Wise to book cruises for 2022?

It was this time last year that the balance was due to be paid on our Med cruise to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary. We decided not to pay the balance and lose the small deposit we had already paid. At the time the cruise forums were full of people being scornful about the pandemic. Anyway that cruise and many others never sailed and the cruise ship industry was decimated. We received an email from the cruise company giving us a cruise credit for the deposit when we book again. We loved cruising. It's a welcome relief from airport delays and cramped flying. I would definitely love to rebook but can't see how they can safely operate at the moment.

Yes - we had one cancelled and got full refund immediately.

Jane10 Totally agree with you, as I often do!

The idea of a massive cruiseship with Covid in the background just does not bear thinking about.

As Visgril says 'floating petri dishes' yuk.

Floating holiday camps

Wow - been on two ocean and two river cruises - neither could be described as that. Our ocean cruises were on a 6* luxury small cruise ship with outstanding service, cuisine and really educational hassle free visits to place of cultural/historical interest. It was not cheap but we definitely got what we paid for.

I've never been to a 'holiday camp', but I doubt they would be so luxurious.

Never caught any 'bugs' on any cruise - but then we never caught any in hotel holidays either.

Covid has spread through the population on land - not via cruise ships! Land bound petri dishes.

I agree with Jane10. We have been on several cruises and soon learned to go for the smaller ships aimed at adults rather than families. We try to get a suite with a balcony if we can afford it - we love sitting there, drink in hand, watching the world go by!

My favourite cruise so far took us through the Panama Canal and up the west coast of the Americas. The lectures about the ports we were about to visit were good - some really interesting speakers who really knew their stuff. No noisy entertainment, water shutes, poolside discos etc. There was a piano bar where we enjoyed a pre-dinner drink. Most evenings there was a choice of a show, a film or dancing.

We had booked to go on a cruise to the Holy Land in October 2020 to celebrate our wedding anniversary, but when it was obvious we couldn't go and cancelled, we didn't lose any money. We shall be re-booking if we feel it is safe for 2022.

I wouldn’t. Hubby and I have enjoyed a lot of cruises, but the images of ships stranded out at sea with no port willing to accept them, will stay with me for a long time. Ships, often with thousands of passengers are only obliged to have one doctor on board and cruise companies never pay for more than they have to. Even if covid doesn’t hit ships again, most scientists and certainly virologists believe that another devastating virus could hit the world at any time. We have no desire to cruise again. I can’t be certain that will be forever, but for the foreseeable future we’ll stick to land based holidays.

Would you book currently Jane- and for when?

I have never been on a cruise, but can understand if someone wants to book for 2022, it gives you something special to look forward to. I imagine most cruise companies would expect all passengers to have had their vaccinations by then, from whichever country they come from. I wonder how welcoming some countries might be (or not) to passengers who want to visit and sightseeing in all the ports of calls, definitely too early to know that. As long as people book with companies who have clear cancellation insurance and refund, I see no problem with booking and hoping for some normality next year.

I hope cruising withers away or sinks without trace. It’s terrible for the environment and marine life. Where does all the waste from these floating tower blocks go ? To think you’ve visited a place by being dropped off with hundreds of others for a few hours and then spending money on tourist tat or being hustled by street sellers. No thanks.

We waited 8 months for a refund on a cruise in 2020. This was not the fault of the cruise line, but the agent we booked through. I will be very wary of booking ahead. Cruise companies can give you guarantees of refunds, but what happens if the cruise line goes bust? Most insurances won't cover you and I don't know the position of ABTA in these circumstances. I have also heard that cruises may be socially distanced which spoils the social side of this type of holiday.

I wouldn't book any holidays abroad or cruises for this year. You don't want to be sitting on a plane for hours at a time having to wear a mask the whole time and walking around a cruise ship having to wear a mask. You may as well stay at home

Foxglove77”. Your cruise credit won’t be worth a penny if the company folds. In your place I would insist on a refund.

Willow73 A few people I know have been booking cruises ?️ for this year in the hope that they will go ahead. One couple is in OZ, another is in Canada, and yet another is from Germany. They that everything is in a bit of a mess at the moment but are keeping their fingers and toes crossed.?

DH works ? on a cruise ship and I usually travel with him. I do miss seeing places.

It is horrible that things have come to a stand still and staff cuts, and some companies have sold their ships. Cruise ships have to be maintained though so essential staff are on board keeping them manned, from nurses, docs ?, electricians, engineers, cooks ?‍?, senior officers, etc. DH has been waiting his turn to help with essential manning but as yet it hasn't happened and he's not been to sea for a year now.

Whatever happens - may cruising and travel start up again sooner rather than later! ??

Why not fly to Australia, their cruises begin in May ?

That's if they allow UK citizens in their country.

We have done a few cruises and thoroughly enjoyed them, but won't be booking any for a long time, sadly. I would love to have a holiday to look forward to, in fact would love to have anything to look forward to. Maybe late summer, early autumn we will manage a flight somewhere.

Only holiday I will book now if for self-drive, no flights, and self catering, no shared accommodation.

In the first lockdown felt quite optimistic about a Green Revolution. Now my optimism has evaporated. Cruises are extremely polluting and bad for the planet. I was hoping we might have learnt some lessons from this pandemic.

Well I don't fancy camping or holidaying in a yurt!

We have a cruise booked for May. I think we will not be going

Just listening to the News, don’t think anyone will be cruising yet.

Jane10

Well I don't fancy camping or holidaying in a yurt!

Has anyone, but anyone- suggested you should? Where?

Jane10
Well I don't fancy camping or holidaying in a yurt!

biba
Has anyone, but anyone- suggested you should? Where?

At least on a cruise you can get a lovely relaxing massage in their beauty treatment suite!

ah- but self drive and self catering does not have to be 'roughing it'- and with some of the spa resorts or apartments and villas we have stayed in, you can get a massage there or nearby. Some of the villas we have stayed in wtih friends and family have been stunning and more.