Do I or Dont I??

jack_tyler

Hi everyone.

I have a cruise booked for the 19th Nov 2021. This actually should of gone ahead last Nov but because of 'you know what' it was cancelled and rebooked in Aug last year for Nov this year. However I now find myself in a dilemma as I keep hearing different information. I have been reassured by the travel agent who my cruise is booked with that they are confident it will still be going ahead, but 4 out of the 6 countries we are visiting are on the red list, so according to UK Government I should not travel to this countries. Also I have been getting quotes for travel insurance (i was advised not to get it too soon with everything being up in the air and so uncertain) and the majority of them will not quote me because of the countries on the red list. The ones that have quoted me are quite expensive, £400+, and they have made me aware that if I choose to go on this cruise and either my son or I fall ill, or need to claim on our travel insurance for whatever reason, they will not be able to help me because I have chose to go to a country that really I shouldn't have, and on my return from these countries, I will have to isolate for 2wks at a cost, I am told, of possibly £2k each.

At the moment I have only paid a deposit of £400, the balance of the holiday is due on the 28th of this month, that balance is £5,500. I have spoken to the travel agent, and asked them what options I have. They have told me that I can either do a 'voluntary cancellation' which means I would lose any money I have paid so far, or I can amend the holiday to a later date. But there will be admin costs involved to do this, i.e. the cruise line (Royal Caribbean) charge a fee of approx £100 per person to amend holiday details, then there's the flights and hotels. So I really dont know what to do and I am just looking for peoples advice what they would do, if they where in this situation, bearing in mind that things are changing every day.

Thanks

Caz3121

I would imagine that the traffic light categorisation of countries will change many times before November. There is no guarantee that a country that is currently red will still be red in 3 months time...there will be multiple updates prior to then
Personal experience - I had a cruise booked for end November from US (cannot currently enter) I took the decision in the last week to move it to next year. (not got round to moving flights, hotel yet but I know I can take a voucher for those at any time and rebook, but will hang off in case of cancellation/reschedule to get refund instead if possible)
It is a tough decision but there is an element of protection https://www.royalcaribbean.com/gbr/en/cruise-with-confidence
- What flexibility do you have with your flights hotel?

jack_tyler

Caz3121 said:

I would imagine that the traffic light categorisation of countries will change many times before November. There is no guarantee that a country that is currently red will still be red in 3 months time...there will be multiple updates prior to then
Personal experience - I had a cruise booked for end November from US (cannot currently enter) I took the decision in the last week to move it to next year. (not got round to moving flights, hotel yet but I know I can take a voucher for those at any time and rebook, but will hang off in case of cancellation/reschedule to get refund instead if possible)
It is a tough decision but there is an element of protection https://www.royalcaribbean.com/gbr/en/cruise-with-confidence
- What flexibility do you have with your flights hotel?

Thank you for your reply. Flights & hotel im quite flexible, im just afraid of paying all that money and then the cruise not going ahead. I know I will be able to re-book it at a later date, but until I can, I have in theory, lost that money. Hope that makes sense

sheramber

 Can you not cancel and get a credit  for the £400 as per the link above?

jack_tyler

sheramber said:

 Can you not cancel and get a credit  for the £400 as per the link above?

im not sure, because when ive spoken to the travel agent they've said that if 'I' choose to cancel it is called a voluntary cancellation and therefore I would not be entitled to any monies back. But going off that link, I would be entitled to my deposit back, unless that only applies if you have booked with Royal direct, and not through a travel agent

sheramber

 
 What did they say when you pointed out what the Royal Caribbean sIte   says about cancellations?

The travel agent would charge an administration  fee. What do their Terms and   Conditions say?