiana humid heat but tested positive.  Had to reschedule the colonoscopy. He went straight to another clinic for another COVID test and what do you know —-negative. So how many will be denied boarding and not be sick (or really positive)

That situation is just because of poor protocols for the facility. I had mine done 3 weeks ago.  They tested 3 days before and if you test positive they retest the day before to eliminate false positives.

[Pyrate13]

1 hour ago, firefly333 said:

 

 

I think cruiselines have gone over and above being flexible. If it's now sept 30th and cruises start, only yourself to blame if you didnt move your cruise and had the opportunity. Cant now claim you had no idea what the new possible protocols might be ...just my opinion. You had to be living in a cave if they caught you by surprise..

We had no idea, or even had heard, of Covid when we booked. Move to when? We still don't know yet exactly what the Carnival protocols will be for sure, or how long they will be in effect. No thanks, give me my money back. I'll book if/when they are removed.

[cruisemom42]

From what I have heard, the lines that have restarted cruising in Europe (MSC, Costa) have tacked on an insurance that you purchase through them when booking -- it doesn't seem expensive, not sure if it is mandatory or optional. At any rate, if you are denied boarding the insurance refunds your costs related to the cruise fare.

 

I can't see them not offering something similar when cruising restarts in the US. There would be a huge outcry if cruises refused you boarding and didn't offer some method of "security" to ensure you weren't out the money.

Edited September 26, 2020 by cruisemom42

[2wheelin]

There is a real possibility of a false positive at the port. Even with a second PCR test, you would have to wait around all day for the result and it could still be in error. Then you have the rest of your travel party to consider as well.

CFAR would not cover day or departure cancelation from all the policies I have seen. It is only for 75% (and the total cost of the trip must be covered) and up to 48 hours before onset of trip. That includes if you want to fly in a day or two early.

[firefly333]

1 hour ago, Pyrate13 said:

We had no idea, or even had heard, of Covid when we booked. Move to when? We still don't know yet exactly what the Carnival protocols will be for sure, or how long they will be in effect. No thanks, give me my money back. I'll book if/when they are removed.

Let's see you probably chose not to book a refundable deposit rate, chose not to get insurance. Chose not to move it out as far as you can?

 

When you chose a nonrefundable deposit, especially far out, it's a risk. If your only choice now is to move it out as far as you can and cross your fingers, dont blame the cruiselines. Nonrefundable deposits always carry some risk, that's why it's a cheaper rate. 

[firefly333]

45 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

From what I have heard, the lines that have restarted cruising in Europe (MSC, Costa) have tacked on an insurance that you purchase through them when booking -- it doesn't seem expensive, not sure if it is mandatory or optional. At any rate, if you are denied boarding the insurance refunds your costs related to the cruise fare.

 

I can't see them not offering something similar when cruising restarts in the US. There would be a huge outcry if cruises refused you boarding and didn't offer some method of "security" to ensure you weren't out the money.

Crystal has their protocols out and it says they require insurance be purchased. 

 

 

[Pyrate13]

11 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

Let's see you probably chose not to book a refundable deposit rate, chose not to get insurance. Chose not to move it out as far as you can?

 

When you chose a nonrefundable deposit, especially far out, it's a risk. If your only choice now is to move it out as far as you can and cross your fingers, dont blame the cruiselines. Nonrefundable deposits always carry some risk, that's why it's a cheaper rate. 

That would be fine IF we were getting what we booked and opted not to go. With the restrictions we are not getting the cruise experience that we booked and look forward to. As I said earlier, change of itinerary for weather or other reasons is one thing and always a possibility but saying we cannot leave the ship unless we use cruise line excursions, etc., is a totally different thing and not a risk anyone could reasonably anticipate in advance. 

How far out should we go? Do you know when the restrictions will, if ever, be removed? Perhaps you know more then the rest of us.

[clo]

2 hours ago, iancal said:

We came home early from Mexico in mid/late  March because our Gov't advised us to.

We have friends who were there then also and Southwest called and told them they were closing down in a couple of days. We had a cruise for April that was canceled and we canceled one in April that was due to go in Sept. Yeah, it may be where you live. But we're with you 100%.

[firefly333]

8 minutes ago, Pyrate13 said:

That would be fine IF we were getting what we booked and opted not to go. With the restrictions we are not getting the cruise experience that we booked and look forward to. As I said earlier, change of itinerary for weather or other reasons is one thing and always a possibility but saying we cannot leave the ship unless we use cruise line excursions, etc., is a totally different thing and not a risk anyone could reasonably anticipate in advance. 

How far out should we go? Do you know when the restrictions will, if ever, be removed? Perhaps you know more then the rest of us.

Earlier in this thread I was faced with a hurricane coming. No insurance. Never saw my car again, washed out by hurricane Ike. Carnival said board or lose your money. How is this different. I didnt book a cruise with a extra night in cozumel that ended in new orleans where I rented a car at my own expense.

 

I've had cruises where 2 out of 3 ports were missed. A lot of newbies marched around the ship and called some houston radio show. I tried to tell them but they ushered me out of their meeting. Sure enough it came to almost nothing. They did give us a free happy hour. So packed I only managed to get one free drink. Someone at my Mdr dinner table whined she only booked the cruise for some one port we didnt make. It wasnt the cruise she booked.

 

I had  cruise where a change of ports handed to me as I boarded. I've known of cruises that were a day late coming in, people missed flights. Carnival gave them $100 for the folks who couldn't board to find a hotel room. I've heard lots of grumbling in the last 20 years. Maybe cruising isn't for you as lots of things do happen all the time. 

[Pyrate13]

Yeah, cruising is not for us, we've only done 19 of them. Does that make us newbies? You obviously don't get my point so we'll have to disagree on how we feel this should be handled.

[KnowTheScore]

14 hours ago, magictam said:

1.       Pre-Testing: If I test positive I will be denied boarding (I understand and support this). But I won’t get a refund for not being allowed on the ship nor will the ship be responsible for any costs incurred due to not being allowed to board.  So they will really be encouraging purchasing insurance . I know many of you do, but I never do.

 

 

Did I read this right????!   You take cruises WITHOUT travel insurance?  If so I think that's incredibly unwise.  If you fall ill and if the cruise line deems it appropriate for you to be helivac'ed off the ship to a land hospital you're potentially looking at an £80,000 bill just for that evacuation let alone any actual treatment by the hospital.   Most cruise lines make it mandatory to have insurance so I'm surprised you are able to get away with it.

 

Aside from that it doesn't surprise me one iota that cruise lines will be doing everything they can to avoid any cost or liability for anything to do with COVID.  It was entirely predictable imo and I think it's stupid on their part and will affect their business.

 

We are after all supposed to be "all in this together" in regards to COVID

 

If cruise lines are not going to play ball and refuse to compensate people who they deem too ill to go on-board, then that will remove a proportion of their customer base.

 

If insurance companies equally don't play ball and won't underwrite the costs associated with COVID helivac's or any other treatments then again this is going to massively impact the entire cruising sector.

 

There is no way on earth I would travel on a cruise ship without travel insurance that covered at least £2 million worth of costs.   Doing so would be potential suicide and could lead to you losing your home.

 

All that such liability evasion will lead to is cruising becoming once again only accessible to the extremely rich.

 

Edited September 26, 2020 by KnowTheScore

[firefly333]

22 minutes ago, Pyrate13 said:

Yeah, cruising is not for us, we've only done 19 of them. Does that make us newbies? You obviously don't get my point so we'll have to disagree on how we feel this should be handled.

I do get it. But my pt is if we got nothing for hurricane Ike cruise where we didnt even complete a closed loop cruise from carnival, I dont expect them to be more generous now.

 

I swore I wouldnt ever do carnival again after that cruise tbh it was handled so poorly onboard.  I have done a few, but moving toward rcl. Carnival has messed with me enough. You missed my pt that if they havent been great in the past during crisis, I dont think they will change. I've had a few issues with carnival and they have never seen my side., had my cabin changed once without knowing it. Pvp said the contract says they reserve the right to move you without notice. I could go on. History is the best predictor of future behavior. Carnival put the screws to me more than once, so I think you are out of luck, if, its carnival you booked. They dont care.

 

Rcl has cwc and lift and shift and cwc any cruise booked before sept 30 I can cancel. 

[firefly333]

51 minutes ago, Pyrate13 said:

Yeah, cruising is not for us, we've only done 19 of them. Does that make us newbies? You obviously don't get my point so we'll have to disagree on how we feel this should be handled.

I think carnival should have allowed us to cancel when there was a hurricane headed our way.

 

For sure I think carnival should have compensated us if we left from Galveston and did not return to Galveston. We got one free phone call, and had to wait 1 to 2 hours to get it at customer service. I think we should have been given some free wifi to book rental cars or change flights.

 

I cant even tell you how mad at carnival I was. I'm just saying a tiger doesnt change their strips. I get you, honest, I'm just saying with carnival dont expect it. 

[cruizergal70]

16 hours ago, magictam said:

I know the contract says they can make changes, but I mean geez, this is total not what I booked and paid for. How do others feel. I know it’s all speculation at this point, so I’m not getting upset or anything like that.  Just my mind wondering.

It's not that deep. You are booked for Nov. They will make their requirements known at least 14-30 days in advance. You will have time to call the cruise line and negotiate a cancellation/reschedule/refund. As a rule of thumb, travel insurance is always a good idea.

[2wheelin]

6 hours ago, firefly333 said:

Earlier in this thread I was faced with a hurricane coming. No insurance. Never saw my car again, washed out by hurricane Ike. Carnival said board or lose your money. How is this different. I didnt book a cruise with a extra night in cozumel that ended in new orleans where I rented a car at my own expense.

 

I've had cruises where 2 out of 3 ports were missed. A lot of newbies marched around the ship and called some houston radio show. I tried to tell them but they ushered me out of their meeting. Sure enough it came to almost nothing. They did give us a free happy hour. So packed I only managed to get one free drink. Someone at my Mdr dinner table whined she only booked the cruise for some one port we didnt make. It wasnt the cruise she booked.

 

I had  cruise where a change of ports handed to me as I boarded. I've known of cruises that were a day late coming in, people missed flights. Carnival gave them $100 for the folks who couldn't board to find a hotel room. I've heard lots of grumbling in the last 20 years. Maybe cruising isn't for you as lots of things do happen all the time. 

You did book in hurricane season without insurance. Everyone knows that is a risk.

[2wheelin]

6 hours ago, KnowTheScore said:

 

Did I read this right????!   You take cruises WITHOUT travel insurance?  If so I think that's incredibly unwise.  If you fall ill and if the cruise line deems it appropriate for you to be helivac'ed off the ship to a land hospital you're potentially looking at an £80,000 bill just for that evacuation let alone any actual treatment by the hospital.   Most cruise lines make it mandatory to have insurance so I'm surprised you are able to get away with it.

 

 

Thousands of people travel without insurance every year and the vast majority of them are just fine. Yes, it is a possible risk but one people (informed people) are willing to take. Insurance is not required in the US cruise mass market. No one is getting away with anything.

[firefly333]

1 hour ago, 2wheelin said:

You did book in hurricane season without insurance. Everyone knows that is a risk.

I'm just pointing out there is always a risk. If you choose to save that extra $50, and book non refundable later on saying I want my money back. Carnival is a low cost cruise. Dont expect it is my pt. 

 

That's why I have 6 booked on rcl during covid. I trust rcl more than carnival. This thread started in the carnival forum with someone who booked nonrefundable wanting a full refund. 

 

Clearly you missed my pt. People these days often can only see one side. If you choose to book non refundable it was your choice. We all have examples where we can say we think we didnt get what we booked. I booked a closed loop cruise. 

 

Carnival is what they are. To me carnival is fine unless things go wrong. Luckily I wasnt on triumph disaster. At least if prices drop you will get price drops. 

 

Those thinking carnival should give them a full refund because of covid have their viewpoint. It's ok. .. but good luck with that. Carnival isn't known to be good with issues.

Edited September 27, 2020 by firefly333

[magictam]

9 hours ago, firefly333 said:

I do get it. But my pt is if we got nothing for hurricane Ike cruise where we didnt even complete a closed loop cruise from carnival, I dont expect them to be more generous now.

 

I swore I wouldnt ever do carnival again after that cruise tbh it was handled so poorly onboard.  I have done a few, but moving toward rcl. Carnival has messed with me enough. You missed my pt that if they havent been great in the past during crisis, I dont think they will change. I've had a few issues with carnival and they have never seen my side., had my cabin changed once without knowing it. Pvp said the contract says they reserve the right to move you without notice. I could go on. History is the best predictor of future behavior. Carnival put the screws to me more than once, so I think you are out of luck, if, its carnival you booked. They dont care.

 

Rcl has cwc and lift and shift and cwc any cruise booked before sept 30 I can cancel. 

 

I'm pretty sure this will be my last booking with Carnival. If they cancel it, I will take a total refund and book with another line. . If they don't, I'll go and enjoy my balcony cabin :).

 

 

[bigrednole]

Speculators can say what they want. However, if a cruise line refuses boarding at the terminal you are entitled to 100% refund. This would be a FL attorneys dream. On US soil, they are liable. Out at sea, they get into maritime law. 

[RWolver672]

20 hours ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

I think the cruise line’s should treat passengers differently based on when you booked the cruise. For example, someone who booked a cruise prior to the pandemic should be provided more flexibility than someone like the OP who booked a cruise in June, when it was already known cruising would be significantly different whenever cruising resumed. However, most of the cruise line’s have implemented very flexible booking rules for cruises booked during this pandemic. 

 

I agree 100%.  We booked the Mardi Gras when they first started taking reservations for her.  If she does sail when she is suppose to, it will be her third cruise.  None of the excursions listed appeal to us.  

 

As I said in another post, let's say we take the pre-cruise test and are negative.  Now we fly from Michigan a day early, stay in a hotel for the night, go to board the next day and find we are now positive.  Now we can't cruise and are stuck quarantined for fourteen days in a hotel.  We are now out the $4000+ that we have invested in this cruise, flights and more hotel expenses and meals.  

 

Our cruise was booked under a casino offer with a reduced deposit of $198 for the two of us.  More than likely we will lose the $198 if we cancel because it is non-refundable.  We have no intention of rebooking because no one knows when cruising will be back to normal.  

 

Final payment is due in December.  Hopefully by then, they will determine if she even is going to be sailing.  At that time, we'll have to make a decision on what to do.

[cruizergal70]

23 hours ago, pe4all said:

 

Key words: "you could be covered for a % of the loss."  CFAR insurance is far more expensive than regular insurance, and if they do not cover covid cancellations I would be hesitant in even booking a cruise at this point if the cruiselines are sailing and I am not comfortable in doing so with restrictions they may put in place.

Yep. That's how CFAR coverage works. Nothing new. It's common knowledge to NOT mention covid when cancelling. Yes, you only get about 75% of the amount but in the OP's case, that's better than the FCC since they don't want to cruise at all.

[bigrednole]

I do not know the contract, but being denied boarding because of testing at port should be an immediate refund of all monies collected. Not the 30-45 days, but immediate as in they say no and the money is back on your credit card right then and processed in front of you. The only other one I can agree with is shortening the cruise length. All others are dynamic and not set in stone. Itineraries are subject to change. Mask is a personal choice and would not warrant a refund. Excursions, your choice to follow or not cruise. That would not be refundable because it is YOUR choice. They can get by with just offering FCC or nothing at all if it is a non-refundable fare. 

[latserrof]

On 9/25/2020 at 9:46 PM, magictam said:

I booked my November 2020 cruise in early June. Of course at that time none of us thought this ban would go on for so long or antipcated the possible changes.

 

Wrong. Many saw it all coming, not just the "doom and gloom" crowd.

And there will likely be more cancellations and protocols ahead, and more lines going under.

Edited September 29, 2020 by latserrof

[latserrof]

6 minutes ago, latserrof said:

 

 

Edited September 29, 2020 by latserrof

[magictam]

52 minutes ago, latserrof said:

Wrong. Many saw it all coming, not just the "doom and gloom" crowd.

And there will likely be more cancellations and protocols ahead, and more lines going under.

Wow I’m so glad there were so many clairvoyance out there. Can you give me the date it’s going to restart so I know when to cruise next?  Your response was so helpful I’m hoping you can help in the next step.