Marina today April 25

We have just been informed by the captain that we will be arriving in Lima, Callao one day early because of a "medical urgency"

Will we be forced to disembark a day early? Anybody have previous experience with how O might deal with passengers who expected to receive the full cruise and have air arrangements through O for the following day?

So far lots of questions and no answers.

We are actually a day ahead of schedule because of lack of tendering to Easter Island. Instead of anchoring for 2 days we did not anchor at all, departed after a couple of circumnavigations on day 1.

Thanks!

Yikes! Disappointing re no landing at Easter Island! Due to weather?

Hope whoever has the medical emergency will be ok.

Yikes! Disappointing re no landing at Easter Island! Due to weather?

 

Hope whoever has the medical emergency will be ok.

The outbound trip only tendered one of the two days, which is better than none at all. Very disappointing if you really were looking forward to Easter Island.

The announcement at noon from the Captain informed us we would arrive at 1100 hrs on Wednesday due to a medical emergency. The cruise director called it a medical urgency - no idea what the difference is! We wish the passenger involved well.

We will overnight on the ship and those disembarking, will disembark as per the original schedule the next morning.

Some passengers we have spoken to are trying to change their flights home to an earlier timing. Others are planning additional tours in Lima. Some are still unhappy about missing Easter Island - needless to say we are all disappointed but Mother Nature decided that we were not to visit that day, with sea swells preventing the tendering operation. They tried and tried and repositioned the ship but to no avail, as every time they tried to steady the tender pontoon it was literally crashing into the side of the ship and water was then coming into the ship. That is never a good scenario! It was simply too dangerous.

The pilot eventually got on board, climbing up by rope ladder, and the authorities closed the port early afternoon. The Chilean Navy advised the weather was worsening and the captain decided to head for Callao (Lima). He circumnavigated the island and we were able to see some sites of interest along with commentary. He also brought the ship very close to shore as we were leaving so we could see perhaps the most famous line of Moai statues before we left.

We could see the stalls and all the guides, the cars, the busses, all waiting for us - we felt for them, as they too must have been so disappointed as they put such effort and planning into our visits to ensure we have the best possible time. Not to mention their economy took a dive that day also!

<snip> missing Easter Island - needless to say we are all disappointed but Mother Nature decided that we were not to visit that day, with sea swells preventing the tendering operation. They tried and tried and repositioned the ship but to no avail, as every time they tried to steady the tender pontoon it was literally crashing into the side of the ship and water was then coming into the ship. That is never a good scenario! It was simply too dangerous. <snip>

When we went to Easter Island with O a few years ago, the propeller of one of the tenders got damaged from bumping into rocks near the dock. We were lucky enough to go both days, but as you say, sometimes it just isn't possible. What a disappointment, though.

Frances

Thanks for the replies. Our thoughts and prayers are also with the person aboard who has some matter of medical urgency.

Some of us on board who live on the Pacific Ocean and have experience with the sea's chop and marine forecasts know how conditions can change and forecasts can be amended from day to day. Yes indeed it was "disappointing" for us on the ship, and those on the Island.

However, my feeling is that O would have shown better faith and courtesy to passengers had they anchored as per their schedule rather than leaving 26 hours early. Just mho.

ps, as of 3 days ago when we departed Easter Island area, no mention was made of any medical issue. It would have been understandable to make a schedule deviation in such case.

as of 3 days ago when we departed Easter Island area, no mention was made of any medical issue. It would have been understandable to make a schedule deviation in such case.

maybe the medical urgency became an issue after the departure from E.I. ?

maybe the medical urgency became an issue after the departure from E.I. ?

 

Yes it would appear so as the announcement yesterday was that no berths were available at Callao until midnight on the 27 April. So that situation changed when the medical emergency necessitated an earlier arrival.

Seachelt, well we are certainly glad the captain decided to move on with worsening weather conditions forecast and what would have been the point to stay anchored when you could not have seen any more than we already had seen? As we left, a weather front came in behind us with rain.

Anyway, people have as you say their own opinions, and there we should leave it.

There is full disembarkation information on channel 8 on your TV if you haven't seen it yet.

Off subject, but we are embarking tomorrow in Lima - who IS the captain on Marina at present?

And is Dominique the hotel manager?

The outbound trip only tendered one of the two days, which is better than none at all. Very disappointing if you really were looking forward to Easter Island.

We only got one of the two scheduled Easter Island tender days in this past January. Can't fault anyone since the swells would've made it very dicey.

Oddly enough there was a "medical emergency" on our cruise too, though it resulted in a helicopter evac.

Sounds like what might happen in this case is an unscheduled overnight in the destination port.