Cruise Refunds Delay?

[Talent312]

The cruise line cancelled my cruise which would have left yesterday.
I submitted a refund request April 15th, but it has not materialized.

I haven't received any communication from the CL since that time.
I just sent 'em an email... know I should be patient, but five weeks?
Is this par for the course?
.

 

[Ken555]

Which cruise line? Royal has been delayed considerably, and they’ve admitted as much.


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[elaine]

Most are delayed by 60+ days according to crusiecritic posts. I’m at 60 days for Oceania. OTOH I got dcl refund in under 10 days.

 

[pedro47]

To Talent312, this question have been posted and answered on Cruise Critic website.

Good Luck.

 

[frank808]

Still waiting for our Royal and MSC refunds. They are saying 60-75 days for a refund.

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[Talent312]

Holland America... they do ask for ask for patience on the website.
I knew Cruise Critic prolly had a discussion, but I like to whine here.

 

[pedro47]

Holland America... they do ask for ask for patience on the website.
I knew Cruise Critic prolly had a discussion, but I like to whine here.

I understand your sentiment. We are kinder.

 

[dioxide45]

We are talking tens of thousands of cancellations, most of which have to be processed manually because they never really had a mechanism to systemically refund full fares inside of final payment. So it likely take a human touch on each one of them to process the refund. They are also in no hurry to provide the refund since it is an outflow of money.

 

[JudyH]

I am waiting on Oceania, and Vantage travel for promised refunds. Will fight soon with Iceland Air.

 

[Talent312]

We are talking tens of thousands of cancellations, most of which have to be processed manually...

Granted.
But all they need to do is hand out lists w/CC's + $-amts and it shouldn't take long.
They just need to assign enuff peep and stop letting 'em take long breaks.
Sooner or later the $$ will leave their accounts. They may as well get it over with.

 

[mdurette]

Curious - did the cruise lines offer you something more to keep a credit with them? If so, then there is even more to do since they have to separate into switch category.
My Disney cruise was 3/20, they offered 100% refund (which took about a week (back then) to process or 125% credit.

 

[elaine]

I canceled Oceania on 3/26 for sept sailing with Oceania saying refund of deposit would be processed to credit card. No voucher, just straight refund, usually done in 5 days. Travel agent contacted O at 30 days out who said “in process.”

 

[dioxide45]

Granted.
But all they need to do is hand out lists w/CC's + $-amts and it shouldn't take long.
Heck, this month I got refunds from Home Depot & Arby's (dbl.chgd) on the spot.
They just need to assign enuff peep and stop letting 'em take long breaks.
Sooner or later the $$ will leave their accounts. They may as well get it over with.

If everything was ever that easy... Home Depot is used to giving refunds on the spot. They do it every day. After final payment a cruise line never gives a full refund. There is some type of penalty. So to override the penalty and give a 100% refund will take extra manual work. Sure they could hand out lists, but they probably don't have the ability to just print off credit card numbers and remain PCI compliant.

 

[elaine]

no penalty for mine. no override needed. I got DCL deposit refunded in under a week.

 

[Talent312]

Curious - did the cruise lines offer you something more to keep a credit with them? If so, then there is even more to do since they have to separate into switch category.

AFAIK, the 125% credit is industry standard. HAL tacked on some OBC.
However, we weren't gonna take a chance on cruising in 2021.

Pile 1 = Credits -vs- Pile 2 = Refunds
They should have plenty of ships' pursers waiting around to process both,

 

[dioxide45]

They should have plenty of ships' pursers waiting around to process both,

LO. The people working on the ship have nothing to do with making bookings or refunding cruises. They wouldn't even be trained on how to even start and in some cases their contracts are up and they are now at home. Refunds are all likely being processed in their customer service offices with, whether in Miami or wherever they are located. I get it, it is frustrating. My wife is dealing with a clients booking where they have not received their future cruise credit but everyone else that booked and cancelled at the same time got theirs. Getting answers and getting to the right people is next to impossible.

 

[mark201235]

Although we received a refund for cruise fare quickly, I submitted receipts for reimbursement to Princess from a cancelled 3/7/20 sailing. We spent 8+ hours in cruise terminal, and Princess notified passengers that they would reimburse for several things including that nights hotel accommodations, increased airline fees, etc. Emailed it to them 3/15, they acknowledged receipt on 3/24, and the wait for reimbursement is on. I’ll need to next get on them to either restore OBC’s from rewards points and gift certificates or cash them out. I’m fine with either. It’s not a forgettable amount.

Mark

 

[Talent312]

Mark, you must have the patience of Job (so to speak).

 

[mdurette]

AFAIK, the 125% credit is industry standard. HAL tacked on some OBC.
However, we weren't gonna take a chance on cruising in 2021.

Yeah, even though free Disney money was tempting, I also took the refund. In March is was more because the cruise dates I would have needed/wanted to cruise in the future were super expensive. I'm glad I did now, as time has gone on I'm pretty sure cruising isn't gonna happen for us for a while.

 

[Tacoma]

I had a cruise to Alaska from Vancouver for early June. Called early March and told travel agent that the cruise could not go since Canada had closed all port to large cruise ships. Agent said the cruise line had not cancelled the cruise yet just wait. March 26th I called back to insist that the cruise was not going and we wanted refunds. This time she agreed and told Celebrity we wanted refunds. Finally got the refund this weekend or 2 months later. I thought that was a ridiculous amount of time all other refunds were processed in less than a week. I feel a sense of relief we have the money back in our accounts.

Joan

 

[Talent312]

... Finally got the refund this weekend or 2 months later. I thought that was a ridiculous amount of time all other refunds were processed in less than a week. I feel a sense of relief we have the money back in our accounts.

That was a long time, but now it's time for the happy dance. Congratulations.

 

[Krteczech]

When we requested our NCL refund for b2b cancelled cruises their system said 90 days. When we requested refund for June 15th cancelled frights on Norwegian Air, system acknowledge “extended time to process”
I am looking forward to get my money back soon to start bathroom remodeling project.

 

[Talent312]

... I am looking forward to get my money back soon to start bathroom remodeling project.

The few refunds we have received went into savings for 2022 travel.
But we also have renovations we could work on in the meantime.