Caribbean Princess still at dock

[caribill]

Just got a text (10:30pm, 12/20/13) from friends aboard Caribbean Princess now. Due to predicted bad weather, the ship hurried back towards Houston...but didn't make it to Galveston Bay before it was closed due to weather. Now expected to dock 11 pm, Saturday night and disembark Sunday morn.

 

Keep in mind the information given herein has been received from passengers aboard and is not information being issued by the cruise line.

 

more info in this thread http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1958434

[2Ccruisers]

According to marinetraffic.com she moved in the last few minutes and appears to be headed into the Bay :)

[DrSch]

Last conversation with Princess this morning.. ship will get into port late and passengers will be moved by bus to Marriott.

.

[frangul]

Passengers appeared to have been called and told to board on Sunday instead of Saturday, a day late. At least one person that posted on Princess' facebook page got that message

[DrSch]

Clarification... people with princess transfers will be picked up at airport moved to Marriott and given hotel rooms for the night

[2Ccruisers]

marinetraffic.com and the bridge can shows she made it! She's docked. Strong work Princess :)

[Cruzin-K]

So even though the ship made it, she'll still have to sit there overnight because the passengers for the next cruise have already been told to not show up until Sunday.

 

Well, there's a whole day of revenue lost for Princess.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

They will not be happy ..

[Sillybowtie]

When I drove by a lot of cars were leaving from the ship. Police were stopping traffic coming in and making them turn into the holding bay for the container ship trucks to the right of the street. After we told him we lived here he let us go by. Looks like once the cars leave they will let them park.

 

Sent from my SM-P600 using Tapatalk

[RickEk]

Passengers appeared to have been called and told to board on Sunday instead of Saturday, a day late. At least one person that posted on Princess' facebook page got that message

 

From what I understand, Princess has apparently been making calls today asking passengers to embark beginning at 6pm. No doubt, the ship would sail if everyone embarked, but I'm sure there will be folks arriving tomorrow morning (as previously instructed). Fog is fickle...

 

So even though the ship made it, she'll still have to sit there overnight because the passengers for the next cruise have already been told to not show up until Sunday.

 

Well, there's a whole day of revenue lost for Princess.

 

Dunno... they're probably going to have the majority of passengers onboard tonight.

[caribill]

Dunno... they're probably going to have the majority of passengers onboard tonight.

 

If they do not sail this evening all the shops will be closed, the casino closed, and very limited alcohol sales.

[sminfiddle]

If they do not sail this evening all the shops will be closed, the casino closed, and very limited alcohol sales.

 

Heh, the limited alcohol menu cards the waitstaff gave to passengers until 7:30ish (this was on an on-time cruise) said across the top,

"Welcome To Houston*"

 

The smirk was implied...

 

 

~sent using Cruise Critic app~

[Cruzin-K]

Heh, the limited alcohol menu cards the waitstaff gave to passengers until 7:30ish (this was on an on-time cruise) said across the top,

"Welcome To Houston*"

 

The smirk was implied...

 

 

~sent using Cruise Critic app~

 

Ha Ha. I never noticed that. Too funny.

 

If I was more of a drinker, the Texas laws might have bothered me, but I'm not, so they didn't. :o

[wrm1701]

We were on the 12/14 to 12/21 cruise.

 

I understand issues with weather.

 

However the way Princess and the Captain handled these issues was extremely poor. Being told to change our flight and that we were staying until Sunday on Friday night then being kicked off the next day is inexcusable. We were on our own as far as accommodations are concerned. We had the Princess transfers that took us to the airport and had to get our luggage to a hotel and back all on our own.

 

On Saturday the crew acted as if the Friday announcements had never happened.

[Wehwalt]

We were on the 12/14 to 12/21 cruise.

 

I understand issues with weather.

 

However the way Princess and the Captain handled these issues was extremely poor. Being told to change our flight and that we were staying until Sunday on Friday night then being kicked off the next day is inexcusable. We were on our own as far as accommodations are concerned. We had the Princess transfers that took us to the airport and had to get our luggage to a hotel and back all on our own.

 

On Saturday the crew acted as if the Friday announcements had never happened.

 

Get home safe, enjoy your Christmas, total up your receipts, and give Princess a call on January 2 and raise hell.

[Twistedredbird]

We were on the 12/14 to 12/21 cruise.

 

I understand issues with weather.

 

However the way Princess and the Captain handled these issues was extremely poor. Being told to change our flight and that we were staying until Sunday on Friday night then being kicked off the next day is inexcusable. We were on our own as far as accommodations are concerned. We had the Princess transfers that took us to the airport and had to get our luggage to a hotel and back all on our own.

 

On Saturday the crew acted as if the Friday announcements had never happened.

 

I will never cruise out of Houston again.

 

1. We were up to 3 AM changing flights to Sunday, then, at 8 AM, told we would be in port, but staff would not say a peep about nothing about deboarding, then at 11 AM, told we would be deboarding at noon.

 

They should have stuck with their decision. So, the mad scramble to get our flights changed back.

 

Then, we found out from staff that we knew, mngt. told the crew that even that passengers would get off on Saturday, they would stick to loading until Sunday, then, they changed that, and that explained why all the service staff were in such bad PO'd moods - they thought they had a night off, and had parties planned. Also, they made all the stewards take care of luggage, and turn rooms, which made them sour. Then, they told us to wait in our stateroom, so we returned to our stateroom, and found it had already been stripped.

 

We were lucky we had southwest, but I heard other airlines were not so accomodating.

 

Overall, I don't blame Princess so much, but once they told us we would disembark on Sunday, I agree with you, they should have stuck to that. I also heard that they were only about 30% full Saturday, and the majority of passengers for the 21st embarkation didn't arrive until Sunday morning.

 

Bottom line - We will never cruise out of Houston again. While the port is problematic, all the Texas people were very obnoxious toward anyone who wasn't from Texas, more so that out of Galveston.

[tonto2004]

My kids are on this ship....Costa Maya is a substitute for Roatan, apparently.

[Cruzin-K]

, all the Texas people were very obnoxious toward anyone who wasn't from Texas, more so that out of Galveston.

 

Really? ALL?

[texast518]

I will never cruise out of Houston again.

 

1. We were up to 3 AM changing flights to Sunday, then, at 8 AM, told we would be in port, but staff would not say a peep about nothing about deboarding, then at 11 AM, told we would be deboarding at noon.

 

They should have stuck with their decision. So, the mad scramble to get our flights changed back.

 

Then, we found out from staff that we knew, mngt. told the crew that even that passengers would get off on Saturday, they would stick to loading until Sunday, then, they changed that, and that explained why all the service staff were in such bad PO'd moods - they thought they had a night off, and had parties planned. Also, they made all the stewards take care of luggage, and turn rooms, which made them sour. Then, they told us to wait in our stateroom, so we returned to our stateroom, and found it had already been stripped.

 

We were lucky we had southwest, but I heard other airlines were not so accomodating.

 

Overall, I don't blame Princess so much, but once they told us we would disembark on Sunday, I agree with you, they should have stuck to that. I also heard that they were only about 30% full Saturday, and the majority of passengers for the 21st embarkation didn't arrive until Sunday morning.

 

Bottom line - We will never cruise out of Houston again. While the port is problematic, all the Texas people were very obnoxious toward anyone who wasn't from Texas, more so that out of Galveston.

 

That is just the way we are, u probably should stay north of the Red River. If you find ONE that was not obnoxious let me know so I can send them a Christmas card!

[Mekamax]

The cruises out of Texas are some of the friendliest you can do. Much different and more laid back than Miami. We didn't meet a stranger and some were not from Texas. There were a lot on board from Texas who were very friendly.

 

Galveston took a bit to get going too. A new port is always a challenge until they figure out logistics.

 

The weather is out of any cruise lines control. I agree that they should have given us the option of staying onboard if we wanted since they had told us the night before we would. Many still would have got off as most locals wanted to go home. I would have stayed on until that night and enjoyed the ship. At least not jumped out of bed that morning and had to start packing in a hurry... ;) But got off and was on the way home by 12:30pm... Not bad.

[phantomII]

The cruises out of Texas are some of the friendliest you can do. Much different and more laid back than Miami. We didn't meet a stranger and some were not from Texas. There were a lot on board from Texas who were very friendly.

 

Galveston took a bit to get going too. A new port is always a challenge until they figure out logistics.

A very long narrow channel and frequent fog and any wind is going to make the Captain think twice about that channel. I think this port is doomed. I know it is for me, never again. When the word gets out about thes delays on 50% of their cruises they will have to figure something else out. True they can't help the weather but you can look at past trends and make decisions from that information.

[sminfiddle]

When the word gets out about thes delays on 50% of their cruises they will have to figure something else out. True they can't help the weather but you can look at past trends and make decisions from that information.

I think people will figure out to fly Southwest for more flexibility and a closer airport, and make decisions to book inexpensive rooms in La Porte.

 

We're going to try the Ft Lauderdale experience next year, mainly to enjoy a different itinerary. I will probably miss our drive-up-and-cruise Bayport terminal!

[BridgeMates]

When and what time did the ship depart for this past Saturday's cruise (Dec 21st)?

Thanks,

[lj77346]

The ship did not leave until Sunday, Dec. 22nd at about 4 p.m.

[caribill]

A very long narrow channel and frequent fog and any wind is going to make the Captain think twice about that channel. I think this port is doomed. I know it is for me, never again. When the word gets out about thes delays on 50% of their cruises they will have to figure something else out. True they can't help the weather but you can look at past trends and make decisions from that information.

 

The Houston Ship Channel leads to the Port of Houston which is the nation's largest port based on volume of cargo.

 

Not just the CB, but all ships were held up due to fog, etc. on Saturday.

 

I doubt the largest port in the nation (based on volume of cargo) is doomed.