Anyone affected by the volcano?

[Barral]

... It may be convenient to blame things on the line but I think that without more facts to back up your statement perhaps you should withhold judgment.:rolleyes:

It may have escaped you, but I was not blaming anything on anyone and had not judged anyone. I had just posed a question - before Albert Ross clarified things.

[Aquahound]

Just to clear things up, this was the person making the original comment, not Barral.

 

Just heard on sky news that RCL also abandoned all the departing passengers in Dubai who had been on the Brilliance

Not very good PR

[Paul65]

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. will work with cruise-only guests who have not booked as part of a package to file a claim with their travel insurance and contact the airline they booked with directly. Whenever possible, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is making every effort to assist cruise-only guests with the information and services they require.

 

Just thought I'd post this excerpt from a recent RCI press release. This is in the same press release where they announced they would use the new Celebrity Eclipse to help move some stranded travelers from Spain to Southampton, instead of the originally planned 2-day "pre-cruise."

 

I don't know how much help they've been to affected cruise-only passengers, but at least they SAY that they will help.

[nellydean]

We were caught up in it, me husband and youngest son had been enjoying a break in Turin in northern Italy when the volcano blew and flights were cancelled on the first day on Thursday(my husband's birthday). Being journalists, we always keep up with the news when we are away and could see a developing crisis, however, it was very difficult deciding what to do in such an unusual situation and we decided to do nothing for the time being.

 

However, I felt uneasy and got up in the early hours of Friday to go to the loo and, fortunately, there was a little telly in the bathroom and I saw that things had dramatically worsened, so I woke my husband and we spent the next three hours trying to book up Eurostar tickets from Paris to London (took so long due to only being able to get half hour stints on the interent at hotel and every time we went through the booking process the tickets had gone and we had to start over again and again, nightmare).

 

We then tried to reserve train tix for the direct trip from Turin to Paris, but were unable to do so without an Italian credit card, not to worry, we got a taxi over to the train station to buy them - only to be confronted with thousands of people and the news that there were no seats until the Monday (our Eurostar tix were for Sunday evening!).

 

However, she told us to get on the train anyway and pay the inspector, which is what we did, but not before paying for another night at the hotel in case we didn't catch it.

 

We arrived in Paris 6 hours later at 12.30am on Saturday and, luckily, our son, whose friend lives in Paris, was able to book us into a hotel for 2 nights. The next day before sightseeing we decided it would be prudent to go to Gare du Nord to print out our Eurostar tix in advance and after a stressful metro/train journey due to line closures and a strike, we got them in our hands and could then enjoy our unexpected stay in gay Paree. Due to my mobility problems, this involved even more expense for two days on the tourist bus, so that I didn't have to walk too far, plus extra money for food.

 

Finally, Sunday evening, and after a nightmare taxi cab ride through Paris :eek: we boarded our Eurostar train and were back in London just two and a quarter hours later - I admit to cheering and clapping when we emereged from the tunnel in England. Another hour to get over to Luton Airport to pick up our car left a week earlier and we were on the final leg home - only to find we had had a gas leak and needed a new gas hob (bought today and awaiting fitting)!

 

All in all, it cost us more than £1,500 extra to get home (the airline said we could have a full refund - and fend for ourselves, which we did - or transfer to another flight (which was impossible at the time and still is), so although we didn;t get home until more than two days after we should have, we feel we are among the lucky ones, and I thank my instincts to act fairly quickly, given that hundreds of thousands of travellers from all over the world are still waiting to get passage back to wherever they live. I will never forget the look on one poor young girl's face on Saturday when a Eurostar official told here there were no more trains until Wednesday. And another person travelling with us back to Lo ndon from Canada said she met an 18-year-old Canadian girl on her first trip abroad who was panicking about what to do stuck in a big city on her own for days - any parent would be frantic in that situation.

 

As regards the cruise lines, they are in a difficult position because their first commitment is to their paying passengers, however, the British goverment has let its people down. It's taken them SIX days to act and send naval vessels over to Spain to help travellers, but even that has largely fallen through - two ships are at anchor doing nothing and the only one that docked is on its way back with only 200 selected civilians (based on apparent need), so thousands of others have turned up on the coast in Spain thinking they were going to be rescued, only to be left on the quayside.

 

Next time this volcano erupts, they will act more quickly, but that's no help to those still waiting almost a week later to come home from holiday.

 

The reason we went to Turin was to see the Holy Shroud, and I admit to saying a few prayers to get us back safely. We were fortunate, many others were not.

[negc]

It may have escaped you, but I was not blaming anything on anyone and had not judged anyone. I had just posed a question - before Albert Ross clarified things.

Sorry if I confused your comments with those of another poster. The choice of the word "abandoned" was what caused my comment and if you did not initially use the word, I apologize.:o

[peteukmcr]

My experience very loosely connected with cruising, well ferry anyway!

 

I travelled by air for business to Stockholm on Weds, 14th April. I worked at my clients office on Thursday, 15th until 6 pm. My colleague was trying to leave Stockholm and return to Newark, NJ so left early for the airport.

 

So awoke on Friday, 16th and decided to try and get home as the airport was still closed.

 

This is where the fun starts and the numerous modes of transport I utilised to get back to Manchester, UK via 4 different countries and taking 54 hours!

 

Depart at 11 am from hotel by Taxi to Stockholm central railway station.

 

Depart at 12:21 from Stockholm, Sweden by train towards Copenhagen, Denmark due to arrive 5:33 pm.

 

Railway signalling problems delay the train for 2 hours 15 minutes en-route to Malmo, Sweden.

 

Train arrives Malmo, Sweden at 7 pm.

 

Board a bus to cross the Øresund strait via the Øresund bridge for Copenhagen central railway station, arriving at 8 pm.

 

 

Walk to the 'WakeUp Copenhagen' hotel. Eat a salad, have a glass or 2 of wine and go to bed!

 

Awake at 5:30 am on Fri, 16th. Walk to Copenhagen central railway station and board the airport train.

 

Arrive at Copenhagen airport at approximately 6:30 am. Go to car rental office that opens at 7 am to pick up a car. Told by staff that they cannot get the cars out of the parking garage as people have dumped rental cars everywhere. Go to Starbucks for a coffee for an hour.

 

Return to the car rental and get my car. Get to the parking garage and can't get the car out until 8:30 am!

 

OK, so now I start the 950 km (about 600 mile) journey from Copenhagen, Denmark towards Amsterdam in The Netherlands (Holland) which take me nearly 10 hours of non-stop driving (well 2 gas and toliet stops)!

 

I travel from Copehagen over the 'Great Belt' bridge which I believe Oasis sailed under recently as will Allure when she travels from Turku and as all other RCI ships built in Turku have done.

 

I travel towards Germany crossing the border heading towards Hamburg.

 

On reaching Hamburg I change direction and head west for Bremen, stopping only for gas.

 

It's worth noting that the car rental company could not provide satellite navigation as the car was leaving Denmark! They provided a map that stopped at the German border! So from Germany onwards I was telephoning home for directions, and a fantastic job my partner did too!

 

On reaching Bremen I head south for Osnabruck.

 

Once near Osnabruck I again head west for Amsterdam, stopping once more for gas when I cross the Dutch border.

 

I arrive at Amsterdam airport at 6 pm, nearly throw the car keys to the car rental staff and jump in a taxi heading for Rotterdam.

 

1 hour later at 7 pm the traxi driver cannot find 'Europort' and the ship I am booked to sail on from Rotterdam. I have to check in by 7:30 pm!

 

Again on the phone home for directions! Finally make the port at 7:15 pm, check in and board the P&O 'Pride of Rotterdam' ferry for the 11 hour overnight crossing of the North Sea to Hull in the UK.

 

I have a cabin, a standard inside 2 bunk cabin. RCI it was not, but no complaints, it got me back to the UK. Although I was looking for my balcony, I was out of luck! Not even a TV.

 

 

 

[peteukmcr]

So, I've driven across the 'Great Belt' bridge under which all RCI ships sail when they leave Turku, and I'm about to 'cruise' on a ferry.

 

So, I've boarded the ferry, 'unpacked' in cabin 9154 and take a walk about the ship.

 

I check out the 2 storey 'Sunset Lounge' cabaret bar, Casino and Cinema on decks 8 & 9, the duty free shops and buy 9 litres of Australian Chardonnay for $36! That adds some weight to my bags!

 

Pass the coffee shop on the way to make a dinner reservation at 'Langan's Brasserie' on deck 9.

 

 

Upwards to the 'Sky Lounge' on deck 12, and a quick G&T

 

 

and onto the 'Sun Deck' on deck 11!

 

 

 

We sail at 9 pm and I have dinner at 10. A few glasses of Chardonnay, coffee and it's time for bed! Thank goodness the weather is good and the North Sea is calm and so the sailing is very smooth.

 

I crash out until 6:30 am, get up from my bunk, shower and head for breakfast only to find the clocks have changed back from Central European time to GMT! It's only 6 am now!

 

After breakfast hang around on deck watching the others ships we have passed on the way to Hull.

 

We dock at 8 am and UK Border Control are really slow this morning so we're let off at 40 people at a time.

 

Through passport control and customs by 8:45 and into another taxi to Hull Railway station. I miss the 9 am direct train to Manchester by 5 minutes and have to wait until 11 am for the next train.

 

Arrive at Manchester by 1 pm, catch a train to Manchester Airport to pick up my car which has been parked there since Weds morning. The airport is eerily quiet but I get the car and arrive home at 2 pm! Manchester Airport do not charge any extra for parking, even though I was due to pick it up 52 hours earlier!

 

Success!

 

My colleague is still stuck in Stockholm, another is stuck in Helsinki, Finland. No idea when they can get out.

 

I never expected to sail on a ship before our Adventure sailing next month!

[Albert Ross]

WOW! Well done and British ferries seem to have improved a lot since I last used one!!! That bathroom looks the spitting image of one on a 'proper' ship...!

[peteukmcr]

Yep, I was impressed by the facilities available on the ferry, definitely changed since the last time I sailed on one many, many years ago!

 

The bathroom wasn't that big, but the shower stall was bigger than on a Voyager and Freedom class ship (well in cabins up to D1 category).

[anastasia1]

My children love those ferries- they have buy one get one free offers at october and feb half terms. 3 children and 1 adult was £90 return as foot passengers- 2 nights on ferry in 4 berth cabin and bus included to 1 day in amsterdam (or bruges or rotterdam etc)

[lifeastrin]

Many times I have read where people say the cruise line airfare is high, they can book cheaper themselves. I wonder if part of that cost is flight insurance built into the price of the ticket.

our airfare for November (with RCCL) was exactly the price Vigin Atlantic quoted on the website for anyone. So they didn't make any money on our flights. Best wishes anyone flying and worrying this week. Must be awful.

[octagonmike]

We have 3 weeks to go and to be honest I have my doubts as to whether we'll be going anywhere based upon latest new bulletin that says another Ash cloud is on its way.

[Barral]

Sorry if I confused your comments with those of another poster. The choice of the word "abandoned" was what caused my comment and if you did not initially use the word, I apologize.:o

Apology accepted. :)

[jennywren46]

Just been on Sky News, Uk airports are reopening at 10 pm tonight ......

[octagonmike]

Wooooo Hoooooo !!!!!

 

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/news/article7103195.ece

[jennywren46]

Just seen that , thank goodness. :) Hope it lasts

[NorbertsNiece]

Fingers crossed.....

[_tinkerbell_]

Just saw this too, so pleased. Keeping everything crossed they stay open and we can start getting people home especially those supposed to sitting exms :( and send others away on holidays, to weddings etc.

 

I wonder how long the impact will last at our airports to get back to some normality.

[anastasia1]

Friend texted from tenerife. Holiday company turned up a few hours ago and started busing people to the airport (had been sent back from airport this morning). Told them they were flying immediately to land in UK before midnight.

 

her 1st return date is missdle of next week guarenteed (subject to ash) but they are hoping saturday if the flights continue.

[Texas Teen]

That sounds like great news; especially for anyone who has been stuck at an airport for over a week!

[alanwexford]

Its Fantastic news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Hopefully schedules will all be back to normal by the weekend.

 

Forecasters here saying projected 9/10 days of no ash over ireland/uk

[gingerpeaches]

We just heard on the news that 28 flights have landed at Heathrow so far.

[DrSeuss]

Yeah - so happy I was starting to read too much into 'last time it was 18 months' and I was panicking for this July!

[octagonmike]

Yeah - so happy I was starting to read too much into 'last time it was 18 months' and I was panicking for this July!

 

 

I was concerned for our Mid May flights. Fingers crossed that's the last of it.

[Addict]

Just been on Sky News, Uk airports are reopening at 10 pm tonight ......

 

 

Yay - let's hope it stays that way. We fly to San Juan in 10 days time!! Woo hoo!