Strange itinerary changes

[lipoppop]

We booked the Princendam transatlantic May 9th crossing to Barcelona from New York. The itinerary included one day in Bermuda and one day in the Azores. I just checked it and Bermuda is out and there are two days in the Azores.

Since I don't have a printed copy of the original I can't tell if any other changes have been made. We arrive in Lisbon ar 2pm which is like a wasted shore day but we have the next day.

Can't be due to a hurricane and May is five months away for a logistics problem not to be worked out. The path from New York to the Azores is now shorter. Maybe HAL is saving fuel

Don't expect to be notified of the change. HAL didn't tell me about the multi changes we had on the December 11th Veendam cruise. My TA wasn't informed either.

What's to do in the Azores? I have never been to Bermuda and looked forward to the one day there.

Any ideas or comments? No HAL bashing please.

:cool:

[Krazy Kruizers]

HAL has never been to Bermuda before so maybe they still can't get "in" there.

We are used to HAL changing itineraries - but our TA does get notified of the changes and she sends us a copy. Doesn't bother us.

[DFD1]

Bermuda is somewhat restrictive about the number of ships allowed during a particular time window. Or, HAL may have gotten their cart before their horse in publishing the original itinerary before the port of call details in Bermuda were firm.

Othewise, I suspect it is some internal opertional reason.

I'm sorry you're missing Bermuda. It is one of my favorite places. Nice and civilized!
Haven't been to the Azores so can't help you there.

Your cruise sounds like a wonderful itinerary. Hope you have a great time.

[LizB1]

The 2005 Europe brochure, which has been out for months, does NOT list Bermuda as one of the ports on this cruise. It does list the two stops in the Azores with arrival in Lisbon at 2:00pm after a day at sea.

[DoctorFeelgood]

The Azores are, to me, much more interesting than Bermuda. They are mountainous, wild, temperate, historic, picturesque, and far less-developed. They have been a stopping-off point for Atlantic voyages since the 1400's, and have a history that includes explorers, pirates, and migrants.

[lipoppop]

The 2005 Europe brochure, which has been out for months, does NOT list Bermuda as one of the ports on this cruise. It does list the two stops in the Azores with arrival in Lisbon at 2:00pm after a day at sea.

I found the original itinerary from HAL and it lists Bermuda on the second day, counting the departure from New York as day zero. If you check some web sites such as AAdvantagecruise the itinerary there still contains Bermuda.

It would be interesting to know when the Europe 2005 brochure was printed. Since you said it has been available for several months and I booked in November I suspect HAL has poor internal communication.

Other than the Bermuda/Azores confusion everything else is the same.

[lipoppop]

The Azores are, to me, much more interesting than Bermuda. They are mountainous, wild, temperate, historic, picturesque, and far less-developed. They have been a stopping-off point for Atlantic voyages since the 1400's, and have a history that includes explorers, pirates, and migrants.

Thank you. You are right. I did some investigation and realized that the Azores extra day is a plus. Now all I need is the upgrade fairy to visit me and a place to find cheap oneway flights from Barcelona to the US.

[trubey]

A change of itinerary can be alarming. And who knows HAL's reasoning.

In the meantime, I live on Sao Miguel--probably listed as "Ponta Delgada" on your itinerary--and if you have any tour questions, please ask.

As a matter of fact, I sailed on the Prinsendam last fall, and have a date with Randall, from the Crow's Nest Bar, to show him around the city and eat calamari when the ship comes.

Susan.

[LizB1]

The back of the 2005 Europe brochure says "effective May 1, 2004" so I have no idea where the mix-up was.

[KBC]

HAL has never been to Bermuda before so maybe they still can't get "in" there.

We are used to HAL changing itineraries - but our TA does get notified of the changes and she sends us a copy. Doesn't bother us.
Hi KK

DH and I 'crossed the pond' on the Rotterdam in April 1999. I know for sure we visited Bermuda for the day because we got married !!! We fly back every year to celebrate our anniversary.