worst cutback - RCI is cutting one port day off of most Caribbean itineraries

[allisons]

RCI lists Legend's cruising speed as 24 kts. They list Vision's cruising speed as 22 kts. It has been my expereince that the ships don't cruise anywhere near close to those speeds. So I would imagine that both ships could easily travel at the same rate.

 

I don't understand much about the science of sailing, but 2 kts doesn't sound like a big difference to me. I guess we'll never really know why they dropped those ports.

[sandytoes03]

I prefer at least 4 port days. 3 port days is way too few for me. I love the ships, but I gotta see those beaches. I hope this trend stops or at least slows.

[thereididitagain]

well as for me, I LOVE the days at sea.

 

Not me. I book a cruise for the ports not the ship. Sea days are my least favorite and I would be happiest if there were none at all.

[Sabbo]

I would like to see a cruise that would spend a couple days at their private islands. Seems to me they would get the best of both worlds. They would save on fuel and generate revenue.

[allisons]

I would like to see a cruise that would spend a couple days at their private islands. Seems to me they would get the best of both worlds. They would save on fuel and generate revenue.

 

Not exactly. A private island is not the same as a true port. It is just a beach day. It is not a day for true sightseeing.

[EtherlyCC]

I am a port person. We also did B2B on 'legend' last March and 11 ports (including middle day in Santo Dominica) was fantastic. Infact 2 sea days was 2 to many. We did 9 ports in 11 days on the Empress the year before and the itinaries on the Serenade (b2b - 11 ports) and Adventure (b2b - 11 ports) are just what we will book going forward.

 

The ship hardly get any steam up between ports as they are so close together, they just trundle along making more money while the shops and casino are open.

[Fredrik]

With Oasis coming out just the process of debarkation will be a semi nightmare that will keep people on board the ship ;) Well that and all the activities. There are still a lot of longer cruises with a lot of port days out there so just choose that instead...

[mikeerdas]

To me, it's not a question of which is better--more sea days or more port days. I have my preferences, but they're irrelevant to the conversation.

 

I see this as a question of RCI changing itineraries for cruises they've already sold cabins for--and for reasons other than dock work and weather.

 

Seems like a bait-and-switch to me and a customer unfriendly practice. It probably affects those most who've purchased non-refundable airfare to get to port--so the argument, "switch your cruise if you don't like it" rings a little hollow.

 

To sea day folks who must fly to a port, how would you feel if, all of a sudden, your sea-day intensive cruise became port intensive? By all means, don't book if you don't like the itinerary. But if the itinerary simply changes on you after you've made all your other arrangements (airfare to the port, hotel at the port, etc), how would that make you feel?

 

I have no problem whatever with RCI changing itineraries on newly announced cruises. But find it troubling as a consumer that I can no longer depend on the service being the same as what I originally purchased.

 

Are other cruise lines yanking ports on sailings they've already sold cabins for? Or is RCI unique in disrupting its customers?

[wrp96]

Are other cruise lines yanking ports on sailings they've already sold cabins for? Or is RCI unique in disrupting its customers?

 

No, all cruiselines have done this at various points in time or another. In the last few months, NCL for example has completely changed the itineraries on some of their ships (turned some Western Caribbean cruises into Bahamas cruises). They've also shortened port times on some of their New York sailings in addition to changing/cutting ports.

[Ocean Boy]

I don't understand much about the science of sailing, but 2 kts doesn't sound like a big difference to me. I guess we'll never really know why they dropped those ports.

 

The point is that the ships rarely travel at speeds that fast. So at any speed at 22 kts or below both ships can sail the same itinerary at the same time frame. You are correct. We well never know exactly why the ports were dropped. But I am highly suspect that the reason put forth of Vison being a slower ship isn't it.

[allisons]

To me, it's not a question of which is better--more sea days or more port days. I have my preferences, but they're irrelevant to the conversation.

 

I see this as a question of RCI changing itineraries for cruises they've already sold cabins for--and for reasons other than dock work and weather.

 

Seems like a bait-and-switch to me and a customer unfriendly practice. It probably affects those most who've purchased non-refundable airfare to get to port--so the argument, "switch your cruise if you don't like it" rings a little hollow.

 

To sea day folks who must fly to a port, how would you feel if, all of a sudden, your sea-day intensive cruise became port intensive? By all means, don't book if you don't like the itinerary. But if the itinerary simply changes on you after you've made all your other arrangements (airfare to the port, hotel at the port, etc), how would that make you feel?

 

I have no problem whatever with RCI changing itineraries on newly announced cruises. But find it troubling as a consumer that I can no longer depend on the service being the same as what I originally purchased.

 

Are other cruise lines yanking ports on sailings they've already sold cabins for? Or is RCI unique in disrupting its customers?

 

EXACTLY! That is exactly my point! I have since learned that other people got the port fees for Progresso/Yucatan refunded, but we did not. And, I do think we had our flight (non-refundable), prepaid hotel (non-refundable), and travel insurance already purchased by the time the itinerary was changed, so we could not have picked another cruise.

[8Cruisers]

I have since learned that other people got the port fees for Progresso/Yucatan refunded, but we did not.

 

Allisons,

I have received refunds of fees but only because I called and asked for them. They don't give them to you automatically. Have you tried calling either RCI or your travel agent? I hope this helps.

[allisons]

Allisons,

I have received refunds of fees but only because I called and asked for them. They don't give them to you automatically. Have you tried calling either RCI or your travel agent? I hope this helps.

 

Thank you so much! That is very helpful!

 

No, I didn't ask. It never occurred to me. I assumed that they'd either automatically give it back to everyone, or that they wouldn't give it back to anyone. It never occurred to me that they'd only give it to people who asked, but not to anyone else (which seems unfair).

[negc]

Thank you so much! That is very helpful!

 

No, I didn't ask. It never occurred to me. I assumed that they'd either automatically give it back to everyone, or that they wouldn't give it back to anyone. It never occurred to me that they'd only give it to people who asked, but not to anyone else (which seems unfair).

 

 

You know what they say happens when you "assume". ;) You are not alone in thinking this. At least when you request that they honor price drops, RCI will generally do so (except when price reductions are limited to new bookings, or to seniors or persons who live in a particular state). The only exception that I am aware of is the fuel surcharges which were automatically refunded (or an OBC was granted) to everyone without a requirement that the individuals request it. Some lines will not honor such reductions whether you request them or not, and none, to the best of my knowledge, will automatically rebate the difference to you when they lower the price.

[grand isle joe]

The cruising speed is full speed with four engines engaged with calm seas. Both are rarely optained. Wind and seas have a big effect on travel time.. Fuel has still not dropped in price for ships like gasoline. I presume they are paying more for fuel yet not passing the increase fully on to the price of the cruise. Also remember some carribean ports are still recovering from the hurricanes of last summer. Enjoy the whole experience and as they say "It's all good".

[aqhacruiser]

We lost San Juan from The Ex. on 3 of my cruises 4/26, 11/29 and 1/14/2010 and we lost Tortola off of our 11/30/08. We do not mind as we love sea days but some people are upset as they were looking forward to those ports.

[allisons]

You know what they say happens when you "assume". ;) You are not alone in thinking this. At least when you request that they honor price drops, RCI will generally do so (except when price reductions are limited to new bookings, or to seniors or persons who live in a particular state). The only exception that I am aware of is the fuel surcharges which were automatically refunded (or an OBC was granted) to everyone without a requirement that the individuals request it. Some lines will not honor such reductions whether you request them or not, and none, to the best of my knowledge, will automatically rebate the difference to you when they lower the price.

 

You have to ask for price drops? I thought those were automatic. My parents got one automatically. I never check for price drops, but maybe now I have to start.

[kyriecat]

You have to ask for price drops? I thought those were automatic. My parents got one automatically. I never check for price drops, but maybe now I have to start.

Some TAs will see them and automatically give them to you, but those aren't very many. Every TA I've used has always required me to call them with the price drop and request a change. Same thing when I booked directly with RC.

[negc]

You have to ask for price drops? I thought those were automatic. My parents got one automatically. I never check for price drops, but maybe now I have to start.

 

If you booked through a TA and he or she notices a price drop you should get it without having to call and request it (the TA will do it), but it is always a good idea to monitor prices on your own just in case the TA misses it. If so, a quick call to the TA and you should be fine. But if you booked directly with the cruiseline, it is totally up to you to catch and price decreases and to request that they honor it.:)

[MAGNUM PI]

Exploring the ports is the main reason we cruise. The opportunity to visit five ports, on a seven day cruise; such as on our two previous Serenade cruises.

 

That is one of the reasons we always sail from San Juan, and not Florida; less sea days.

 

Yes, sea days are relaxing. But we like the sense of adventure, by exploring new places, with a local guide. Such as the Carib Indian territory, at Dominica.

 

We will have taken 7 cruises from San Juan, in the last 8 years. So, we obviously favor the southern caribbean ports.

 

** RCCL is our favorite cruise line. BUT, if it came down to the number of ports-being reduced, I would consider another cruise line.

 

If I wanted several sea days, I would just depart from Florida..............................

[Annefran]

IMO, I prefer more islands/port stops to sea days. We are doing the Liberty of the Seas in April 09 and I notice we are only doing three stops (San Juan, St Maarten & Labadee), no St Thomas. Why is RCI doing this? Is it saving money on port charges? :rolleyes:

[negc]

IMO, I prefer more islands/port stops to sea days. We are doing the Liberty of the Seas in April 09 and I notice we are only doing three stops (San Juan, St Maarten & Labadee), no St Thomas. Why is RCI doing this? Is it saving money on port charges? :rolleyes:

 

There could be several reasons for it: 1. saves money on port charges;2. increases onboard revenues by allowing them to open the shops and casinos and keeps passengers onboard to spend money in the lounges; 3. allows them to sail from one port to the next at a slower speed thus reducing fuel consumption and saving money; or 4. it could be a response to passengers requests to have more time onboard to experience all the features that these very large ships have to offer. Or 5. it could be a combination of any or all of the above reasons.:) I suppose it could also be a way of giving us something else to complain about.:D

So many ships visit all of these ports that eliminating any one of them might not bother some frequent cruisers.;)

[allisons]

Some TAs will see them and automatically give them to you, but those aren't very many. Every TA I've used has always required me to call them with the price drop and request a change. Same thing when I booked directly with RC.

 

Wow! I never knew that! I hope I haven't missed out on money! Now I have something new to obsess about every day!

[allisons]

If you booked through a TA and he or she notices a price drop you should get it without having to call and request it (the TA will do it), but it is always a good idea to monitor prices on your own just in case the TA misses it. If so, a quick call to the TA and you should be fine. But if you booked directly with the cruiseline, it is totally up to you to catch and price decreases and to request that they honor it.:)

 

That's odd. My parents and I have the same TA. My parents got a price drop automatically without checking or asking. We never have.

[nosmothj]

[i suspect that RCI is doing this because of the extra revenue generated on sea days. The casino and shops are only open on sea days. They make much more money on sea days on drinks, spa, bingo, etc., because everyone is onboard. The worst part of this cutback is that they've cut the port day off many itineraries after people booked. Because of the language about the right to change itineraries, they do not refund that day's port fees. This is a huge windfall to RCI when you multiply it by the number of passengers.

 

Sorry have to disagree they did refund us our Port fees, mind you it was a big $34 instead of going to Tortola. So I do agree from that part that they are likely cutting fees to increase revenues.