Posted on 07/02/2020 5:00:46 PM PDT by Capt. Tom
Greece-based Celestyal Cruises on Tuesday became the first significant cruise operator to cancel all remaining sailings for the year. It said it wouldn’t resume service until March 6, 2021.
The two-ship line, which specializes in Eastern Mediterranean voyages, is making the move in the wake of signals from European Union officials that American travelers may not be able to enter Europe for many months.
Celestyal relies on a significant number of Americans and other international travelers to fill its ships.
Celestyal’s announcement came the same day the European Union confirmed that American travelers would be banned from Europe until further notice due to the high number of coronavirus cases in the United States.
Like many lines, Celestyal until now had been canceling cruises in waves, a few weeks at a time. But Tuesday’s announcement marked a significant shift in strategy. In one fell swoop, the line pushed back its return date by seven months.
Many of the world’s biggest cruise brands including Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises and Holland America have canceled all or most sailings into September or October. But that doesn’t mean these lines will restart operations in the fall.
Executives at several of the biggest cruise companies have told TPG in recent weeks that a restart to cruising will depend on the course of the coronavirus pandemic.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
It looks like this small Cruise Line has just decided to throw the sponge in for this year,2020.
The biggest cruise lines who have moved their starts for this fall realize those are placeholder dates, and can be also be cancelled, like the several earlier restart dates.
Like this Cruiseline in this article I have given up on my Boston to Bermuda cruise this October on Norwegian. -Tom
We need to flat line the DemPanic ChiComVirus, first. It will evaporate sometime around 10 pm Eastern Standard Time on 3 November, 2020.
I am still in a fight with NCL.
Visa has sent part of it to arbitration but part of it is still being deciding on by Visa legal team
What good does a future cruise credit due if they go bankrupt
There must be many Freepers out there, with cancelled cruises battling Cruise Lines and Airlines for rebates.-Tom
My worst experience with NCL:
During an Alaska cruise, the ships auto pilot malfunctioned and many passengers got hurt, a dozen were transported to Hospitals in Victoria. NCL offered us $500 credit voucher to prevent us joining class action suit. That was fine and dandy except when my travel agent booked our next NCL cruise, NCL said they never received the vouchers.
I was on phone with NCL and asked them they have our names on the passenger list of the cruise which had problems. So why does it matter if they can’t find the voucher papers. NCL agreed only after I threatened them with a law suit.
My cruise was on the Jade, in Asia, in early Feb., just after the Japan breakout. I canceled, and thankfully, since the cruise couldn’t go to its main country, Vietnam. Didn’t get anything back nor expect it, since cruising was considered safe by the (bought off) ‘experts’. Ended up getting off cheap since our cabins were inside (no windows and certainly no balcony). Got most of the airfare back, so overall loss wasn’t bad. Others have much bigger losses - their best option is to quickly sue, while the companies are solvent.
Never saw the appeal of riding around in a boat with 1500 strangers just so you can get to some place that you’ve paid good money to get to visit but that’s guaranteed to be overcrowded when you get there because you’ve brought the crowd with you.
Because of the cruise cancellation problems, there is a cottage industry of advice for cruise people - like don't pay by check, use a credit card- Get a certain type of trip insurance etc. Times certainly are changing. -Tom
Looks like COSTA cruises has also announced today they have canceled all northern Europe cruises this year (2020)and have moved ahead some other cruises. -Tom
probably depends on the company...
I got back my money from Carnival for 3 cruises and Delta and the miles with United were put back in my account with no penalties..
Celebrity is supposed to start cruising again August 1. If they actually do embark that day for a short Bahamas cruise, I just might go aboard just to be on that historic first cruise. One problem is that I applied for my passport renewal in middle of June and am still awaiting it. Sure hope it comes soon.
Everything is screwed up, even drivers licenses .
Mine has expired and I don't need a test until October.
Maybe this State, (Mass.) may allow that, but I suspect if I drove to some other states with an expired drivers license it wouldn't be the same.
Good luck with your passport. -Tom
Well, if Celebrity starts cruising August 1, I would need that passport soon but for the Dec. 6 cruise I’m not too worried since that is plenty of time to get my passport. According to my bank, the State Department already deposited my passport renewal check so hopefully that means I will be getting it soon.
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