Ventura switching ports?

[AndyMichelle]

Apparently, Ventura will not be going to Amsterdam this weekend due to bad weather, but instead will be going to Zebrugge? 

I would not have thought there would be much difference.. Shows how little I know. 😊

Andy 

 

[Les_ldh]

1 minute ago, AndyMichelle said:

Apparently, Ventura will not be going to Amsterdam this weekend due to bad weather, but instead will be going to Zebrugge? 

I would not have thought there would be much difference.. Shows how little I know. 😊

Andy 

 

Having seen the weather forecast for this weekend I’m not sure I’d want to be going anywhere! 🤢😂

[davemorton]

Wonder if it will be stopping over night there as it was meant to be doing in Amsterdam. 

 

Where do people find the best place to find out how rough the seas will be please as fancying a little trip to Bruge in the next week or so, so fancy seeing when is best for the crossing. 

[Les_ldh]

5 minutes ago, davemorton said:

Wonder if it will be stopping over night there as it was meant to be doing in Amsterdam. 

 

Where do people find the best place to find out how rough the seas will be please as fancying a little trip to Bruge in the next week or so, so fancy seeing when is best for the crossing. 

I use the Ventusky weather app on my iPad. Very good and comprehensive.

[davemorton]

Many thanks Les, I will see if I can download/work out how to use it on my phone. 

[zoe sproodle]

We are on this cruise and the email from P and O is saying it's now Zeebrugge on Saturday followed by 2 days at sea instead of a sea day Saturday before Sunday overnight in Imjuden.  This is because the worst of the weather will be on Sunday. 

No doubt some people will be disappointed and they're offering transfers to other cruises or full refunds to anyone who doesn't wish to travel. Personally I'm not bothered by this but I can sympathise with anyone who will feel let down, however the weather is beyond P and O's control and the safety of the ship and everyone on board is paramount.

[AndyMichelle]

56 minutes ago, zoe sproodle said:

We are on this cruise and the email from P and O is saying it's now Zeebrugge on Saturday followed by 2 days at sea instead of a sea day Saturday before Sunday overnight in Imjuden.  This is because the worst of the weather will be on Sunday. 

No doubt some people will be disappointed and they're offering transfers to other cruises or full refunds to anyone who doesn't wish to travel. Personally I'm not bothered by this but I can sympathise with anyone who will feel let down, however the weather is beyond P and O's control and the safety of the ship and everyone on board is paramount.

Have a great time Zoe. 

Hope the weather is kind. 

Andy 

[zoe sproodle]

39 minutes ago, AndyMichelle said:

Have a great time Zoe. 

Hope the weather is kind. 

Andy 

Cheers, Andy.  The forecast isn't pleasant so I expect it might get a bit bumpy, but I'm sure we'll be fine.

[AndyMichelle]

15 minutes ago, zoe sproodle said:

Cheers, Andy.  The forecast isn't pleasant so I expect it might get a bit bumpy, but I'm sure we'll be fine.

I have a theory... 

Drink enough cocktails and if the ship is rocking, you will be swaying to counter balance...😊

If many people are not opting to travel, I wonder if we could get a cheap deal? 

Andy 

 

[zoe sproodle]

4 minutes ago, AndyMichelle said:

I have a theory... 

Drink enough cocktails and if the ship is rocking, you will be swaying to counter balance...😊

If many people are not opting to travel, I wonder if we could get a cheap deal? 

Andy 

 

Ha, it might be worth a try - we've already discussed the possibility of an upgrade and extra OBC (ever the optimists)!  As for the cocktails I'll be asking for them in pint glasses so I don't spill any....

[jeanlyon]

Very difficult getting into Ijmuiden (for Amsterdam) in that kind of wind.  Zebrugge is open in any weather.  have to say I wouldn't want to be at sea in the forecast I am seeing.

 

The BBC has the Weather if you click on Coast and Sea and then shipping forecast.

[AndyMichelle]

1 minute ago, jeanlyon said:

Very difficult getting into Ijmuiden (for Amsterdam) in that kind of wind.  Zebrugge is open in any weather.  have to say I wouldn't want to be at sea in the forecast I am seeing.

 

The BBC has the Weather if you click on Coast and Sea and then shipping forecast.

I wouldn't care Jean, I would rather take my chances on the seas than be stuck at home... 

Andy 

[davemorton]

25 minutes ago, AndyMichelle said:

I have a theory... 

Drink enough cocktails and if the ship is rocking, you will be swaying to counter balance...😊

If many people are not opting to travel, I wonder if we could get a cheap deal? 

Andy 

 

Strangely enough, I was just thinking the same, and I have a lot further to travel, but would give me a little cruise, and get be to Brugge. 

[Harry Peterson]

An inevitable and sensible decision by P&O given the forecast and the difference between the two ports.

 

Sticking with Ijmuiden in the predicted weather conditions could lead to a long and rather pointless sea voyage. 

[P&O SUE]

I’m surprised they’re not stopping in Belgium overnight- especially if the weather is supposed to be bad on the Sunday!

[davemorton]

Well I cant see any massive reductions online, and it will be too short notice tomorrow for me to get down, so no last minute for me. 

[Merlinz]

We were booked to go on this cruise too, at last minute gave less then 24 hours notice of port change, feel sickened at their poor service got a refund on the phone offered no compensation telling us we need to wait 7-10 days for our money back.

Don't blame it on poor weather docking etc theirs clearly other reasons why they are diverting.

Good riddance P&O.

[showingdiva]

6 hours ago, Merlinz said:

We were booked to go on this cruise too, at last minute gave less then 24 hours notice of port change, feel sickened at their poor service got a refund on the phone offered no compensation telling us we need to wait 7-10 days for our money back.

Don't blame it on poor weather docking etc theirs clearly other reasons why they are diverting.

Good riddance P&O.

 

Have you seen the weather forecast for Sunday??

 

Ijmuiden / Amsterdam is a difficult enough port to get into safely in moderately bad weather with any type of large shipping.   Did you want to captain to sail a ship full of passengers /crew up the English Channel and into the North Sea in expected very heavy seas, only to not get into the port, attempt to turn around and drift around until it's time to return to Southampton on Tuesday?   One has to expect that there is always the risk of bad weather at sea, but not to the point of at best uncomfortable conditions and at worst endangerment of the ship, her crew and the passengers.

 

UK train companies have already announced passengers booked on trains on Sunday can opt for a refund or travel on Saturday or Monday instead.

[Harry Peterson]

I wonder whether P&O are laying on free coaches to Bruges?  Sensible, relatively cheap goodwill gesture?

[bee-ess]

6 hours ago, Merlinz said:

We were booked to go on this cruise too, at last minute gave less then 24 hours notice of port change, feel sickened at their poor service got a refund on the phone offered no compensation telling us we need to wait 7-10 days for our money back.

Don't blame it on poor weather docking etc theirs clearly other reasons why they are diverting.

Good riddance P&O.

I think in the circumstances that is a bit harsh. You would be blaming them for going there if they had not changed.

[Matt1386]

6 hours ago, Merlinz said:

We were booked to go on this cruise too, at last minute gave less then 24 hours notice of port change, feel sickened at their poor service got a refund on the phone offered no compensation telling us we need to wait 7-10 days for our money back.

Don't blame it on poor weather docking etc theirs clearly other reasons why they are diverting.

Good riddance P&O.

We are on this cruise (and currently looking at Ventura from the Grand Harbour). A shame the port has changed, particularly to Zebrugge as we’ve been there a lot, but if you look at the forecast, it is a no brainier. Not sure it’s fair to blame P&O for this one, in fact they have acted early and not had to make a later change when on board. 

 

Looking at the weather, I wonder if the now planned two sea days on Sunday and Monday may change, as you would not blame the captain getting to safety rather than float in a bad storm for two days. 

[AndyMichelle]

39 minutes ago, Merlinz said:

Hope you have a lovely time Matt, genuinely, as im sure you can understand some peoples circumstances/reasons for going somewhere can differ, so some people will feel the need to cancel instead of accepting change of port, take care and have fun man

On a calm note and not wanting to challenge or anything whilst you are so upset, but just thought I would mention that posters on FB are saying their money was refunded back to their card immediately over the phone. 

Might be worth another call? 

Andy 

[KnowTheScore]

For those wanting to regularly understand what the weather forecasts are for their cruises from Southampton just bookmark this website, the MetOffice Shipping forecast:

 

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/specialist-forecasts/coast-and-sea/shipping-forecast

 

It provides a pictorial map of the UK and the seas down as far as Gibraltar split of course into each of the regular shipping zones.

 

A current glance shows that the seas going north up to Norway are all red which means rough.  However there is nothing there, absolutely nothing that is out of the ordinary for any cruise.

 

DOGGER

Wind

South 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later, then veering southwest later.

Sea state

Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.

FORTiES

Wind

Southerly 5 increasing 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.

Sea state

Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.

 

The sea areas to North France and above which are THAMES, HUMBER, GERMAN BIGHT and FISCHER

are all perfectly fine and normal, Wind Variable 2 to 4 becoming south 5 to 7.  Sea state Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in northwest.

 

Either way poster Merlinz is correct.  There is nothing there in either the red zones or the perfectly ok zones that has ever prevented a cruise ship from sailing.

 

This Christmas on Ventura down to the Canaries we had 3 solid days of appalling weather, very high sea swells, extremely uncomfortable and unpleasant for a great many people.    So bad weather is definitely not a primary reason for the cruise being discussed cancelling ports imho. 

 

Cruise ships increase their on-board-revenue (OBR) earnings on days you are at sea because there is a captive audience and they can only buy things from the ship.  Food, drinks, services, items from shops and the "tat" stalls and so on.

 

Note that in my many years cruising with P&O I have also had to sail in some terrifying sea conditions.  Enormous swells in the Atlantic, cabin windows on deck 5 being smashed in by waves, cabins flooded with the incoming water and contents washed out to sea, steel shutters having to be put in place of the broken window and so on.   It happens and the ships are perfectly capable of weathering those conditions as Merlinz rightly states.   If you cruise enough you will run into such bad weather.   It has always been the case imho that P&O make sure that the cruise ships get back to home port well in time before long cruises and especially before the World Cruises.   We used to often be on the last cruise before a Worldy and the captain would sail the ship through hell and high water whatever it took to get back to Southampton so they could adequately prepare for the Worldy.  We were always "expendable" in comparison to that cruise.

Edited February 7, 2020 by KnowTheScore

[Merlinz]

On the phone to P&O right now they are still refusing to offer a faster refund claiming no one is getting faster refunds.

[AndyMichelle]

4 minutes ago, Merlinz said:

On the phone to P&O right now they are still refusing to offer a faster refund claiming no one is getting faster refunds.

Sorry, was only repeating what others have said, thought it might be worth a try. 

Good luck. 

Andy