Thread: Missing Port Stops

Which of these has caused you to miss a port stop/stops? MULTI

Did missing the port stop bother you? If you wish, please tell us what happened.

Missed Grand Cayman twice due to weather preventing tendering.

Missed Dublin, Ireland once but it didn't bother us. I love sea days and we had such a great group of folks on the Connie that it didn't bother us at all.

On another note, I've heard that the Radiance is having engine problems and is returning to Tampa tonight and will delaly the next sailing. We're supposed to cruise on her in 10 days so are watching events carefully. If we didn't get to sail on her, we'd be disappointed but would just start looking for a cruise to take her place.

Garry

We have also missed Grand Cayman twice because of the weather. We almost missed it again last month, but we went around the island and tendered in at another less used location. They bussed us into Georgetown where we would have originally come ashore.....that's where all the shops are.

On the Brilliance Med cruise was the first time I missed ports, 2 of them The first was Cannes and the seas were too rough to tender. Second was Valletta, the Captain said it was too windy, but other passengers heard a rumor that the thrusters weren't working correctly and another ship had been damaged from the wind trying to dock, I think it happened in Messina, forget if it was Costa or MSC.

It didn't bother us too much missing Cannes, there was something going on that was impacting transportation and we had planned to go to Monaco. Valletta, we were very disappointed missing though

I realize this is a little off topic . . .

On my last cruise (11-days to Mexico on HAL Zaandam - just returned on Sunday) - we tendered into Acapulco. No one told us that we would be tendering until we got on the ship. That is very irritating for those of that have booked private tours. We lost more than 2 hours of port time (tendering takes a while especially with priority for tours and 4 star Mariners). They gave us a credit of $8.96 - big deal - I wanted the time in port.

We were told that the ship just found out that we would be tendering - I don't buy that - the port always tells the cruise ships (long before) if they will dock or have to tender.

In addition, in our documents, we were told by HAL there would only be 2 formal nights (I called them and that was confirmed by HAL – when we got aboard, there were three formal nights – that did not make a lot of people happy – on the second formal night – a number of the passengers chose to eat at the Lido buffet – the dining room was half empty.

I am now rethinking whether there will be any future cruises on HAL – keep in mind that I have 117 days on HAL – yes, I have a 100-day medallion. Today’s HAL is a far cry from my first cruise on HAL – 20+ years ago.

Tom

We have missed Grand Cayman about 4 times because of weather.
We also missed San Francisco once because of mechanical problems.
We have not minded it too much because it has just meant more ship time.

Originally Posted by Tom-the-Cruiser

I realize this is a little off topic . . .

On my last cruise (11-days to Mexico on HAL Zaandam - just returned on Sunday) - we tendered into Acapulco. No one told us that we would be tendering until we got on the ship. That is very irritating for those of that have booked private tours. We lost more than 2 hours of port time (tendering takes a while especially with priority for tours and 4 star Mariners). They gave us a credit of $8.96 - big deal - I wanted the time in port.

We were told that the ship just found out that we would be tendering - I don't buy that - the port always tells the cruise ships (long before) if they will dock or have to tender.

In addition, in our documents, we were told by HAL there would only be 2 formal nights (I called them and that was confirmed by HAL – when we got aboard, there were three formal nights – that did not make a lot of people happy – on the second formal night – a number of the passengers chose to eat at the Lido buffet – the dining room was half empty.

I am now rethinking whether there will be any future cruises on HAL – keep in mind that I have 117 days on HAL – yes, I have a 100-day medallion. Today’s HAL is a far cry from my first cruise on HAL – 20+ years ago.

Tom

I wonder if originally the ship was going to dock there but something happened. You would think they would know ahead of time and have it on the schedule. If they knew about it ahead of time (if there's a change), they should have emailed the passengers.

And they should know how many formal nights. I know on Princess, it's based on the number of days in the cruise and doesn't change.

The only port we've missed was Kona, due to high waves preventing tendering. The sad thing is that since then Kona has been dropped on the Hawaii cruise.

Even more sadder is that when the captain made his announcement about not being able to get into Kona, he added that now we'll be heading for Ensenada and that we'll have a full day there. So if you heard a groan on December 31, 2005,around 8am Hawaiian time, it was probably the collective groan from the passengers on board the Island Princess at that very moment.

Originally Posted by Tom-the-Cruiser

I realize this is a little off topic . . .

On my last cruise (11-days to Mexico on HAL Zaandam - just returned on Sunday) - we tendered into Acapulco. No one told us that we would be tendering until we got on the ship. That is very irritating for those of that have booked private tours. We lost more than 2 hours of port time (tendering takes a while especially with priority for tours and 4 star Mariners). They gave us a credit of $8.96 - big deal - I wanted the time in port.

Tom

Tom, your post is certainly not way off topic! Late Arrival/Early Departure can totally screw up a port day!