Costa Deliziosa Somewhere in the Coral Sea Sun with clouds 85f
Quick update on the cruise. I would ask what else could happen during this cruise but at this point I think the universe would accept the challenge and work on something worse.
All of the cruise lines have been amending itineraries that go through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. It was just a matter of time to hear what Costa has in store. Our new itinerary increases the length of the cruise by 2 weeks in order to go around Africa. There really isn't another option.
We stay on the original itinerary through April 15 which is a visit to Sri Lanka. Then starting down the east coast of Africa, we will stop at the Maldives, Seychelles, Durban South Africa (SA), Port Elizabeth SA, Cape Town SA. Heading up the west coast there is one stop at Walvis Bay, Namibia. From what we are told the western coast of Africa does not have the infrastructure for large cruises ships etc. Repositioning to enter the Mediterranean then has stops in Cape Verde and Las Palmas Spain (Canary islands).
Back in the mediterranean the boat then retraces the same stops as in the beginning as passengers boarded at various stops. And kept a few of the additional stops in Rome, Corfu and Bari, Italy. The new arrival date is May 25, 2 weeks over the May 11 original date.
Logistics provided by the cruise line have been interesting. Once they start describing a situation of 'force majeure' (releasing a company from their contractual responsibility through events that are unforeseen and not controllable), the company can offer, if any, limited compensation. The passenger doesn't have any say or recourse, in the process.
Costa has offered its passengers 3 options:
Leave the boat at Cape Town, May 1. There will be a credit of 10 days for unused cruise days and Costa will provide an airline ticket to the nearest international airport of your final destination.
Leave the boat at Las Palmas, Spain, May 15. Costa will provide an airline ticket to the nearest international airport of your final destination.
Continue on the cruise until the end, May 25. Since they delivered you back to Venice, their job is done unless Costa booked your airfare to your destination. If so, they will rebook. Airfare on your own or with your travel agent - well, that is your issue.
One has always had the option to leave the cruise at any point. However, with it being your choice, you are on your own as well.
Certainly, this is no one's fault between the cruise line and the passengers. All the cruise lines are making the same decisions but have different compensations available. One cruise line provided 2 different itineraries to the passengers and asked them to vote on the one they prefer. As you start to understand the rules that Costa is laying down for each option and what logistics truly look like, there isn't a real winner in any of them. Everyone will be inconvenienced at some point with either time, money or both.
I have chosen the option to leave the boat on May 15. I already had some additional plans after the world cruise for a week. So I can spend a few days in the Canary Islands, fly to Venice, have a few days there to complete some plans and fly home as regularly scheduled. We shall see how that choice fares.
As usual, one way or another, it will all work out !!
oops, of course I meant the wine for Kristin! ☺️
How interesting! Some may think that to go on a world cruise is an opportunity to leave the world behind, but truth be told, life’s experiences and world situations are inescapable! Your adventures testify of that!
Regardless, your blog has been so inspiring to read. I have realized that what you chose to visit was at times more unconventional than most would choose, which made it more interesting to me!
If you haven’t been to Cape Town before, even with its problems, it is a beautiful city. We were able to visit twice when Rachel was living in Malawi. (Suggestion: pick up some South African wine for Karin) 😉