Sun Princess and missed port Montenegro

[EDVM96]

15 minutes ago, LME70 said:

I’ve been searching YouTube and forums but haven’t found out if the Sun actually made it to Kotor on 6 May. Does anyone know?

The Sun wasn't in Kotor on May 6. She was in Bar, Montenegro instead.

Edited May 14 by EDVM96

[LME70]

8 minutes ago, EDVM96 said:

The Sun wasn't in Kotor on May 6. She was in Bar, Montenegro instead.

Thanks. Oh well ☹️ I won’t plan to meet my friends in Kotor - they just happened to be there on the same day we were due in July

[EDVM96]

29 minutes ago, LME70 said:

Thanks. Oh well ☹️ I won’t plan to meet my friends in Kotor - they just happened to be there on the same day we were due in July

You can get to Kotor from Bar.

 

With Princess, it's a 2 hour motorcoach drive each way + 4 hours in Kotor on your own:

https://www.princess.com/ports-excursions/bar-montenegro-excursions/kotor-on-your-own

 

Edited May 14 by EDVM96

[phuac]

Sun Princess has been removed from the Port of Kotor port schedule for the rest of the summer.  

So while Princess has already updated the May/June Itineraries to show Bar instead of Kotor, expect the July-Sept sailings to reflect Bar later.  Probably after final payment is due for those cruises.  My guess is maybe in a week (Aug sailing payment due) to a month (Sept sailing) or so.

 

A representative involved in Port logistics for Montenegro has already stated that Sun Princess will have 8 sailings to Bar this year which coincides with the April-September number of times that Sun Princess was due in Kotor.  

 

I'm not sure it is due to the size of Sun Princess vs something economic related on the Montenegro side (ie spread tourism across more ports in Montenegro).  Those in the public won't know unless either authorities in Princess or Montenegro say something.  

 

But all signs are pointing to Bar right now for the rest of the year for Sun Princess.

[cr2000]

1 hour ago, phuac said:

Sun Princess has been removed from the Port of Kotor port schedule for the rest of the summer.  

So while Princess has already updated the May/June Itineraries to show Bar instead of Kotor, expect the July-Sept sailings to reflect Bar later.  Probably after final payment is due for those cruises.  My guess is maybe in a week (Aug sailing payment due) to a month (Sept sailing) or so.

 

A representative involved in Port logistics for Montenegro has already stated that Sun Princess will have 8 sailings to Bar this year which coincides with the April-September number of times that Sun Princess was due in Kotor.  

 

I'm not sure it is due to the size of Sun Princess vs something economic related on the Montenegro side (ie spread tourism across more ports in Montenegro).  Those in the public won't know unless either authorities in Princess or Montenegro say something.  

 

But all signs are pointing to Bar right now for the rest of the year for Sun Princess.

And someone laughed at me when I suggested this was an intentional decision not to alert customers until AFTER final payment was due. They are essentially false advertising itineraries to keep bookings/revenue. Absolutely shameful, someone ought to be fired - both for miscalculating Sun Princess ability to ever enter Kotor and then also for perpetuating a lie to customers about intended stops (which they know are cancelled).

[phuac]

3 hours ago, cr2000 said:

And someone laughed at me when I suggested this was an intentional decision not to alert customers until AFTER final payment was due. They are essentially false advertising itineraries to keep bookings/revenue. Absolutely shameful, someone ought to be fired - both for miscalculating Sun Princess ability to ever enter Kotor and then also for perpetuating a lie to customers about intended stops (which they know are cancelled).

I'm just guessing that they'll update after the final payment deadline. But seems like it's trending that way.  Port of Adria shows that the Sun Princess' agent is Boka Adriatic.  

Ships list | portofadria

 

A rep from Boka Adriatic was quoted in an article saying that the Sun Princess will be in Bar 8 times this summer.  Then with the Port of Kotor removing Sun Princess from their schedule... this is all adding up to them remaining itinerary that shows Kotor will change to Bar.

 

Whether or not Princess is intentionally withholding information... I don't know.  Maybe all the signs above are wrong and the remaining schedule will actually keep Kotor.  Doesn't feel like it, but nothing seems to be definitive yet.  

[mikemonster]

Here’s my follow-up :

we ended up docking in Bar, Montenegro May 6. Bar is no Kotor based on what I’ve heard/read HOWEVER, Stari Bar does have a unique charm. There are actually 2 towns Bar ( the new town) and Stari Bar (old town).

The dock is a 5min bus ride to a drop off spot with vendors, information and taxis waiting mainly for those wishing to go to Stari Bar which is a 15min ride 15€-20€ (negotiable) not walkable.

Stai Bar is a step back to earlier times with a cobble stone Main Street lined with shops and some tavernas. Since tourism hasn’t been a main source of revenue in Stari Bar you will find reasonable prices (2.5€ for a beer delicious pizza 8€) and friendly people that appreciate visitors.

 

Bar is a “more modern” working class town just minutes from the bus drop off. These you will find pop up vendors and some shops and taverns ( we actually didn’t spend time in Bar and elected to spend our day in Stari Bar.

 

In the end though we were disappointed in missing Kotor, we enjoyed the lack of tourist crowds and the feel of Stari Bar not to mention the good prices.

 

mike

 

 

[cruiserking]

On 5/14/2024 at 9:25 PM, mikemonster said:

Here’s my follow-up :

we ended up docking in Bar, Montenegro May 6. Bar is no Kotor based on what I’ve heard/read HOWEVER, Stari Bar does have a unique charm. There are actually 2 towns Bar ( the new town) and Stari Bar (old town).

The dock is a 5min bus ride to a drop off spot with vendors, information and taxis waiting mainly for those wishing to go to Stari Bar which is a 15min ride 15€-20€ (negotiable) not walkable.

Stai Bar is a step back to earlier times with a cobble stone Main Street lined with shops and some tavernas. Since tourism hasn’t been a main source of revenue in Stari Bar you will find reasonable prices (2.5€ for a beer delicious pizza 8€) and friendly people that appreciate visitors.

 

Bar is a “more modern” working class town just minutes from the bus drop off. These you will find pop up vendors and some shops and taverns ( we actually didn’t spend time in Bar and elected to spend our day in Stari Bar.

 

In the end though we were disappointed in missing Kotor, we enjoyed the lack of tourist crowds and the feel of Stari Bar not to mention the good prices.

 

mike

 

 

Thanks for your detailed report. Was it easy to get a taxi back to the cruise port from Stari Bar?

 

Jonathan 

[mikemonster]

Yes getting taxis was easy they line up at the ships drop off and in Stari Bar at the point they drop you off which is the end/beginning of the “Main Street which is pedestrian only.

 

Negotiate your fare with the driver and have that exact payment cash out and show the driver just to be clear. They ask for 20e but you can offer 15e for ride. This is NOT a per person ride it’s for however many you have in your party.

 

enjoy

mike, 

[cruiserking]

3 hours ago, mikemonster said:

Yes getting taxis was easy they line up at the ships drop off and in Stari Bar at the point they drop you off which is the end/beginning of the “Main Street which is pedestrian only.

 

Negotiate your fare with the driver and have that exact payment cash out and show the driver just to be clear. They ask for 20e but you can offer 15e for ride. This is NOT a per person ride it’s for however many you have in your party.

 

enjoy

mike, 

Thank you very much for the fast response Mike.

 

Happy Cruising.

 

Jonathan 

[Amy G]

Princess still has not canceled our stop in Kotor in July, and I can't find a Bar schedule stating the Sun will be there in July.  Has anyone found anything stating that July stops are in Bar?

[KimberlyC]

On 5/14/2024 at 3:39 PM, cr2000 said:

And someone laughed at me when I suggested this was an intentional decision not to alert customers until AFTER final payment was due. They are essentially false advertising itineraries to keep bookings/revenue. Absolutely shameful, someone ought to be fired - both for miscalculating Sun Princess ability to ever enter Kotor and then also for perpetuating a lie to customers about intended stops (which they know are cancelled).

Oh I believe it’s intentional. I’m sailing the Sun Princess last cruise out of Athens on September 7th. I tried to book a private excursion because that’s my birthday and the local tour operator declined, saying Princess has been skipping the port. I called Princess excursions this morning and they insist the port is Kotor. They have 30 excursions on the Princess app to choose from, but at this point I’m not believing it. We just made final payment and this is absolutely a bait and switch. 🤬

[cruisinsince75]

According to the Bar ship schedule the Sun is in port on June 17th, but nothing in July.  on the Kotor ship schedule, the Sun will be there on July 8th, July 29th, August 19, and September 9th. 

[Esprit]

We have heard nothing but are due to be in Kotor on 19 August.

Santorini on the 13 August unchanged too despite all the ships that are there that day!

[phuac]

13 hours ago, cruisinsince75 said:

According to the Bar ship schedule the Sun is in port on June 17th, but nothing in July.  on the Kotor ship schedule, the Sun will be there on July 8th, July 29th, August 19, and September 9th. 

 

Interesting, is there another ship schedule for Kotor?  Don't see Sun Princess here:
https://www.portofkotor.co.me/NAJAVE 24.04.2024 god.pdf

Sun Princess was here a few months ago, but they removed it from the schedule.  
Voyager and Explorer of the Seas will be there and they about 140000 tons

[abouna]

We are scheduled for Kotor on July 29 on the Sun. So far it's still there and the only ship in port that day so hopefully that will be a factor in keeping it there. 

[cruisinsince75]

10 hours ago, phuac said:

 

Interesting, is there another ship schedule for Kotor?  Don't see Sun Princess here:
https://www.portofkotor.co.me/NAJAVE 24.04.2024 god.pdf

Sun Princess was here a few months ago, but they removed it from the schedule.  
Voyager and Explorer of the Seas will be there and they about 140000 tons

https://www.cruisetimetables.com/kotor-montenegro-cruise-ship-schedule.html

Wonder which one is more up to date.  

[cruisinsince75]

There is also this one...

https://www.cruisemapper.com/ports/kotor-port-682

[TRLD]

The various cruise port web sites have tended to say different things since the Sun has launched.  The most authoritative has tended to be the port itself.

 

https://www.portofkotor.co.me/

 

Which unfortunately does not show Sun Princess at all for June, July, August or September

 

As far as the various sites that report on various cruise ship ports, who knows exactly where they get their information from.

[phuac]

11 hours ago, cruisinsince75 said:

https://www.cruisetimetables.com/kotor-montenegro-cruise-ship-schedule.html

Wonder which one is more up to date.  

 

This one is definitely not up to date.  When Princess changed to Bar, the site was still showing Kotor even after Princess updated their itinerary.   Same with Cruisedig.  I think most of these sites just pull info from each cruise line's itineraries vs getting updated info from port authorities. 

 

Took a while for Port of Kotor to remove Sun Princess from their PDF as well.  So who knows.   

[mikemonster]

Princess has proved to be unreliable with communication to passengers. I was suggest when possible for both Kotor and Santorini book alternate excursions in Bar and Crete that you can cancel . This would require booking excursions thru 3rd party such as Viator since Princess excursions to the alternates won’t be available from Princess app or web.
good luck to all!

[KimberlyC]

On 6/9/2024 at 12:59 AM, phuac said:

 

This one is definitely not up to date.  When Princess changed to Bar, the site was still showing Kotor even after Princess updated their itinerary.   Same with Cruisedig.  I think most of these sites just pull info from each cruise line's itineraries vs getting updated info from port authorities. 

 

Took a while for Port of Kotor to remove Sun Princess from their PDF as well.  So who knows.   

I asked a cruiser currently on the June 8th Sun sailing when Princess notified them of the change from Kotor to Bar and was told April 28th. So just shy of 6 weeks notice. 
 

I suspect each and every sailing will be switched from Kotor to Bar but Princess will NOT say so until after final payments are due. I called and asked but Princess excursions insisted the ship was going to Kotor. I don’t believe it! I have a backup plan in place but it sucks we will lose 4 hours commuting to/from Bar to Kotor plus the expense of it. To me this is an intentional bait and switch. I’m not cancelling the cruise because we have 3 couples cruising for my big birthday celebration but this is my first time sailing Princess and so far I’m not impressed with what clearly appears to be some shady shenanigans. 

[cr2000]

5 minutes ago, KimberlyC said:

I asked a cruiser currently on the June 8th Sun sailing when Princess notified them of the change from Kotor to Bar and was told April 28th. So just shy of 6 weeks notice. 
 

I suspect each and every sailing will be switched from Kotor to Bar but Princess will NOT say so until after final payments are due. I called and asked but Princess excursions insisted the ship was going to Kotor. I don’t believe it! I have a backup plan in place but it sucks we will lose 4 hours commuting to/from Bar to Kotor plus the expense of it. To me this is an intentional bait and switch. I’m not cancelling the cruise because we have 3 couples cruising for my big birthday celebration but this is my first time sailing Princess and so far I’m not impressed with what clearly appears to be some shady shenanigans. 

I cancelled our cruise for August when it became clear that Princess was just leading guests along - they know the ship is too large, but at the end of the day they are placing $ first over passenger satisfaction.

[KimberlyC]

Just now, cr2000 said:

I cancelled our cruise for August when it became clear that Princess was just leading guests along - they know the ship is too large, but at the end of the day they are placing $ first over passenger satisfaction.

I don’t blame you. If this wasn’t a trip coordinated with others for a specific date for a special celebration I would probably do the same. It really is leaving a bad taste in my mouth particularly since I called Princess excursions last week after a local Kotor tour operator declined a private tour saying the ship would dock in Bar instead. That’s how I found out first and then I came to the boards seeking confirmation. The Princess rep put me on hold to talk to his manager when I said “look the locals are saying the ship will not dock in Kotor but the app is saying Kotor and you have 30 Kotor excursions listed so just tell me what’s going on please.” He came back and INSISTED that the ship would go to Kotor. I’m fairly certain that was a bold faced lie. 

[Catchum]

We are on a Croatia cruise (not Princess) with a stop at Kotor and I just wonder why anyone would cancel an entire cruise because of this. Surely we all know no port is guaranteed and Bar looks like a pleasant stop. Obviously I would be disappointed to miss the Kotor Cat museum but if I really want to visit a place I book a plane ticket and a couple of weeks on the ground.