Friday 13th - The Unlucky Cruises

[3213dev]

Just back in the UK after a fortnight in the Caribbean. Never again shall I start a holiday on Friday 13th!

 

For background, we're a young British couple and my girlfriend took her first cruise on the Rhapsody last year (from Venice). I'm D+ and have already visited most Caribbean ports. We booked to travel on the Empress and Symphony back in January with the following itineraries: Grand Cayman, Cienfuegos and Havana & St Maarten, San Juan and Labadee. I've always wanted to travel on the Empress and I really wanted to take my girlfriend on a mega-ship so both cruises really fitted the bill.

 

Our unfortunate luck started back in June when we were informed that we'd no longer be visiting Cuba. This was the main reason for us choosing the Caribbean in the first place. I had hoped we might visit the new Coco Cay on the rescheduled itinerary but instead we were rerouted to Key West, Costa Maya and Cozumel. However, the refund offer was very fair and this was still my chance to sail on the Empress, so we decided to keep our booking.

 

Fast forward to 12th September (the day before flying to Miami) and I receive a text message saying that our British Airways flight from Heathrow has been cancelled. No explanation given but we'd been moved onto another flight departing three hours later. This was my first ever flight cancellation and I was disappointed that our short time in Miami would be squeezed further. The original plan would have seen us land at 3pm Eastern Time and have a snooze in the hotel before making the most of our first night stateside. Instead we'd now be landing at 6pm.

 

Check-in for the new flight was a breeze and all was going to plan even as we boarded the plane. The Captain then told us there'd be a slight delay as the ground crew had forgotten to load a mobility scooter. This took some time to rectify and we pushed back 30 minutes late. After five seconds of pushing back the plane came to a halt and then returned to the gate. Apparently there was now an issue with the weight in the hold and the paperwork would have to be rechecked. This resulted in a further 2 hour delay on the ground and made worse by a total lack of A/C. When we eventually made it into the air we then found out that the plane was running low on all drinks including water.   

 

We arrived in Miami five hours later than planned and it took 90 minutes to get through the airport. Determined to make the most of the evening we quickly freshened up and went out for a drink down Bayside. 

 

We had no problems boarding the Empress and really enjoyed the day in Key West. The morning after we were at sea and I was woken by what sounded like hoovering in the hallway. As I got out of bed I felt a really odd sensation and it took a few seconds to process that I was standing on a warmish, saturated carpet. I turned on the lights and it immediately became clear that the cabin had been entirely flooded. I opened the door to find crew members 'hoovering' up the water and they seemed surprised when I reported that it had seeped into our cabin. I felt really bad for my girlfriend because all of her shoes were on the floor and her formal dress hung down to the ground and appeared ruined (this was the day of formal night). She had also placed some gifts we had bought under the bed and as they were t-shirts they were now soaked in an unknown substance.

 

Apparently this was caused by a burst pipe outside the cabin and four cabins had been affected. I did enquire about the water and was told that it was perfectly safe which was something of a relief. 

 

We were moved to another cabin and my girlfriend was very upset. I had to ask guest services for some shoes for her as they had all been taken away to be cleaned and the shops onboard were not yet open. All they could offer were some Royal Caribbean slippers. When the shops did open Guest Services were willing to comp the purchase of some sandals. The good news is that we received a tap at the door at 5pm and all of the clothes were returned after being washed and dry-cleaned. We made formal night 

 

These things come in threes we told ourselves and now surely we'd had three strokes of bad luck. After dinner on Day 4 we returned to the cabin to find a note from Shore Excursions informing us that our tour in Cozumel the next day had been cancelled. We were given 10% off another excursion but the problem was that we didn't receive notification until midnight. It was far too late to book anything else. This threw our plans significantly but little did we know that we'd be back in Cozumel very, very soon. 

 

Again, we boarded the Symphony with no problems and sailed away from a very rainy Miami. Around lunchtime on Day 2 the Captain addressed us over the PA system to inform us that Tropical Storm would mean a change to the itinerary. Instead of San Juan and St Maarten we'd be visiting Cozumel and Coco Cay instead. We rolled our eyes at learning we'd be returning to Cozumel and thought it funny that we'd booked two cruises without Cozumel on the itinerary and would in fact now be visiting twice. There were cheers down the Promenade at the announcement of Coco Cay, including from myself as I've never really cared too much for San Juan.

 

We'll forever remember them as the unlucky cruises but the truth is we still loved every minute (with maybe the exception of 'flood morning'). I think it really shows that a vacation is what you make of it and if you're determined to have a good time then you most probably will. After a day or two we were able to laugh about the cabin flood and made use of our return to Cozumel to almost have the Flowrider and waterslides to ourselves. Should also say that we loved Perfect Day at Coco Cay  My girlfriend really enjoyed the Symphony and even said she'd love to travel on the Empress again (as long as we're not in the flood zone). Before this holiday I've never had a flight cancelled or even a port of call for that matter. I think it's a sign: don't travel on Friday 13th :)

[soremekun]

Aren't some cruise ships "missing" the 13th floor?  I think that is the silliest nonsense in the world.  In that case, wouldn't deck 14 actually be the 13th deck?

Would you not cash a legal check in the amount of 1,313.13 (or 1.313,13 - UK)?

 

On the other hand,  some think 8 is lucky.

Edited October 1, 2019 by soremekun

[3213dev]

3 minutes ago, soremekun said:

Aren't some cruise ships "missing" the 13th floor?  I think that is the silliest nonsense in the world.  In that case, wouldn't deck 14 actually be the 13th deck?

Would you not cash a legal check in the amount of 1,313.13 (or 1.313,13 - UK)?

 

On the other hand,  some think 8 is lucky.

 

I was never superstitious before this trip ☺️

[breezy_carol]

So glad you had a positive attitude with all the mishaps.

 

[soremekun]

4 minutes ago, 3213dev said:

 

I was never superstitious before this trip ☺️

Gotcha.  Any thoughts of changing the 13 in your username to 14 or another number?

[ZiggaZagga17]

14 minutes ago, soremekun said:

Aren't some cruise ships "missing" the 13th floor?  I think that is the silliest nonsense in the world.  In that case, wouldn't deck 14 actually be the 13th deck?

Would you not cash a legal check in the amount of 1,313.13 (or 1.313,13 - UK)?

 

On the other hand,  some think 8 is lucky.

When they build new housing estates in the UK they almost never have a '13' - the press seemingly consistently make a fuss over it too when they're short of material for their broadcasts!

[soremekun]

Hopefully the banking system adopts this idea.  I can bring a wad of singles to the bank and count it in front of the teller.  When I get to 12, the next number is 14.  Ooooh, wait.  Can I do the same with 20 dollar bills, 100 dollar bills?  I'll be rich in no time!

[Merion_Mom]

@3213dev

 

Thanks for a great account of your travels.  You have a wonderful attitude, and I'm glad that your girlfriend still wants to cruise!

 

I need to know your Empress cabin number, so that I can be on the lookout for a tsunami.  😉 

[mo&fran]

38 minutes ago, Merion_Mom said:

@3213dev

 

Thanks for a great account of your travels.  You have a wonderful attitude, and I'm glad that your girlfriend still wants to cruise!

 

I need to know your Empress cabin number, so that I can be on the lookout for a tsunami.  😉 

actually  that would be a good  room.  Brand new water pipe there.

[3213dev]

7 hours ago, Merion_Mom said:

@3213dev

 

Thanks for a great account of your travels.  You have a wonderful attitude, and I'm glad that your girlfriend still wants to cruise!

 

I need to know your Empress cabin number, so that I can be on the lookout for a tsunami.  😉 

 

It was 3205 😊

Edited October 2, 2019 by 3213dev

[Merion_Mom]

6 hours ago, 3213dev said:

 

It was 3205 😊

Phew.  Nowhere near my cabin.  😄 

[MalteseMama2]

You really did have some challenges on your trip. I’m glad you were able to rise above the issues and have a good time!

[mugtech]

Flying into the Caribbean at the peak of hurricane season is a great way to create your own bad luck.

[cruiseguy1016]

Not really related to cruising but, my wife and I were just in Ireland for a land based tour. We were in Dublin on Friday, the 13th. There was supposed to be a full moon that night. We checked into our hotel and they had put us in room 666! I'm not superstitious at all but my wife was freaking out. She refused to go to bed on the 13th. We had a few drinks at the bar and didn't go to our room until after midnight.