Grandeur unscheduled stop

[dtagirl]

I know, totally bummed! We were flying in tomorrow with super cheap $40 airfare from Chicago! So if we wait, we will have to pay a lot more for airfare! Waiting to see what happens and if we still go tomorrow and just spend a couple of days in Baltimore! Oh well, I guess 7 days is better than no days!! ;)

[sonicdasloth]

first time cruising, with the delay what should my expectations be? will the cut days, excursions already booked get refunded/moved?

 

I'm sure in due time all will be explained, but just antsy now. They already had mentioned a delay for the original day to deep clean this thing, and now with this delay and reading that they won't get to Baltimore til Saturday...that part gets me nervous too.

[Biker19]

Welcome to CC.

[awestover89]

first time cruising, with the delay what should my expectations be? will the cut days, excursions already booked get refunded/moved?

 

I'm sure in due time all will be explained, but just antsy now. They already had mentioned a delay for the original day to deep clean this thing, and now with this delay and reading that they won't get to Baltimore til Saturday...that part gets me nervous too.

 

They may cancel or change some ports. Any excursions booked through Royal will be refunded if you are no longer visiting that port. Packages (such as drink or internet) will be partially refunded to make up for the missing days. You will also get a partial refund of cruise fare for the missing days and taxes and port fees will be recalculated with the difference refunded.

 

Royal Caribbean will likely offer some additional compensation. Future Cruise Credits are common; these can be used towards a Royal Caribbean cruise but have to be used within a year.

[donh1]

Just got word that the GOS is experiencing rudder problems and our 9 day cruise will be two days late leaving Baltimore. Saturday rather than Thursday. RCCL will be sending out details regarding compensation and options for us passengers affected. Any one else had experience in such matters..... We actually have a lot of time and money invested to this point and this is a disappointment for sure...... Don

[Zach1213]

I know, totally bummed! We were flying in tomorrow with super cheap $40 airfare from Chicago! So if we wait, we will have to pay a lot more for airfare! Waiting to see what happens and if we still go tomorrow and just spend a couple of days in Baltimore! Oh well, I guess 7 days is better than no days!! ;)

 

Obviously it depends on your budget and their compensation, but I say go and enjoy Baltimore and DC! Baltimore is an underrated destination, and DC is just a joy in every way (except for driving...). Have fun!

[sonicdasloth]

They may cancel or change some ports. Any excursions booked through Royal will be refunded if you are no longer visiting that port. Packages (such as drink or internet) will be partially refunded to make up for the missing days. You will also get a partial refund of cruise fare for the missing days and taxes and port fees will be recalculated with the difference refunded.

 

Royal Caribbean will likely offer some additional compensation. Future Cruise Credits are common; these can be used towards a Royal Caribbean cruise but have to be used within a year.

 

 

Thank you for the quick response, is this kind of thing common?

[awestover89]

Thank you for the quick response, is this kind of thing common?

 

I wouldn't say it's common, but it's not unheard of. Weather during hurricane season can cause cancellations or major changes, although usually the cruise line will just change out ports, or change the order that ports are visited so they can avoid the storm.

 

Maintenance issues aren't super common. Whenever possible they're worked into normal stops or a scheduled dry dock.

 

Delays and cancellations cost the cruise lines big, they tend to do everything in their power to minimize or avoid them.

[lossforgain]

Just got the email about our cruise being delayed until Saturday! Like others I was really looking forward to a 9 day cruise and I'm pretty bummed about that. I sent my wife a text to let her know, but she's at work and won't even get the message until 3:30.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[chengkp75]

Loss of the use of one rudder would require a one or two tug escort all the way from the mouth of the Chesapeake to the dock. The harbor transit in PC is much less, so the tug charge will be much less.

[Biker19]

Just got the email about our cruise being delayed until Saturday! Like others I was really looking forward to a 9 day cruise and I'm pretty bummed about that.

 

 

Two more vacation days on the next cruise to be booked with the FCC that is coming.

[Keith1010]

I hope it all works out for those on the cruise and those on the next one.

 

This would be a good reason to get an exemption for a PVSA without a fine.

 

Keith

[chengkp75]

I hope it all works out for those on the cruise and those on the next one.

 

This would be a good reason to get an exemption for a PVSA without a fine.

 

Keith

 

Since the ship could most likely have made her original time in Baltimore, even with only one rudder, this would not be a case for PVSA exemption. It is not a case of mechanical failure causing the ship to terminate the cruise early, it is a case of the cruise line's convenience.

[Keith1010]

Since the ship could most likely have made her original time in Baltimore, even with only one rudder, this would not be a case for PVSA exemption. It is not a case of mechanical failure causing the ship to terminate the cruise early, it is a case of the cruise line's convenience.

 

Wouldn't this be considered a safety issue should something go wrong with the other rudder?

 

Not sure but that is what I was thinking.

 

Keith

[chengkp75]

Wouldn't this be considered a safety issue should something go wrong with the other rudder?

 

Not sure but that is what I was thinking.

 

Keith

 

Well, two things. There are two separate control systems for each rudder, so the ship actually has 4 steering systems. They must have lost two in order to lose one rudder completely. And with the two systems controlling one rudder, the ship has just as much safety as the other 95% of the ships on the high seas that only have one rudder to start with.

 

Then, it is a foreign flag ship, so while at sea, the USCG could not require the ship to enter port early, but can only place requirements for safe navigation inside restricted navigation waters of the US, like requiring tug escorts in the Bay. The tugs are there in case the remaining steering fails in restricted waters. At sea, if the steering fails, there is enough room to use the thrusters and varying the speed between the two propellers to roughly steer the ship enough to keep it out of harm until either repairs could be made or a tug brought out.

 

From what I see, RCI is only stopping because the part is available, and technicians are available in Florida, so they save the tug cost, and the cost of flying the part and techs to Baltimore. If the USCG has prohibited the ship from proceeding up the Bay (not real common with one rudder working), and required repairs to be done at anchor just inside the mouth of the Bay, then there could be grounds for a PVSA exemption.

[Biker19]

If the USCG has prohibited the ship from proceeding up the Bay (not real common with one rudder working), and required repairs to be done at anchor just inside the mouth of the Bay, then there could be grounds for a PVSA exemption.

That kind of detail will be totally lost on someone wanting to get home early and be told they will face a $300 fine if they leave the ship in PC.

[bob brown]

I wonder if terminating the cruise in PC is the reason we aren’t going for repairs in the Bahamas. It would be easier to transport us all home from the US.

It would be even easier to do that in Miami or Port Everglades, if that was the case....

[lossforgain]

Two more vacation days on the next cruise to be booked with the FCC that is coming.

 

Cruise prices are such moving targets anyway, I'm not sure how much of a "deal" that really is. I watched the prices on this cruise for months after I booked it and the balcony rate fluctuated between $750 (where I bought it) and $1250. If they get you to book another cruise for a high enough rate, they don't really lose anything on so-called "free days." But then, I haven't been through this before so I'll wait to see what they offer.

[LeeW]

If Grandeur boarding is delayed by a day for the 1/11/18 cruise, will they refund some amount for the loss of a day, and skip a port or two, or will they cancel the cruise outright? This is our second attempt at a 25th anniversary trip (the first being cancelled by hurricanes), so I am really praying we get some days cruising instead of an outright cancellation.

 

Unlikely they would cancel. When Allure got back three days late during Irma the next cruise was shortened to four days but still went. And we got that one with 50% back as OBC and 50% back as a future cruise credit. Caribbean Princess has been having propulsion issues for months and they just don't sail as far. As long as the problem isn't a safety issue they will keep sailing.

[chengkp75]

That kind of detail will be totally lost on someone wanting to get home early and be told they will face a $300 fine if they leave the ship in PC.

 

Agreed, but then we are dealing with the federal government, and CBP in particular, who don't give a fig for the common person. And the person can get the fine case number from RCI, and apply to CBP for an exemption and refund, as is done in most cases where a deceased passenger is disembarked in violation.

[lossforgain]

Updated itinerary from RCI:

Sat 1/13 Baltimore departure

Sun 1/14 cruising

Mon 1/15 Port Canaveral, FL

Tue 1/16 Nassau

Wed 1/17 Cococay

Thu 1/18 cruising

Fri 1/19 cruising

Sat 1/20 Baltimore

 

We lost Charleston SC, which my wife and I were excited to visit. We lost Freeport, which I have heard is not a great loss, but it is a Bahamian port we don't get to go to. Probably the biggest disappointment is that we will be in Port Canaveral on my wife's birthday, when we were supposed to be in the Bahamas.

[dtagirl]

I don't care for the new itinerary and the times we are in port. Undecided what we will do. The offer of 50% OBC of the cruise fare is ok, but we only paid $264 each, so no biggie in that regard. Decisions, decisions!

[lossforgain]

I don't care for the new itinerary and the times we are in port. Undecided what we will do. The offer of 50% OBC of the cruise fare is ok, but we only paid $264 each, so no biggie in that regard. Decisions, decisions!

 

The reimbursement of flight cost should help you out too, I saw your earlier post. My wife and I are driving down, so mostly the schedule change means that we try to get back our vacation days from work.

[Shmoo here]

Agreed, but then we are dealing with the federal government, and CBP in particular, who don't give a fig for the common person. And the person can get the fine case number from RCI, and apply to CBP for an exemption and refund, as is done in most cases where a deceased passenger is disembarked in violation.

Sorry, chief, just breaking in here with a request. On the Princess board there's a thread running about debarking early and someone is asking for clarification regarding why one person getting off early changes the status of the ship. Can you help?

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=54941992&postcount=21

 

Thanks, everyone, now back to your regular programming.

[internetwhiz]

I know, totally bummed! We were flying in tomorrow with super cheap $40 airfare from Chicago! So if we wait, we will have to pay a lot more for airfare! Waiting to see what happens and if we still go tomorrow and just spend a couple of days in Baltimore! Oh well, I guess 7 days is better than no days!! ;)

 

 

If you have trip insurance it will likely pay for the extra nights in Baltimore.