Irene - Veendam NYC Arrival/Departure 8/28

[mllewis48]

Possibly my choice of words in my previous comment did not totally reflect my conversation with the HAL Cruise Consultant that we had on Tuesday of this week. She had contacted the HAL Sea/Air Dept. and they had indicated they were monitoring the storm and at that time they did not see any concern with the storm nor were they planning any changes in flights into New York. Has that changed since then, very possibly, in fact I am going to speak again today to determine my next steps in this trip. I think people, "not in the loop", sometimes jump to conclusions

[lvz2cruz]

Hal has posted that Veendam will arrive this Saturday in NY and guests can remain on ship until Sunday if they choose. It says plans are for next sailing to depart as scheduled but they will update at 10am and 10 pm each day.

 

Good luck to those sailing this weekend.

[3rdGenCunarder]

Possibly my choice of words in my previous comment did not totally reflect my conversation with the HAL Cruise Consultant that we had on Tuesday of this week. She had contacted the HAL Sea/Air Dept. and they had indicated they were monitoring the storm and at that time they did not see any concern with the storm nor were they planning any changes in flights into New York. Has that changed since then, very possibly, in fact I am going to speak again today to determine my next steps in this trip. I think people, "not in the loop", sometimes jump to conclusions

 

You didn't say you were using HAL's air. The posters who suggested you change your flight are probably people who book their own flights. I usually book my own flights and pre-cruise hotel. If I had control over my flight I'd be changing it. In your case, you have to go with HAL's decisions. I hope it all works out well for you.

[KBEANS]

Me too! I'm starting to get squimish!!! This is my first cruise. Hope it ain't my last! LOL

[bermuda triangle]

http://www.hollandamerica.com/news/Main.action?tabName=Travel+Advisories

 

NEWS

 

 

Travel Advisories

 

 

 

August 25, 2011 - 7:00AM PDT

 

 

Travel Advisory Regarding Hurricane Irene

 

 

 

As a result of weather and sea conditions related to Hurricane Irene in the Atlantic, nearby cruise itineraries have been reviewed. While we intend to stay as close as possible to the published schedules, there may be some changes to select itineraries. The current status is as follows:

ms Veendam August 21, 7-day Bermuda Cruise

The ship will now depart Bermuda at approximately 5:00pm on Thursday, August 25, rather than on Friday and arrive in New York one day early on Saturday, ahead of the storm’s anticipated arrival. Guests are welcome to disembark on Saturday or overnight until Sunday and enjoy New York. Those onboard have been notified.

ms Veendam August 28, 7-day Bermuda Cruise

There are no itinerary changes at this time. Guests will embark in New York on Sunday, August 28 as planned and the ship is scheduled to sail at 4:45pm.

Based on the storm’s progress and intensity, departure may be delayed but that decision will not be made until Saturday evening or Sunday. If there is a delay, it will be posted on our website.

ms Maasdam, July 23, 35-day (roundtrip Boston) or August 9, 18-day (Amsterdam to Boston) Voyage of the Midnight Sun

Holland America Line expects no changes to this schedule. The ship is due to arrive in Boston as scheduled on Saturday, August 27 at 7:00am.

ms Maasdam August 27, 7-day Canada/New England Cruise (Boston to Montreal, Quebec)

There are no itinerary changes at this time. Guests will embark in Boston on Saturday, August 27, as planned and the ship is scheduled to sail at 5:00pm.

Itinerary adjustments will be made if storm conditions require doing so but any changes will not impact the time of departure from Boston.

We will continue to monitor the weather conditions closely and communicate any further changes if necessary to guests and travel agents as they are implemented. Updates will also be posted at 10:00am and 10:00pm Pacific Daylight Time in the Travel Advisory section at www.hollandamerica.com.

At Holland America Line the safety of our guests and crew is our top priority.

[peaches from georgia]

Possibly my choice of words in my previous comment did not totally reflect my conversation with the HAL Cruise Consultant that we had on Tuesday of this week. She had contacted the HAL Sea/Air Dept. and they had indicated they were monitoring the storm and at that time they did not see any concern with the storm nor were they planning any changes in flights into New York. Has that changed since then, very possibly, in fact I am going to speak again today to determine my next steps in this trip. I think people, "not in the loop", sometimes jump to conclusions

Let us know what happens with your flights and if HAL has gotten you on an earlier flight.

[mllewis48]

Even with HAL booking your flight you still have the right to change the flight but if you are less than three star you have to pay the change fee, assuming you can change. Of course that is if the change does not cost HAL more $$$$. As three star and above you are eligible for "Air Deviation" at no cost to the passenger.

 

Haven't heard yet from HAL but the timing is looking a bit better on Irene. Last report is it will be south of New York around DC early Sunday morning and not hit NY entil late Sunday, but that too can change.

 

We just hope for all that we're able to get in and out safely, we all know HAL will do what is best for their passengers.

[SailorNYC]

Hi - In this case, they are not talking about the center. Again, the outer bands of Irene (northernmost) are expected to reach NYC on Sun morning... the storm is not expected to hit until Sun night. This information has been reiterated on local news all day.

 

Yes, they are preparing for the worst... so should everyone else... does not mean the worst will happen.

 

NY Times just published a tracker, which shows Irene as a tropical storm when it hits the earea... but, as everyone has said including Bloomberg, it is still too early to tell.

 

http://www.nytimes.com/projects/hurricanes/?ref=us#!/2011/Irene

 

If you live in low-lying flood evacuation zones in NYC, you should be making plans.

 

NY1 report - with link to evacuation zones map -

http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/145747/city-keeps-close-eye-on-hurricane-irene--residents-told-to-prepare

 

 

when you hear reports about where the hurricane will be, they're usually talking about the center of the storm.

 

.

[MERIDIAN]

Just off Veendam last Sunday and I feel bad about the current cruise getting cut short- been there done that! Once had to leave Bermuda 3 days early, they took us to Marthas Vinyard and did the anchor/tenders for a day. Also got pinned in Bermuda once on Pacific Princess making it an 8 day cruise.

 

Being a New Yorker, I'd rather have a sea day in leiu of an early N.Y. arrival, at least some people could enjoy the shops and casino but rough seas are now a big liability. We don't mind but many do. Oh well, some of the crew will love it because they tell us that there's never enough time during turn-around to pick up their bare necessities like soap,toothpaste etc.. they like Century 21 by ground zero, Bermuda is Waaaay too expensive for their income.

[SailorNYC]

United published their travel waiver for NY area flights - LGA, JFK, EWR, HPN - http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6867,52939,00.html

 

- http://www.united.com/page/article/1,,53796,00.html

 

I feel badly for those having their cruise time cut short too. Hope everyone arrives/departs to the NYC area without a glitch.

[vbmom87]

I feel badly for those having their cruise time cut short too. Hope everyone arrives/departs to the NYC area without a glitch.

 

I feel bad too, but it is the risk you take when you cruise during Hurricane Season.

[sail7seas]

They're not prisoners! The question is probably whether they will be allowed to stay on board Sat night if they choose.

 

They may chose to if allowed. It will be impossible to get out of NYC on Sat night, IMHO, and hotels are probably already full.

 

 

When we were on Maasdam last September, they cancelled three ports and directed us immediately back to Boston. We arrived Thursday afternoon for what was to have been a Saturday disembarkation. Guests were permitted to stay aboard until normal debark time but it was made VERY clear, at a named time, all gangways would be pulled and no one would be permitted on or off the ship at that point. Anyone who wanted to leave (which was us and maybe only three or four other people) had to wait CBP clearance and that was HOURS after we arrived. We had get permission to get our luggage and permanently debark the ship. The delay was entirely regarding clearing of the ship by local officials and definitely not HAL's doing.

 

HAL handled us WONDERFULLY and had us off with the least fuss and inconvenience imagineable but to say 'they aren't prisoners' is correct but they may not have freedom to come and go at will if the ship ties up and waits out the storm in port.

[SailorNYC]

I feel bad too, but it is the risk you take when you cruise during Hurricane Season.

 

Hmmmm. Seems rather glib and unsympathetic when people are potentially cruising in hurricane conditions... and others are living and/or flying into one. If you've been monitoring the news, hurricanes are very rare in the Northeast and cruising to Bermuda from NYC is not a high risk activity.

 

Not sure if anyone would be cruising anymore if people didn't cruise during 'hurricane season,' which runs from June 1 - Nov 30 in the Atlantic. Are you suggesting the cruise lines discontinue all itineraries in the Atlantic at this time... or simply that no one choose to sail them?

 

If the latter, I doubt you would ever go cruising again because the lines would surely go bankrupt if people followed your advice.

 

I see these comments about sailing in hurricane season all the time and I find them off-topic, unkind and unhelpful.

[catl331]

Just came back from the beach here in FL near Port Canaveral. The eye is still almost 300 miles away. I would not want to be on a ship out there in the waves I am seeing. The wind is about 40 mph and high tide isn't until 5 pm. but it is going to be very high.

[Rotterdam]

Just look at on the headlines of these boards about how 2 cruise lines handled this storm...one took care of the passengers left stranded & one certainly did not(RCCL)...also as a personal note...back in the mid 1990's I took my Aunt & parents on a cruise to Bermuda on a Celebrity ship...it was Labor Day weekend. The QE2, a NCL ship,& the Zenith we were on all were sailing out of NYC the same day. The hurricane was forecast...as we got to the Verrazano Bridge we saw a RCCL ship sailing into NY Harbor - one day early - coming from Bermuda.

 

We had over 30 hours of pure hell...the ship was destroyed....people(staff & passengers were brought up from the lower decks....the casino was turned ino a hospital(after many of the slots toppled)...broken arms & legs. 2 windows broke on the deck we were on & water was running down the corridor in the middle of the nite. We were 24 hours late pulling into Hamilton. Furniture was tossed across the ship from sise to side including pianos & chairs with people in them.

 

The captain was fired for taking the ship out of NYC, one person broke their neck falling on the NCL ship...and the QE2 was held in NYC, sailed the next day & never had a problem......

 

Some how Celebrity, Cunard & NCL have gone on....

 

also 2 other things - I notice that the lines can remind me constantly before a cruise via email that my Amex card is not registered for onboard payments....

 

and I have yet to come across the notice in the paper or online brochures that states when the Hurricane season occurs.....

 

 

 

Hmmmm. Seems rather glib and unsympathetic when people are potentially cruising in hurricane conditions... and others are living and/or flying into one. If you've been monitoring the news, hurricanes are very rare in the Northeast and cruising to Bermuda from NYC is not a high risk activity.

 

Not sure if anyone would be cruising anymore if people didn't cruise during 'hurricane season,' which runs from June 1 - Nov 30 in the Atlantic. Are you suggesting the cruise lines discontinue all itineraries in the Atlantic at this time... or simply that no one choose to sail them?

 

If the latter, I doubt you would ever go cruising again because the lines would surely go bankrupt if people followed your advice.

 

I see these comments about sailing in hurricane season all the time and I find them off-topic, unkind and unhelpful.

[vbmom87]

Hmmmm. Seems rather glib and unsympathetic when people are potentially cruising in hurricane conditions... and others are living and/or flying into one. If you've been monitoring the news, hurricanes are very rare in the Northeast and cruising to Bermuda from NYC is not a high risk activity.

 

Not sure if anyone would be cruising anymore if people didn't cruise during 'hurricane season,' which runs from June 1 - Nov 30 in the Atlantic. Are you suggesting the cruise lines discontinue all itineraries in the Atlantic at this time... or simply that no one choose to sail them?

 

If the latter, I doubt you would ever go cruising again because the lines would surely go bankrupt if people followed your advice.

 

I see these comments about sailing in hurricane season all the time and I find them off-topic, unkind and unhelpful.

 

 

I am sympathetic and have prayed that the hurricane takes a turn east so the mainland is not impacted.

 

There is nothing wrong with traveling in hurricane season, but people do need to understand the risks and then be able to adapt as needed. When I planned my Hawaii cruise I made sure to research weather. Hawaii does not get hurricanes often, but I made sure to not plan a trip when they could. Yes, I could have still been there during an earthquake and tsunami, but those are totally unpredicatable. I do try to minimize my risk when I travel. Yes, it means I typically pay more, but that works for me. I am not saying people should not travel during high risk times. I am just saying they need to be prepared for possible changes in plans.

[SailorNYC]

VBMom - thanks for your thoughtful response.

 

Hurricanes in the northeast are extremely rare.

[GPoll189]

I just came across your post about the Veendam leaving on Sunday and flying in. Not sure when you are flying in but if they storm is as bad as they are saying, airlines might start to cancel flight into LGA, JFK, ISP, and Newark. It isn't because of the weather being bad on Saturday it is mostly because they don't want the aircraft to be trapped in New York. If you are able to change your flight I would change it for Friday or early Saturday. IMHO by afternoon time on Saturday airports might be starting to cut back on arrivals. Hope everything works out.

[mamaofami]

Just watched Mayor Bloomberg of NYC talk about the emergency plans for the city. All mass transit will be shut down as soon as the winds reach 35 miles an hour, probably some time Saturday morning. Bridges may also be closed, depending on the conditions. NYC is expecting a direct hit from the storm. The rain will start Saturday and continue into Sunday and maybe Monday.

[Hobbsey]

Hmmmm. Seems rather glib and unsympathetic when people are potentially cruising in hurricane conditions... and others are living and/or flying into one. If you've been monitoring the news, hurricanes are very rare in the Northeast and cruising to Bermuda from NYC is not a high risk activity.

 

Not sure if anyone would be cruising anymore if people didn't cruise during 'hurricane season,' which runs from June 1 - Nov 30 in the Atlantic. Are you suggesting the cruise lines discontinue all itineraries in the Atlantic at this time... or simply that no one choose to sail them?

 

If the latter, I doubt you would ever go cruising again because the lines would surely go bankrupt if people followed your advice.

 

I see these comments about sailing in hurricane season all the time and I find them off-topic, unkind and unhelpful.

 

Glib and unsympathetic? Well, Glib no doubt, it was all of a sentence. I wouldn't say unsympathetic, just stright out factual.

 

It may be true that the Cruise Lines don't advertise when to expect a storm. That's where the TA comes in. No one on these boards can argue ingnorance in using the internet for information. Historical weather data for your destination is at your finger tip.

 

I doubt she was suggesting that cruises be shut down during the season, only that the customer exercise some due diligence when purchasing the product. It is glib, but also true, Ship Happens, it is alway best to know what ship might be out there waiting for you just in case. When the weather is forecast to be blustery, or worse, it's time to have a plan B. In this case, if you are forging ahead to the ship in NYC, weather be damned, you'd be smart to get there 36 to 48 hours early, or you may not get there at all. You must also be ready to be held at the dock and have your vacation cut short. It's not the cruiselines fault - it's called an 'Act of God".

 

Unsympathetic? No. Just realistic. The "poor dears" and pats on the back can wait till after the event and we know the outcome. Right now is time for decisions and action.

 

Unkind? Off Topic? Unhelpful?

[cruz chic]

Hmmmm. Seems rather glib and unsympathetic when people are potentially cruising in hurricane conditions... and others are living and/or flying into one. If you've been monitoring the news, hurricanes are very rare in the Northeast and cruising to Bermuda from NYC is not a high risk activity.

 

Not sure if anyone would be cruising anymore if people didn't cruise during 'hurricane season,' which runs from June 1 - Nov 30 in the Atlantic. Are you suggesting the cruise lines discontinue all itineraries in the Atlantic at this time... or simply that no one choose to sail them?

 

If the latter, I doubt you would ever go cruising again because the lines would surely go bankrupt if people followed your advice.

 

I see these comments about sailing in hurricane season all the time and I find them off-topic, unkind and unhelpful.

I'm so with you on this. I hope and pray that anyone that is affected by this hurricane gets through it ok. We have had 3 really bad winters in Calgary. In the spring someone started a thread to say how much the weather sucked in Ontario and several of us joined in with our sad stories. A couple of posters living in California and Florida felt the need to say "it's nice and warm and 70 degrees here". Yeah, that's not helpful. I would NEVER think to say to anyone that's in the throws of a hurricane "gee, it's beautiful here". Some people just don't get it. Good luck to you!

[knitlady037]

My DH works for the DEP in brooklyn and has already been told not to expect going home during the storm. All DEP workers are working mandatory overtime. Guess I'll have to ride the storm out alone!:eek:

[Hobbsey]

My DH works for the DEP in brooklyn and has already been told not to expect going home during the storm. All DEP workers are working mandatory overtime. Guess I'll have to ride the storm out alone!:eek:

 

It's concerning enough when people put themselves in harms way to go on vacation. So much more so for those who are in harms way in the service of others.

 

Thanks to your husband and the others like him who are on call during these emergencies helping to keep those of us not content to ride out the storm at home an added measure of safty. Stay safe yourself in his absence.

[knitlady037]

It's concerning enough when people put themselves in harms way to go on vacation. So much more so for those who are in harms way in the service of others.

 

Thanks to your husband and the others like him who are on call during these emergencies helping to keep those of us not content to ride out the storm at home an added measure of safty. Stay safe yourself in his absence.

 

Thanks for your kind comments.

[Sagedeb]

So Celebrity - which has the Summit to Bermuda in and out of Bayonne NJ Sunday to Sunday (same as the Veendam) is staying OUT and extra day - rather than come in - and the Sunday cruisers will leave on Monday cutting their trip a day short....