QM2 Cancellation 23rd & 30th April

[Victoria2]

9 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

Section 43 of the very small print in the back of the brochure, the UK booking conditions, does imply that it is up to Cunard to get you home. I assume US are similar.

Is that  for  a cancelled voyage that hasn't commenced or is it for a voyage that's in progress such as those on the world cruise or segments thereof continuing on to NY?

[exlondoner]

10 minutes ago, Victoria2 said:

Is that  for  a cancelled voyage that hasn't commenced or is it for a voyage that's in progress such as those on the world cruise or segments thereof continuing on to NY?

The latter, it appears. 

[TheOldBear]

The US version of the passage contract contains information in 'section 8' indicating Cunard needs to get passengers to either their scheduled destination or home.

 

Oddly, the contract pdf is 'locked' preventing copy & paste of contact wording

 

[tv24]

I send my best wishes to all who have been affected by this last minute bad news.  We first heard about this from friends who were headed back to the US after a long stay in Europe.  They are seriously out of pocket because of the cancellation and the 20% FCC is minimal compensation for that.  We are to cross Southampton to Brooklyn May 18, so we are thinking ahead to Plan B.

[57eric]

Agreed, 20% is outrageous.  For a voyage cancelled a year out, it would be adequate.  Cunard should step up big time here.

[bluemarble]

At this point I think I can count us as lucky ones in this whole situation.

 

We were booked on the full 26-night round trip voyage New York-Southampton-Norway and back (April 30-May 26). But I booked the voyage as three separate segments (eastbound, Norway, westbound). So now, assuming QM2 will resume service on May 7th with the cruise to Norway, we still have two of the three segments we can salvage.

 

I had booked our flights to/from New York using frequent flier miles which I was able to cancel and have my miles reinstated. We are now booked on a flight to London next week instead.

 

Much as we would have loved to celebrate the King's coronation on board QM2, the opportunity we now have to join in some of the celebrating in the UK ought to be even more special. So, in the spirit of making lemonade from lemons, we are now looking forward to an abbreviated 19-night QM2 voyage starting from Southampton instead of New York.

 

That said, I do feel for all those who have been deeply impacted by this situation and the massive disruptions to plans these cancelations have caused.

Edited April 23, 2023 by bluemarble

[D&N]

1 hour ago, TheOldBear said:

The US version of the passage contract contains information in 'section 8' indicating Cunard needs to get passengers to either their scheduled destination or home.

 

Oddly, the contract pdf is 'locked' preventing copy & paste of contact wording

 

Is this the text wording you couldn't copy?

Found on https://www.cunard.com/en-us/advice-and-policies/passage-contract using a US VPN.

 

8. RIGHT TO DEVIATE FROM SCHEDULED ROUTE, CHANGE PORT OF EMBARK ATION/ DISEMBARKATION, SUBSTITUTE TRANSPORTATION, CANCEL VOYAGE AND ACTIVITIES, AND CHANGE OR OMIT PORTS OF CALL; SUBSTITUTION.

Except as otherwise provided, Carrier may, for any reason, without prior notice, cancel the Voyage; deviate from the scheduled ports of call, route and timetable; call or omit to call at any port or place or cancel or modify any activity on or off the vessel; comply with all governmental laws and orders given by governmental authorities; render assistance to preserve life and property; or change the date or time of sailing or arrival, change the port of embarkation or disembarkation, shorten the Voyage or substitute vessels, aircraft or other transportation or lodging. Accordingly, You should not make any important arrangements or meetings based on the scheduled Voyage, which may change without liability to Carrier.  Furthermore, the Captain of the vessel as well as the operator of any other means of transportation may, in his/her sole discretion, take any action deemed necessary for the safety, security, comfort, or well-being of any person or to prevent damage to or loss of the vessel.

In the case of mechanical failures that cause the scheduled Voyage to be cancelled, You are entitled to a full refund of the Cruise Fare and the Taxes, Fees & Port Expenses; or for mechanical failures that cause a cruise to be terminated early, a partial refund of the Cruise Fare and any unused Taxes, Fees & Port Expenses, travel expense to transport You to the scheduled port of disembarkation or Your home city at Carrier’s discretion, and overnight lodging if an unscheduled stopover is required.

[Joe33472]

18 minutes ago, 57eric said:

Agreed, 20% is outrageous.  For a voyage cancelled a year out, it would be adequate.  Cunard should step up big time here.

 

It doesn't seem like a refund of the cruise fare and 20% FCC is really sufficient consideration for cancelling a cruise the morning of the cruise.  Especially since some people have had these plans for years.   I feel so badly for the passengers.   

 

Has me thinking about what our "backup" plan would be if something like this happens next year for our TA.   We purchased travel insurance, but it looks like the delay coverage is only $2,000 pp.   That doesn't seem like a lot.  

[Omax4]

30 minutes ago, Joe33472 said:

 

It doesn't seem like a refund of the cruise fare and 20% FCC is really sufficient consideration for cancelling a cruise the morning of the cruise.  Especially since some people have had these plans for years.   I feel so badly for the passengers.   

 

Has me thinking about what our "backup" plan would be if something like this happens next year for our TA.   We purchased travel insurance, but it looks like the delay coverage is only $2,000 pp.   That doesn't seem like a lot.  

Unfortunately most of the time I hear about canceled cruises, 20% FCC is the standard. I don’t think the cruise company takes into consideration when you book the cruise or when they cancel it.  Hopefully Cunard will do more to help but I dunno if they will.

Edited April 23, 2023 by Omax4

[mdavid17]

50 minutes ago, Omax4 said:

Unfortunately most of the time I hear about canceled cruises, 20% FCC is the standard. I don’t think the cruise company takes into consideration when you book the cruise or when they cancel it.  Hopefully Cunard will do more to help but I dunno if they will.

 

Speaking as a thirty-something who was lukewarm to cruising in the first place, they will have to do better than that to make me consider giving them another shot. I get cruising is about the voyage getting there, but at least if an airline cancels my flight same-say due to technical issues they will at least *attempt* to get me to my destination promptly, not leave me to my own devices with a single form letter. 

 

As far as I'm concerned they can take their 20% and pump it into the ballast tanks.

Edited April 23, 2023 by mdavid17

[3rdGenCunarder]

1 hour ago, D&N said:

In the case of mechanical failures that cause the scheduled Voyage to be cancelled, You are entitled to a full refund of the Cruise Fare and the Taxes, Fees & Port Expenses; or for mechanical failures that cause a cruise to be terminated early, a partial refund of the Cruise Fare and any unused Taxes, Fees & Port Expenses, travel expense to transport You to the scheduled port of disembarkation or Your home city at Carrier’s discretion, and overnight lodging if an unscheduled stopover is required.

 

As I read this, all anyone gets for a cancelled voyage is the refund. The 20% FCC is extra, not required in the contract. I'm not saying that's a good deal, but Cunard doesn't have to do that, much less do anything more.

 

Terminated early includes travel expense, but whether that's to the original final port or home is up to Cunard to decide. Just as the odds are with the house in a casino, the wording is with the cruise line in the contract of passage. 

[Omax4]

13 minutes ago, mdavid17 said:

 

Speaking as a thirty-something who was lukewarm to cruising in the first place, they will have to do better than that to make me consider giving them another shot. I get cruising is about the voyage getting there, but at least if an airline cancels my flight same-say due to technical issues they will at least *attempt* to get me to my destination promptly, not leave me to my own devices with a single form letter. 

 

As far as I'm concerned they can take their 20% and pump it into the ballast tanks.

The airlines are heavily regulated by Government and are required to. Cruise lines? Not so much. Not saying I agree with it. But that’s the way it is.

[mdavid17]

Hence why I am lukewarm to cruising in the first place... Self-regulation rarely ends well. 

[D&N]

24 minutes ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

As I read this, all anyone gets for a cancelled voyage is the refund. The 20% FCC is extra, not required in the contract. I'm not saying that's a good deal, but Cunard doesn't have to do that, much less do anything more.

 

Terminated early includes travel expense, but whether that's to the original final port or home is up to Cunard to decide. Just as the odds are with the house in a casino, the wording is with the cruise line in the contract of passage. 

It's probably best that anyone who is not satisfied with their outcome takes advice from a contract law expert.

[markgpearse]

The cruise was canceled, not cut short.  They don’t have to assist with getting anyone anywhere.  If it was cut short, i.e., after departure, then they have to assist

[Covepointcruiser]

Luckily in England you are not stranded as there are a multitude of flights to every place in the world.   With the full refund of your fare you should be able to book a flight and perhaps tour around England with your 7 travel days.    It’s a relatively short flight to NYC so Business Class is nice but not essential.

[safarigal]

For those of us on Queen Mary 2 trying to get back to the US, we have filled out a form stating our preferences for flights home and we are waiting to hear back. Meanwhile on board it is almost surreal as nothing seems to have changed - the musicians play, the entertainment continues, so all in all we are having a good, if not uncertain time. This evening we received a typical Daily Program for tomorrow, but no mention of when our flights home will be. It's a gala night tomorrow - black and white, and the insight speakers sound great, so I hope we will still be on board. Interesting times 🙂

[3rdGenCunarder]

4 minutes ago, safarigal said:

For those of us on Queen Mary 2 trying to get back to the US, we have filled out a form stating our preferences for flights home and we are waiting to hear back. Meanwhile on board it is almost surreal as nothing seems to have changed - the musicians play, the entertainment continues, so all in all we are having a good, if not uncertain time. This evening we received a typical Daily Program for tomorrow, but no mention of when our flights home will be. It's a gala night tomorrow - black and white, and the insight speakers sound great, so I hope we will still be on board. Interesting times 🙂

 

Thanks for the update!

[delondin]

41 minutes ago, Covepointcruiser said:

Luckily in England you are not stranded as there are a multitude of flights to every place in the world.   With the full refund of your fare you should be able to book a flight and perhaps tour around England with your 7 travel days.    It’s a relatively short flight to NYC so Business Class is nice but not essential.

But the refund won’t be immediate. What if finances don’t allow for that. 

[mdavid17]

15 minutes ago, safarigal said:

For those of us on Queen Mary 2 trying to get back to the US, we have filled out a form stating our preferences for flights home and we are waiting to hear back. Meanwhile on board it is almost surreal as nothing seems to have changed - the musicians play, the entertainment continues, so all in all we are having a good, if not uncertain time. This evening we received a typical Daily Program for tomorrow, but no mention of when our flights home will be. It's a gala night tomorrow - black and white, and the insight speakers sound great, so I hope we will still be on board. Interesting times 🙂

 

That only makes it more frustrating. If they're willing to help you find a way home they should be contacting their other customers and helping them as well. It's not like they don't know our nationality, or how to reach us. Reaching out to find out if they could help would have gone a long way to making this more palatable, even if it was only a token effort. It is the right thing to do.

[mdavid17]

16 minutes ago, delondin said:

But the refund won’t be immediate. What if finances don’t allow for that. 

 

Indeed. I have sufficient credit to not worry about *when* the refund will occur but the suggestion that a few thousand dollars is enough to book a last-minute international flight home for two people *and* somehow tour England for a week is laughable. I have no idea when the refund will hit my account, if I needed that money I'd be up a certain creek without a paddle.

 

I feel really bad for those who can't afford to improvise a trip (or who aren't savvy enough to do so).

Edited April 23, 2023 by mdavid17

[tv24]

4 hours ago, 57eric said:

Agreed, 20% is outrageous.  For a voyage cancelled a year out, it would be adequate.  Cunard should step up big time here.

We at home have talked about this.  Our conclusion, unfortunately, is because of Carnival Corp.'s huge debt, they really cannot afford to offer more than this.  Sad but possibly true.

[mdavid17]

8 minutes ago, tv24 said:

We at home have talked about this.  Our conclusion, unfortunately, is because of Carnival Corp.'s huge debt, they really cannot afford to offer more than this.  Sad but possibly true.

 

20% would be fair if they had communicated this better. All they had to do was give us a phone call out of courtesy and told us what they'd be willing to do in order to assist us. If they had been proactive and told us we could still come and enjoy the vessel at port while helping us to sort out a flight to the US would have gone a *long* way to smoothing this over. It's not the money, it's the lack of courtesy and respect for customers that upsets me the most. I'm glad they are willing to accommodate and help some people, the lack of consistency and communication is most problematic.

[Joe33472]

14 minutes ago, tv24 said:

We at home have talked about this.  Our conclusion, unfortunately, is because of Carnival Corp.'s huge debt, they really cannot afford to offer more than this.  Sad but possibly true.

 

Just looked at their November 2022 year end financial and YES, they have a ton of debt.   Current liabilities exceed current assets by about $3billion.  Long-term debt is $32billion.  

 

I guess for me, it was at first it seemed like Cunard was just not providing assistance to get people home and that the "assistance" was the 20% FCC.   But a current report is that folks are on board, Cunard is soliciting air travel requests, and presumably will be helping international folks find their way home.   Given that, I think that the 20% is okay. 

[lissie]

47 minutes ago, delondin said:

But the refund won’t be immediate. What if finances don’t allow for that. 

I'm sorry but I have little sympathy. Even as a backpacker who travelled until the last $1 and then got a job to  fund the next leg I carried an AMEX card with unlimited credit.  For emergencies. Now I do somewhat differently but I have access to much money (on credit) on demand if I really, really need it. 

 

That said given that you use a credit card to book hotels and accommodation and will have what 30-60- days free credit until you have to pay for it you have quite some time for Cunard to refund -  iwould have thought they should  do that within 10 days or so 

Edited April 23, 2023 by lissie