Jump to content
Cruise Critic Community

Ocean Cay Opening Delayed Until October 2018

Mikesa1721

By Mikesa1721,
in MSC Cruises

 Share

Recommended Posts

plucasana

plucasana

Posted
Posted

this is the third out of four bookings with msc, where they change the itinerary (partly or in whole) and I am the last to know, only being informed via cruisecritic. and I know of many others who experienced the same. You have to book years ahead of the sailing if

you want to get a decent yc cabin, so you apparently have to expect changes. This has never happened to me with X or TUI. enough said!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Link to comment
Share on other sites
SNJCruisers

SNJCruisers

Posted
Posted
Seems like a lot of quick trigger fingers on the "I'm going to cancel side". The trip is more than a year away, give them some time, who knows what they may come up with.
After sailing the Caribbean over 20+ times, the only port that would make sense geographically and also interest me would be Cuba. Once bookings open for late 2018/early 2019, I may switch, but only if my current promotion and rate are intact. That's the least they can do for the logistical and public relations nightmare they now have on their hands.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
faze41

faze41

Posted
Posted

Since our cruise is not scheduled until Feb 2018, I will wait to see what shakes out with the itinerary before getting upset. Right now, itinerary was listed as St. Thomas, then Nassau, then Ocean Cay. I can't imagine that we will spend two days in Nassau instead, and am sure that they will have to take a look at those same itineraries before coming to a final decision. Still lots of time to see what happens before I make a decision about this booking.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
calgaryhhr

calgaryhhr

Posted
Posted
After sailing the Caribbean over 20+ times, the only port that would make sense geographically and also interest me would be Cuba. Once bookings open for late 2018/early 2019, I may switch, but only if my current promotion and rate are intact. That's the least they can do for the logistical and public relations nightmare they now have on their hands.

 

Cuba wouldn't be too bad. I wouldn't mind making a stop there and picking up a box or two of cigars (are Cuban cigars allowed in the USA yet?)

 

I'm booked on the Jamaica, Cayman, Mexico, Private Island cruise and another option that I wouldn't mind would be stopping in Puerto Rico first or Turks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
champagne123

champagne123

Posted
Posted
imo if they don't want to lose a lot of bookings they have to chose a rare/stellar destination, not sN juan again or st. martin. Haiti would be among my first choices.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

Other than Royal Caribbean's cruise port in Labadee, is there even a port in Haiti?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
champagne123

champagne123

Posted
Posted (edited)
No, there isn't another port in Haiti.

 

Thank you. That's what I thought. Although we love Labadee, this is one Island I would NOT want to visit. It is the poorest and most poverty stricken country in the western hemisphere. It would be too heart breaking for me. :(

Edited by champagne123
sssss
Link to comment
Share on other sites
sidari

sidari

Posted
Posted

There is actually a port in Haiti but it was only used for the delivery of Freight until the Earth quake hit and destroyed it, RCI and a few others delivered much needed food etc to Labadee which was then taken by road to the Capital.

 

With regard to the Seaside changes, I had this email from MSC UK yesterday.

 

Thank you for your email.

We are going to have information in regards to the changes today.

Will get in contact with you as soon as possible.

 

An email with any changes will be forwarded to you. I am afraid we have only received official communications today and this is why we have not informed you any earlier.

Please bear with us until we have all the information in regards to it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
BermudaBound2014 Great Review Rare

BermudaBound2014

Posted
Posted (edited)

I really hate sounding like Susy Negative but I think I was chastised for mentioned this likelihood several months ago:(. For what it's worth, an October opening would surprise me greatly as would an on-time opening of MSC private island planned for Sir Bani Yas. I know I'm going to get the firing squad for this one, but i'm going out on a limb to suggest that several of the new builds planned won't ever float either :(.

 

It's one thing to plan on taking over the entire cruise industry. It's another to actually do it. Largest privately owned shipping company in the world or not, an unrealistic business plan is a bad business.

 

I'm not a MSC hater, as I enjoyed the product very much and sailed her twice in the last 5 months. MSC provides a great VALUE cruise, but she still has a way to go to compete seriously in the US market dollar to dollar (imho).

Edited by BermudaBound2014
Link to comment
Share on other sites
deliver42

deliver42

Posted
Posted

I'm probably going to cancel too. Just waiting for where they're going. Supposed to know soon. What a fiasco.As has been said before, the date was probably to encourage bookings, which worked, but how many customers are they going to lose permanently because of this? I could see a couple of months delay, but 10 months is ridiculous, with no guaranty that it will be ready then.It's like throw enough against the wall and hope most of it sticks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
NCMtnBoys

NCMtnBoys

Posted
Posted

We booked the Seaside sailing for the ship, not the ports, so while it would have been nice to see their new private island, no matter where it ends up going we'll still keep the sailing.

 

We might not be sailing on the Seaside after all, though, if they delay the completion of the ship itself, as we're on the first revenue sailing out of Miami (Dec 23, 2017). In that case we'd be bummed! :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Capricruiser

Capricruiser

Posted
Posted

Regarding the Sir Bani Yas resort, as I understand it this is not being developed by MSC or any other cruise line. It will be run by the Abu Dhabi port authority and cruise lines including MSC and Costa will have full access to it once a week on separate days. The day for MSC use is Monday, every week for the 2016/2017 winter cruise season. The main island of Sir Bani Yas is fully operational with hotels, safari rides, animal kingdom, etc.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...