Itinerary change info

[memphislonghorn]

OK, what I'm wondering is if a hurricane causes your cruise's itinerary to change, let's says worst case scenario that it is a 'cruise to nowhere'. Well I don't book a cruise to go nowhere. So if I have cruise insurance, do I have the option to decline the cruise? I don't mean to be a stick in the mud, but I expect to get what I paid for. The chance to visit a foreign port is one of my main reasons for cruising. If I wanted to cruise nowhere, I would have gone on a casino cruise out to sea for a few hours.;)

[CruiseCentric]

OK, what I'm wondering is if a hurricane causes your cruise's itinerary to change, let's says worst case scenario that it is a 'cruise to nowhere'. Well I don't book a cruise to go nowhere. So if I have cruise insurance, do I have the option to decline the cruise? I don't mean to be a stick in the mud, but I expect to get what I paid for. The chance to visit a foreign port is one of my main reasons for cruising. If I wanted to cruise nowhere, I would have gone on a casino cruise out to sea for a few hours.;)

I know Carnival will normally give you the option, if they know before the ship leaves port ,that they wont be able to make it to any port. This would only be the case with a 3-4 day cruise. You wouldnt even need to have purchased cruise insurance(but its always a good idea to do so)

[CoxAndr]

If you expect to get what you paid for, then perhaps you should avoid cruising during hurricane season. Don't mean to sound harsh, but there's not a thing that the cruise line or any of us can do about the hurricane. You certainly have the option to cancel, but don't expect a full refund. The cruise lines will do everything they can to make sure their customers still have an awesome vacation.

 

I don't mind taking the chance to cruise during hurricane season, but I am also aware of the changes that could be made due to the weather. We've cruised during hurricane season the past 5 years, and 3 of them have been affected by a hurricane. Not once have I had a terrible time or felt like I didn't get my moneysworth. We are scheduled to leave on 8/25 on the Glory, and I am sure that no matter what happens to the ports from Hurricane Dean, we will still be taken somewhere and we'll still have a fab vacation.

 

Go on your cruise, have a great time, and don't worry about a thing :)

[floatn]

Most of the major cruise lines will offer some sort of compensation if your itinerary is changed due to weather. But, I must second CoxAndr comments: don't book during hurricane season if you're not up to the possibility of change. You'll still have a great time and you likely got the best price of the year.

[SheriNtexas]

My son and I are scheduled to leave on Ecstasy Aug. 25th and we have NO idea what will happen! Dean may roar right across the 2 places we are supposed to go-Cozumel and yucotan peninsula!! Our tour guide on an excursion in Cozumel one time told us how HARD the people of Cozumel worked after the last hurricane came and did all the damage!

 

A cruise to nowhere will not bother my son and I a BIT, but if it will bother you, i'm with the others-don't book during hurricane season, but even if you DON'T book during H season, there are other reasons a ship could miss a port. I'm just thrilled to be cruising!! :D Hopefully Dean will head off to open waters and we won't have to worry!!:)

[vafamily5]

I know Carnival will normally give you the option, if they know before the ship leaves port ,that they wont be able to make it to any port. This would only be the case with a 3-4 day cruise. You wouldnt even need to have purchased cruise insurance(but its always a good idea to do so)

 

 

I am confused :confused: Are you sure about not having to purchase cruise insurance to get a refund for a cruise that does not make it to any ports due to a hurricane????? Maybe I don't understand what you are saying.

[new2cruise1]

We actually leave on our cruise on 8/26 - but hopefully will be able to get to Miami on 8/25 - thats why I booked flights the day before. I just want to be able to get on the ship! Don't care where we end up going --- we will be on FOS!!!! Can hardly wait!

 

If you don't end up in certain ports - do they ever give you extra perks?

Like some complimentary drinks or anything? Not that it matters, just

curious.

 

Judy

[vafamily5]

My son and I are scheduled to leave on Ecstasy Aug. 25th and we have NO idea what will happen! Dean may roar right across the 2 places we are supposed to go-Cozumel and yucotan peninsula!! Our tour guide on an excursion in Cozumel one time told us how HARD the people of Cozumel worked after the last hurricane came and did all the damage!

 

A cruise to nowhere will not bother my son and I a BIT, but if it will bother you, i'm with the others-don't book during hurricane season, but even if you DON'T book during H season, there are other reasons a ship could miss a port. I'm just thrilled to be cruising!! :D Hopefully Dean will head off to open waters and we won't have to worry!!:)

 

I hope that the hurricane dies out or does not do so much damage as to prevent you from enjoying your ports of call.

 

We will be sailing on Monday, but heading in a different direction (Key West and Bahamas).

[CruiseCentric]

I am confused :confused: Are you sure about not having to purchase cruise insurance to get a refund for a cruise that does not make it to any ports due to a hurricane????? Maybe I don't understand what you are saying.

 

In 2005 that is what Carnival did on a couple of the shorter cruises that were changed to Cruises to nowhere. Passengers were given a few options : Full refund or sail and get 25% discount on future cruises and some OBC.

 

Each situation is handled differently, so as was mentioned its not a good idea to cruise during hurricane season if you arent flexible and able to go with the flow.

[Momma Mojito]

Last year we lost two of our ports because of an upcoming storm that never happened. We went to other ports and were not offered anything to compensate for the change. We thought we should also be conpensated but if you read your cruise book the cruise line can make port changes and not compensate you.

[cruise_lover]

My friends were booked on one of the cruise ships that FEMA took over after Hurricane Katrina. They were given the choice of rebooking on another cruise ship that had cabins available or getting a full refund plus 50% off their next cruise. They choose the refund and 50% off. If a cruiseline has to cancel you'll get your money back plus a perk. If you choose to cancel you might get your all or part of your money back (depending on the circumstances). That is why you need travel insurance. When you are cruising you always have to EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED. Even if it is NOT during hurricane season a ship can have mechanical problems that can shorten any trip.

 

My first cruise in September of 2005 should have left from the Port of New Orleans. Hurricane Katrina took care of that. So our ship (Carinval Conquest) left out of Galveston. Since I had friends and relatives flying in from Texas, Nevada and Arizonia they all decided to stick with our plans and go on the cruise, no matter which port the ship was sailing out of.

 

While on the ship here comes Hurricane Rita and that storm closes down the Port of Galveston. So the captain decides to wait out the storm at sea and out of harms way. We spent two extra days at sea which caused me to miss 2 days of work, my cousins and friends missed their flights out of Lafayette, LA and my sister missed 3 extra days of work.

 

By the 8th day at sea you could tell that the chefs were trying to stretch the food they had on board.

 

Did we enjoy ourselves because we were cruising in the middle of a hurricane? Yes - the weather was beautiful and the sun was shining. And the upside of this was that had it not been for the extra days at sea we never would have stopped in Costa Maya. It might not be my favorite island to cruise to but it was an added bonus to our trip. Would I sail during hurricane season again? Probably so if the price and iternary is what I am looking for.

 

My second cruise was during January of this year. My third cruise will be in 2008 during January again and my fourth cruise will be in February of 2009. Not exactly hurricane season but who knows which month in 2010 I'll be sailing in.

 

 

When I was a teenager in the 60's cruising

meant driving up and down main street until

all meeting each other at the local Diary Freeze.

THEN I GREW UP - and found out the true

meaning of CRUISING!

[cherylandtk]

I am confused :confused: Are you sure about not having to purchase cruise insurance to get a refund for a cruise that does not make it to any ports due to a hurricane????? Maybe I don't understand what you are saying.

It depends on the cruiseline and the timing of the announcement. Carnival has the most generous policy; if they announce changes in advance of departure, such as they did this morning, you have 24 hours after the announcement to fully cancel without penalty. No insurance needed.

 

If you don't end up in certain ports - do they ever give you extra perks?Like some complimentary drinks or anything? Not that it matters, just curious.

Judy

If they have to change ports after departure you just get $20 per port.

 

http://carnival.com/CMS/Static_Templates/port_cancellation_policy.aspx

[memphislonghorn]

Thanks for all the replies. I do have cruise insurance, so I will wait to see what happens. I am flexible, but this vacation is the last one until next year; I could not rebook or anything, don't have any more time off.

My cruise, the Sensation, would have little or no options if a hurricane was threatening. A storm coming up from the Caribbean, where would it go? It wouldn't sail TOWARDS the storm, only due east (to nowhere) or north (to nowhere, except maybe to Bermuda, and Carnival doesn't port there.) At least a cruise from Miami or New Orleans would have a couple options. I just wouldn't want to get on the ship and find out we're going nowhere. Give me a couple days notice, and maybe I could find other options. But, hopefully there will not be any hurricane that week and this is only empty worries.:)

[SheriNtexas]

Do you get refunded for your excursions you book through the ship if you don't get to stop at the original port??

[OhioJeff]

Do you get refunded for your excursions you book through the ship if you don't get to stop at the original port??

 

With Carnival the answer is..... yes.