Breakaway Hurricane News 10/9

[triptolemus]

Thanks, literally 'Googled' it and didn't see anything. Based on that thread title I'm not sure what I would have searched for to find it.

 

Don't worry about it... I was being snarky. My being able to find it that fast is based solely on the fact that I spend too much time here...

[The Merrill]

We sailed in hurricane season too but we were lucky and no storms were about. I don't understand how people can be angry with the cruise line for choosing to not head straight into a hurricane. Yes I would be disappointed but I would also be safe and not stuck on a ship that was bouncing around in high seas. Remember RCL and what happened there not once but twice? Cut the cruise line some slack and be grateful they did not put anyone's lives at risk. JMHO :D

[mjkacmom]

Sorry but if a pax wants to leave the ship now because of a Zika issue then ncl absolutely should refund them because it's very likely they booked Bermuda to avoid Zika among other reasons

 

 

Do you realize how many honeymoon couples are on this ship?

 

Huge wedding weekend in ny

 

Many couples these days want families sooner versus later and it's too risky even if they want to wait several months

 

 

If ncl gave them the offer of a full refund if they want to leave now I would bet only 20% of the pax at most would leave

 

All the others will just go with the ..lol ...better on a ship ... Not at work ....rhetoric

 

Also there must be loads of kids on that ship because many area schools have 2 or 3 days off this week

 

Those kids will be thrilled to go to PC and perhaps Disney and those parents aren't dragging those kids off that ship

 

Ncl would be smart to be generous with pax here and they will be surprised how many will choose to stay on the ship plus the goodwill ncl will restore is priceless

 

 

I was on deck magic during Frances in 2004. Extended 4 days and never did get back to embark port because PC was destroyed

 

They made a stop at Galveston to restock food toilet paper etc and gave pax the option of leaving and gave them a ride to Houston

 

Of approx 2400 guests...600 left...that's 25%.

 

 

 

 

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I saw a report on the news yesterday that the good news about Matthew is that the zica virus risk had been lowered a lot now, due to wind and rain.

[mjkacmom]

About the OBC, I priced out a cruise to Bermuda on the BA and a cruise to the Bahamas on the gem for the same week in May, for our family of 7, 2 balcony cabins, and the difference was only $500 total, $250 per cabin.

[mtb242]

OK, enough of this stuff ... I'm going to use my UBP!!

 

Yeah! That's the spirit!

[Crusin6]

I saw a report on the news yesterday that the good news about Matthew is that the zica virus risk had been lowered a lot now, due to wind and rain.

 

 

That's great news

 

Of course it's not yet proven as the report and hurricane just happened but fingers crossed that it is indeed lowered. Let's hope the wind and rain kills the bugs and didn't just move them along.

 

 

However I doubt it will calm a couple trying to conceive a baby currently or a couple of childbearing years that is planning to start a family soon

 

It is great news for winter and spring cruisers though if the reports do prove to be true

 

 

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[Crusin6]

Booze....

 

 

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Dragging home a couple of bottles of vodka is useless to me

 

As are cigarettes

 

Or an overpriced piece of junk jewelry

 

Plenty of photos from previous cruises

 

And I'm not fond on Nassau to take an ncl excursion

 

Bus perhaps to Disney...or wherever might be a possibility

 

 

However

 

 

If it were me....I would take the obc...let ncl credit my account for $200....let them charge my account the dsc on the daily basis...and if they didn't let the obc cover the dsc...

 

Then...you got it....

 

Remove the dsc

 

 

Crew gets the same regardless

 

And I actually got a benefit from the obc

 

 

This is one of those times that it pays to not prepay the dsc

 

 

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[vince_g]

I'm curious, no insurance I have seen covers itinerary changes, I know the one I have from USAA sure doesn't....:confused: just asking not saying it isn't but again curious what company does? :D

 

Nationwide has it. Google Nationwide cruise insurance. It is the best IMO.

[Crusin6]

It looks as though my entire trip is going to be limited to enjoying the ship. The ship is great, hooray. I enjoy cruising but the ship is only half of the reason I cruise, I also enjoy the islands of which this cruise is now a "tire fire."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Again, as I previously mentioned we paid $3000+ for a cruise that is worth far less than half of that amount. What's a $200 ship board credit going to do for us? Shore excursions are a joke, we already have the UDP/UBP/Spa Pass and I'd prefer not to be using the internet once we depart. I guess my options are to go shopping or blow it in the casino.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We didn't get insurance. A mistake on our part to be sure. In all our travels I've never thought it would be worth it, it finally caught up to us.

 

 

Even the casino would be a no go for me because of all the smoke

 

Yes even in the non smoking areas

 

 

 

 

 

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[latebloomer56]

:( sad to have plans changed last minute. Hope our Dawn out of Boston Friday is OK to go to Bermuda. If not sure judging by the last minute notice here I think we will throw in a cool weather outfit or two. Not thrilled if we have to change to New England we live in the northeast and the boys have done this but from NY. Not a fan of Nassau but that at least would be new for them.

Well guess it's a crap shot this time of year and will enjoy our vacation either way.

Sorry NCL handled this like they did but maybe they needed to find out where they could go. I'm sure they need to arrange docking at unscheduled ports.

Hope everybody has wonderful weather to make this trip worth it for most if not all.

Take care.

[LrgPizza]

I notice you guys have sailed. Have a great trip, wherever you may land! Sorry that the stupid hurricane has ruined Bermuda for you, and hope it doesn't ruin much for residences and businesses in Bermuda.

[mom2tcdx2]

I have to say I was looking at the Bermuda weather for this week, as we sail next week. Come Wednesday and Thursday their weather for wind and rain was looking rather horrible. I check this around noon or so, I was actually a bit shocked that at that point NCL hadn't already made an announcement of the Bermuda sailing. I figured there was no way they would want to be stuck on Wednesday with what the weather is possibly calling for. The fact that they didn't post anything until after 6 pm is a bit on the sad side. They could have made an announcement much earlier.

 

Well hoping at least the next weeks sailing goes off ok.

[OCruisers]

carol 54, thanks for keeping us updated with your "live" reports.

[fourxk]

NO cruising hurricane or norovirus season. Had a cruise turn around on third day w/ 2 day travel back to FLL d/t norovirus. They refunded cruise but for us it's not being able to get away often d/t having two kids w/ special needs. We never left the ship, no shows (staff ill) no fancy drinks (couldn't add anything to glasses) We made the best of it. If they had refunded our losses in the casino it would have been great. We were offered 50% a cruise within a year. No way I could have pulled it off to get away again.

[mjkacmom]

I have to say I was looking at the Bermuda weather for this week, as we sail next week. Come Wednesday and Thursday their weather for wind and rain was looking rather horrible. I check this around noon or so, I was actually a bit shocked that at that point NCL hadn't already made an announcement of the Bermuda sailing. I figured there was no way they would want to be stuck on Wednesday with what the weather is possibly calling for. The fact that they didn't post anything until after 6 pm is a bit on the sad side. They could have made an announcement much earlier.

 

Well hoping at least the next weeks sailing goes off ok.

 

Maybe they didn't know about plan b? RCL has a ship docked in NJ, that was supposed to sail to Bermuda yesterday. I think they are heading to Canada eventually. They need to find a place to dock.

[Sissaaaaaa]

Again, as I previously mentioned we paid $3000+ for a cruise that is worth far less than half of that amount. What's a $200 ship board credit going to do for us? Shore excursions are a joke, we already have the UDP/UBP/Spa Pass and I'd prefer not to be using the internet once we depart. I guess my options are to go shopping or blow it in the casino.

 

 

I do agree with you on this. Bermuda cruises are way more expensive than a regular Caribbean cruise. They should refund more than just $200.

[mom2tcdx2]

Maybe they didn't know about plan b? RCL has a ship docked in NJ, that was supposed to sail to Bermuda yesterday. I think they are heading to Canada eventually. They need to find a place to dock.

 

No Royal ship docked in NJ yesterday that I am aware of. (Unless the Grandeur left Baltimore and then parked in NJ?) The Anthem of the Seas left for a Canada/NE cruise on October 6, as I originally had that cruise booked before switching to the Breakaway on the 16th. Once it returns I think it has a 5 day cruise, but the current one is a 9 day. There isn't any other cruise notated on Royal's site with delays except for those in Florida.

Edited October 10, 2016 by mom2tcdx2

[mking8288]

Watched the BA sailed under the VZ Bridge off Shore Road, Bay Ridge from the terrace on the Brooklyn, NY side, around 9 AM this morning on her way to the revised destination, wherever safe instead of sailing into Nicole - bon voyage.

 

Some of you might want to have another look at oceanweather dot com's waves & forecast for the northeast ahead - one big roller coaster ride in 30' + waves all the way to Bermuda if the itinerary remain unchanged even without Nicole over the islands on Thursday. Sailing north to New England & Canada aren't necessary better with chilly, cloudy skies. Not to mention, with other ships diverted earlier and sailing north - there might NOT be any remaining berth or pier terminals left for the Breakway to dock ... (just my thoughts, of course, for this scenario)

 

Folks are entitled to second guess the decisions and professional judgement of the captain & officers in safe passage and navigation, including the delayed departure till this morning. NCL perhaps should and could do a little better in communication the changes onboard the ship yesterday, once they knew. Or, perhaps they simply did the best they could with the revised weather Bermuda forecast and also aborting Canada.

 

Never mind for a moment the struggle for losing power and the ongoing flooding problems in North Carolina this morning ... who should those folks complain to and demand a refund. It is mother nature.

 

Now, if you want to debate about refund ahead of boarding, other cruiseline did deal with Matthew a little differently last week and they offered their guests the choice. This is NCL and it's more about Nicole.

[Rileyz]

Weren't the Matthew related refunds due to the embarkation ports being closed?

[mom2tcdx2]

I do think the $200 credit is really nothing, if you had 4 people booked that is only $50 pp. If you already paid service charge, bought the soda package, and have the UBP and already paid for the specialty dining packages. I wouldn't have anything left to use the $200 on. Unless they offered it as a refundable OBC to which I would just cash it out, but again if you had 4 people like we do it really isn't much of an offer.

 

The least they could have done was offer a credit off a future cruise as Carnival and I believe Disney offered.

 

Truly the cost of that Bahamas cruise from Port Canaveral was a bit cheaper than Bermuda was out of NYC. They really should have offered some kind of refund back, even if just 25% of the cruise fare paid.

[mjkacmom]

No Royal ship docked in NJ yesterday that I am aware of. (Unless the Grandeur left Baltimore and then parked in NJ?) The Anthem of the Seas left for a Canada/NE cruise on October 6, as I originally had that cruise booked before switching to the Breakaway on the 16th. Once it returns I think it has a 5 day cruise, but the current one is a 9 day. There isn't any other cruise notated on Royal's site with delays except for those in Florida.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2410797

 

ETA, the ship left Baltimore and docked at cape Liberty, where it will be until Tuesday.

Edited October 10, 2016 by mjkacmom

[rafinmd]

No Royal ship docked in NJ yesterday that I am aware of. (Unless the Grandeur left Baltimore and then parked in NJ?) The Anthem of the Seas left for a Canada/NE cruise on October 6, as I originally had that cruise booked before switching to the Breakaway on the 16th. Once it returns I think it has a 5 day cruise, but the current one is a 9 day. There isn't any other cruise notated on Royal's site with delays except for those in Florida.

 

Grandeur of the Seas docked at Cape Liberty last night and will remain overnight. It was a 5-day to Bermuda out of Baltimore. People here complain about the Breakway leaving late. Grandeur left Baltimore 2 hours EARLY; the Coast Guard closed down the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay at midnight Saturday and the ship was faced with leaving immediately or being stranded; they would have been stuck in Baltimore for at least 32 hours before the bay reopened.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2410797

 

Bad things are bound to happen in a hurricane, but I'll take Port Canaveral and Nassau over Bayonne any day.

 

Roy

[lorvit3]

I have been watching weather forecasts as we sail this Sunday as well. I admit I'm holding my breath but weather is the one thing about any vacation I cannot control. If Bermuda sustains heavy damage and we get redirected we will try to make the best of it and not let it ruin a trip we've looked forward to for months.

We will still be on a beautiful ship with great folks. My thoughts go more to the people who live in the path of these storms and the impact it has on their lives.

I think in the case of yesterday's departure, people were more outraged at the way they were notified than perhaps the itinerary change itself. That you always have to be prepared for because as others who have written have said, it's in the contract. I myself have been in some rough seas and while I don't get seasick, it makes being onboard unpleasant. I would rather be diverted than in the middle of a hurricane.

[mom2tcdx2]

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2410797

 

ETA, the ship left Baltimore and docked at cape Liberty, where it will be until Tuesday.

 

So they did bump the Grandeur from Baltimore. I just knew it wasn't the Anthem hanging out there. Interesting as the weather alert on Royal's website doesn't mention the Grandeur at all. For their weather alert they only mention ships in Florida. No mention at all of any change for the Grandeur.

Edited October 10, 2016 by mom2tcdx2

[biker@sea]

Our story

 

We have sail to Bermuda through 4 storms.

 

We bought a last minute deal on Dawn with a hurricane on the way to Bermuda.

 

We left Boston without an exact destination.

Heading to Fl. / Bahamas for 2 days.

 

The storm picked up speed an left Bermuda earlier the expected.

 

Our Captain S. Bengtson then turn left sailing just under the storm and into Bermuda 1 day late.:)

 

We then stayed an extra day, tendering into Hamilton as Heritage wharf was booked already for Wednesday. :D :) :cool:

 

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