We were booked on the Odyssey at Sea starting October 9, 2020. My understanding is that all the Aegean Odyssey cruises were cancelled through September 2020 due to the pandemic. I only have one kidney and am 68 years old. I did not feel comfortable flying to Istanbul, then getting on a cruise ship, especially knowing that the October 9 cruise will be the first since the shut down. I contacted Road Scholar to ask for a refund, or to to put all the money to another vacation further into the future when the pandemic is controlled. They said I could only put the money toward another Aegean Odyssey cruise so I cancelled the trip. Since I cancelled before the deadline, Road Scholar did reimburse $10,398 of the $12,823 we paid for the cruise, but they refused to refund $2,400 "Penalty for Cancellation" (not sure why they kept the other $25.00). After talking with several advisors, I was offered "opportunity" to pay an additional $1,414.00 in insurance to allow Road Scholar to keep the $2,400 for use on a later trip. So we paid Road Scholar $2,425 for absolutely nothing. All the people on Aegean Odyssey cruises that they cancelled through September 2020 received their full payment refunded. Since we had until June 1 to cancel, or risk forfeiting $5,211 (50% of the payment) if Aegean Odyssey did not cancel, we had no choice. Road Scholar said they will not reimburse the $2,425 even if Aegean Odyssey now cancels the October 9 cruise. I guess James Moses, Road Scholar/Elderhostel's President, plea for charitable contributions to them in this troubling time means they will take any opportunity to fill their coffers. My wife and I will never take a trip with Road Scholar after this experience. Joseph Kelly
Good to know....