Suez blockage

[smellycruzer]

After closely following what is transpiring in the Suez Canal with the Ever Given, it has me wondering what would happen if this was a Princess ship. In the passenger contract what would be the responsibility of Princess? Would passengers be allowed to disembark? Ladders or tenders? Could we stay onboard and wait for the situation to be resolved?

 

I have the March 13 itinerary booked and have been looking forward to the Suez transit aboard the Island Princess. If I can get a few others interested I might consider a land transfer to avoid that situation entirely, but would that even be allowed or do you think Princess might start offering that as an option? I think it would be more impressive to see the ship from the side and have located a few spots like Al Arish Road in Ismailia Egypt bordering the canal we could see it.

 

Interested in hearing what others think about this. I know the odds are small but I'm terrified of having to climb off a ladder from the ship in case we get stuck!!

[Shmoo here]

5 minutes ago, smellycruzer said:

After closely following what is transpiring in the Suez Canal with the Ever Given, it has me wondering what would happen if this was a Princess ship. In the passenger contract what would be the responsibility of Princess? Would passengers be allowed to disembark? Ladders or tenders? Could we stay onboard and wait for the situation to be resolved?

 

I have the March 13 itinerary booked and have been looking forward to the Suez transit aboard the Island Princess. If I can get a few others interested I might consider a land transfer to avoid that situation entirely, but would that even be allowed or do you think Princess might start offering that as an option? I think it would be more impressive to see the ship from the side and have located a few spots like Al Arish Road in Ismailia Egypt bordering the canal we could see it.

 

Interested in hearing what others think about this. I know the odds are small but I'm terrified of having to climb off a ladder from the ship in case we get stuck!!

I doubt that you'd have to climb down a ladder to debark.  Probably just use the tender doors, those are closer to the water line and you just go down a set of stairs to board a small boat that takes you to shore.

[smellycruzer]

1 hour ago, Shmoo here said:

I doubt that you'd have to climb down a ladder to debark.  Probably just use the tender doors, those are closer to the water line and you just go down a set of stairs to board a small boat that takes you to shore.

I'm probably overthinking that part but am genuinely curious what would happen in that scenario if it's a passenger ship. Not just in the Suez canal but I can think of many other tight spots a cruise ship could get lodged in between. 

[kiwimum]

You definitely would not be able to disembark to avoid the canal.  The stop before the canal is Aqaba, Jordan 2 days prior and the next stop was Rome 2 days after.  The canal is amazing, scientific feat.   The portion of the canal where the ship is stuck is between the city of Suez and Bitter Lake, single lane portion.  Once past the lake there are two lanes.   Ships are escorted with a pilot boat between.   
The Sapphire was the 2nd ship in the convoy, first being a US Navy Supply ship.  Behind us was a container ship.   Military ships go first, passenger next and then commercial traffic.   There were 19 ships in our convoy.

 I would definitely do the transit again in a heartbeat.
 

[kiwimum]

11 minutes ago, smellycruzer said:

I'm probably overthinking that part but am genuinely curious what would happen in that scenario if it's a passenger ship. Not just in the Suez canal but I can think of many other tight spots a cruise ship could get lodged in between. 

 

Edited March 27, 2021 by kiwimum
Duplicate

[GonzoWCS]

2 hours ago, Shmoo here said:

I doubt that you'd have to climb down a ladder to debark.  Probably just use the tender doors, those are closer to the water line and you just go down a set of stairs to board a small boat that takes you to shore.

That makes sense

[TeaBag]

If Princess has not redeployed the Grand Princess and Covid hadn't happened, we would have been 4 days out of Singapore today sailing toward the Suez!  Sometimes cancellation clouds have a silver lining!  We are booked on Azamara for May 2022.  Just have to see Petra and the Suez canal.

[chengkp75]

If a Princess ship got into the same situation, and that is highly unlikely, due to size, weight, and propulsion differences, then the cruise contract allows them to do whatever they think is best as far as passengers are concerned.  They might cancel the remainder of the cruise and fly everyone home.  They might have everyone remain onboard.  They might have everyone disembark and go to hotels until the ship is free.  It all depends on how long the problem will persist, and what the insurance underwriters feel is the least risk.

 

As noted, there are not port calls just before/after the canal, so you would lose a significant portion of the cruise.  They would not allow you off at Suez and back on in Port Said, as these are not set up as ports of call, just waiting places for the convoy timing and picking up the pilot and line crew.

 

Also, as noted, you would not have to climb down a ladder.  That is a risk that no insurance would cover unless the ship were sinking.  Even then, a cruise ship has "pilot doors" that are only 10 feet or so above the water, so even the pilots have an easy time with the Jacob's ladder.  The ship would use the tender ports, which are right at the water level, and you would either go in ship's tenders, or onto tugs or local excursion boats to get to shore.

 

 

[skynight]

Don't worry. Nothing you can do about it. Enjoy your time on board. 

[Roberto256]

2 hours ago, chengkp75 said:

They might have everyone disembark and go to hotels until the ship is free. 

 

Based on many passengers I have seen on cruises, that would probably be enough to re-float the ship.

 

[SteveH2508]

9 hours ago, TeaBag said:

If Princess has not redeployed the Grand Princess and Covid hadn't happened, we would have been 4 days out of Singapore today sailing toward the Suez!  Sometimes cancellation clouds have a silver lining!  We are booked on Azamara for May 2022.  Just have to see Petra and the Suez canal.

Be aware that Petra will probably be brutally hot in May (47 degrees Centigrade when we were there!)

[skynight]

1 hour ago, SteveH2508 said:

Be aware that Petra will probably be brutally hot in May (47 degrees Centigrade when we were there!)

That is umbrella & lots of water weather for sure. 47C (116F) is kind of near the top end of what people can handle.

[SteveH2508]

15 minutes ago, skynight said:

That is umbrella & lots of water weather for sure. 47C (116F) is kind of near the top end of what people can handle.

It was 50 C in the Valley of the Kings apparently when we were there - fortunately there was little walking and the tombs are cool - unlike Petra!

[GonzoWCS]

2 hours ago, Roberto256 said:

 

Based on many passengers I have seen on cruises, that would probably be enough to re-float the ship.

 

I know I shouldn't encourage but 🤣

[TeaBag]

4 hours ago, SteveH2508 said:

Be aware that Petra will probably be brutally hot in May (47 degrees Centigrade when we were there!)

Thanks Steve.  That IS hot!  We basically want to see the Treasury and the Siq.  If it is that hot, we will not be walking far.

[SteveH2508]

8 minutes ago, TeaBag said:

Thanks Steve.  That IS hot!  We basically want to see the Treasury and the Siq.  If it is that hot, we will not be walking far.

There are various forms of transport available for various parts of the trek (horseback, horse-drawn buggie, electric golf-cart) for various prices, increasing respectively.

 

It was that hot, that the soles of my (albeit well travelled) trainers melted off on the walk back up from the treasury. DW (on crutches) just made it back but it was well worth the experience nevertheless. Take (and drink) plenty of water.

[kiwimum]

14 minutes ago, SteveH2508 said:

25 minutes ago, TeaBag said:

 

There are various forms of transport available for various parts of the trek (horseback, horse-drawn buggie, electric golf-cart) for various prices, increasing respectively.

Make sure your insurance covers you for these forms of transportation.   Did not see any golf carts.  Did see a visitor have his leg injured by two camels passing with no regard for each other.   
 

Edited March 27, 2021 by kiwimum

[SteveH2508]

6 minutes ago, kiwimum said:

And you will be advised by Princess that your insurance will not cover you for these forms of transportation.   Did not see any golf carts.  Did see a visitor have his leg injured by two camels passing with no regard for each other.   
 

I would certainly not use the horse-drawn buggies down to the Treasury or back up - the poor b**gers were skating around like dodgem cars. The golf cart to get back up from the Treasury was apparently about $150 a pop!

[TeaBag]

You guys are scaring me.  Yes, I did see a warning about the horse drawn buggies so we had decided we would just walk and take it slow.  We are scheduled in Aqaba May 30.

[wowzz]

8 hours ago, skynight said:

That is umbrella & lots of water weather for sure. 47C (116F) is kind of near the top end of what people can handle.

We lived in Spain for a while and occasionally had temps of 42c. It's not easy living in temperatures like that. We actually stayed indoors all day, and only went out when the sun had gone down. Just walking around during the day was impossible. 

[kiwimum]

51 minutes ago, TeaBag said:

You guys are scaring me.  Yes, I did see a warning about the horse drawn buggies so we had decided we would just walk and take it slow.  We are scheduled in Aqaba May 30.

If you are physically active and can walk  over uneven surfaces you should be okay.   The pictures are of small portion on the path.  The first after it levels off from the visitors center and the second before entering the Treasury.   If you have hiking poles I would definitely suggest taking them along and lots of water.   A visit of a lifetime.

We took the Princess excursion, book early as the price increases.   From memory around 20 busses made the trip.   Plenty of time at Petra itself and then a very nice buffet lunch at a 5 star hotel.   WiFi on the bus helped pass the long time on the road.  
It is a very long day, make sure you hydrate well the day before and take plenty of water, sunscreen, hat and walking shoes.

[triple7tahoe]

Way back, we were scheduled to transit the Suez only to have it closed by the 6day War. They changed our port of embarkation and we got to see South Africa instead.

 

[Waynetor]

If the 2021world cruise had nor been cancelled, the ship (Island P) was due to sail north through the canal the day after this mishap and she would now be sitting waiting for the canal to open.  Meanwhile Mediterean ports, one by one would be dropped. 

[smellycruzer]

On 3/26/2021 at 11:55 PM, TeaBag said:

If Princess has not redeployed the Grand Princess and Covid hadn't happened, we would have been 4 days out of Singapore today sailing toward the Suez!  Sometimes cancellation clouds have a silver lining!  We are booked on Azamara for May 2022.  Just have to see Petra and the Suez canal.

True! But it would've made for some interesting stories. 

[smellycruzer]

On 3/27/2021 at 2:44 PM, kiwimum said:

Make sure your insurance covers you for these forms of transportation.   Did not see any golf carts.  Did see a visitor have his leg injured by two camels passing with no regard for each other.   
 

Did the camel bite their leg or were the 2 camels in a fight and the visitor intervened?