Sai1

Windy is showing 30-50 knot winds this evening, and I took a screenshot of someone else’s photo reportedly from Royal, indicating waves up to 30 feet.

Once you have left home port, you have reduced options to be safe. Cruises in the Caribbean have occasionally diverted and changed route substantially or skipped ports because of hurricanes. The waters off of Alaska are "interesting" because of the wide open fetch and also because of the usual direction of the waves abeam, creating a lot more rock and roll, and sea sickness. The 7 day trips that are up and back from Vancouver and Seattle have a lot more options to hide behind islands in the Ketchikan. Juneau. Sitka area, etc, than the wide open stretch leaving from Seward down to those ports. And those ports are much further south than where the storm seems to be heading. I would trust the judgement of the crew in erring for safety when you have the option to do so before heading out to sea. and I respect their compensation package to make up for it. And, I would not be picketing RCL over this.

I am so impressed by how some people can get their bile up so quickly, even without information or facts. (Of course, facts don't matter any more, apparently.) Picketing? Really? Because of dangerous storms? Royal has said they were opening up the bar, and and any unused credits are refunded at the end of the cruise. So - instead of a sailing into extremely rough seas with passengers tossed everywhere or confined to their cabins and barf bags and barf everywhere, etc - you get the same cruise minus a couple of ports (Ketchikan is still on), with food and drink, and at half price to boot (unless you opted for all those extra hot stone massages). I think Royal has indeed done better. I guess it depends whether you see half full or half empty cups...

Aaah… I saw it on our FB group for the 29th. We are on the road with reduced functionality and didn’t have time to search out the original source.

There is fb group for Radiance of the Seas Sept 29

There was a post in a FB group that I couldn’t copy. It was from Michael Bayley in the Royal Executive Office (I have talked to him before…he is very nice). He said the repairs required special expertise to come in from Europe. Repairs are underway and they are “confident “ they will be going ahead with the sailing on the 15th.

There was a post in a FB group that I couldn’t copy. It was from Michael Bayley in the Royal Executive Office (I have talked to him before…he is very nice). He said the repairs required special expertise to come in from Europe. Repairs are underway and they are “confident “ they will be going ahead with the sailing on the 15th.

A related question on excursions in ISP - for our cruise next summer (planning ahead!!!!) - Royal lists a 3.5 hour bird watching opportunity, but the pricing sounds excessive (about $225 US for 3.5 hours, per person for birds and a walk/hike .... a group of 8 would rake in almost $2K). I can't imagine this being worth it at that price point... but perhaps it is an absolutely incredible experience? (We are quite familiar with eagles, and their fishing habits and such, so that is not a big draw itself). Are there any private tour guides at a more reasonable price, or is it all controlled by the tourist group there? (I have emailed them and Royal, but so far haven't heard anything further.) Thanks.

A related question on excursions in ISP - for our cruise next summer (planning ahead!!!!) - Royal lists a 3.5 hour bird watching opportunity, but the pricing sounds excessive (about $225 US for 3.5 hours, per person for birds and a walk/hike .... a group of 8 would rake in almost $2K). I can't imagine this being worth it at that price point... but perhaps it is an absolutely incredible experience? (We are quite familiar with eagles, and their fishing habits and such, so that is not a big draw itself). Are there any private tour guides at a more reasonable price, or is it all controlled by the tourist group there? (I have emailed them and Royal, but so far haven't heard anything further.) Thanks.