Cancelled Cruise?

[caribill]

You can probably get Halifax and Boston or Halifax and Newport into a 4 day cruise. Both good ports, IMHO better than Bermuda. Of course be prepared for weather in the 50's and 60's. Not sure how Sandy will affect New England.

 

With a four day cruise roundtrip from NYC, you have one day at sea, one day in a port (and it must be a foreign port), and one day at sea again.

 

The only options from NYC are Bermuda (which would mean sailing through Sandy to get there an a lowered chance of being able to dock once there) and Halifax (which would mean sailing through Sandy on the way back to NYC). With either option, chances are there will be rain the entire four days.

 

Of course this is only if Sandy does not head off East into the Atlantic, but none of the models are showing that at the current time.

[caribill]

I too am on the 4 day cruise to Bermuda this coming Saturday, and I started packing a lot of sweatshirts in the hope that we can at least go to Canada. Since I booked through a TA, if the cruise were to cancel (hope not!) would I be refunded everything but the deposit and taxes?

 

You would get 100% back in that case (unless you have a very poor TA) including deposit and taxes.

 

Now any airfare you did not purchase through the cruise line is another story.

[hannibal54]

I got this e-mail from Princess a few minutes ago.

 

Dear Passenger,

 

Hurricane Sandy is presently tracking up the Atlantic coast and is projected to continue to impact the entire region over the next few days as it moves northward. If we set course for Bermuda, we would be traveling into the worst of the storm both directions. As your safety and security is our primarily concern, we have made the decision now to cancel our call to Bermuda. Based on weather conditions we will advise you at embarkation if an alternate port to the north can be arranged.

 

We hope this information is helpful as you plan for your cruise. Thank you for your understanding and we look forward to welcoming you onboard Caribbean Princess.

 

Notice: This is an automated email, please do not reply as it is undeliverable.

[BratDet]

So bummed...booked the 4 day and paid primo money because it was going to Bermuda...using personal days for time off

not to somewhere north.....or nowhere...

 

Venting now, so I get on the ship happy!!

 

Bernadette

[hannibal54]

We are in the same boat. We have been to Canada, we have not been to Bermuda.

[Jfrhode]

just got the dreaded email, for the NY to Bermuda 4 day.....it will likely be a northern route...maybe Nova Scotia??

[Pam in CA]

December 2010 we were due to fly from London Heathrow to Rio to join the Star Princess. We had heavy snowfall the day before we were due to fly and Heathrow was shut down. We phoned Princess (who had arranged the flights) and they stated there was no way they could get us to the ship. Our holiday was cancelled and we received a complete refund.

VERY different scenario and not directly applicable. If you are from the UK, you are required to have insurance. You were refunded because you couldn't make it to the ship, not because the cruise was canceled. I'll bet the ship sailed without you.

 

just got the dreaded email, for the NY to Bermuda 4 day.....it will likely be a northern route...maybe Nova Scotia??

Or, it could be a cruise to nowhere. No ports. Definitely a possibility.

[RNGALNG]

Pam, I like your thinking! What fun that could be. I know those cruising were looking for the warm and sun but when we all book these cruises, we sort of are 'in a casino' and rolling the dice. One can never predict what Mother Nature will do.

 

For one of our first cruises, we were to fly to the port (Ft. Lauderdale) on the day of sail from Ohio (during the summer.) We had a layover in Atlanta. The whole state of Florida was closed most of the day to flights due to hurricane Dan. When he finally blew over, flights started to leave Atlanta. We had decided to roll the dice early in the day when we had first arrived and stay in Atlanta to see if we could get on a stand by and make it to the ship on time. Another couple on our same flight from Ohio decided to just go back home. We had called Princess upon arriving in Atlanta and were told they would sail without us if we didn't make it in time but that they did set back our sail time because of all those stuck in other airports besides our.

 

We sat with so many travelers all trying to get to parts of Florida to pick up their ships. It was sad to see the family of 4 that sat next to us waiting as well to get to theirs. They had not purchased insurance. I know that money must have been tight as the mom just couldn't understand a sandwich and cup of coffee costing so much in an airport. She had saved and saved just for the fairs to take the 4 day cruise.

 

They did not make it out of Atlanta. I don't know what they did after they, I am sure, cried.

 

We made it on the last plane out and got on the ship ten minutes before they sailed! We were with about 15 others who were also on that last plane. From then on, we knew that there is no question that insurance is added when we book. Our luggage had been in Florida hours ahead of us. We ran into the terminal to check in while our luggage was hand carried to our rooms! It was dinner time and they had already done the muster. The gangplank was pulled up as soon as we stepped foot on the ship. No photos of us as we arrived by the photographers, no one to greet us when we did step onboard. We both just sighed and sat back and enjoyed our week, just happy to be onboard!

 

We sailed on the Caribbean ship and there were less than 100 that didn't make it onboard that day.:)

[caribill]

Or, it could be a cruise to nowhere. No ports. Definitely a possibility.

 

Hard to do an alternate port or a cruise to nowhere based on the current forecast for the storm at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at3+shtml/025626.shtml?5-daynl#contents

 

If they head north to Halifax, they would returning in the middle of the storm on Monday and Monday night.

 

And if going to "nowhere", there is no place they could go that would not be in the middle of the storm at least half of the time.

 

Just real bad timing for a four day cruise out of NYC.

[Pam in CA]

I'm not sure of the timing and the cruise but a third possibility is that the ship stays docked in New York. Probably a very slight chance of that but it is a possibility. I was on a cruise a couple of years ago and we stayed docked in Dublin for two days due to weather. The ship ran shuttles until late at night and the next day after the port was closed. If the ship gets into port and then the port is closed, there won't be any option other than to stay docked.

 

No matter what, nothing's set in concrete and you can be sure the Princess execs are working on a number of scenarios. Even with the best forecasting, storms can be fickle.

[caribill]

I think it was about a year ago that due to a storm a Princess ship arrived in NYC a day early and docked in Manhattan. Of course, due to the storm there was not much to do that day in NYC and very little transportation available to do it.

 

Then at night, the ship left Manhattan, sailed around a little, and docked at Red Hook for disembarkation the next morning.

[Cruisin' Chick]

December 2010 we were due to fly from London Heathrow to Rio to join the Star Princess. We had heavy snowfall the day before we were due to fly and Heathrow was shut down. We phoned Princess (who had arranged the flights) and they stated there was no way they could get us to the ship. Our holiday was cancelled and we received a complete refund.

 

Our last cruise was also in December 2010 but the Hawaiian cruise on the Golden. About 200 passengers didn't make it because they were flying out of Heathrow, where there were heavy duty snows. Then they were trying to get to LA, where embarkation day was about the 7th straight day of rain was falling. The captain held up the sailing about 4-1/2 hrs but apparently the flight was delayed even more or had to land elsewhere.

 

Any Brits we did meet onboard, we asked about their flights. All of them had decided to fly out at least a few days ahead, or when they saw the weather forecasts, they switched to flying out of the Paris airport.

 

So, it does pay to listen to the cruising vets here when they say to fly out ahead of time to your embarkation port-- don't fly in the same day of your cruise. And if you're traveling during typically iffy times, such as during winter to or from a cold climate or to a hurricane-vulnerable port between May and November, you might want to consider adding some padding to that. We had a tropical storm chasing us during a Caribbean cruise in November that turned into a hurricane just after we fly out of Miami's airport to return home. Hurricanes can happen in November!

 

I remember several years ago in the 90s when there was a major Atlantic hurricane that affected many cruises. Some people actually got a longer cruise than booked because the ships couldn't return to their ending port. There was a place that members here (or another site, I can't remember) could post their experiences, which ranged from horrible to great (the ship they were on helped with changing flights, etc., and let them contact family members for free). And some of it was all about their attitude too.

[BratDet]

Since the only port we were going to was cancelled....would cruise insurance reimburse anything....seems like it might....gonna read our policies at lunch time :)

 

Bernadette

[Coral]

Since the only port we were going to was cancelled....would cruise insurance reimburse anything....seems like it might....gonna read our policies at lunch time :)

 

Bernadette

 

No - It can go to no-where and insurance will not pay as long as the ship sails.

 

It is not Princess's fault that the weather is not cooperating. As long as they are serving food and you have a room, they don't need to do anything. They may to be nice but are not required to do anything.

 

It is hurricane season and people who book during this time need to realize that there may be a hurricane or bad weather. It is a chance one takes when they book during this time. I have had a cruise where we made it to none of the 4 scheduled ports and we received no monetary refund due to it. We hit 3 different ports instead.

 

If you bought Princess insurance, you may want to look at canceling for any reason if this is really bothering you. You would get (a percentage) of cruise credit towards another cruise.

[WendyG]

It's amazing that you guys already know Bermuda has been cancelled and I am sitting here on the Caribbean Princess and they have not said a word! :(

 

I got on for the 7 day and am also booked on the 4 day (I have never been to Bermuda) and so now I have the option to get off the ship tomorrow and fly home, (taking a loss on the next cruise) or sail to somewhere we have just been or to go nowhere and take the chance of my flight on Wednesday out of NY being cancelled.

 

I am not a happy camper at the moment! :(

[Coral]

It's amazing that you guys already know Bermuda has been cancelled and I am sitting here on the Caribbean Princess and they have not said a word! :(

 

 

Not surprised at all :( Good luck in whatever you decide.

 

I think you do stand a chance getting stuck in NYC. We were in NYC once before a cruise with massive rain storms and stayed in our hotel for 3 days. Uggh. I think I would rather be on a ship that goes nowhere. At least there is more to do on a ship then there is in a hotel.

[azdmelani]

No - It can go to no-where and insurance will not pay as long as the ship sails.

 

It is not Princess's fault that the weather is not cooperating. As long as they are serving food and you have a room, they don't need to do anything. They may to be nice but are not required to do anything.

 

It is hurricane season and people who book during this time need to realize that there may be a hurricane or bad weather. It is a chance one takes when they book during this time. I have had a cruise where we made it to none of the 4 scheduled ports and we received no monetary refund due to it. We hit 3 different ports instead.

 

If you bought Princess insurance, you may want to look at canceling for any reason if this is really bothering you. You would get (a percentage) of cruise credit towards another cruise.

 

Just want to add that you will get port taxes back. But dont expect anything more, as Coral said.

[Coral]

Just want to add that you will get port taxes back. But dont expect anything more, as Coral said.

 

Yes, true. Though if they do go to Halifax, they will have to pay port taxes there. I assume they would be lower in Halifax (or wherever) compared to Bermuda.

[BratDet]

My cruise insurance does pay for booked and paid for tours up to 500$.

 

Waiting to hear back from our driver regarding the cancellation.

 

Bernadette

[Liza j]

Is it possible with platimun protection insurance that we could get our money back for the cruise if we cancelled a day before because of the weather. Just wondering, thankyou

[Georgeny]

I'm on the 4 nt Bermuda..... I never even thought of them extending the cruise a day, now that would be awesome (for me, not the next cruisers). its a waiting game til tomorrow....... i hate not knowing. but as other posters have stated, there is NO alternate route to have us go, the storm is going to be surrounding the port... well, im acting as if we are sailing, if not, oh well, and if so, i'll be ready.

 

AS one of the next cruisers bit your tongue. I expect you out of my cabin :)

 

Seriously this is one of those crazy ones. We sailed Caribbean Princess same reposition 10 day last year leaving sane time frame. We had storm in NY and actually Captain decided to stay tied to the pier to avoid high seas if we had sailed. We sailed at like 6 am and had great cruise, good weather, calm seas. Actually enjoyed being tied up in Brooklyn cocktail in hand.

 

Who would have believed another storm in this time frame the very next year? Our biggest problem is not us but friends coming in from Texas to join us on this cruise. They are scheduled to fly in Monday early afternoon and stay with us. So many variables including where ship will be and state of air traffic etc. Watching closely.

 

And seriously if you need my cabin another day I can live with that, would still have 9 days I figure.

 

George in NY

Caribbean Princess 10-31-12 sailing

[oratheeexplorer]

It's amazing that you guys already know Bermuda has been cancelled and I am sitting here on the Caribbean Princess and they have not said a word! :(

 

I got on for the 7 day and am also booked on the 4 day (I have never been to Bermuda) and so now I have the option to get off the ship tomorrow and fly home, (taking a loss on the next cruise) or sail to somewhere we have just been or to go nowhere and take the chance of my flight on Wednesday out of NY being cancelled.

 

I am not a happy camper at the moment! :(

 

My friend is on the Carribean Princess right now and is also on for the 4 day Bermuda.....she received an email last night about the Bermuda one being canceled.....

[Georgeny]

My friend is on the Carribean Princess right now and is also on for the 4 day Bermuda.....she received an email last night about the Bermuda one being canceled.....

 

Okay I get that they are canceling Bermuda port stop but based on current predicted storm paths I don't really see where else they could be comfortable sailing to in that time frame. One of the other problems is storm surge at high tide could also close port of NY for entry and exit temporarily, this because storm and high tide times.

 

Wonder if they would do 4 day at dock offering refund or partial refund depending on what passenger decides to do giving cancel as an option for passenger? I admit I have an agenda, I sail her on 31st, I would like her to sit there and wait for me to get onboard ;)

 

George in NY

[toeloop]

My friend is on the Carribean Princess right now and is also on for the 4 day Bermuda.....she received an email last night about the Bermuda one being canceled.....

 

The call to Bermuda was canceled, not the entire cruise.:) All I know is that it will be an adventure. It reminds me of the pull the string game at amusement parks. You don't know what your prize will be until you pull the string and it's hanging on the end of it. We won't know where we are going until we get there.

[Lilly'sMom]

Okay I get that they are canceling Bermuda port stop but based on current predicted storm paths I don't really see where else they could be comfortable sailing to in that time frame. One of the other problems is storm surge at high tide could also close port of NY for entry and exit temporarily, this because storm and high tide times.

 

Wonder if they would do 4 day at dock offering refund or partial refund depending on what passenger decides to do giving cancel as an option for passenger? I admit I have an agenda, I sail her on 31st, I would like her to sit there and wait for me to get onboard ;)

 

George in NY

 

I'm on the 4 day and would LOVE to just stay docked in NY. Hope it happens!