Sun Princess Inaugural 2/8/24 cruise canceled

[CU64]

On 1/26/2024 at 9:47 AM, nasa1974 said:

Let's hope my 10/14/24 cruise isn't her official maiden voyage.

You were smart

[CatMom72]

2 hours ago, SCX22 said:

Not sure what sort of explanation some people are looking for.  The ship isn't finished, simple as that.  Do they want the line by line list of what's still to be completed?

Some of us are interested in the details because we have cruises booked on Sun Princess in the next few months and we would like to understand the likelihood of additional cancellations.

[SCX22]

13 minutes ago, CatMom72 said:

Some of us are interested in the details because we have cruises booked on Sun Princess in the next few months and we would like to understand the likelihood of additional cancellations.

All the cruises within 90 days are past final payment anyway, meaning no more passenger initiated cancellations with full refunds, so everyone is at the mercy of Princess and Fincantieri.

[CatMom72]

1 hour ago, SCX22 said:

All the cruises within 90 days are past final payment anyway, meaning no more passenger initiated cancellations with full refunds, so everyone is at the mercy of Princess and Fincantieri.

Some of us are approaching the 90-day window.

[dog]

1 minute ago, CatMom72 said:

Some of us are approaching the 90-day window.

And

some have CFAR.

[CatMom72]

4 minutes ago, dog said:

And

some have CFAR.

I do.  But it would be easier if I didn’t pay the final balance in the first place, which I am planning to do in the next couple of weeks. As I learned in 2020, things are easier if I don’t have to file the insurance claim.

[SCX22]

44 minutes ago, CatMom72 said:

Some of us are approaching the 90-day window.

Still don’t follow the logic.  If Princess cancels the sailing within 90 days of sailing, 100% of your cruise fare will be refunded and you will get some FCC, as an apology.   Why should passengers voluntarily cancel prematurely?

[CatMom72]

9 minutes ago, SCX22 said:

Still don’t follow the logic.  If Princess cancels the sailing within 90 days of sailing, 100% of your cruise fare will be refunded and you will get some FCC, as an apology.   Why should passengers voluntarily cancel prematurely?

Why would I pay my final balance if the cruise is likely to be canceled?  I would rather keep my money than pay and get stuck waiting for Princess to refund it after they cancel.

[SCX22]

3 minutes ago, CatMom72 said:

Why would I pay my final balance if the cruise is likely to be canceled?  I would rather keep my money than pay and get stuck waiting for Princess to refund it after they cancel.

Personally, the extra FCC awarded has value to me.  Up to 3 weeks for a refund is a short amount of time to wait in exchange for 100% of the cruise fare and added FCC for another alternative cruise.

[PurpleTraveller]

9 hours ago, Coral said:

On the flip side, if the ship is done early, they often add more sailings and then those who were on the original inauguration cruise are upset as they wanted to be the first.

 

So true! I was booked on the inaugural sailing of Regal Princess in June 2014. Then I received an email in the vein of "isn't it wonderful that Regal Princess will be finished early and we will have an earlier new inaugural sailing". We didn't think it was wonderful at all.

 

We were offered to be moved over to the new inaugural sailing but we couldn't move our flights and we were meeting our son in Rome a week before the cruise. Once on board everyone who had been affected was given a complimentary Ultimate Balcony Breakfast which was very nice.

 

Edited January 28 by PurpleTraveller

[UKWildcatCruiser]

14 hours ago, SCX22 said:

Not sure what sort of explanation some people are looking for.  The ship isn't finished, simple as that.  Do they want the line by line list of what's still to be completed?

 

As someone scheduled to go on the 2/18 sailing, yes I would like a more detailed explanation. I want to evaluate for myself any safety risks and other impacts it may have on my cruise. I don't want to end up on a "poop cruise" or be stranded in the middle of the Med.  I also would like to know how much construction is going to be going on while on board- there are noise levels and overall enjoyment levels to consider.  If I cancel, I might lose a little money (not much as I am a casino guest) but I think my family's safety is worth much more than that amount. I am not really a person that complains very much and I'd rather not go than go and be miserable because of the condition of the ship. The least Princess could do is communicate with the people of the first couple of sailings to ensure them it is a cosmetic delay, not a mechanical/engineering one, and what to expect/not expect on board.  I don't think that's asking too much.

[Cdude]

26 minutes ago, UKWildcatCruiser said:

As someone scheduled to go on the 2/18 sailing, yes I would like a more detailed explanation. I want to evaluate for myself any safety risks and other impacts it may have on my cruise. I don't want to end up on a "poop cruise" or be stranded in the middle of the Med.  I also would like to know how much construction is going to be going on while on board- there are noise levels and overall enjoyment levels to consider.  If I cancel, I might lose a little money (not much as I am a casino guest) but I think my family's safety is worth much more than that amount. I am not really a person that complains very much and I'd rather not go than go and be miserable because of the condition of the ship. The least Princess could do is communicate with the people of the first couple of sailings to ensure them it is a cosmetic delay, not a mechanical/engineering one, and what to expect/not expect on board.  I don't think that's asking too much.

Spot on!

[Coral]

On 1/26/2024 at 11:47 AM, nasa1974 said:

Let's hope my 10/14/24 cruise isn't her official maiden voyage.

The Diamond Princess caught fire at the shipyard and had to be stripped to the hull and rebuilt. The ship was delayed quite a bit. They they took what was supposed to be Sapphire Princess and renamed that Diamond Princess so the Diamond Princess came out first. Then the Sapphire Princess was delayed.

 

I was booked on the inaugural Diamond Princess. Obviously that didn't happen but we had months notice on that one.

 

Technically, anything can happen.

Edited January 28 by Coral

[PacnGoNow]

8 minutes ago, Coral said:

The Diamond Princess caught fire at the shipyard and had to be stripped to the hull and rebuilt. The ship was delayed quite a bit. They they took what was supposed to be Sapphire Princess and renamed that Diamond Princess so the Diamond Princess came out first. Then the Sapphire Princess was delayed.

 

I was booked on the inaugural Diamond Princess. Obviously that didn't happen but we had months notice on that one.

 

Technically, anything can happen.

So, the Sapphire is really the original Diamond?  

[Coral]

Just now, PacnGoNow said:

So, the Sapphire is really the original Diamond?  

 

[beg3yrs]

10 hours ago, CatMom72 said:

Why would I pay my final balance if the cruise is likely to be canceled?  I would rather keep my money than pay and get stuck waiting for Princess to refund it after they cancel.

@dides reported receiving the refund and FCC within only a few days after the cancellation announcement. If you're planning on cruising with Princess in the future, getting 50% FCC plus your payment is a darn good rate of return.

[Coral]

4 minutes ago, beg3yrs said:

@dides reported receiving the refund and FCC within only a few days after the cancellation announcement. If you're planning on cruising with Princess in the future, getting 50% FCC plus your payment is a darn good rate of return.

Though what if you are already over in Europe touring? Plus, some don't have the flexibility to just switch vacation days. A friend of mine has to bid for vacation days a year in advance. If your life allows for flexibility - that is great. 

 

Though - I think it is a decent compensation. Not as good as they have given in the past.

Edited January 28 by Coral

[ian441672]

I am so sorry for all those 100's of passengers so bitterly disappointed; I can imagine how frustrated, angry, upset you all may be. I would be too.

 

We are booked on the inaugural Star Princess next July, so you can imagine I will be on tenterhooks for the next 18 months! They surely couldn't cancel two inaugurals in a row, could they.....?

[billet]

On 1/26/2024 at 6:07 PM, Cdude said:

That’s great and I hope you’re properly informed but right now Princess isn’t exactly reputable and from the passenger’s perspective it doesn’t matter if YOUR builder didn’t deliver. How about you make sure there is a proper buffer before you sail before people spend hard earned money, take time off of work and commit emotional spend? Same goes for airlines. They barely have the last passenger off and they are reboarding. Not clean and not safe! It’s all about company profits and 0% about customers which is why Princess deserves a heaping pile of dong salad right now. Why did all those other inaugural sailings that were canceled give guests so much notice? Better management and a long term perspective regarding their reputation! Don’t make excuses. Own it!

Ranting at an enrichment speaker is pointless. They have nothing to do with Princess but are (unpaid) contractors. Leave the guy alone and appreciate the information he is able to add. In the meantime rant all you like about delays in sea trials which unfortunately happen and obviously this is a last minute glitch which sadly has meant the cancellation of the first sailing.  Princess appear to be dealing with to the best of their ability. Do you have a better solution? Sorry if you were on the inaugural and I hope you manage to enjoy a cruise in the near future. 

[billet]

11 minutes ago, ian441672 said:

I am so sorry for all those 100's of passengers so bitterly disappointed; I can imagine how frustrated, angry, upset you all may be. I would be too.

 

We are booked on the inaugural Star Princess next July, so you can imagine I will be on tenterhooks for the next 18 months! They surely couldn't cancel two inaugurals in a row, could they.....?

The Sun is the first in class with new technologies. I doubt there would be a delay to the inaugural of the second in class but I have no doubt the project management team are frantically working on possible revisions to the flowcharts! 

[voljeep]

next update?

[Coral]

25 minutes ago, ian441672 said:

I am so sorry for all those 100's of passengers so bitterly disappointed; I can imagine how frustrated, angry, upset you all may be. I would be too.

 

We are booked on the inaugural Star Princess next July, so you can imagine I will be on tenterhooks for the next 18 months! They surely couldn't cancel two inaugurals in a row, could they.....?

It is completely dependent on the shipyard. Anything can happen that can delay a ship. It is not that Princess went into this with the thought or had control of the delay. They don't want to take possession of a ship before the shipyard is done with it.

 

If you think about it - striking employees in Italy can delay a ship and this is beyond Princess's control.

Edited January 28 by Coral

[DHP1]

6 minutes ago, Coral said:

It is completely dependent on the shipyard. Anything can happen that can delay a ship. It is not that Princess went into this with the thought or had control of the delay. They don't want to take possession of a ship before the shipyard is done with it.

 

If you think about it - striking employees in Italy can delay a ship and this is beyond Princess's control.

What strike?  The information that’s coming in is there was a 1 day strike because of the accident that occurred on another cruise ship.

Edited January 28 by DHP1

[Coral]

3 minutes ago, DHP1 said:

What strike?  The information that’s coming in is there was a 1 day strike because of the accident that occurred on another cruise ship.

I am just saying anything can happen. When I was in Italy - there were transportation strikes all the time. I assume other industries can strike as well. I obviously have no insight into future strikes.

[SCX22]

2 hours ago, UKWildcatCruiser said:

As someone scheduled to go on the 2/18 sailing, yes I would like a more detailed explanation. I want to evaluate for myself any safety risks and other impacts it may have on my cruise. I don't want to end up on a "poop cruise" or be stranded in the middle of the Med.  I also would like to know how much construction is going to be going on while on board- there are noise levels and overall enjoyment levels to consider.  If I cancel, I might lose a little money (not much as I am a casino guest) but I think my family's safety is worth much more than that amount. I am not really a person that complains very much and I'd rather not go than go and be miserable because of the condition of the ship. The least Princess could do is communicate with the people of the first couple of sailings to ensure them it is a cosmetic delay, not a mechanical/engineering one, and what to expect/not expect on board.  I don't think that's asking too much.

 

I've learned from the sailing inaugural seasons of cruise ships in the past to expect disappointment the first 6 months of a ships service life.  The crew is still getting the hang of things.  Newly introduced venues need to have the kinks worked out.  In the Sun Princess's case, I'd expect the Princess Arena to have problems.  Now I wait until a ship is at least a year old before I make a booking.  Mechanically, the worst thing to ever happen was the shower door wouldn't close all the way.  The Enchanted Princess had problems with it's propellers last summer, well before the scheduled maintenance, so really mechanical problems are unpredictable.