If you take Celebrity's bus to a port, beware...

[etoile]

I am currently on a bus from Washington DC to Bayonne for a Zenith cruise. I am sitting directly behind the driver. Why am I sitting here? Because I have to give the driver directions.

 

We left 30 mins late because we were waiting for stragglers, who never showed up. Once we were moving, I took a short nap. When I woke up, I discovered that the driver had completely missed the exit, and was heading in the opposite direction from where we were supposed to be going. I ran to the front and got us turned around. But now I am sitting up front because we have to stop in Wilmington, DE and the driver doesn't know how to get there.

 

The bus is chartered from Academy Bus Lines. Celebrity provided the bus for us, so we called them. The first rep was completely unhelpful. When we called back the next rep suggested we contact Academy. When we did, nobody was there.

 

If you are taking a bus provided by Celebrity, be careful! Make sure your driver knows where they are going. This might not be the best way to get there.

 

Does anybody else think I should be getting some free drinks out of this?! :D

[mariloum]

Not unless Academy is buying them. Celebrity doesn't hire the bus drivers they only contract with the bus company.

Marilou

[etoile]

I know it's a contracted bus, but I am being provided the bus by Celebrity. I have no contract with the bus company, so if there is a problem, Celebrity is who I would talk to. What they do with Academy is their own business, but I am pretty sure taking it up with Celebrity is appropriate.

 

Pass the margaritas! :D

[fllady]

Make sure that you notify Celebrity about this. Thank God you noticed this. Didn't anyone else notice it? Or did they think he knew a short cut?!?!?!?!

Free drinks, all the people on that bus owe you big time, MPO!!:)

[Betty4]

Absolutely ridiculous!!! Celebrity is responsible for getting you to that ship safely and on time. Good luck!

[etoile]

Make sure that you notify Celebrity about this. Thank God you noticed this. Didn't anyone else notice it? Or did they think he knew a short cut?!?!?!?!

Free drinks, all the people on that bus owe you big time, MPO!!:)

I am going to let them know what happened, you bet! A couple other people said "hmm, I was wondering why we were going south..." but I was the only one who said anything. It was kind of a crazy ride!

 

My mom says it's a good omen...this will hopefully be the only problem we have on this trip! :)

[lovethewater1214]

It is all on Celebrity who hired the bus service. No one should have to pay for that ride! Celebrity can then take it up with who they hired!!!

[pjgavaghan]

Sounds terrible.

 

 

Please tell me this is not the same Bus that will be stoping next Saturday (10/14/06) in Philadelphia.

 

We are leaving next week for the same trip. Hearing this is making us have 2nd thoughts of using this method of transportation.

 

If you are logging on at sea, let us know how everything worked out.

 

Have a great time on the Zenith and Bermuda

[hermang]

I am currently on a bus from Washington DC to Bayonne for a Zenith cruise. I am sitting directly behind the driver. Why am I sitting here? Because I have to give the driver directions.

 

We left 30 mins late because we were waiting for stragglers, who never showed up. Once we were moving, I took a short nap. When I woke up, I discovered that the driver had completely missed the exit, and was heading in the opposite direction from where we were supposed to be going. I ran to the front and got us turned around. But now I am sitting up front because we have to stop in Wilmington, DE and the driver doesn't know how to get there.

 

The bus is chartered from Academy Bus Lines. Celebrity provided the bus for us, so we called them. The first rep was completely unhelpful. When we called back the next rep suggested we contact Academy. When we did, nobody was there.

 

If you are taking a bus provided by Celebrity, be careful! Make sure your driver knows where they are going. This might not be the best way to get there.

 

Does anybody else think I should be getting some free drinks out of this?! :D

At the very least a few drinks, I'd also say a refund of the fare and maybe as a gee I am sorry this happened - an onboard credit. BUT as one poster suggests - Celebrity only contracts with the bus company. If Celebrity arranged a car rental say with Hertz and the car was defective - and say had an accident because the tires were bald - why does that make Celebrity liable - other than the perception that they have deep pockets and would rather settle than fight.

 

Celebrity does and should have the right and duty to cancel the contract with Acadamy - but to hold them accountable - Not iMHO

[gallslin]

I will be on that same bus from Washington DC to Bayonne next Saturday!!! I am starting to get worried!

 

I think I will print off some Mapquest directions just to have in case.

 

Just curiously, how many are on the bus? Please let us know how this turns out!

[poppop1507]

Academy bus is used by all of the cruise lines not only Celebrity

The cruise line is not reponsible for the bus company nor are they responsible to get you to the pier even if you booked the bus or air with them.

Since you apparently got to the pier on time there were no damages that should be compensated for. Sorry but I disgaree with you

[gallslin]

Since you apparently got to the pier on time there were no damages that should be compensated for

 

I don't think she's even there yet. And it's ludicrous to suggest that if a company charters a bus for you, that they will have no responsibility to ensure that you arrive! How would you even have authority to deal with the chartered bus company in this? Celebrity should absolutely be trying to get to the bottom of this.

 

Celebrity's language is very important to note. With air arrangements, they clearly state that they can arrange air transportation for you, but with the bus service, they clearly state that the bus service is provided by them.

[CRUISE BUG BIT HARD]

We took the bus on September 23rd leaving from Baltimore. We had no problems and I would do it again in a second.

Would I notify Celebrity of the problem? Yes, but I dont think they owe you anything for it. They are providing the service for free and it is normally a $119 charge. You are already getting a good deal. If your travel agent books you a flight and there is a problem at the airport is it your travel agents fault?

Don't worry about it and just enjoy your cruise

Suzanne

[etoile]

We are not at the pier yet. My cell phone has an internet connection and that is how I am posting. We are going to be at least 90 mins late getting there, but we will get there.

 

I agree with gallslin, the language is important. The bus was provided by Celebrity. Just like a shore excursion operator is responsible for getting you back to the ship, and if they don't you take it up with Celebrity, the bus line is responsible for getting us there in a timely manner. If I hadn't woken up when I did, I think we would have ended up going all the way around the beltway. I had to give the driver turn-by-turn directions. It's not that we're late because of unforeseeable circumstances, it's that the bus driver is incompetent.

 

But yes, I do plan to enjoy my cruise. And if Celebrity gives me a $20 onboard credit I will feel well compensated. If not, that's life, and I'll have a good time anyway. But I am at least going to mention it to someone...I feel that is reasonable.

[beauxdammit]

A corollary incident for us travelling from Seattle (SeaTac) to Vancouver on Celebrity provided transportation. The bus was in poor condition, bad brakes, jumpy transmission, hard riding. We did get to the ship, albeit just before sailing time, so I can't lodge a real complaint, but perhaps Celebrity should investigate the companies it contracts with a little more closely.

 

P.S. The bus back to SeaTac was a little better, except that the light in the head did not work. Made for a really long three hour ride.

[LeftcoastBC]

all you folks sticking up for X missed the point I think. A few drinks or an attaboy credit are owed here for sure...

 

90 mins late now and what if the mistake had not been brought to anyones attention until too late.

 

Ship sails without them and then WHO'S on the hook. :eek:

[northerncruszr]

We also had an adventure with Academy Bus Lines on Sept 24th Celebrity transfer from Bayonne to EWR airport! Our driver got lost 3 times in 3 miles, he had a GPS system telling him when and where to change lanes or to turn, did not know left from right (i.e. when system told him left he went right!) and could not read the road signs properly. Two times he got onto the airport entrance road and when the system told him to move to left lane he took airport exit right. If it was not for the passengers giving directions we would still be driving around beautiful downtown Newark.

 

This is obviously not an isolated problem however, on the flip side of this coin.....at the beginning of our cruise we had Celebrity hotel transfers in London and we were provided with a car and professional driver for just he 2 of us. That service was wonderful!

[HappyCruiser]

If the bus gets you to the pier before the ship sails then I think Celebrity has provided the service paid for. Should the service be better? Faster? Sure, if possible. Sounds like Celebrity may want to re-think their choices for contractors. But I do not think that Celebrity 'owes' anything to this poster provided they DO get to the pier on time. What if the bus has a flat? Or runs into traffic? Not too controllable. I like cruiseline transportation because in most cases that means they will hold the ship for you. If you bought your own bus ticket and had these (or any other) issues you would simply be out of luck.

I'm glad the original poster has such a good attitude and I wish I was onboard to buy you a drink!

[TWELVEOHONE]

all you folks sticking up for X missed the point I think. A few drinks or an attaboy credit are owed here for sure...

 

90 mins late now and what if the mistake had not been brought to anyones attention until too late.

 

Ship sails without them and then WHO'S on the hook. :eek:

 

Since Celebrity is supplying the bus they are well aware of the people on the bus. If it arrives past check-in time they are more than likely to hold the ship for an hour or so.

The cruise line owes them nothing, it would be good relations if they gave them a drink or two but it is not owed by then.

 

I disagree with Gallsun, the cruise line is NOT responsible.

I have sailed on well over 30 cruises and have seen many complaints concerning transportation to and from the pier. In each case the cruise line will assist but never takes responsibility. They cannot be held responsible for something they have no control over. They do not have any control or say with the airlines, buses, taxis, private cars etc.

[Betty4]

Good news you will get there - and more likely you will be escorted to your cabin since you are arriving later than you planned. I think the other passengers on that bus should buy you drinks as well. Maybe by the time this ordeal is over, you will have a smaller bar bill than you had expected!

[Betty4]

If she had NOT gotten to the terminal on time to make the ship, wouldn't Celebrity be responsible for getting her to Bermuda?

[dkjretired]

how this guy could get lost. It is such an easy and staight route to the port.

[celbercrz333]

We did Celebrity Zenith from NYC to Bermuda in October 2003. I know, it goes out of NJ now. But, we had a similar thing happen. Not exactly lost. Our driver had people from Washington, then picked us up at Baltimore Travel plaza, then we went up to Wilmington and waited. Next we went up to Philly. Here's where we got a little worried. There was a lot of traffic so the driver says he's taking a "shortcut". He says he thinks he's right. He yells "OK Philly people, I am going right, arent' I?" No one answers. He actually did do ok. Then we went to NJ to the terminal and picked up ONE person. Our trip from Baltimore to NYC was FIVE hours long. The train would have been 3 hours and almost better except that the bus dropped us off right at the port building. Our trip home on the bus was 3 hours. Much better.

[greatam]

 

I disagree with Gallsun, the cruise line is NOT responsible.

I have sailed on well over 30 cruises and have seen many complaints concerning transportation to and from the pier. In each case the cruise line will assist but never takes responsibility. They cannot be held responsible for something they have no control over. They do not have any control or say with the airlines, buses, taxis, private cars etc.

 

As a non practicing transportation attorney AND the owner of a global logistics company, you are WRONG.

 

This example is interstate transportation. MUCH different than a cruiseline transfer from, say, Whittier to Anchorage or the Newark Airport to Bayonne cruise terminal. Completely different rules apply. And totally different than the airlines (except for a charter).

 

Very shabby job by the bus company that is CONTRACTED to Celebrity. This is NOT a public bus, with other non X passengers. NO, from my understanding of the OP's post, this is a Celebrity Chartered bus. And as such, X is as much on the hook as the bus company.

 

If there was an accident, the bus company would be in first position to pay damages. X would be in second position FOR DAMAGES. However, a case can be made that not exercising DUE DILLIGENCE by X would make X wholly liable to their pax for damages. X could then only recover from the bus company. It becomes VERY complicated and federal rules apply once you cross state lines (by the way, NYC/NJ does not count, as that is considered metro zone and Port Authority rules for busses, taxis and private car hire apply).

 

To the OP:

 

A phone call/email/communication to the bus company, as well as X is in order. I'll bet these drivers are part time, whenever, wherever drivers. As such, they probably don't do this "long haul" stuff too often. Heck, they probably don't drive the bus too often (kind of like all the drivers I had to recruit for Yom Kippur freight a month ago).

 

It would be in everyone's best interest to let the bus company know that they have driver's out there who cannot find their way around. Map training or written directions should be provided to all drivers. This IS the responsibility of the bus company. Then if it continues, X should take a long hard look at who they are hiring. Academy is one of the bigger charter operators on the East Coast.

 

And yes, I think you are owed BY X about $75.00 on board credit for drinks. X can take it out of their payment to the bus company. If the ship sailed, they would have paid a LOT more than that to get the pax to the ship.

[BrooklynGirl2]

Friends of our who sailed Zenith with us in June took the X bus from New York City. They were out of towners who stayed pre-cruise in NY for a few days. Their bus driver had no idea how to get to the port. Luckily they had the printed directions and pulled them out and guided the bus driver to the pier. I couldn't believe a driver would get on a bus to pick up and deliver people and have no idea where he was going.:eek: