[Help] Calling any Travel Agents

[Rugrat]

.. particularly if you focus on the Cruise segment

I have had a bit of dialogue with [MENTION=522]Kinky Gerbils[/MENTION] (thanks) but still struggling to know what to do

Cruise booked that's due to sail Sept 6 ... balance has to be paid in just over 2 weeks. I doubt the cruise line (RCI) will cancel before balance due as they will hope/expect lots of people bail out and then they forfeit their deposits (not inconsiderable).

I don't feel inclined to go and my guess is that they will cancel the cruise nearer the time in which case I can get my £'s back if I pay the balance (Not interested in voucher). But the problem is if I pay the balance and the cruise does go then I'm on the hook, or take a future credit that I don't want

I guess the question is 'does anyone ITK have any view on the likelihood of them cancelling?' P&O and Princess have cancelled but RCI seem to be holding off to the last minute. I know it's only speculation but it would be good to get a view from someone a bit closer to this than me

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Hey

Pay the balance or you will lose deposit, have you spoken to insurance about claiming?

I think if they do cancel it maybe last minute as things are starting up

Potentially cruises could be one of the safest areas if they are testing before

 

[beorhthelm]

if thats with Royal Caribbean, they raised several billion in bonds issue, so i dont think they're going anywhere any time soon.

 

[Springal]

Your best course for protection is to pay it off in full before the deadline using a credit card

 

[Rugrat]

Hey

Pay the balance or you will lose deposit, have you spoken to insurance about claiming?

I think if they do cancel it maybe last minute as things are starting up

Potentially cruises could be one of the safest areas if they are testing before

Not looked at insurance as yet and not sure what the situation is, but will be hassle for sure. I agree that if they cancel will be a whi!e yet. As I understand it they are re-commencing from Aug 1, much will depend on how those 1st ones go I guess.

if thats with Royal Caribbean, they raised several billion in bonds issue, so i dont think they're going anywhere any time soon.

Yes I saw they raised $2-3bn with a recent junk bond issue.That reassured, plus I think 2021 bookings (and prices) are up as cruise junkies seek their fixes

Your best course for protection is to pay it off in full before the deadline using a credit card

I think so, although as via an agent the section 75 protection is a bit less secure

 

[swindonseagull]

Cunard have suspended all cruises until November..........others may follow?

https://www.independent.co.uk/trave...-cruise-line-cancelled-november-a9555991.html

 

[Rugrat]

Cunard have suspended all cruises until November..........others may follow?

https://www.independent.co.uk/trave...-cruise-line-cancelled-november-a9555991.html

Also P&O till October and Princess all European cruises till next year. My worry is RCI find a way to run theirs and I really don't feel comfortable going. I'm leaning towards paying the balance and keeping everything crossed they cancel ... feels kind of crazy but such is current life

 

[LamieRobertson]

Also P&O till October and Princess all European cruises till next year. My worry is RCI find a way to run theirs and I really don't feel comfortable going. I'm leaning towards paying the balance and keeping everything crossed they cancel ... feels kind of crazy but such is current life

All beds on deck I heard as it’s healthier outdoors ..no lighting of bbq’s though for health n safety reasons

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

.. particularly if you focus on the Cruise segment

I have had a bit of dialogue with [MENTION=522]Kinky Gerbils[/MENTION] (thanks) but still struggling to know what to do

Cruise booked that's due to sail Sept 6 ... balance has to be paid in just over 2 weeks. I doubt the cruise line (RCI) will cancel before balance due as they will hope/expect lots of people bail out and then they forfeit their deposits (not inconsiderable).

I don't feel inclined to go and my guess is that they will cancel the cruise nearer the time in which case I can get my £'s back if I pay the balance (Not interested in voucher). But the problem is if I pay the balance and the cruise does go then I'm on the hook, or take a future credit that I don't want

I guess the question is 'does anyone ITK have any view on the likelihood of them cancelling?' P&O and Princess have cancelled but RCI seem to be holding off to the last minute. I know it's only speculation but it would be good to get a view from someone a bit closer to this than me

Mate of mine and 1901 member is a Cruise specialist. Don't think he posts on here any more but I'll point him to the thread and see if he can advise.

 

[Balders]

I have my own travel business (at the moment!) and had 25yrs in personal insurance before that.

Pay the balance or lose your deposit.

Insurance isn't an avenue unless you have a pre existing medical condition where your GP can prove that the condition means you should not travel. Otherwise it's disinclination to travel and no cover.

Credit Card won't give you much protection if the Cruise goes ahead or they offer you either a refund or a credit note if they cancel. If you booked via an Agent, then Section 75 may not apply anyway.

Sent from my FIG-LX1 using Tapatalk

 

[Weststander]

Follow exactly the same principles as for land based package holidays. Pay the balance, then play the waiting game until the cruise line can’t honour the trip (or government rules won’t allow you to travel .... imho that won’t be the case then, for most destinations). It’s counter intuitive, but necessary.

Contrary to another post, I think cruise ships are a potentially risky covid environment, with thousands of crew and guests living 24-7 in close proximity.

Insurance will no doubt be a dead loss.

 

[Rugrat]

I have my own travel business (at the moment!) and had 25yrs in personal insurance before that.

Pay the balance or lose your deposit.

Insurance isn't an avenue unless you have a pre existing medical condition where your GP can prove that the condition means you should not travel. Otherwise it's disinclination to travel and no cover.

Credit Card won't give you much protection if the Cruise goes ahead or they offer you either a refund or a credit note if they cancel. If you booked via an Agent, then Section 75 may not apply anyway.

Sent from my FIG-LX1 using Tapatalk

Thanks .. that pretty well confirms my thinking (insurance, section 75). The issue with paying is as I said earlier, I don't actually want to go and so paying is really only a mechanism for getting it all back. Are you getting any 'murmers' that the season is going to be over for all Med cruises?

Follow exactly the same principles as for land based package holidays. Pay the balance, then play the waiting game until the cruise line can’t honour the trip (or government rules won’t allow you to travel .... imho that won’t be the case then, for most destinations). It’s counter intuitive, but necessary.

Contrary to another post, I think cruise ships are a potentially risky covid environment, with thousands of crew and guests living 24-7 in close proximity.

Insurance will no doubt be a dead loss.

Same again, I don't want to go but don't want to lose the deposit. Between a rock and a hard place and trying to assess the likelihood of these cruises actually going. I'm leaning towards them being cancelled but who knows?

 

[sparkie]

Thanks .. that pretty well confirms my thinking (insurance, section 75). The issue with paying is as I said earlier, I don't actually want to go and so paying is really only a mechanism for getting it all back. Are you getting any 'murmers' that the season is going to be over for all Med cruises?



Same again, I don't want to go but don't want to lose the deposit. Between a rock and a hard place and trying to assess the likelihood of these cruises actually going. I'm leaning towards them being cancelled but who knows?

In other words you are in effect considering another bet to chase a loss.

You have 'lost a bet' in the deposit.

In order to get it back, you are considering another bet with the paying the balance.


It all depends on how much the lost bet was, how much the loss chase bet will cost, and what the odds of the loss chase bet are.

You are after advice on what those odds are... and no one really knows - you can only look at 'the form' ie what similar cruise companies are doing.

 

[Icy Gull]

In other words you are in effect considering another bet to chase a loss.

You have 'lost a bet' in the deposit.

In order to get it back, you are considering another bet with the paying the balance.


It all depends on how much the lost bet was, how much the loss chase bet will cost, and what the odds of the loss chase bet are.

You are after advice on what those odds are... and no one really knows - you can only look at 'the form' ie what similar cruise companies are doing.

Agreed, as a travel agent I can only agree that the OP has to take a gamble. If it was me I’d pay the balance and take the risk that the cruise will be cancelled. Us travel agents are not clairvoyants although my hunch is a bit of brinksmanship by RCI and I think September cruises will be cancelled. It is just a hunch though. Good luck to the OP whatever he decides to do....but he’s gonna be sweating on it for a while.

As an aside have any NSCers had refunds from Virgin Atlantic or Lufthansa since lockdown? Both airlines are seemingly very reluctant to give refunds. We have had lower value VS refunds but nothing over 1k yet. Grateful that all our flights are covered by airline failure insurance should the worst happen.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Agreed, as a travel agent I can only agree that the OP has to take a gamble. If it was me I’d pay the balance and take the risk that the cruise will be cancelled. Us travel agents are not clairvoyants although my hunch is a bit of brinksmanship by RCI and I think September cruises will be cancelled. It is just a hunch though. Good luck to the OP whatever he decides to do....but he’s gonna be sweating on it for a while.

As an aside have any NSCers had refunds from Virgin Atlantic or Lufthansa since lockdown? Both airlines are seemingly very reluctant to give refunds. We have had lower value VS refunds but nothing over 1k yet. Grateful that all our flights are covered by airline failure insurance should the worst happen.

They are working through them slowly because the well is dry.

Larger ones are going through from VHOLs before they go in July.

 

[Rugrat]

In other words you are in effect considering another bet to chase a loss.

You have 'lost a bet' in the deposit.

In order to get it back, you are considering another bet with the paying the balance.


It all depends on how much the lost bet was, how much the loss chase bet will cost, and what the odds of the loss chase bet are.

You are after advice on what those odds are... and no one really knows - you can only look at 'the form' ie what similar cruise companies are doing.

Agreed, as a travel agent I can only agree that the OP has to take a gamble. If it was me I’d pay the balance and take the risk that the cruise will be cancelled. Us travel agents are not clairvoyants although my hunch is a bit of brinksmanship by RCI and I think September cruises will be cancelled. It is just a hunch though. Good luck to the OP whatever he decides to do....but he’s gonna be sweating on it for a while.

As an aside have any NSCers had refunds from Virgin Atlantic or Lufthansa since lockdown? Both airlines are seemingly very reluctant to give refunds. We have had lower value VS refunds but nothing over 1k yet. Grateful that all our flights are covered by airline failure insurance should the worst happen.

Yes to much of all that. Of course travel agents are not clairvoyant but not being one I was wondering if there was any industry knowledge, even speculation that might help. I'm still thinking it will be canx but clearly RCI are playing cards close to chest for obvious reasons

 

[cloud]

Can you not just write off the deposit if you really don't want to go?

 

[Balders]

Yes to much of all that. Of course travel agents are not clairvoyant but not being one I was wondering if there was any industry knowledge, even speculation that might help. I'm still thinking it will be canx but clearly RCI are playing cards close to chest for obvious reasons

The Industry is a nightmare at the moment, if things pan out a certain way, the giving refunds for cancellations "could" be the easy bit. Things are changing frequently and nobody really knows anything until there is clarity on all holidays as to when travel will start again, what the capacities are going to be like (flight/hotels/ships) who will let us Brits in, entry restrictions (test on arrival and all the issues that brings) and what hotels and cruise ships are going to look like when you get there (the All Inclusive Buffet is a gonna at the moment!)

Specifically for Cruising, are ships going to be allowed to dock at ports to be visited etc.. the list goes on.

My "gut" feel is that it is more likely not to go ahead than go ahead, but my experience these days is: "wake up, see what has changed, adjust, go to sleep" and repeat.....

 

[Balders]

I've had refunds agreed for all my customers who have cancelled and i'd say 50% of them have been received, including packages with Virgin Atlantic flights.

That's not to say the Tour Op has received the refund from VA, a number are refunding anyway (they either have decent cash reserves or have borrowed against the debt etc) It's a bit of pot luck as to who the Tour Op is you've used to get refunds - some are really good, others are a pain!

Law of the Sod says my upcoming flight is with Lufthansa - it will be cancelled and I'm expecting a battle!

 

[Rugrat]

The Industry is a nightmare at the moment, if things pan out a certain way, the giving refunds for cancellations "could" be the easy bit. Things are changing frequently and nobody really knows anything until there is clarity on all holidays as to when travel will start again, what the capacities are going to be like (flight/hotels/ships) who will let us Brits in, entry restrictions (test on arrival and all the issues that brings) and what hotels and cruise ships are going to look like when you get there (the All Inclusive Buffet is a gonna at the moment!)

Specifically for Cruising, are ships going to be allowed to dock at ports to be visited etc.. the list goes on.

My "gut" feel is that it is more likely not to go ahead than go ahead, but my experience these days is: "wake up, see what has changed, adjust, go to sleep" and repeat.....

I thought about checking a couple of ports to see if any news that they had barred ships till dd/mm but couldn't see anything. Knew about the buffet which puts more pressure on dining areas. I also saw that they might be forced to run at something less than 50% capacity to maintain some sort of social distancing. That being the case I would also think it wouldn't be worth it as I assume the fixed overhead would wipe out the revenue from a less than half full ship.

But I'll wave the white flag on this now and toss a coin in a couple of weeks time and hope it lands the right way up.

Re you refund comment we booked through Touchdown (I was with BA for several years) and I have no worry about them although I couldn't get an ITK stuff from them unfortunately