Mike.s

Ray, I assume by booking via the US we lose out on ABTA/ATOL protection but get the benefit of being able to reprice?

Wasn't aware that MEI could help us here in the UK, may be giving them a try when I finally see my FCC arrive

Have you tried booking from the US website, I've not done a price comparison but can see me spending a few hours and compiling a spreadsheet on the US and Aus sites, I so badly need to get away on a cruise?

Jason, does the Australian website allow us Brits to book directly via it, I like you I suspect are frustrated by the inflated prices RC charges us here in the UK.

Sorry to hear of your experience with RC, I'd like to think they're not our to scam us and the FCC detail is probably part of the T&C that we all agree to without ever reading. My own recent experience with their contact centre was surprising good, I called them mid morn from the UK, got through to a representative in under 5 minute who was able to answer my question. Now I like many are waiting for refunds etc. and will probably be pulling my hair out at the end of the month screaming where's my money, but based on my last call I was pleasantly surprised.

Ian, we all hope you're wrong, but fear you're probably correct, feels like death by 1000 cuts.

P&O today announced a further delay to resumption in cruising until mid October. let's hope we don't see all other cruise lines following suit https://www.londonstockexchange.com/news-article/market-news/p-o-cruises-extends-pause-in-operations-until-october-15/14561911

I doubt they have been removed from sale, RC would rather receive our $ and have to hand it back later, rather than not receive it at all.

It's not due for release until 2021, let's hope we're back cruising before then?

What's the view on when we'll see more 2022 Itineraries released, currently I can only see sailings for the Caribbean. Keen to start planning what to use my FCC on and already have a couple of non RC cruises booked for 2021

Looks like Norwegian could be aiming for the same start date, just cancelled all cruises to the end of July https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/22974-norwegian-cancels-all-july-sailings.html

So RC subsidiary SilverSea has announced a further pause in service until mid July, will RC announce the same at today's stock market update? https://www.cruisetradenews.com/silversea-extends-pause-in-operations-until-july/

Very nicely put, no emotion, just an honest post

Italy is likely to have a 14 day quarantine period on users from outside the 26 EU countries, so it's only partially opening up and those of us outside these countries will find it difficult to visit, me included, so I'm not expecting my end of June trip on Explorer will happen.?

So it's very obvious from yesterdays briefing by Michael Bayley that we're not going to start sailing in the next month, and certainly not from a European port, so please just get on and announce the next phase of cancellations. I appreciate they are trying to manage their cash flow (or hold onto our money depending on your viewpoint) but they are just increasing the frustration with their loyal customers. Long term no one will thank them for building up our hopes only to then cancel at the last minute.

Michael, we loved it when we sailed from Tampa earlier this year, I posted a review on another site, in summary, smaller ship without all the bells and whistles of the mega ships, brilliant service, good food, very friendly, being smaller you're never too far from where you want to be. We had a junior suite on deck 8, nice spacious room, we ate Chops Grille and Giovanni's, great food and attentive service, will be sailing on similar sized ships again.

Madness.perhaps RC need to pay more attention to the detail, we'd all rather wait an extra few days than have something rushed out which is wrong. Creates us stress and RC more work, more haste, less speed as we say in the UK?

Holland America have also announced further cancellations, come on RC, no one really believes you'll be sailing on the 12th June, just put us out of our misery. https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/22905-holland-america-cancels-all-2020-alaska-europe-and-canada-sailings.html

Couldn't see any reference to European sailings in the announcement, perhaps they're looking at different timescales, or perhaps they're just canceling the season?

Seems a strange decision to send 3 ships to the UK, none of which are due to be home ported in the UK, and to send Anthem, which is due to be in Southampton to India, can't see many sailings happening this summer

We sailed on Rhapsody out of Tampa this February/March and loved it, go for it if you are able, you won't regret it.

Which ports are rumoured to be reopening, Hurtigruten's CEO recently stated they were hoping to recommence cruise operations to some Norwegian ports in June (they are still running essential service to some ports currently), or was it some of the more mainstream ports you had in mind?

They couldn't resist the "floating Petri Dish" comment could they ?

The UK cruise line Marella (part of the TUI Group) has extended it's no sail to the end of June today, if RC do follow suit could they hurry up, I'm due to pay the outstanding balance of our summer cruise in the next few days.

One of the few advantages we have here in the UK/Europe when booking a holiday or cruise, and in the current environment it could come in handy?