Is Caribbean Princess going to be late into Houston this morning?

[Pierlesscruisers]

We have friends on the Caribbean as well. Weird how the Carnival Magic and Liberty of the Seas were able to dock this morning in Galveston and Caribbean couldn't dock in Houston. Maybe because it has further to go??

 

Not weird at all. The Houston terminal is a number of miles up a relatively narrow channel while Galveston sits on the coast.

 

Tom

[Pierlesscruisers]

I don't think so. Princess was happy to subject their passengers

to these kind of delays, as long as the government bribed them.

 

No bribes, no ship.

 

Fog? No problem.

 

Right, and you have proof of this alleged bribery how?

 

Some complained when Princess changed from Galveston to Houston, some are now complaining because they're pulling out of Houston this coming year and now you claim that "the government" (Houston city gov.?, Texas state gov.?, US gov?) is involved with bribery. No matter what happens somebody is not going to be happy. Amazing.

 

Tom

[Cruiseathoning]

if you are on the ship, enjoy the extra time. If you are trying to get ON the ship, listen to instruction. Houston generally goes quick for embark but try to be patient. The professionals in charge really do want you to get on ASAP and enjoy your vacation. Complaining, being surly and or rude is just going to muck up the process. Laws have to be followed and procedures have to be completed.

 

Be glad it is not Galveston, where apparently Fog Boats become PPV bloodsports. (I kid, I kid) Try 8 hours in a terminal with no food or water. Not fun. So get there when instructed and relax. Bring a movie if you have a laptop.

Edited November 29, 2015 by Cruiseathoning

[thepow]

Please keep the updates coming. We're sitting at home in Houston getting ready to go board but looks like I'll be watching some football from the comfort of my easy chair until something clears. We are well inland and no fog here but this is a regular event at Bayport.

[woohooTOO]

It's lunchtime. I'm waiting at home for the ship to dock. We have no food in the house.

The ship delay is causing me to miss lunch on the ship. I wonder if the Princess insurance will pay for a Mickey D burger.

[cruiser fanatic]

if you are on the ship, enjoy the extra time. If you are trying to get ON the ship, listen to instruction. Houston generally goes quick for embark but try to be patient. The professionals in charge really do want you to get on ASAP and enjoy your vacation. Complaining, being surly and or rude is just going to muck up the process. Laws have to be followed and procedures have to be completed.

 

Be glad it is not Galveston, where apparently Fog Boats become PPV bloodsports. (I kid, I kid) Try 8 hours in a terminal with no food or water. Not fun. So get there when instructed and relax. Bring a movie if you have a laptop.

 

Good advice. I have a friend who works for Carnival in the cruise terminal in Galveston. He says the biggest problem during delays is people not following directions. He said someone spit on an employee one time. Not the way to handle it.

[faeriedust101]

Hopefully there isn't a repeat next week. I'm getting on CB next Sunday.

[cobaltdiane]

At least many of us are waiting in the comfort of our homes and not at an airport. I'm thinking drinks should be on Princess this evening for missing 1-2 meals...just kiddin

[moki'smommy]

At terminal. Will be at least 6 more hours till we board. Currently 12:30

[Cruiseathoning]

grab some seafood and play some games.

[woohooTOO]

2nd Q Texans 14 Saints 3

[napunani]

As if things weren't bad enough for the people on the ship and those waiting at the cruise terminal, it looks like the Caribbean Princess is now headed to Southampton UK!!! (according to the ship web cam on the Princess page) :)

 

Ok - I thought it was just something with my web browser...

[moki'smommy]

Third try to post. Currently 1 pm. Channel closed at entrance due to fog; has cleared up at this end. They tell us 6 1/2 hours from the time the ship enters channel till boarding starts. Most people have taken shuttle to a restaurant area, but with wheelchair too big a pain. People who left were told 5 pm as a good time to return; nothing will happen till at least then.

[StLouisCruisers]

My daughter sent a photo from her balcony (C722) and you can barely see the bridge from back there. I'm beginning to worry they won't get off tonight!

 

I have to wait for her to get back from her cruise so we can drive back home to Georgia and prepare for our own cruise next weekend - Regal from Ft. Lauderdale. Don't want to miss THAT ship! We are babysitting for daughter and can't go anywhere until she returns.

 

She wants off, the new passengers want on. What a debacle!:eek:

[pablo222]

Right, and you have proof of this alleged bribery how?

Tom

 

Tom, don't be amazed. Assume 'bribe' is hyperbole for

financial inducements of reduced/eliminated port charges

to get any cruise line to use the expensive and otherwise

unused terminal.

 

This article calls them 'incentives'.

 

"Less than three years after Port of Houston commissioners authorized millions of dollars in incentives to lure a pair of cruise lines to its long-empty Bayport Cruise Terminal"

 

and

 

"In an effort to kick start the cruise business here, the Port Authority commission voted in 2012 to pay Princess and Norwegian a combined $6.7 million to sign on at Bayport. Their contracts also waived rent or any docking fees."

 

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/As-cruise-lines-drop-Bayport-terminal-faces-6432123.php

 

My point is the same -- princess didn't care about the fog, nor any delays for their

customers, as long as they received "incentives".

 

Is that better?

Edited November 29, 2015 by pablo222

[scott4020]

1:00 and we are still at anchor. Fog actually looks worse. Watching Colts via the live stream hooked into the TV. Thank God we are close enough to get phone service but I am almost out of Diet Dr Pepper.

[cobaltdiane]

2nd Q Texans 14 Saints 3

 

Go Texans! At least you are watching from the comfort of your home

[Roses2]

Bayport was an experiment that failed. Bayport does not work as a cruise port. There are too many problems. Long, expensive connections form the airport to the pier, unplanned delays in debarking and embarking, unhappy cruisers./ That is why the experiment ends in 2016.

 

We are on a Caribbean Princess cruise in January. and although we never use Princess Air or Princess transfers they were essential for this cruise as insurance to offset a complete debacle.

 

It was worth a try. It did not work.

 

[cruiser fanatic]

Bayport was an experiment that failed. Bayport does not work as a cruise port. There are too many problems. Long, expensive connections form the airport to the pier, unplanned delays in debarking and embarking, unhappy cruisers./ That is why the experiment ends in 2016.

 

We are on a Caribbean Princess cruise in January. and although we never use Princess Air or Princess transfers they were essential for this cruise as insurance to offset a complete debacle.

 

It was worth a try. It did not work.

 

 

I agree, just too many problems. Galveston needs a third cruise terminal.

Edited November 29, 2015 by cruiser fanatic

[thepow]

1:00 and we are still at anchor. Fog actually looks worse. Watching Colts via the live stream hooked into the TV. Thank God we are close enough to get phone service but I am almost out of Diet Dr Pepper.

 

 

So they have not asked you to vacate your stateroom yet?

[cruiser fanatic]

1:00 and we are still at anchor. Fog actually looks worse. Watching Colts via the live stream hooked into the TV. Thank God we are close enough to get phone service but I am almost out of Diet Dr Pepper.

 

Is the casino or any of the bars and restaurants open? Are they serving lunch?

[comp_hop1]

No we are still in our rooms, we went to lunch and our steward came and change sheets and clean bathroom. We are just sitting on our couch watching tv.

[comp_hop1]

Yes they are serving lunch at the buffets, grill and pizza.

[scott4020]

So they have not asked you to vacate your stateroom yet?

 

No, they haven't. There really is not enough space to have 3000+ people out of their staterooms for hours. The way it is looking we may not even make it in tonight.

 

Is the casino or any of the bars and restaurants open? Are they serving lunch?

 

Dining rooms were closed for lunch like a port day. Buffets and lido places are open. Casino was closed, haven't ventured down to check again but I think we would have to go out of territorial waters for it to open.

[DonMaryCar]

Waiting to take your place on board. Are they leading you to believe you are going to disembark today? Our Seabrook Best Western Hotel is being awesome, giving us late, late checkout.