Traciewatson

Hello, my daughter is scheduled to go on Panorama Saturday and wondered if anyone knew if the Covid outbreak on the current sailing will affect the next? Appreciate any info.

5 minutes ago, May26 said:

This ended up helping a lot. I read this to my husband along with some texts from friends in the area, and he said "that doesn't sound like a vacation", and I agreed. We just called it after a whole day of agonizing! We're cancelling and just booked train tickets from Seattle down to San Diego! Happy that we'll still have some sun and ocean time 🙂 Looking forward to my first cruise sometime in the next year w/ RCI. Good luck, everyone!

Hi, we also ended up canceling our Harmony out of Port Canaveral 9/1 and we used our travel funds from the airfare and we are in Seattle! We flew up from Phoenix this morning and have had a great day! Still a little sad about the cruise, but happy not to be in all that mess and just hope everyone is safe. 

4 hours ago, txfeinbergs said:

 

Tracie, do you even have to call to "cancel"? I am not waiting on the phone for hours for this crap. I find it ridiculous that they chop 3 days off the cruise, only go to one crappy port, and won't refund your money "in the hopes you will go on a future cruise". What a shoddy business. Not happy with Royal Caribbean right now.

Sorry for the late response. I had to take a break from Dorian cause I was beyond upset, but then I put it into perspective that this is just a cruise that I can and will go on again, but there are those that do not even know if they will have a home in a few days. Dorian won this time, but she won’t ruin my families vacation! We are all booked and leave for Seattle in the early morning for the rest of the week. For everyone going to or in Florida please be safe. 

Last question, does anyone know how the

credits work? 

On the phone waiting for Royal right now. Does anyone know how this will work if you cancel? It says get the refund 9/20 does that mean I have to wait until 9/20 to book my next cruise? Plus, I paid with their new finance program UPLift so do I just keep paying for a cruise I’m not going on? And looks like no credit discount for future cruises either if you cancel just a credit for the cruise fare only? Now what if we go and cannot get on the ship  9/4 due to damage then is it again just a 100% fare credit after you spent all that extra money to be there and wait for them to go? Sorry I’m just feeling overwhelmed and sad 

RCCL has posted that they will have final itinerary’s for all ships coming up. They posted a picture showing the storm going south and not getting here until Monday PM and said they would be sending out communication tonight. It said it would confirm if alternate ports were needed and final itinerary. Not sure to take this early on decision probably meaning a cancel or maybe cause of the slow down it means they think the ships can get out Sunday. Holding my breath! 

Hurricane newbie here, but I’m thinking since Friday and Saturday cruises are still going with the thought Dorian would be here Sunday/ Monday and now she’s stalling for more of a Monday/Tuesday landfall isn’t it possible the Sunday cruises will still go as scheduled? Or am I being too overly positive? And thanks PelicanBill. I will monitor any evacuation notices and if there are none go to CoCoa Beach and have a plan B for a hotel way more inland. 

Thank you all, I have written down all your advice and this is my new plan. Please please correct me if anything looks like not a good idea. We fly in Friday and are going to stay in cocoa beach Friday and Saturday while we wait for more updated storm paths. Sunday or possibly Saturday night we will

be moving to a northwest hotel (any city suggestions?) now of course this is based on them having not evacuated cocoa beach before we get there Friday. If that happens we will just go directly to the north west city hotel. We will have a rental car so if the hotel that is northwest looks to possibly be impacted we will move again. Some who are on Harmony now are saying that since the storm slowed and appears it will continue to slow RCCL might either bring them back Saturday or early Sunday and then head back out and await the storm. What it doesn’t say is would they let us board or would it just be dropping them off and getting out of there? Any opinions? Also do you think it’s safe to go to cocoa beach for just Friday and Saturday, or just go northwest from the start? Thanks and to clarify I call them my kids but they are adults. I would never even consider this with small children. And am still considering just losing my money and cancelling it all. 

38 minutes ago, aloyisuscowboy said:

Do what's best for your family..book inland near a hospital..most electrical systems near hospital are less vulnerable to outrage. The hotels at beach will evacuate due to possible flooding.

We are coming in Friday, staying in Cocoa Beach until Sunday and then if the hurricane is coming towards us we are going to move inland before the bridges close to the island. We will either be hopefully on Harmony sometime next week, or we are headed to say hello to Mickey Mouse for the rest of our vacation. 

7 minutes ago, Gishua_ said:

 If it makes you feel any better we are from Phoenix as well headed to FLL on Friday for a Saturday departure (hopefully) on the Equinox. Just stay alert and I am sure you guys will be fine, worse case scenario you are delayed leaving port 1-2 days and have to pay for a hotel extra days. Just go with the flow and watch the forecast. The only thing that would keep us from going is waking up on Friday to head to the airport and finding out Dorian is a cat 4 or 5 headed for a direct hit to southern Florida with an arrival day on Saturday. Do you have insurance?

Safe travels! And nope no insurance. I know not the smartest of ideas to cruise in hurricane season with no insurance. You live and you learn. I talked to someone at our hotel in Cocoa Beach tonight and she made me feel a lot better. She basically said they are used to hurricanes and they are already preparing for it and that the storm hits, does make some devastation, but really only to where it hits and then moves on. She said a CAT 3 to them is no big deal and that the news really hyped it up. She called it “ just a really bad storm”. Of course, I think the storm we are getting here in Chandler tonight is a bad one and I’m pretty sure our winds are only about 30MPH! Lol I am feeling more confident that we will get on Harmony, but I know we will be delayed and that’s okay. 

10 minutes ago, PelicanBill said:

 

That simply reflects the extra caution everyone is now taking that there is still time for the path to change, and minor changes means the entire coast of Florida is still at risk.

 

I would not expect big changes. But little ones have been happening for days and could still happen the next 2 days before we see the a specific area get the main focus of risk... and evacuations will start there.  Wherever that is, you could see tropical storm force winds 50 miles to each side easily, and maybe more, if it remains category 3 at landfall.

Thank you so much for the info I have been lost! So 2 days before probably puts us at having a relatively good idea where it will hit sometime late Friday into early Saturday. Sadly I will already be in Orlando by then. I’m your honest opinion (of course won’t hold you to it) do you think it’s going to make a direct impact on PC? Also what chance do you think there is of RCCL cancelling Friday or Saturday? Hate to fly all the way there to be told not going, but want to be there just in case. I really appreciate all the help

I am getting on here. 

22 minutes ago, pjs9876 said:

PC would be open quickly after the storm moves through if it comes to that area. This is the frustration of hurricanes. The not knowing of where and when until things get much closer. 

Hi, do you think it would still be able to open quickly if it is a direct impact? We are planned to sail Harmony out of PC 9/1. Pretty much certain that sailing Sunday is not going to happen, but I wonder about the rest of the week. Sounds crazy to think I’m going to be flying to a state Friday that has been declared a state of emergency. 

10 minutes ago, pjs9876 said:

Are you driving? Can you cancel? Many chains will move you inland w/o a hassle. What day/s do you plan to be there? I used to live on a barrier island. It is better not to stay on the coast. 99 out of 100 times you would be perfectly safe but, inland is better. It all depends WHERE the final landfall occurs and it is still too early to say for sure. I have gone through lots of hurricanes but they can be unpredictable. Inland, even if it come right to you-in a regular strong building, it is just fine. Coastal flooding and limited roadways along the coast are not good.

We are flying from Phoenix, AZ to Orlando, FL Friday and have reservations at the LaQuinta in CoCoa Beach. We are booked for Harmony 9/1 out of Port Canaveral.  RCCL has given us no clarity on them canceling at this time so still not sure what I’m going to do. I will go ahead and make reservations at a hotel near the airport in case. Thanks so much! 

Having never been in any kind of major storm (I live in Arizona) can I ask any of you that have to help me. I’m not only worried about my cruise anymore I’m more worried about taking my

kids to a place that has a CAT 3 Hurricane on its way. Have a hotel at cocoa beach should we move more inland? What do you do?

15 minutes ago, A&L_Ont said:

 

I am doubting that it will be cancelled all together, but I would accept a B2B.  Joking in that, Owen would not want to miss any school. All 12 year old boys are like that. 

Would love to give you a B2B, but maybe next time 😊 Safe travels! Please bring her back Sunday if at all safe to do so. 

Sailing 9/1 on Harmony hopefully and at this point have no clue what is going to happen. Looks like everything from storm goes more east and north and Harmony could get in and out ahead of it Sunday, to possible delay and then the sad reality of possible cancel all together. Hoping for any updates soon. 

3 minutes ago, PelicanBill said:

Although they did this from New Orleans to Mobile recently, that's pretty far to bus people. They will try very hard not to cancel completely.  Delays are common in these situations. The storm timing is slipping toward Monday...

Thank you, so looks like best case scenario possibly we leave Tuesday as long as it does not damage Port Canaveral? I know others were thinking possible if Dorian continues to move more north and timing goes out further for landfall that Harmony could maybe get into port Sunday and back out ahead of the storm, but seems to me that’s asking Harmony to cruise towards a hurricane which doesn’t sound safe or possible to me since they would have to head south again towards the storm. But in the end most important is I hope everyone is safe.

8 minutes ago, PelicanBill said:

Wednesday early morning update.  Dorian is better organized and the path has shifted east and north again.  

 

Now to cross Puerto Rico's NE corner near San Juan as a strong tropical storm. That means far less land interaction and it will be stronger as it passes the Bahamas. So now forecast to make hurricane cat 1 while off the Bahamas and cat 2 for Florida landfall somewhere north of Melbourne or as far north as Jacksonville, arriving late Sunday night to Monday morning.

 

Important: still plenty of time to vary the path.  And they are choosing strength on the LOW end of variance in the forecast, saying there is good chance for upward revisions on the strength, and changes in path and timing.

 

At this point, Miami and Fort Lauderdale are looking to escape this.  Port Canaveral and Jacksonville cruises are most likely to be delayed, unless storm timing slips further giving them time to get out.

Anyone think there is any chance they may reroute the 9/1 sailing of Harmony from Port Canaveral to go out of Miami or Ft Lauderdale since it appears those ports will not be affected? And if not, what are the chances the 9/1 sailing era cancelled all together? Thanks for any info or opinions. 

Let’s all just hope the Dominican Republic tears her up. I know it doesn’t look likely, but there is still hope. Or at least tears her up enough that she is just a very weak storm when she hits Florida. We are on Harmony 9/1 (7 day) and waiting will all of you to get any news. When we cruised after Harvey RC was already sending us possible cancellation emails and our flights were all cancelled so I am having good thoughts that I haven’t heard anything yet. 

I’m getting sadly pretty educated about hurricanes, but one thing I cannot seem to find is will a ship leave port if it is a tropical depression, or a tropical storm? I know they will not with a hurricane, but a weaker storm? 

2 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

 

JVF shared it on social media too for those at home.

 

 

Thank you, I guess now we just wait. I appreciate the update. 

Hi! We hope to sail on Harmony Sunday. They are saying an update is being played onboard Harmony and all Caribbean ships  in the cabins on the TV with updates on Dorian. Would you mind please sharing what it is and any updates they give you. Safe travels! Thanks! 

22 minutes ago, minnie00 said:

I am enjoying your trip report as usual and watching closely as my ship makes it back to port this weekend so i can take my cruise with her 😉

Same for us 😊! We also hope to sail on her Sunday! I did want to ask though - They are saying an update is being played onboard Harmony and all Caribbean ships  in the cabins on the TV with updates on Dorian. Would you mind please sharing what it is and any updates they give you. Safe travels! Thanks! 

We are also coming into Orlando Friday pending any huge changes after Dorian hits PR. I really feel like if it keeps on it’s current path and goes over the Hispaniola Island the rugged terrain will almost dissipate the storm. Now, if she comes through PR and Hispaniola where there is a small gap and gets out to the warm Caribbean water we could be in trouble. We should all know by Wednesday night. When we went on Liberty after Harvey RC did not confirm that we were going for sure until Friday at 3PM and we sailed Sunday! It was a get here, or do not go and there was no talk of a refund since they were sailing. So getting to Florida early is a good idea. May end up we still don’t go, but at least you are there if we do. Now, if come Wednesday it looks like a hurricane is headed for Florida then we will be cancelling our flights.

After sailing out of Galveston one week after Harvey I am ready for anything! That trip consisted of flying into Dallas, driving 6 hours to Galveston hoping the whole time we didn’t need gas cause all the stations were closed due to being empty and hoping for no flooded freeways. It was not the easiest of traveling to get there, but we made it and had an amazing cruise! That being said I’m no hurricane expert, but everything I read gives me hope. We leave on Harmony 9/1 out of Orlando. As long as Dorian keeps going the way she is I’m feeling positive that all will be okay. But I know from the last one anything can change so I’ll be monitoring her close. Thanks for all the updates. 

Following along, We hope to leave in Harmony 9/1.