Missed port for Reflection

[isdoo]

Port fees should always be refunded. EU airlines have to refund, can't see how a cruise line can keep them either.

[TallFellow]

I went out on top deck at one point to make my way to the nightly sky lounge event during the time of the announcements and rain was coming down in sheets. There was also quite a bit of lightning I observed from within my cabin just before. Personally I am not at all surprised Nasau was scrapped due to weather. Oh we'll - let's see how the seven day leg goes! :)

[wingnutphl]

We were in the same sailing and we got nothing for the missed port. Actually I am wrong. They opened the bar for 2 hrs. People flocked to the bar. Service was extremely slow before. The open bar made it impossible for us to get a drink. They did nothing for us.

[NnJ2010]

Why do people expect they deserve obc when they miss a port. Things can happen outside the control of the cruise line. Only thing you should receive are the port charges. Open bar was a nice suggestion even though its not for everyone. I do agree with you on the specialties. It happened to me on the 3 day on the Eclipse. is it me or do i sense a slight elite attitude? :-)

 

 

Unfortunately, it seems to be happening more and more. It's a shame and will certainly make me avoid elite gatherings when I get there.

 

Remember, no one deserves anything. No one is entitled to things. Things happen. Either choose to enjoy your trip or not. THAT is completely within your control.

[richsea]

Regarding the reimbursement of port charges, it has been my experience that they are credited to your credit card at some point after you return from your cruise, not while you are on board.

[jackdiamond]

Well.....if you had to miss a port that is a good one to miss. Not much to get excited about in Nassau.

You are correct.

[steamboats]

Rich,

 

We missed a port with the Oasis (due to a crew member who jumped overboard). Although it was announced that port fees will be credited to the onboard account we didn´t get them back (but we´re from Germany and don´t pay the port fees extra). We did receive a letter getting a certain amount off a future cruise (depending on what cabin you´ve been in).

 

We missed a port with the Summit (due to hurricane Earl) and didn´t get any port fees back (and as it was due to the weather conditions and no fault of the cruise line, there was no OBC or anything else).

 

According to European travel law I could have claimed a certain amount for a missed port (something between 25 and 50 % of a day´s fare). I could have claimed that with the office here in Frankfurt. But I´ve never done this. For me it´s part of the crusing adventure.

 

steamboats

[Leesie6351]

Hello everyone-- we also had to miss a port on our TA just before this cruise. The irony was they said the engine wasn't working right (on this brand new ship) and we had to skip Tenerife so we could make Miami on time for the inaugural Caribbean sailing. There were supposed to be 3 ports and we only had 2 and 9 days straight at sea!!!!!!!!!!!!! After listening to passenger complaints for several days, we were finally given OBC as compensation- we received $150 and after several more days of arguing-- refund of port charges. (initially guest relations claimed the port charges refund was included in the missed port compensation but we pointed out that was not mentionned in the letter).

 

Ours was a 13 night cruise and missing a critical port like Tenerife was really upsetting especially when it meant 9 straight sea days. The Captainn explained the ship could not risk being late back to Miami because of the planned festivities and inaugural. The port was even assigned more immigration officials to get us off the ship quickly so it could be prepared for the party.:confused:

[isdoo]

Rich,

 

We missed a port with the Oasis (due to a crew member who jumped overboard). Although it was announced that port fees will be credited to the onboard account we didn´t get them back (but we´re from Germany and don´t pay the port fees extra). We did receive a letter getting a certain amount off a future cruise (depending on what cabin you´ve been in).

 

 

The port fees might well be built into the fare, but that does not mean you are not entitled to them back. I would always advise contacting your travel agent or the office you booked it through.

 

Hello everyone-- we also had to miss a port on our TA just before this cruise. The irony was they said the engine wasn't working right (on this brand new ship) and we had to skip Tenerife so we could make Miami on time for the inaugural Caribbean sailing. There were supposed to be 3 ports and we only had 2 and 9 days straight at sea!!!!!!!!!!!!! After listening to passenger complaints for several days, we were finally given OBC as compensation- we received $150 and after several more days of arguing-- refund of port charges. (initially guest relations claimed the port charges refund was included in the missed port compensation but we pointed out that was not mentionned in the letter).

 

Ours was a 13 night cruise and missing a critical port like Tenerife was really upsetting especially when it meant 9 straight sea days. The Captainn explained the ship could not risk being late back to Miami because of the planned festivities and inaugural. The port was even assigned more immigration officials to get us off the ship quickly so it could be prepared for the party.:confused:

 

9 straight days at sea, sound great :) Would gladly go for that option.

[Lois R]

I was on the 3 nighter as well:).....she is a beautiful ship. Didn't

care about Nassau anyway so it did not matter to me.

[teajak]

We were in the same sailing and we got nothing for the missed port. Actually I am wrong. They opened the bar for 2 hrs. People flocked to the bar. Service was extremely slow before. The open bar made it impossible for us to get a drink. They did nothing for us.

Do you call an open free bar for 2 hours nothing? Good grief they certainly were not required to do anything.:mad:

[Lois R]

We were in the same sailing and we got nothing for the missed port. Actually I am wrong. They opened the bar for 2 hrs. People flocked to the bar. Service was extremely slow before. The open bar made it impossible for us to get a drink. They did nothing for us.

 

Sorry you could not get a drink. Every bar in the ship was open

(except Molecular).

[FrankinPA]

Hello everyone-- we also had to miss a port on our TA just before this cruise. The irony was they said the engine wasn't working right (on this brand new ship) and we had to skip Tenerife so we could make Miami on time for the inaugural Caribbean sailing. There were supposed to be 3 ports and we only had 2 and 9 days straight at sea!!!!!!!!!!!!! After listening to passenger complaints for several days, we were finally given OBC as compensation- we received $150 and after several more days of arguing-- refund of port charges. (initially guest relations claimed the port charges refund was included in the missed port compensation but we pointed out that was not mentionned in the letter).

 

Ours was a 13 night cruise and missing a critical port like Tenerife was really upsetting especially when it meant 9 straight sea days. The Captainn explained the ship could not risk being late back to Miami because of the planned festivities and inaugural. The port was even assigned more immigration officials to get us off the ship quickly so it could be prepared for the party.:confused:

 

I was on the TA and remember seeing a letter being passed around while we were checking in at Barcelona saying that a port was being skipped due to problems with the ship running at full speed. As I recall, there was mention in that letter that there would be a OBC provided for having to miss the port call.

So I don't know that passenger complaints had anything to do with the credit being given since none of us would have had a chance to start complaining until after check in. Of course, some passengers are constantly complaining so maybe they got started early before embarkation and that resulted in this credit. :D

 

We were in a sky suite and our credit was $250 plus they refunded $25 for each of us for the port taxes. So it appears that the more you paid for the cruise, the higher the credit for missing the port. Interesting.

[cruzemaven]

The Captain announced as we were departing Miami that we weren't going to Nassau in the morning because they couldn't get a berth. All shore excursions were cancelled and refunded.Weather was not a factor in cancelling the morning arrival. The Captain continued to announce that we would be able to get into Nassau at six in the evening when ships that were there began to leave. However, late in the afternoon of the Nassau port day, the weather began to deteriorate and the evening arrival in Nassau was cancelled. I understand that a cruiseline can cancel calling on a port for any reason but never realized a port would deny docking when it had been reserved by the cruise line, I assume, long in advance of the sailing date.

[steamboats]

The port fees might well be built into the fare, but that does not mean you are not entitled to them back. I would always advise contacting your travel agent or the office you booked it through.

 

Ian,

 

I´m not sure whether you´re familiar with European travel law;)! We´re not entitled to get any port fees back. But we could claim a certain percentage of the daily fare for a missed port.

 

steamboats

[wingnutphl]

Already had the drink package so open bar doesn't mean much when you get unlimited drinks anyway. Lots of passengers complained about it. And it was like a Black Friday sale. People came from every direction. Pushing and shoving to get to the bar. I already was seated at the martini bar before the announcement and still could not get a drink. Bartenders were overwhelmed. Same at the casino bar and bar outside the theater.

[chessbriar]

Already had the drink package so open bar doesn't mean much when you get unlimited drinks anyway. Lots of passengers complained about it. And it was like a Black Friday sale. People came from every direction. Pushing and shoving to get to the bar. I already was seated at the martini bar before the announcement and still could not get a drink. Bartenders were overwhelmed. Same at the casino bar and bar outside the theater.

And the sad part is, the bartenders make their money on tips. For 1.5 hours of dealing with rude people wanting free tips, they got nothing. We went out after the madness and could she how shaken the bartenders were from dealing with so many rude guests.

 

I just wanted to give them a hug

[isdoo]

Already had the drink package so open bar doesn't mean much when you get unlimited drinks anyway. Lots of passengers complained about it. And it was like a Black Friday sale. People came from every direction. Pushing and shoving to get to the bar. I already was seated at the martini bar before the announcement and still could not get a drink. Bartenders were overwhelmed. Same at the casino bar and bar outside the theater.

 

I would have to agree - not nice.

[teajak]

I would have to agree - not nice.

Please explain what part was not nice the cruise line giving free drinks,the ship missing a port or the people complaining about not being able to get a drink for an hour and a half.:confused:

[Algebralovr]

Not nice would be the way passengers seem to behave when offered something for free. I can picture it - probably a virtual stampede to the bars from passengers too cheap to pay for the drinks they've been wanting.

 

Chances are, the bartenders were taken by surprise. Also, I'm betting many of the passengers were picky. If they had known it was coming, poured a few tray-fuls of commonly ordered drinks and had the waiters loaded up, it might have helped. But then people would have complained that the offerings weren't what they wanted.

 

But it sounds like th ship is settling in and should be in great ship by February when I'm on her.:D

[Karynanne]

We've experienced this situation about 4 years ago, onboard Mercury. The ship was returning from the So. Pacific and we visited Kiribati. Due to shallow waters, the tenders couldn't be utilized. Passengers were irate, and it was announced that there would be "free drinks" or a couple of hours.

 

You would have thought that people had never seen a cocktail before! Passengers rushed to the bars like cattle and things started to get out of hand. After all was done, you still had angry passengers...only now they were ANGRY and DRUNK passengers! Not a pretty sight.

[dpryo319]

The Captain announced as we were departing Miami that we weren't going to Nassau in the morning because they couldn't get a berth. All shore excursions were cancelled and refunded.Weather was not a factor in cancelling the morning arrival. The Captain continued to announce that we would be able to get into Nassau at six in the evening when ships that were there began to leave. However, late in the afternoon of the Nassau port day, the weather began to deteriorate and the evening arrival in Nassau was cancelled. I understand that a cruiseline can cancel calling on a port for any reason but never realized a port would deny docking when it had been reserved by the cruise line, I assume, long in advance of the sailing date.

 

The weather answer I gave came from my boyfriend who is a crew member on board.... I'm pretty sure it's an accurate answer after hearing more about it yesterday.

[cruzemaven]

The weather answer I gave came from my boyfriend who is a crew member on board.... I'm pretty sure it's an accurate answer after hearing more about it yesterday.

 

Weather had nothing to do with the cancellation of dockage in the Port of Nassau for Thursday morning. Weather became a factor for the 6 PM evening docking. We all heard what the captain announced the day our cruise sailed out of Miami. It was clear that something had not worked out between the Port of Nassau and the cruiseline.

[Cruising89143]

The Captain announced as we were departing Miami that we weren't going to Nassau in the morning because they couldn't get a berth. All shore excursions were cancelled and refunded.Weather was not a factor in cancelling the morning arrival. The Captain continued to announce that we would be able to get into Nassau at six in the evening when ships that were there began to leave. However, late in the afternoon of the Nassau port day, the weather began to deteriorate and the evening arrival in Nassau was cancelled. I understand that a cruiseline can cancel calling on a port for any reason but never realized a port would deny docking when it had been reserved by the cruise line, I assume, long in advance of the sailing date.

 

 

Cruzemaven, all of my comments below are not directed at you but more of different comments that have been made on this thread in general.

 

There were five ships PLUS the Reflection scheduled for the same day in Nassau. The other five ships call on the port as a regular weekly or seasonal call. Looks as thought port overbooked the port on this particular day. Not the cruise lines fault and the Reflection would draw the short straw in this case. Also not the fault of the cruise line that the weather took a turn for the worse and could not get into port. The entrance to Nassau is tight and if there are strong winds then that would affect their ability to enter the port.

 

Also the complaint from one poster about not gaining a reservation to the specialty dining, that is your fault. Everyone has access to the pre-cruise reservation system for booking reservations. Sometimes when you snooze you lose.

 

Also, in truth the cruise line owes you nothing when dropping or changing a port and most on Cruise Critic know this. Giving two hours of free drinks is more than they had to do. I personally would consider missing Nassau as an act of kindness by X.

[Lois R]

The weather answer I gave came from my boyfriend who is a crew member on board.... I'm pretty sure it's an accurate answer after hearing more about it yesterday.

 

Hi:) your boyfriend gave you incorrect information. The weather

during the day? There were no weather problems. The weather did

become an issue in the evening.

 

To be honest, I had no horse in the race and didn't care if we went

to Nassau or not but there were plenty of folks who did.

 

The Capt gave out what information he saw fit to announce.....or what

information he was told to give out by HQ. I know Michael Bayley

was on board but I have no idea if he was involved in this decision

or not.

I met him in Michael's Club along with Nick Weir (CD).