newport RI cancellation

[johno95]

on RCCL 8/31 Explorer sailing, the Newport stop has been changed to New London, CO. anyone know why?

 

thanks!!! :)

[Keith1010]

You may also want to post this question on the RCCL board.

 

Keith

[hylasgirl]

There has been many questions about this... We are on the September 14th sailing and our Roll Call heard about it when it happend and made quite a few of us pretty mad... but I guess we are going to have to deal with it because there is nothing we can do...

 

Here is what the exec at RCCL told me... that Newport was supposed to be ready to accommodate the Explore by the dates in August (this is the first time there, ever) and they told RCCL that the marina was not going to be ready in time for this... or ever. Seems to me that Newport just changed their minds, but who knows... with it being a tender stop and I have been to WAY smaller and crummy tender stops in my cruising history, that this one doesn't make complete sense to me... but from my understanding, it was Newport pulling out.

 

It was a major disappointment for us because we picked this itinerary for this stop, but oh well... this was a good lesson for us... we won't be so set on the stops as much as we have been. But the thing that made us the most upset is that the change was announced the week all the final payments were made, so we couldn't even change our minds.

[SteveinPhilly]

You may also want to post this question on the RCCL board.

 

Keith

 

 

Hi Keith! I'm on the 9/15 Explorer along with Hylasgirl and about 3098 others. WE've been kicking this around on our roll call for weeks. It's simple. RCCL botched up how to handle such a change. The first ones who will experience it are the 8/31 departure and we hope to have reports a few days later. The problem is that RCCL has made no plans to offer folks a way to get from NEw London to Newport other than the $95. Tour which keeps you occupied for 6 of your 8 hours (3 are on the trip each way) and you only getr to see one Mansion.

 

The REAL WINNER here is the ONE (yes, ONE) rental company in New London. The guy usually only opens for 3 hours on Saturdays. He only has so many cars. Well over 1,000 people might want to rent a car that day! The guy has a goldmine! (Can you see them trucking in extra cars from Hartford to rent them out?).

 

I've been trying to find out the name of the tour operator which RCCL is using as they (RCCL) says they only "contract our Shore excursions". But no luck so far.

 

We have 2 RCCL cruises planned. Depending on how this is handled, these could be our last. (For details on the curt way that RCCL has responded to calls and emails, head to the Roll Call Board for our sailing). You wouldn't believe! (well you Might!)

 

We'll survive but it would have been better if RCCL was honest. (NO they aren't, Sorry!)

[SailBadtheSinner]

I found this article ( http://*****.com/2ymcdk ) in the blog of a travel writer/contributor to Courant.com and The Hartford Courant, Connecticut's major daily newspaper who suggested that cruise ships can dock in New London vs tendering in Newport could have been the factor in the switch. With 3,000+ paxs on the EoS that would be a lot of tendering and maybe the tender docks in Newport can not handle the increased volume.

 

I found this picture of the tender docks:

http://e.yimg.com/tr.us.o.yimg.com/imgs/1/157767/157767_EXT_05_E.jpg

they are the 2 finger piers in the middle left just in from the edge. It can only handle 4 tenders at a time; plus there is very limited area for tour buses to park. The area would become very congested both on land and on the water. The view is southernly. America's Cup Blvd is on the left. If Newport was suppose to expand the docking area they could only expand toward the bottom of the pix. The cruise ships anchor to the right off the pix.

 

To get a better understanding of the area, here's a pix the Star Princess last year at anchor:

http://www.pbase.com/joneruss/image/69310478

The tenders leave the cruise ship and go all the way to the right edge of the pix. The tender dock is not in the pix. This pix goes from west to north.

 

 

 

SBtS

[SteveinPhilly]

I found this article ( http://*****.com/2ymcdk ) in the blog of a travel writer/contributor to Courant.com and The Hartford Courant, Connecticut's major daily newspaper who suggested that cruise ships can dock in New London vs tendering in Newport could have been the factor in the switch. With 3,000+ paxs on the EoS that would be a lot of tendering and maybe the tender docks in Newport can not handle the increased volume.

 

SBtS

 

Thanks for the post. It WAS the Courant Article that alerted the CC memebers of the swich. There were two things which upset the CC members and that RCCL mishandled:

 

1) Though the article stated that Newport would be cancelled, RCCL refused to acknowledge this and did not even notify TAs until TEN DAYS later. (After the final payment was due.). Unless a TA told a client - not all do - most would not know.

 

2) They obviously did not have a contract with Newport to dock while they were advertising (since 2006!) that the port was going to be there.

 

In addition RCCL staff responded to polite emails and phone calls from passengers by saying "read the fine print. We can change anything in the itinerary at any time." (HEy maybe we won't even be going into Canada but to Bermuda instead<g>".

 

Yep, we can't change anything but this was a chance where RCCL could have SHINED by being proactive with the info and getting a bus company to take folks to Newport (without an organized FULL DAY tour) which is not only cheaper for the passengers then renting cars but more environmentally friendly.

[johno95]

a link about the cancellation...too few tenders.

 

http://www.wfsb.com/travelgetaways/13691735/detail.html

 

who knows what the answer really is.:)

[SteveinPhilly]

That was interesting. THANKS for sharing!

[alphakitty]

Steve In Philly.....it is definitely not 3 hours each way, New London to Newport. The drive is about 45 min to an hour.

 

Perhaps consider going 10 miles up the road to Mystic? It's a pretty town, home of Mystic Seaport. Mystic Aquarium and Mystic Pizza...remember Julia Roberts in the 80's movie?

 

While I agree Newport is preferred over New London by most and that RCI should have notified pax asap, there is a lot to do in the New London area. The Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casinos are located nearby. Also the Nautilus Submarine and museum. http://www.ussnautilus.org/

 

Here's some info about New London that might help: http://members.tripod.com/uss_oxford/TASKFORCE.html

 

Also, when searching for rental car companies, try Groton, CT as well as New London. Groton is just across the bridge..very close.

[SteveinPhilly]

Hi Kitty!

 

Steve In Philly.....it is definitely not 3 hours each way, New London to Newport. The drive is about 45 min to an hour.

 

Perhaps consider going 10 miles up the road to Mystic? It's a pretty town, home of Mystic Seaport. Mystic Aquarium and Mystic Pizza...remember Julia Roberts in the 80's movie?

 

While I agree Newport is preferred over New London by most and that RCI should have notified pax asap, there is a lot to do in the New London area. The Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casinos are located nearby. Also the Nautilus Submarine and museum. http://www.ussnautilus.org/

 

Here's some info about New London that might help: http://members.tripod.com/uss_oxford/TASKFORCE.html

 

Also, when searching for rental car companies, try Groton, CT as well as New London. Groton is just across the bridge..very close.

 

You may have misread my caluclation re: trip time. What said was: Tour which keeps you occupied for 6 of your 8 hours (3 are on the trip each way) and you only getr to see one Mansion.

 

Someone already got the bus info. It's 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours EACH way. (hence 3 hours). There is no tour guide on way to Newport. A guide will meet us for 2 1/2 hour tour. Then 90 minutes at Breakers and then 2 hours Free time. So we lose 2-3 hours we hould have had vs tendering in Newport. Oh well, it won't change.

 

I've been to Mystic, The Seaport (but not Olde Mystic which is a shopping center). I've advised folks on our cruise who haven't gone, how to see it best . (and yes I had Mystic Pizza but the breakfast at Kitchen Little was a real highlight!).

 

There's enough gambling on the ship so Foxwood and Moghegan Sun are no real option (remnember this is daytime so no music<g>)

 

But thanks for your comments. As I pointed out, We have to live with the change. But I was VERY dissapointed in the way RCCL hadled this change. We'be used HAL before on Cruises and they were RESPONSIVE. Even some of the RCCL Customer Service folks I've spoken with say they feel it could have been handled better in not denying it for a week after the news came out.

[alphakitty]

Ahhh...yes, sorry Steve, I did misread that.

 

I agree that RCCL did handle the change badly, and Newport IS much nicer than New London, no doubt about it,....heck I live in RI, I HAVE to say that. LOL

 

PS I just noticed I have 999 posts right now....cool LOL

[teachergirl]

I live in Mystic and there's plenty to do in the area. Not sure what the ship's offering, but you could take a taxi to Mystic, go to the Seaport or Aquarium, walk to downtown or go to the Mystic Village if you like shopping. Lots of great restaurants! If you'd like to check out the Nautilus submarine you could take a taxi to the Sub base (the sub and museum are free!!) Downtown New London is a work in progress. Funky art and some real good restaurants. If you're looking for a beach, you could take a taxi to Ocean Beach, right in New London, about 3 miles from the pier. Enjoy our area and let me know if there are any specifics you need!

[IBOKRU]

Thank you very much for the useful information. I am on the August 31 sailing and I too was disappointed in the port change but after doing my research about Mystic and New London I find I'm very excited about our first port of call. My travel agent knew about the change well before the September 14 cruise critic members say theirs did but who knows, Right? My son-in-law was in Newport when this happened and the locals were saying "city officials knew they had to be prepared by Sept. 01 and they buried their heads in the sand." His impression was that outside tenders were to be contracted because of the volume of passengers and that wasn't done in time. It was Newport's responsibility, not the cruise line. Yes, they tender ships all the time but not with this volume. I think it's time to quit dwelling on this incident and enjoy the fact that we are fortunate enough to travel in style aboard the Explorer. Just spread the word that we want plenty of cabs at the dock around 8-9:00 a.m. :D I want to visit the aquarium and Mystick Village but don't want to limit my time to the 3 hours the cruise excursion allows. All I'm thinking is 12 MORE GET-UPS :)