What happens if theres a big snow storm?

[seashinesunshine]

[quote name='phill635']I understand if the guest can't make the ship due to bad weather thats there problem really, I'm talking about the Governor declaring a state of emergency an all roads are closed.I would think they delay the ship 1 day an maybe skip one of the ports scheduled.[/quote]

I guess I don't know then your original post didn't say anything about a state of emergency, just not getting to the port. :)

[seashinesunshine]

[quote name='mmgg4422']Not to open a can of worms, but opting to buy travel insurance certainly isn't as black and white as you make it out to be. I travel numerous times a year, some for business, but mostly for pleasure. I NEVER buy insurance. Statistically, the likelihood of missing out on a trip and losing the cost is relatively low. Insurance runs anywhere from 5-15% of the cost of the trip. If I buy that for eight trips, I have spent as much money as one entire trip. I certainly haven't encountered disruptions 15% of the time![/quote]

It is black and white, you insure anything you can't afford to replace. If you travel a lot and losing out on a trip isn't that big of deal for you, then of course you don't buy insurance. If you save up for a long time and make a big trip once every year or two and you want to have it insured, you buy insurance. :)

[Virtopia]

I'm also on this sailing and to be honest, I really haven't thought about the weather LOL I'm flying in the day before and I have a good feeling the weather will hold up.

[Nebr.cruiser]

[quote name='seashinesunshine']It is black and white, you insure anything you can't afford to replace. If you travel a lot and losing out on a trip isn't that big of deal for you, then of course you don't buy insurance. If you save up for a long time and make a big trip once every year or two and you want to have it insured, you buy insurance. :)[/QUOTE]

For us, and I'm sure a lot of people, losing the costs we spent on cruise, air, hotel, etc. would hurt, but we'd manage. I can see not buying insurance if you are able to take this expense without going broke.

Although we'd hate to lose the price of the trip (and we have had to cancel 3 different cruise/tours because of health problems with elderly parents, all overseas trips; we did have insurance and each one paid us back, in excess of $16,000 total) that's not the only reason we buy insurance.

We buy also to protect against the truly terrible costs of some medical or other emergency that meant evacuation by helicopter, hospital costs, medical flights home, etc.

[seashinesunshine]

[quote name='Nebr.cruiser']

We buy also to protect against the truly terrible costs of some medical or other emergency that meant evacuation by helicopter, hospital costs, medical flights home, etc.[/quote]

For sure there are a lot of good reasons for insurance. Like I stated earlier I live in North Dakota. I work at a hospital, one night years ago, I was treating a guy in the ER wth a neck brace on, i asked him 'what did you do to yourself" He said, " I broke my neck in the ocean" Now for those that know thier geography, ND is no where NEAR the ocean, in fact, i have never before or since treated an ocean injury. He didn't want to get treated in Mexico so he flew home, (he must have had only a minor hairline fracture, cuz he was moving his extremeties) Personally, I would have stopped in Miami or Dallas, and not flown all the way back to ND. :D
Our last cruise, I had two incidences while snorkeling (fish bite and sea urchin) and one very minor car accident in the taxi, could have needed to use the insurance.

[Coralc]

Insurance is a good thing to have. This happened to my mom's house on Nov. 30. She was scheduled to sail with us on Voyager on dec. 10. We are still waiting for the adjusters report to submit a claim.

[URL="[IMG]http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/plhunt2/Moms%20House%20and%20Tree%20Damage/MomsHouse12-3-2011022.jpg[/IMG]"][IMG]http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/plhunt2/Moms%20House%20and%20Tree%20Damage/MomsHouse12-3-2011022.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[IMG]http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/plhunt2/Moms%20House%20and%20Tree%20Damage/MomsHouse12-3-2011011.jpg[/IMG]

You just never know...... Edited January 14, 2012 by Coralc

[saprebish]

Hi. How was the weather on your sailing in February? We are going next February out of Baltimore. I'm not quite sure what to except. We are from Jersey



[quote name='BND']We're going on Enchantment in March and we only live a hour from the port. At this point we plan to drive in the day of, but if the forecast is iffy, we plan to get a hotel room (or stay with my sister about 20 minutes from the port). Fortunately, by 10 March, our odds of getting a snowstorm that will close things down (especially the highways) is pretty slim. While we might get snow, we probably won't get much. And, with the way this winter is going, we probably won't get anything.

We cruised out our of NYC in March 2010 and the weather was pretty good.

And, as the winter of 09-10 proved, they will sail without people. There were a couple of huge snowstorms in the NE that winter and at least one ship sailed missing several hundred people. Some of who flew and met up with the ship a few days later. Another excellent reason to have a passport.[/QUOTE]

[awhfy]

We live in Colorado, we go in at least 2 days early. If we didn't do this we would have missed (or had to fly to a port) 4 different cruises. Three times were because Dallas was closed by ice storms. Once was a blizzard that closed Colorado (that was a doozy). Luckily we saw these on the news while we were lolling on the beach in San Juan or Ft Lauderdale. I like the extra vacation days as well

We also buy the insurance - we're in our 60s - you never know what's going to happen

[harlekuin]

[quote name='saprebish']Hi. How was the weather on your sailing in February? We are going next February out of Baltimore. I'm not quite sure what to except. We are from Jersey[/quote]

Since this thread is from 2012, their cruise was over 3 years ago. Not sure you can compare year to year in places that do not have consistent weather patterns. But have fun when you go in February.

[PLEIKU68]

[quote name='phill635']What does RCL do if there's a big snow storm in the northeast which closes roads and a good amount of guest can't make it to the port?
I'm booked for 1/27 out of jersey and wasn't sure.[/QUOTE]


Those that do make it to the port will be given shovels to clear the parking lot for future arrivals. Others will be given shovels to clear the pool deck. During this time RCL employees will be around with hot chocolate and coffee, you will need your seapass card of course as I do not believe these items are on the drink packages that are offered. :):p

[A&L_Ont]

This is a thread from 2012, this one is an "Arctic" blast from the past.

[Thetrail]

[quote name='phill635']I understand if the guest can't make the ship due to bad weather thats there problem really, I'm talking about the Governor declaring a state of emergency an all roads are closed.I would think they delay the ship 1 day an maybe skip one of the ports scheduled.[/quote]The ship will sail without you.:cool:

[Thetrail]

[quote name='mmgg4422']Not to open a can of worms, but opting to buy travel insurance certainly isn't as black and white as you make it out to be. I travel numerous times a year, some for business, but mostly for pleasure. I NEVER buy insurance. Statistically, the likelihood of missing out on a trip and losing the cost is relatively low. Insurance runs anywhere from 5-15% of the cost of the trip. If I buy that for eight trips, I have spent as much money as one entire trip. I certainly haven't encountered disruptions 15% of the time![/quote]Miss one cruise and let's hear you complaining that you lost your money and RCL is so mean.....:rolleyes:

[BND]

[quote name='saprebish']Hi. How was the weather on your sailing in February? We are going next February out of Baltimore. I'm not quite sure what to except. We are from Jersey[/QUOTE]

Well, since you quoted me, I'll respond, except we went in March. In 2012, it was fine from what I remember. Now, March of 2014 was a different story. We left on 18 March, the day after St. Patrick's Day. If anyone remembers, we had over 8 inches of snow on St. Patrick's Day 2014. On the 18th (day after St. Patricks' day), we got up and drove to Baltimore. Other than the fact schools and gov had delayed start (2 hours I think) which made traffic heavier and made our trip 2 hours instead of 1, getting there was no problem. But, our return trip up the east coast, we hit 25-30 foot waves for about 12 hours (from multiple lows that had caused even more snow in the NE) which did minor damage to the ship and made a lot of people sick. So, 2012, was benign in terms of weather and 2014 was not. You just have to be willing to deal.

In general, the ship will not wait for you. Sometimes, they will wait for people if there are multiple on a flight and they were booked through the cruiseline, but only for so long. They can't hold a ship up for more than a few hours. Usually you hear of the ship being delayed a couple of hours at most. As for weather, no, if you can't get to the ship because airports are closed, roads are bad, etc, they will sail, possibly slightly delayed, but they certainly won't wait for the airports to open, as long as the port itself is open. Edited August 7, 2015 by BND

[Havingfun2010]

I'm not speaking about "snow storms" but weather in general. I live in FL. I travel during "hurricane" season. I drive to ports. (so if a roads are closed for a state of emergency such as a poster stated). Most ports are 2 - 3 hours away, with 2 ports over 5 hours away. I watch the weather. Hurricane coming, going to hit the coast at such and such day and time. I say, better leave now, and beat the storm, and get a hotel. Most times that I do chose to stay in a hotel, I am within a mile of the ship.

My point is, major weather is forcast, make alternate plans and prepare. If you are flying and suspect an issue, fly the day before, and take an early flight.

Early flight gives you options, for example, destination is closed, so rent a car, and drive instead. OK, might not be the best idea, but it works. Either way, plan if you are concerned, and keep a plan B in your pocket.

[NJcruisenewbie]

[quote name='alexkrn46']That maybe true, but one emergency evacuation off the ship would set you back.[/QUOTE]

This is what I think about when it comes to trip insurance. For me it isn't the actual loss of the trip but rather the other unknowns. We took a trip to mainland China a few years ago and bought pricey insurance that would cover at will medical evacuation anywhere we wanted. It cost about 20% of the total trip but was worth the peace of mind.

We've bought it for cruises but not for several expensive domestic vacations.

[DianeMMHH]

This past February we cruised on the Quantum! We live about 45 minutes from the port if there is no traffic and the Bayonne Bridge is open. This year the bridge was closed and the forecast was for snow/sleet/icing, etc. so we stayed in a hotel the night before the cruise. There were lots of other "locals" at the hotel and other hotels in the area!

The drive to the port in the am was not too bad as we were close. Boarding the ship was chaotic as everyone arrived when they got there, not according to the time assigned. The ship was delayed leaving becaused they had difficulties loading the luggage and supplies onto the ship due to the snowstorm. Our sail time was 4pm but we did not sail until almost 7pm. Some people missed the ship and had to fly to Puerto Rico, our first port!

The point is that it is your responsibility to get to the ship so, if you are sailing out of the northeast you must have contingency plans in case the weather is against you! Edited August 7, 2015 by DianeMMHH

[fred30]

I remember a post a couple years back about a big storm that hit the day before the Explorer was due to sail and a lot of people missed the ship. On that day many of the planes were canceled. I believe the ship sailed about 2/3 capacity.

[bouhunter]

[quote name='mmgg4422']Not to open a can of worms, but opting to buy travel insurance certainly isn't as black and white as you make it out to be. I travel numerous times a year, some for business, but mostly for pleasure. I NEVER buy insurance. Statistically, the likelihood of missing out on a trip and losing the cost is relatively low. Insurance runs anywhere from 5-15% of the cost of the trip. If I buy that for eight trips, I have spent as much money as one entire trip. I certainly haven't encountered disruptions 15% of the time![/quote]

Glad you are happy with that "logic". It won't apply so much if you ever have to be evacuated from the ship or an island:rolleyes: Yes if all you buy it for is protection of the trip cost your arguement can be made over the long run. But that's not all that's covered in most decent policies. 50,000-100,000 evacuation, trip delay, luggage loss, extra medical, etc etc etc. For us it's worth 130.00 to cover the worst possible scenario of medical transportation. I can blow that in a casino in 20 minutes so I could care less about the expense. We all have different priorities. I don't buy trip insurance for a vacation in Florida, but if we're going to be far from home in a foreign country yes. Your arguement can be turned right back on you, it isn't as "black and white" as you make it out to be..............:D Maybe you shouldn't buy car insurance heck you could have paid for that car by saving money over the years. Oh wait, what if there is an accident and someone sues you for 300,000, you might want the insurance...... Edited August 7, 2015 by bouhunter

[RCI Cruisers 004]

You can watch the ship leave on the web cam........