help me salvage my vacation

[hlb76]

Well our Splendor cruise got canceled :mad: so now we are in the hunt for a new vacation. This really stinks since we had out air, hotel paid. Even spending a day pre-cruise w/ family driving up from San Diego. It was going to be a blast and found something fun to do for my son's 16th b-day while we where in Cabo.

 

 

 

First reaction was to rebook Glory for the same dates. So we called our PVP to get details on what CCL would do for us. Glory looks to be a great time and really was our second pick. Flights are about $700 more which CCL will help cover in form on OBC. To get a OBC is all well and good but I honestly would just prefer it in cash. It's a hard time of year to come up w/ the extra $700 right now. Also then we have the headache of getting the credit applied from CCL.

 

Well now our travel mates are on the fence about rebooking. Something came up in their life where it might be the best option to take the full refund. We are still hoping they can join us.

 

I was looking for other cruises in the LA area to keep our flights and hotel. Well there are not many options. We could do a B2B but the dates don't quite jive. We are kinda attached to our travel dates, switching time off from work is not easy.

 

So I was looking at Spirit out of San Diego as well. We can switch our flights from LAX to SD for about $150 which is not as much of a hit to the wallet. We would still fly in on Sat and cruise on Sun. Sadly this is a 5 day not a 7 BUT we could use the extra time to see our family. The cruise of course is cheaper so we would get another OBC plus could even upgrade to a balcony if we wanted. So this would still be a winning situation. Not quite the same but still a good week!

 

I'm a little confused on Spirit's itinerary though. 2 days in Cabo? I know its a tender port but do they really leave and come back?

What would be a good room selection? I have never sailed a Spirit class ship.

What should I know about Spirit class? I see no sea-side theater which stinks since we will be sailing Super Bowl Sunday.

 

Any other suggestions or feed back?

[realmccoy]

We too were on the now cancelled Splendor cruise for 2/13/11. We re-booked for the Spirit for a 9-day that leaves on 2/11/11 that goes to the same ports plus two additional ports. We sailed on the Spirit in 2007 to Alaska and loved the ship. In regards to the two-day Cabo, yes you re-board and they go out to sea...it has to do with the tides. I do not remember a sea-side theater...but I am sure they will be showing the Superbowl in the bars.

[falkcor]

if i were in your situation, and especially since you can spend the time with your family, i would re-book for the spirit...

 

it is a 5 day, granted, but you'll still have a great week...

 

as far as the superbowl is concerned, don't worry too much. personally, i like that spirit class ships don't have the big screen - it wouldn't be the same on this class per the lido setup... however, take solace in the fact, that i am SURE they will have the SB playing... most likely, per previous cruises, it will be available for viewing in the main theater, which in my opinion, is actually a better setting...

 

on your airfare, if it's a slight change - and you were on the previous splendor sailings - they will refund airline change fees in OBC or otherwise if you cancel up to 200pp... and there's a 25% credit, and if you were on the most recent batch of cancellations, they're offering price protection, too, across the fleet.

 

on cabins, can't really recommend anything without knowing what you were booked in... what was the splendor cabin, etc. general tips - the aft wrap suites on spirit class ships are about the best cabins short of a very few in the fleet. the extended balconies are about 50% deeper so they're good too. there are 'interior cabins' 4K, 4J something like that now, which have french doors which open - for fresh air and light, but no balcony... they also offer 'obstructed view' balconies - which have a balcony, but either lifeboat to the rail of the balcony (7a) or to the floor of the balcony...

 

i hope it all works out for you :)

[falkcor]

oh, btw, also, on the 2 day cabo stop..

 

it's not just the tides as the previous poster mentioned...

 

they DO leave port and come back... and in the span of that time, they can open again the casinos, shops, etc. that's definitely part of the motivation - plus having the ship, ya know, cruising... very slowly, granted, but a large part of the motivation is to get into waters where they can open key amenities like those noted above. :D

[MsSoCalCruiser]

I feel your pain! I was booked on the Splendor 12/5/2010 sailing which was canceled. Then I rebooked on the 1/23/2010 sailing which was also canceled. I booked the Spirit today because some fellow CC members said how much they loved the Spirit. We are going on the 9 day sailing (I almost booked the 5 day sailing). I will say, I'm also bummed about no Movies Under the Stars. I know a lot of people don't care for it but I wanted to give it a try. If I were you I would book the 5 day because Family + 5 Day Cruise + OBC = AWESOME WEEK!!! Have a great cruise and enjoy your family.

[k2excursion]

I agree to go with the Spirit 5-day, given your situation. If you didn't have family to visit in San Diego as well, I would recommend going on one of the cruises out of Florida. We'll be going on a Spirit-class ship in April. We've heard nothing but good things about them. Many people like the layout. The outdoor big screen is kind of an eyesore for many people, and some of what's played on there (like the morning news or 3-hour long concert DVDs in the morning/afternoon) can be annoying. And while you're cruising, you may find yourself not caring about some football game. I love baseball, but didn't think much of the World Series (or watch it), when I cruised during it. But if you want, you'll be able to see it, even in your room, as long as one of the 4 major networks carries it. The rooms with French doors that another poster mentioned are category 4Ks. The view is obstructed by lifeboats. We've got one of those for April. It's an inside price for fresh air and sunlight, and if you pick a room between lifeboats, you get a little bit of an oceanview. No 220 sq.ft. OV rooms on this ship; they're 185. I'm sure whatever you decide, you'll still have a great time.

[hlb76]

Thanks everyone for the words of encouragement. I think if our friends don't rebook we will go w/ the 5 day from San Diego. That is if we can work it out w/ my family.

 

I would never of picked this cruise on my own. I admit I am not keen on 2 days in Cabo I prefer to go some place new each day but 2 days will give us a chance to see more I guess. We do like the movies under the stars well the kids did more than us but we will find other things to keep us happy! Really the SB is not a huge deal to me but I live w/ 3 men.

 

We where originally booked a inside on Splendor we normally get the cheapest room and spend our money elsewhere. But we might treat ourselves since the cruise was already budgeted and paid for. Even w/ the upgrade we would still get OBC enough to cover tips at least :D

 

 

Any suggestions on what to do in Cabo for 2 days?

[chadsjewel]

So sorry about your circumstances, as I am in similar ones. I was on the infamous Splendor cruise, used my cruise credit to rebook the 1-20-12 on the Spirit, plus paid out of pocket. That sailing was then cancelled. I then booked (with NO price protection all along, but it evens out since we received the credit) the 8 day Spirit for 2-4-12. The PVP was not too swift that day and I got a notice 6 hours later that my booking had been cancelled (due to an error on her part with swtiching the booking). An hour on the phone the next day and I finally have another cruise booked. I wish you luck!

 

As for Cabo, if its the right time of year (now through march) you can do whale watching. I have read some good reviews about Pez Gato company. There are several ATV tours that we were considering as well, through Johann & Sondra.

[cohollywood]

I hope you get it all worked out! I think you saw on another thread that we rebooked to the Glory. It's a bit more expensive to fly to FL - but not a ton. I was wondering - do you get the OBC if you didn't book your flights through CCL?

 

I hope you figure it out and still have a wonderful vacation!!

[hlb76]

I hope you get it all worked out! I think you saw on another thread that we rebooked to the Glory. It's a bit more expensive to fly to FL - but not a ton. I was wondering - do you get the OBC if you didn't book your flights through CCL?

 

I hope you figure it out and still have a wonderful vacation!!

 

We are debating Glory of Spirit. It's another almost $800 to switch our flights to FLL. I hear they give it back in form of OBC but I just don't know if the credit card can take another $800 hit right now. And no we did not book through CCL we did ourselves through Southwest. Then looking at the cost difference in exscursions and such. We might opt for a shorter cruise and a couple days w/ family if they will have us.

[Springwater21]

NCL Star does the MR on 2/5/11 and every saturday thru April. Check it out, its 7 days and you could still keep your airline reservations. We are on the 2/5 sailing and really looking forward to it. Prices are good, balcony cabins still available as well as the 6 person family suites on deck 12.