Semi-Live Update from Caribbean Princess

[PreciousPetal]

So some of you may be anxious to know what's going on with the Carribean Princess. If you dont, there has been speculation of a "down engine" THey did cancel about a week or so before that they are no longer going to St. Maarten and going to Tortola instead b/c of "operational problems/issues, whatever that means!

I am actually writing under my mom's name right now. She is currently on the Carribean Princess. And she wanted me to update everyone on just a few things. (Via email) I know there has been alot of rumors and talk about this ship and what's going on engine wise, etc.

SO far, great calm waters! They will be arriving today in Puerto Rico, but they were suppose to at 4, now they are telling everyone more like around 4:30. She will be calling me from her cell when she gets there, so I will try to get more information from her then. So if anyone has questions for me to ask...let me know!

She says they are going VERY SLOW. and as far as i know no one on the ship has told them why. (My parents were nervous originally b/c of hearing how slow the ship was going (the cruise before them) and afraid it was going to come in super late or even get cancelled- well sure enough even though it was going slow, it arrived in NYC right on time! go figure).

She also says the ship is having some very "warm spots" meaning the a/c is not working well at points. One of the people in her group has been carrying around one of those mini personal fans...so if you are going on this cruise next week, if you dont like it too warm, you may want to consider bringing one and maybe a med size fan to clip in your room.

BUt even with going a bit slower than normal and some "warm spots" they are all (group of 10) having a GREAT TIME!!! My uncle even won $500 at the casino!

Well, I will keep you updated.So please ask me questions to ask her/them!

[Love Boat Dream]

I forgot to mention on my live report: yes, there are many hot spots on the ship. They fixed my ac twice and now it works fine but the theater was very hot last night.

 

Also, this is Sarge's last week on the ship.

[Colo Cruiser]

Thanks. ;)

[nvrendingluvv]

PreciousPetal, I am cruising on the CB 7/19. It says on our itinerary that we are arriving in San Juan at 9 am (or sometime close to that). Was your mom supposed to arrive that early, but they aren't arriving til 4? What delays has she had coming into ports (like did she have a delay get into Grand Turk?)/ Also, do you know if we were to arrive late to a port, would we still have time to do an excursion? Sorry for asking so many questions! Thanks!

[PreciousPetal]

Well, just got a call from my mom at little after 4pm. and they are SLOWLY pulling into dock. so they did arrive in later than 4pm (originally planned for 4pm arrival) . I asked her if they are admitting to engine trouble and she said..."no one is saying anything". but they are defiently moving at a slower pace. But other than that and the ship being really warm...everything else is wonderful.

 

nvrendingluvv...I dont know about Grand turk yet. this is their first day at land. they left tues and have been 2 1/2 days at sea. San Juan is their first stop. So since they are moving slow, i'm assuming all arrivals will be a little later than planned. But, I see what you mean about the excursions...today they were only about 30 min. later..which isnt bad, but i guess if you have an excursion, that would matter. all i know is they were trying to get to the Coach outlet before it closed at 6pm to buy some purses..hahaha, that was their main concern. lol!

 

My mom had called me again when they were in the store, and that was around 5. They leave at 11pm tonight and suppose to arrive in St. Thomas tomorrow at 7am. so who knows. but i will ask her if this ship is always late at arriving at the ports, will excursions be affected. good question!!!

 

So if anyone has anymore question, please feel free to ask!!!!!

[Sandytoes]

PreciousPetal & Daughter :)

 

Thanks for the semi-live posts. (loved this when you did the Crown)

 

Can you ask your Mom -

- - Were the prices good at the Coach Store? ;)..:D

 

- - Ask your Mom if she dined in the main dining for lunch on embarkment day.

It's usually closed for new passengers. Only the Horizon Court is open.

But with the new policy, arriving passengers are entitled to dine in the main dining room for lunch. Just wondering if there was a problem with that.

 

- - Tell your Mom to enjoy her Special Cruise.

We'll stay posted.

Chris

[rdsqrl]

- - Ask your Mom if she dined in the main dining for lunch on embarkment day.

It's usually closed for new passengers. Only the Horizon Court is open.

But with the new policy, arriving passengers are entitled to dine in the main dining room for lunch. Just wondering if there was a problem with that.

 

Chris

 

Jakzak in his live thread said that they did have a dining room open for lunch, the Coral Dining Room, I believe it was.

[speedyjane]

Please ask your Mom, if the staterooms are warm or just the public rooms.

Thanks.

[Kathy130]

Precious Petal's daughter...................I'm from Wayne and know your mom. Emailed her the morning they left. She said she'll be in touch with me when they return, since I am on the 7/19th cruise.

 

Questions....1. warm spots.................cabins also? in particular ...where?

2. No one is saying a word about "the problem?"

Just tell her I am very anxious to talk to her when she arrives home.

Thanks for doing this for all of us.

[artvlay]

I think it stinks the Captain and crew are not informing the passengers of the situation. When we had a problem on the Explore of the Seas in October, We heard announcements every few hours. Is is this anyway to operate?

[rotty2]

Well it looks as though the CB made it on time to St. Thomas this morning. I looked on the Bridge Cam at about 7:05 AM and she was docked. I heard though, that in order to make it on time, that they had to pass out oars to all the bottom level outside cabins to get the ship going faster and at the same time conserve fuel. I have my family in the gym twice a day just in case we have to help out on the August 6th sailing!;)

[Kathy130]

Rotty2......you certainly made me laugh. But to even joke about it, with my upcoming 7/19 cruise, is not what I wanted to have to be thinking about the last two weeks prior to the cruise.

[PreciousPetal]

I will email her today about some of your questions...and will post on here as soon as I hear from her

[cruisemom42]

I think it stinks the Captain and crew are not informing the passengers of the situation. When we had a problem on the Explore of the Seas in October, We heard announcements every few hours. Is is this anyway to operate?

 

 

If the ship is making its scheduled ports on time, then what is there to update passengers about? :confused:

[WWCJR]

 

She says they are going VERY SLOW. and as far as i know no one on the ship has told them why.

 

How fast or slow is the ship going? Please report if possible, it can be found on one of the TV channels around channel 37. Alan (jakzak) on this cruise has reported it as going 20 knots (see link below), which is just under the 21 knots cruising speed for the CB. The CB has a max speed of 23.3 knots which they are not going to do execpt under rare conditions.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=15276375#post15276375

 

As for coming into port very slowly, this is normal when they come into a port with any ship. They have to approach the dock slowly as it takes time to stop a ship that weights the amoiunt that the CB weights.

 

I hope that all are still enjoying their cruise. I know I plan to enjoy our cruise in September when we are on the CB again to NE/Canada.

[Cruisin'Cutie]

Ok...I"m back, now i'm under my name on here. ok, so my mom FINALLY emailed me back. As far as those warm spots, she says:

"Warm spots are if you leave your sliding doors open for even a short period of time or the curtains open in your cabin.

At dinner along the walls if that is where your seat in,...and the theater is Very Hot!"

Here's some more stuff she emailed me:

"Cruise stuff...

We are arriving on time on all of the scheduled ports.

Ship is still going slow. We heard that because St. Maarten's is strict on their port times, because of the downed generator, they couldn't abide by the port times.

Tell people to fact mini-fans because in places the ship is close and warm. Especially for the ladies.

Tell everyone they will have a good time. Lots to do on board. DO NOT miss the cruise talent show.

Also, tell everyone that Kelvin Joy the CD is leaving for home on Thursday, so they will have someone else."

Well, there you have some new updates. I just had to let my mom know also, that were going on a cruise (Carnival Miracle Aug 13.2008) and just found out, that this ship is down an engine too!!!!!!! and they cancelled Tortola and we're going to Grand Turk instead. I'm actually happy about the change. This will now be her 3rd cruise out of 4 this year that had a down engine! ugh!!!! yes, my parents booked 4 cruises this year..they are crazy! I'm happy I finally get to go on one with them in a little over a month!

[Sandytoes]

They are canceling St Marteen and using Grand Turk because it is closer to the states. (using less fuel)

They are also conserving by cutting back the A\C

 

 

Fuel conservation

 

With fuel prices on the rise, most cruise lines are looking at fuel conservation measures. Some lines are changing their routes and schedules. For example, Carnival has cut the far-flung southern Caribbean islands of Aruba, Barbados and Martinique from its Carnival Destiny and Carnival Legend itineraries for the 2007 season. Instead, the ships will visit St. Kitts, St. Lucia and St. Maarten, islands whose closer proximity requires less sailing time and therefore less fuel. Carnival says the changes offer significant fuel savings. Other cruise lines have adopted earlier departure times that allow the ships to cruise more slowly and burn less fuel. The downside to this change for the consumer is less time in port.

[Cruisin'Cutie]

believe it or not. they cancelled st. maarten for them and replaced it with Tortola. Grandturk was always on their itinerary for the last island day. St. Maarten was schedule their 2nd to last island day. so to them i guess is was closer to go from St. thomas to Tortola than St. Thomas to St. Maarten.

Now on my next cruise (Carnival MIracle)they cancelled Tortolla and replaced it with Grand Turk. That makes sense fuel wise b/c its shorter distance from Grand Turk to NYC than Tortola to NYC.

I hate when they say it's engine trouble...when we all know its more "trying to conserve fuel, and using less engine power" Wish they were just honest. cause its so silly that they think we will believe that SO MANY ships have broken down engines...now come on!!!!!!!!!!!

[nabby]

believe it or not. they cancelled st. maarten for them and replaced it with Tortola. Grandturk was always on their itinerary for the last island day. St. Maarten was schedule their 2nd to last island day. so to them i guess is was closer to go from St. thomas to Tortola than St. Thomas to St. Maarten.

 

Now on my next cruise (Carnival MIracle)they cancelled Tortolla and replaced it with Grand Turk. That makes sense fuel wise b/c its shorter distance from Grand Turk to NYC than Tortola to NYC.

 

I hate when they say it's engine trouble...when we all know its more "trying to conserve fuel' date=' and using less engine power" Wish they were just honest. cause its so silly that they think we will believe that SO MANY ships have broken down engines...now come on!!!!!!!!!!![/b']

 

Huh? Other than the CB and the Miracle, what other ships are having engine problems?

[Cruisin'Cutie]

I do know personally that Norweigan Spirit has also had "down engine" that was in April. On a few threads-people listed ones that were having these same problems. I'll have to find them again to let you know the names.

[Casshew]

they are SLOWLY pulling into dock.

 

Seriously, has anyone ever seen a ship just whip into dock full steam ahead?

 

they always go slowly :D this is normal.

[spongerob]

"Warm spots are if you leave your sliding doors open for even a short period of time or the curtains open in your cabin.

Your cabin will get warm if you leave your balcony doors open??? Good to know! :rolleyes:

[domdombus]

.....Is is this anyway to operate?

 

It is the correct way to operate. I dont see anyone saying everyone on the recent cruises are upset so why cause a mutiny. need to know basis, no one needs to know. Except the Captain.

[Colo Cruiser]

Seriously, has anyone ever seen a ship just whip into dock full steam ahead?

 

they always go slowly :D this is normal.

 

Your cabin will get warm if you leave your balcony doors open??? Good to know! :rolleyes:

 

 

 

You guys are outta here!!!!! :eek: :D ;)

 

[rotty2]

Seriously, has anyone ever seen a ship just whip into dock full steam ahead?

 

they always go slowly :D this is normal.

 

Yes I have. The Norwegian Spirit on 5/25/08. It used the "hit the pier method" to slow down when coming back to NY.;)