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Cruise Start Date Anticipated - Hyped Incorrectly


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Travel agents were informed today at 9:15AM that there is Breaking News to be announed to agents tomorrow.  Here was the message:

 

I can't contain my excitement, I have some late breaking news to share with you all! The anticipation is too much for me to wait another week to share this news so I will be switching up my previously planned Coffee Talk. Join me tomorrow Wednesday, March 17 at 12 p.m. EDT, for an exclusive Coffee Talk with some hot off the press updates. I guarantee this is a session you will not want to miss out on - I'd say this is the news we've all been waiting for!

 

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7 minutes ago, jticarruthers said:

Sure it wasnt NCL cancelling June cruises ?

Banner is up on their website that they are suspending June ... typically means Royal is right behind.

I was just going to mention NCL cancelling June cruises. 

The only other thing I can think of is maybe some test cruises ?‍♀️

I'm a pretty optimistic person but I don't see cruises happening anytime soon sadly ?

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51 minutes ago, DisneyWorld30th said:

Travel agents were informed today at 9:15AM that there is Breaking News to be announed to agents tomorrow.  Here was the message:

 

I can't contain my excitement, I have some late breaking news to share with you all! The anticipation is too much for me to wait another week to share this news so I will be switching up my previously planned Coffee Talk. Join me tomorrow Wednesday, March 17 at 12 p.m. EDT, for an exclusive Coffee Talk with some hot off the press updates. I guarantee this is a session you will not want to miss out on - I'd say this is the news we've all been waiting for!

 

Could be they are getting married, pregnant or both lol 

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1 hour ago, twangster said:

I hope it is news of a US restart. 

If it is get ready for a flood of bookings and that surge in demand could cause prices to bump so today could be a great day to consider a refundable deposit booking.  

I already booked 5 cabins this morning ... worst case i smack another 25% upcharge on my FCC 

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12 minutes ago, em.down.the.rabbit.hole said:

How do you tell if you have a refundable cruise deposit?  Trying to book cruises for 2022 online (Royal's UK site) in lieu of FCC arriving from cruises just cancelled...

For a US booking all of the applicable discounts will have NRD after them for non refundable deposit.

1095705824_BOGO60NRD.jpg.fc58826d1a21bac63baa3db99cc8e867.jpg

When a booking is refundable, NRD is not added to discount names.

Refundable.jpg.2ccd67d1368e21428a6b551848e345f4.jpg

Worst case would be to call them and ask.  

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3 hours ago, DisneyWorld30th said:

Travel agents were informed today at 9:15AM that there is Breaking News to be announed to agents tomorrow.  Here was the message:

 

I can't contain my excitement, I have some late breaking news to share with you all! The anticipation is too much for me to wait another week to share this news so I will be switching up my previously planned Coffee Talk. Join me tomorrow Wednesday, March 17 at 12 p.m. EDT, for an exclusive Coffee Talk with some hot off the press updates. I guarantee this is a session you will not want to miss out on - I'd say this is the news we've all been waiting for!

 

 

excited.png

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2 hours ago, mook1525 said:

Test cruise with vaccinated people announcement maybe? 

If the guests are vaccinated, how will the line gauge protocol success?  Unless 100% vaccination (crew & guests) becomes the requirement.  Odyssey of the Seas will be sailing from Israel, crews will be vaccinated and the Israeli gov't will require all guests 16 and older to be vaccinated.   A pretty low risk proposition.

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16 minutes ago, twangster said:

For a US booking all of the applicable discounts will have NRD after them for non refundable deposit.

1095705824_BOGO60NRD.jpg.fc58826d1a21bac63baa3db99cc8e867.jpg

When a booking is refundable, NRD is not added to discount names.

Refundable.jpg.2ccd67d1368e21428a6b551848e345f4.jpg

Worst case would be to call them and ask.  

 

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OR this could be a worse case scenario ...?

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I’m wondering if test cruises will not be required in lieu of everyone being required to be vaccinated. I mean what’s the purpose of test cruises if everyone is vaccinated? 
 

American Cruise Line just started and American Queen starting next week. American Queen won’t require vaccinations until July 1. 
 

Now that Virgin is requiring vaccines for everyone I just wonder if the rest will band together and do the same. 
 

edited to add: whatever the news it hasn’t leaked to Wall Street yet. Stock currently down $3 

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9 minutes ago, Jill said:

I’m wondering if test cruises will not be required in lieu of everyone being required to be vaccinated. I mean what’s the purpose of test cruises if everyone is vaccinated? 

The CDC treats vaccinated people the same as unvaccinated except for small gatherings. So for the purposes of cruising, I doubt vaccinations matter as it relates to test cruises.

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6 minutes ago, Jill said:

I’m wondering if test cruises will not be required in lieu of everyone being required to be vaccinated. I mean what’s the purpose of test cruises if everyone is vaccinated? 
 

American Cruise Line just started and American Queen starting next week. American Queen won’t require vaccinations until July 1. 
 

Now that Virgin is requiring vaccines for everyone I just wonder if the rest will band together and do the same. 

American Cruise Lines has some ships that are small enough that the CDC orders don't apply although the American Queen isn't one of those ship that is small enough to escape the CSO.  So far they have aligned themselves with CLIA but that isn't a requirement.   

As far as test cruises, keep in mind the CSO was put together on very short notice.  It included a lot of checkpoints aimed to give the CDC a lot of different ways to kill cruises.  With the risk lowering not everything in the CSO will be needed. 

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2 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

Well the only two pieces of info anyone cares about that much to have hyped up are test cruises and restart dates. If it's anything other than that, then it's just plain wrong to hype it.

I agree.

Maybe health protocols for US cruises, but even that I'm not sure is worthy of this level of hype.

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8 minutes ago, twangster said:

American Cruise Lines has some ships that are small enough that the CDC orders don't apply although the American Queen isn't one of those ship that is small enough to escape the CSO.  So far they have aligned themselves with CLIA but that isn't a requirement.   

As far as test cruises, keep in mind the CSO was put together on very short notice.  It included a lot of checkpoints aimed to give the CDC a lot of different ways to kill cruises.  With the risk lowering not everything in the CSO will be needed. 

American Queen Steamboat is a different line than American Cruise Line. 
 

A friend of mine is the Hotel Director on American Countess and apparently they are starting next week. That one holds 450 but won’t sail at that capacity 
 

American Cruise Lines just had a ship leave Amelia Island (FL) a few days ago. 

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It's interesting that Virgin have done fully vaccinated...being a British company (usually)

In the UK the problem they are trying to work through (as they know it'll be needed by other countries) is vaccine passports.  It has legal complexities for us - regarding those that do have vaccines and those that don't at a particular point, the fact that vaccines are voluntary (although  think travelling is also a choice),  and those that will continue to be asked to practice all the health advise opposed to those that will look like they're able to do what they like (because they have had the opportunity to be vaccinated already)...sure there's other legalities but not sure whatbthey are....

Personally I would like cruises to be fully vaccinated when they start up (negative PCR tests for under 16s), with just contract tracing and improved medical facilities for people who fall ill...cruise lines should be able to sell socialising and non-mask wearing cruises as holidays...a real selling point I think...never happen tho

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31 minutes ago, Jill said:

American Queen Steamboat is a different line than American Cruise Line. 
 

A friend of mine is the Hotel Director on American Countess and apparently they are starting next week. That one holds 450 but won’t sail at that capacity 
 

American Cruise Lines just had a ship leave Amelia Island (FL) a few days ago. 

Didn't say they were the same company.  Both agreed to respect the CLIA shutdown when they have ships that could have been sailing this entire time.  

That ship with a capacity of 450 is subject to the CSO regardless how many board her.   The CDC is using "capacity to carry" not the actual number of souls on board.  

Perhaps your HD friend can eloborate how they escaped the CSO.  Maybe the big 3 could borrow some of that. 

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29 minutes ago, twangster said:

Didn't say they were the same company.  Both agreed to respect the CLIA shutdown when they have ships that could have been sailing this entire time.  

That ship with a capacity of 450 is subject to the CSO regardless how many board her.   The CDC is using "capacity to carry" not the actual number of souls on board.  

Perhaps your HD friend can eloborate how they escaped the CSO.  Maybe the big 3 could borrow some of that. 

Sorry misunderstood your post. I’m pretty sure they’re sailing at 1/2 capacity. He invited us to come sail in April but we’re not able to at that time. 

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1 hour ago, em.down.the.rabbit.hole said:

How do you tell if you have a refundable cruise deposit?  Trying to book cruises for 2022 online (Royal's UK site) in lieu of FCC arriving from cruises just cancelled...

I don't think refundable deposits are a thing in the UK. For as long as I can remember, including 20+ years as a TA, deposits were never refundable in the UK. That was one of the reasons for taking out travel insurance the minute you booked your trip; in case you had to cancel, thereby resulting in a loss of deposit.

That said, Royal bookings made anywhere at the moment (and up until 31 May 2021) are "refundable" in the form of an FCC under their Cruise with Confidence programme, although this would require that the sailings you are looking to book fall within the dates stipulated in the programme (sail by 30 April 2022). Otherwise, under normal UK rules you would only get your money refunded in cash if your cruise is cancelled by Royal.

You could consider using one of the MEI travel agents who can be contacted via this site. That is perfectly above board and would give you access to North American rules under which you can make a booking with a genuinely refundable deposit. The flip side of that is your booking would be in USD (think exchange rate fluctuations and foreign currency transaction fees possibly charged by your credit card provider) and also you are no longer covered by the safeguards provided under ABTA rules. You would have to weigh up both sides and see which works best for you.

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46 minutes ago, em.down.the.rabbit.hole said:

 

In the UK the problem they are trying to work through (as they know it'll be needed by other countries) is vaccine passports.  

BA has announced it will trial vaccine passports for anyone flying ( i think Qatar and possibly Quantas have are also implementing this) Other airline companies will follow same route

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6 minutes ago, FionaMG said:

 

You could consider using one of the MEI travel agents who can be contacted via this site. That is perfectly above board and would give you access to North American rules under which you can make a booking with a genuinely refundable deposit. The flip side of that is your booking would be in USD (think exchange rate fluctuations and foreign currency transaction fees possibly charged by your credit card provider) 

This is who i use and i use the Revolut card for payments in $$$$ with no fees 

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@Jill All I know is what has been posted- that maybe something good will be announced. Could be a teaser, could be something real. We'll know on Wednesday I guess!

Oh yeah Vicki is "Senior Vice President- Sales & Trade Support and Service" so I don't know exactly what she does but she gives a weekly "coffee talk" to travel agents on Wednesdays. They normally are not too informative.  Vicki is the person who I would say is in charge of connecting with us.

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I wonder if before there are any announcements about test cruises starting or revenue start up dates, there would be something forthcoming from the CDC. The CDC website is still advising against cruise ship travel.  I find it difficult to believe that a cruise line would reveal any changes by the CDC BEFORE the CDC itself.

 

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