Key Elements:
- Virgin Voyages is providing future voyage credit if company miss crusing as a result of cancelled flights from the US authorities shutdown.
- Friends should submit an airline cancellation affirmation to obtain the credit score and airfare prices aren’t included.
- Flight cancellations and delays at 40 main US airports are impacting 1000’s of cruise company.
With the rising disruptions at main US airports on account of the extended authorities shutdown and air site visitors reductions, cruise company are understandably nervous about reaching their cruises within the coming days.
Even when vacationers could also be flying in a day or two earlier than crusing, it’s attainable that cancelled flights or rescheduling delays may nonetheless trigger them to overlook their cruise ship.
Virgin Voyages, nonetheless, is ensuring booked company don’t must stress. In a Fb publish, the cruise line confirmed that they are going to stand behind impacted company to verify they nonetheless get their trip.
“Flight cancellations = uncertainty. Who wants extra stress earlier than their trip’s even began?” the social media publish mentioned. “This isn’t what you signed up for or what you deserve, and it actually isn’t your fault.”
“Virgin Voyages has at all times been for you. In case your flight will get canceled and you’ll’t make your voyage, attain out to Sailor Companies together with your airline cancellation affirmation – we’ll grant you a right away future voyage credit score.”
To be clear, the cruise line isn’t providing refunds to impacted company, however the future credit score will assist them rebook their trip for a extra manageable time when flights aren’t fairly so loopy.
“What we will’t assure: no cancellations. What we will assure: we’ll deal with you,” the cruise line mentioned. “When issues get again to regular, we’ll be proper right here – able to take you away from all of it. You’re undoubtedly going to want it. The grins are on us.”
Whereas Virgin Voyages isn’t providing reimbursement for the flights themselves (company would want to work that out with their airline), that is an exceedingly beneficiant provide and it’s superb for the cruise line to step up when company want the help.
Naturally, company can be dissatisfied to overlook their cruise, however understanding their trip funding is protected with Virgin Voyages could make the frustration just a bit much less.
Are Cruisers’ Flights Actually Being Impacted?
The opportunity of flight cancellations or delays has at all times been a priority for cruise vacationers who aren’t capable of drive to homeports, however how a lot of a priority is it actually?
On Sunday, November 9, the flight information web site FlightAware notes that Miami Worldwide Airport (MIA) has had 66 cancelled flights and 326 flight delays.
Miami Worldwide Airport is roughly eight miles from Terminal V at PortMiami, the place three of Virgin Voyages’ ships are presently homeported: Scarlet Woman, Good Woman, and Resilient Woman.
In the meantime, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood Worldwide Airport (FLL), simply 25 miles north of PortMiami, can also be experiencing points. There have been 57 cancelled flights and 256 flight delays on Sunday.
As compared, on Thursday, November 6, the final day earlier than the flight reductions had been instituted, MIA had no flight cancellations and 231 delays, whereas FLL additionally had no cancellations and solely 188 flight delays.
Keep in mind, delays may vary from only a few minutes to a number of hours, however the change within the variety of flight cancellations is stunning.
Learn Additionally: Virgin Voyages Simplifies Names for 17 Caribbean Itineraries
Most cruise traces have agency coverage that until airfare is booked by way of the cruise line, flight disruptions aren’t their concern. No refunds, future cruise credit, or different compensation might be supplied if company miss their cruise departure as a result of flight issues.
Moreover, many journey insurance coverage insurance policies don’t cowl authorities shutdowns, and so no reimbursement for misplaced cruises, airfare adjustments, or different charges can be attainable.
Extra From Cruise Hive
Many cruise vacationers at the moment are grappling with the flight uncertainties and trying to modify to earlier flights to allow extra of a buffer in case of adjustments.
An alternative choice for some company is to surrender on flights altogether and as an alternative make prolonged drives to their cruise homeports, although this is probably not sensible or attainable for everybody.
Virgin Voyages Ensures Friends Received’t Miss Out Regardless of Flight Chaos
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