Yet ANOTHER Hour of Port Time Cut - Jade

[karoo]

We are on the Jade leaving sept 5. Our time in Mykonos also changed from 6pm when we booked in Oct 2014 to 4pm after final payment. (No explanation from NCL). So I think it is changed for all departures. Not sure what they plan for 2016

 

Thanks-I just wish their website was updated regularly to reflect the changes.

[Tyskie]

While we are on Princess this time (Sept.) in the Mediterranean - our port days and times have been shortened too - for Istanbul, Mykonos & Athens.

 

Reason: port congestion. :rolleyes:

 

So it seems the same things is happening with NCL and probably the other lines as well. Is it the Greece port authority - one can only speculate.

[emmak8]

Few complaints and NCL continues to make itinerary changes. Oh well . . .

[karoo]

While we are on Princess this time (Sept.) in the Mediterranean - our port days and times have been shortened too - for Istanbul, Mykonos & Athens.

 

 

 

Reason: port congestion. :rolleyes:

 

 

 

So it seems the same things is happening with NCL and probably the other lines as well. Is it the Greece port authority - one can only speculate.

 

 

NCL are shortening times on nearly all itineraries according to a lot of the posters on this forum. My guess is it's to save on fuel costs. Princess are obviously doing likewise. I don't know much about Princess as I've never cruised with them.

[rochelle_s]

While we are on Princess this time (Sept.) in the Mediterranean - our port days and times have been shortened too - for Istanbul, Mykonos & Athens.

 

Reason: port congestion. :rolleyes:

 

So it seems the same things is happening with NCL and probably the other lines as well. Is it the Greece port authority - one can only speculate.

 

Curious how eliminating an hour or two of port time relieves congestion? I don't believe Mykonos schedules more ships than it can handle and it is able to spread cruisers out a little as some ships dock while others tender. The port of Piraeus is enormous and Istanbul and Athens are huge cities that should be more than capable of dealing with an influx of thousands of passengers on any given day.

 

Not sure why Princess is shortening their port times but as said by others reducing fuel costs seems like the most likely factor. Although I also believe that the shorter the time in port the less inclined passengers are to DIY their time in port and the more likely they are to book a ship's tour.

 

Just my thoughts

 

 

Rochelle

[mking8288]

With the continued weakness in the crude oil market pricing trends, fuel costs for various lines should be among the lowest of the low in years - unless I'm mistaken - even CCL reported nice earnings for its most recent quarter(s) along with slightly lower pricing. Whereas NCL isn't required to burn the more expensive & higher grade of fuel on its Euro itineraries, I supposed they aim squeeze every last bit of profit margins (without calling it something else :rolleyes:)

 

Analytically, shorter port time would support the notion of steering more passengers (especially newbies) to stick with ship-sponsored & organized shore tours & excursions, generally more expensive or more for the same ... and, that you get priority tendering with those while others wait, or escorted off if docking at ports of call first :p

 

And, of course, others will be quick to come around shortly to explain that these are positive changes to enhance the cruise experience ... on board :eek: (with the risks of even more pier-runners left behind) Positive or negative, or in-between is a matrix of where one stood about these "changes" ahead for the itinerary. Get ready for the "spins"

[rochelle_s]

I'm dizzy already but will try to prepare myself for more of the same. ;)

 

 

Rochelle

[Travelling2Some]

I'm unsure if you are able to answer this. Is this a permanent change for all the Greek Island cruises? This itinerary has been on my bucket list for quite some time and we were looking to do this same cruise next July 2016. However I am one of those cruisers who loves their time in port and does see a cruise as getting to see lots of different places, then returning each night to enjoy the meals and entertainment on board. I have a FCC to use and am doing the logistics on whether to cruise or just do a Greek Island land tour. I'm finding it hard to find out whether Mykonos is permanently shortened as this would probably sway us to do the land option. It is still saying on the NCL website that the departure time for Mykonos is 6pm, not 4pm. I rang the NCL booking number and the person I spoke to still seems to think it still leaves at 6pm or she was unsure, so I'm finding it hard to find out the correct information. if you know the answer to this please let me know or if anyone else out there knows please reply. I just wish NCL would make the changes on the website or inform their sales staff so we know the actual port times before we book! :confused:

 

Sorry I can't answer your question. We are the same types of cruisers as you are. We cruise for the ports and the ease of getting from place to place while we sleep with dinner and entertainment thrown in every evening. I compare before I book and if we can't get enough port time we don't cruise. Like you, we do a land vacation instead. Two extra hours on the ship vs. two extra hours in port??? No contest there for folks like us (even with the UBP, lol).