Holland America - Cancellation Update

[Talent312]

Yippee! HAL has finally acknowledged reality and cancelled our cruise.

Their announcement:
"Due to continued travel restrictions, port closures, and surrounding global health concerns, along with the recent recommendation by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to extend their previously announced 'No Sail Order,' Holland America Line has made the difficult decision to delay the start of the Alaska, Europe, and Canada & New England cruise seasons through June 30, 2020."
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So, we get the cancellation prize:
A 100% refund or 125% future cruise credit (plus $250/pp OBC).
Do we take the refund or take the credit.... What to do?
.
.

 

[Rolltydr]

Yippee! HAL has finally acknowledged reality and cancelled our cruise.

Their announcement:
"Due to continued travel restrictions, port closures, and surrounding global health concerns, along with the recent recommendation by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to extend their previously announced 'No Sail Order,' Holland America Line has made the difficult decision to delay the start of the Alaska, Europe, and Canada & New England cruise seasons through June 30, 2020."
-------------------------
So, we get the cancellation prize:
A 100% refund or 125% future cruise credit (plus $250/pp OBC).
Do we take the refund or take the credit.... What to do?
.
.

I’d take the refund because I’m not sure when I will feel safe getting on a cruise ship again.


Harry

 

[Coloradorunner]

This is great news!
I personally would take the refund.
But if you’re certain HAL is going to stay in business and you know you want to cruise again, the credit is an attractive offer.
Is there a deadline date that you have to book the new cruise by?
I know I will cruise again but I think that it would be a long time before I’d feel ready to commit.

 

[andysnovel]

Take the refund, a vaccine is at least a year away, cruise ships are not built for social distancing.

 

[TravelTime]

I would take the refund. You can always re-book in the future when things are more certain.

 

[pedro47]

Take the refund, I feel the next two (2) years there are going to be many cruise bargains to bring cruisers back to cruising. IMO.

The whole cruise industry will need to sail all their ships at full capacity to recover their losses.

 

[Talent312]

...Is there a deadline date that you have to book the new cruise by?

We'd have to book by 12/31/20 and cruise sometime in 2021.
They set a decision deadline of 6/1/20.

I like to cruise, too, but...
Without a vaccine or all passengers cleared by a test upon boarding,
it won't be safe. Social distancing will be needed. I don't see it working.
It'd certainly make for a miserable cruise.

Maybe they'll find a way, but for now, it wouldn't be worth the risk.

 

[PeachyKeane]

I would be afraid of the cruiseline filing for bankruptcy. If offered a refund, jump on it.

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

Take the refund; it's a sure bet. You can always make another reservation whenever you want to and pay again at that time. The Cruise Line could file for bankruptcy as another poster pointed out.......




.

 

[Talent312]

Decision made... I requested a refund.
I'll lose the Chase points earned with purchase, but oh well.
"Better safe than sorry," as they say. At least I'll have the $$,