Sunshine itinerary change. No Bermuda

Carnival Sunshine - 10/2/2015 sailing Update - 11:30AM

We have been keeping a very close eye on Hurricane Joaquin, which is a major Category 4 storm in the Atlantic. Due to the impact this strong hurricane is expected to have on our chartered course, it is not possible for us to safely navigate to Bermuda. To ensure the safety and comfort of our guests and crew, we have no choice but to change our itinerary. We will instead operate an Eastern Caribbean cruise with visits to San Juan, St. Thomas, and Grand Turk.

Guests will receive a 25% cruise discount on their next 2-8 day Carnival cruise. Below is the revised itinerary.

Day Port of Call Arrival Departure

Fri Port Canaveral (Orlando), FL 4:00 PM

Sat Fun Day @ Sea

Sun Fun Day @ Sea

Mon San Juan, Puerto Rico 9:00 AM 7:00 PM

Tue St. Thomas 8:00 AM 6:00 PM

Wed Fun Day @ Sea

Thu Grand Turk 9:00 AM 5:00 PM

Fri “Fun Day” @ Sea

Sat Port Canaveral (Orlando), FL 7:00 AM

At this time, no other changes have been made to the itineraries for cruises departing this weekend. Updates will be posted here if there is any change to the status of upcoming voyages.

Smart move on their part, although I am sure some will think that not to be the case.

Smart move on their part, although I am sure some will think that not to be the case.

I am not surprised at the change. I bet some people are already at Guest Services demanding a full refund, instead of enjoying their vacation.

No Bermuda but not a bad revised itinerary at all.

Could be worse. Could have been Cozumel and Belize

Agreed. St. Thomas, San Juan, and Grand Turk are much better then Cozumel, Belize, Costa Maya etc..

Smart move on their part, although I am sure some will think that not to be the case.

With the shift now more NNE, the cone is making a beeline for Bermuda.

The change is a disappointment, but understandably it need to be made.

I also agree that the new ports and the compensation would surely offset the impact of the change.

i wonder if grand turk will be ready to receive visitors so soon. Looks like they got hammered

Sorry the sunshine is not going to Bermuda..but changed itinerary is pretty good..fingers crossed we are not in the same "boat" a few weeks from now..but thinking our Bermuda cruise could end up headed to New England..I will just be glad to be back on a ship...last cruise was January :eek:

Hope everyone has a good cruise despite the itinerary change.

While I am sure those aboard are disappointed in no Bermuda, I would wholeheartedly agree with the decision to change routes. The hurricane gained strength to a cat 4 fast and waves will be tough enough.

My hope is those onboard will still have a good time and appreciate the amount of credit they get as well as some great stops.

We were booked on that cruise, but some friends booked the Dream that leaves a few days later from NOLA. So, we switched. The Sunshine cruise to Bermuda was rather expensive. We changed from an 8-day OV cabin to 21-days on the Dream in an inside (7E) cabin for less than $200 additional.

We are schedule to be in Nassau on Wednesday and in Bermuda 2 days after that. I really feel for the folks on the Sunshine as they spent a lot effort planning their 3 days on the Island. It was the only stop on the cruise. John

i wonder if grand turk will be ready to receive visitors so soon. Looks like they got hammered

I was wondering the same thing. We are scheduled to be there on Monday. Hopefully people are safe.

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They were more than generous to offer a 20% discount on a future cruise.

That's going a bit above and beyond in my book.

We had a few people that were booked on our Splendor to Bermuda on 10/23 that switched to Sunshine because it was 8 nights instead of our 7, and Port C was actually easier for many to get to (other than the east coast folks who are driving Norfolk).

I feel for them.

As for the itinerary, I honestly don't understand what people have against ANY of the Caribbean ports. I love Belize!

Anyway, yes, I'm sure there will be plenty of complaints.

My only encounter with a major storm was almost 3 years ago. I did a 5+7 B2B on Fantasy and ran into Sandy on both legs. Missed a port on each. Know what we got?

Nothing. Not a single thing except the minimal port taxes refunded.

Did anyone complain? I didn't hear a word and didn't read anything about it here when I returned. And the weather outside of Nassau on the day before Sandy moved through was glorious, so those extra seas days didn't go to waste.

Anyway, of course this is the correct move by Carnival. Even if they could've beaten the storm there, what about the return trip if the storm stalls out there in the Atlantic? No thanks!

It's the chance you take when you book a cruise in late summer/early fall.

Storms happen. We all know it. Every time one pops up though, you'd think (judging by the threads here) that it's the first tropical storm/hurricane EVER!!!! :eek:

I'm sure guests on that cruise are disappointed. I would be. But the new itinerary is a good one, and they are being compensated for the change. I have missed ports of call (St.Lucia and St. Kitts), because of a storm, with Carnival, and got nothing for it except two extra sea days. I'm not whining. That was several years ago and I'm long over the disappointment. I'm just saying the guests on the Sunshine are fortunate to get a good replacement itinerary and some compensation, especially since Carnival is not obligated to compensate them. I think reasonable Sunshine guests will be disappointed but satisfied they are being treated more than fairly.

The same people that would complain about the change would also demand a full refund if they got the snot knocked out of them on the northern rout.

I do understand how not eing able to get to Bermuda would be a bummer, but you can't reason with the hurricane season. Oh and BTW:

The 735-foot cargo ship El Faro was en route to San Juan, Puerto Rico, when it was caught in the Category 4 storm that's battering the Bahamas, the Coast Guard said.

The Coast Guard Atlantic Area command center in Portsmouth, Virginia, said it received a satellite notification saying El Faro was overcome by the storm, lost propulsion and had taken on water.

So just try to enjoy your new ports and be glad you are not around where this ship was last heard from.

While some may be disappointed about missing Bermuda, they would be more so on a ship trying to get there.

It's just the chance folks take when they book this time of year.

They were more than generous to offer a 20% discount on a future cruise.

 

That's going a bit above and beyond in my book.

Then it gets worse because Carnival is extending a 25% discount, not 20%. Good of Carnival to do this for their customers.

The same people that would complain about the change would also demand a full refund if they got the snot knocked out of them on the northern rout.

 

I do understand how not eing able to get to Bermuda would be a bummer, but you can't reason with the hurricane season. Oh and BTW:

 

The 735-foot cargo ship El Faro was en route to San Juan, Puerto Rico, when it was caught in the Category 4 storm that's battering the Bahamas, the Coast Guard said.

The Coast Guard Atlantic Area command center in Portsmouth, Virginia, said it received a satellite notification saying El Faro was overcome by the storm, lost propulsion and had taken on water.

 

So just try to enjoy your new ports and be glad you are not around where this ship was last heard from.

I heard about that lost cargo ship by Crooked Island which is the heart of the storm. It listed 15 degrees, took on water after losing propulsion, 33 crew aboard. At the time I heard it, they could not find it.

I heard about that lost cargo ship by Crooked Island which is the heart of the storm. It listed 15 degrees, took on water after losing propulsion, 33 crew aboard. At the time I heard it, they could not find it.

We heard about that too on the Weather Channel earlier today.

If anyone has an update, please let us know.

We had a few people that were booked on our Splendor to Bermuda on 10/23 that switched to Sunshine because it was 8 nights instead of our 7, and Port C was actually easier for many to get to (other than the east coast folks who are driving Norfolk).

 

 

 

I feel for them.

 

 

 

As for the itinerary, I honestly don't understand what people have against ANY of the Caribbean ports. I love Belize!

 

 

 

Anyway, yes, I'm sure there will be plenty of complaints.

 

 

 

My only encounter with a major storm was almost 3 years ago. I did a 5+7 B2B on Fantasy and ran into Sandy on both legs. Missed a port on each. Know what we got?

 

 

 

Nothing. Not a single thing except the minimal port taxes refunded.

 

 

 

Did anyone complain? I didn't hear a word and didn't read anything about it here when I returned. And the weather outside of Nassau on the day before Sandy moved through was glorious, so those extra seas days didn't go to waste.

 

 

 

Anyway, of course this is the correct move by Carnival. Even if they could've beaten the storm there, what about the return trip if the storm stalls out there in the Atlantic? No thanks!

 

 

 

It's the chance you take when you book a cruise in late summer/early fall.

 

 

 

Storms happen. We all know it. Every time one pops up though, you'd think (judging by the threads here) that it's the first tropical storm/hurricane EVER!!!! :eek:

I'm on that 10/23 sailing to Bermuda on the Splendor, out of Norfolk.

This weekend, with the major rain storms we had in Norfolk, the area around the cruise terminal was flooded and inaccessible. They had to close the doors in the sea wall.

To say nothing of the hurricane, which is unrelated!

It had better not do this in 3 weeks!!

If it happens in three weeks, we'll deal with it. People are dying out there and we're worried about our cruise itineraries. :(

Folks, you can easily find info on the search for the El Faro online. Google is your friend. Hard to believe, but Cruise Critic is not always your best source for non-cruise news. ;)

Anyone watching the Bermuda webcam? Joaquin is approaching Bermuda and winds are getting stronger and stronger by the hour. its cranking up pretty fast since this morning. almost cant see the pier its raining so hard.

http://portbermudawebcam.com/

Anyone watching the Bermuda webcam? Joaquin is approaching Bermuda and winds are getting stronger and stronger by the hour. its cranking up pretty fast since this morning. almost cant see the pier its raining so hard.

 

http://portbermudawebcam.com/

My thoughts and prayers are with the crew of El Faro. Several of oldest son's classmates served aboard her during their sea year at the US Merchant Marine Academy, and a couple of current students are aboard her sister ship, El Yunque, which is searching for her.

While the situation is quite serious for those in the path of this hurricane. I fully agree with Carnivals decision. There are of course going to be those people looking to complain no matter what the situation. Even JH brought to FB followers attention a person aboard this Sunshine cruise who wanted a full refund and more. With my understanding all while staying aboard on her "cruise to hell." I wonder couldn't these unhappy cruisers opt for the "Great Vacation Guarantee?"

I would be happy to just be on a cruise than no cruise! However I do understand this combination of the Sunshine leaving from PC and it's infrequent itinerary to Bermuda. In addition much cheaper than the northern departure ports options i.e. NYC or Norfolk that visit Bermuda more often. I would be disappointed not going to Bermuda as that island is the only port/s on the itinerary. I think this why Carnival is offering 25% compensation when all original ports are missed. As some have seen another recent cruise, due to weather, offered 50% refund/ 50% next cruise while only docking at one port for 5 hours then the rest were Fun Days at Sea I believe of a 7day.

While it seems that Carnival is trying to make the best of the situation and make as many happy as possible, which this is great! They might want to be a little careful how they handle what kind of "compensation" they keep offering to these hurricane season cruises. Hello, It is hurricane season and typically the rates reflect this to begin with. Which makes them so attractive from the cost view point. Fortunately it has been a some what quite storm season in the Caribbean for the cruise industry meaning $$ so far. I guess the flip side to offering these discounts will cut back some of their initial profits. But, they are likely thinking of the return they can make on these return guests when the upfront cost is lower with the 25% off example, then these guests may add on the Cheers program or eat at the upcharge restaurants or, visit the casino. Where I think they turn a higher ratio of profit.

Let us think of those who are in this and any hurricane this season and hope they stay safe!