My TA just called me about this weekend...

[Lithium]

She said that as of yet, Holland or any cruise line for that matter has yet to make any decisions regarding the storm. She did say that the cruise lines have told them to call back tonight or tomorrow morning.

[elmorejj]

Let`s just hope the cruise lines are staying on top of it and that they notify pax in enough time for them to make other plans re their cruises. I am sure they will notify the TAs if there is any change....jean :cool:

[Krazy Kruizers]

There are some concerns on the other boards as well.

Some people are to fly out of Florida this Friday for Alaskan cruises.

So a lot of concerns everywhere.

Do you live near Ft Lauderdale?

[Lithium]

Nope, I am almost west coast, scheduled to fly out of Vegas friday night and arrive at FLL Saturday morning at 6:30.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Good luck - hope everything works out one way or the other.

We all will be praying for you.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Lithium, Do you live here in Vegas? I know you are just getting to leave on your cruise. You are Welcome to Join us on Sept.14th(hopefully you are back home safe) for our First Cruise Critics HAL Board Get Together. You can them fill us in on how your cruise went.

Hope everything goes well with your flight and getting on the ship.

[jazzsea]

Chances are the worst of the storm will have passed the Ft. Lauderdale area by Saturday morning. Flights might be rerouted to Miami but I bet you make your cruise and have smooth sailing. Good luck.

[bookworm0911]

Chances are the worst of the storm will have passed the Ft. Lauderdale area by Saturday morning. Unless the storm track changes radically, I think the ships will have an awful time getting into FLL Fri. night/Sat. morning.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ftp/graphics/AT06/refresh/AL0604W5+GIF/011503W5.gif

[bepsf]

I don't know whether to feel sorry for the folks who are going to be "stuck" aboard those ships - or feel envious for the extra day(s) at sea...

But sadly, it looks like there are gonna be lots of people who won't be able to go on their vacations next week. That's gotta be VERY disappointing...

It will be interesting to observe how well the different lines handle their guests, as I'm sure the lines are all insured against revenue loss for cases such as this.

[Lithium]

Lithium, Do you live here in Vegas? I know you are just getting to leave on your cruise. You are Welcome to Join us on Sept.14th(hopefully you are back home safe) for our First Cruise Critics HAL Board Get Together. You can them fill us in on how your cruise went.

Hope everything goes well with your flight and getting on the ship.
I actually live in Salt Lake, but I am flying out of Vegas into FLL. I do frequent Vegas a lot though and have family and friends that live there. Not very likely I will be able to be there the 14th though. Thanks for the invite, it is appreciated!

[Ziggy7]

Lets all just hope the hurricane bounces off the Bahamas and heads back out to sea!

[wowzo]

The 'bounces off the Bahamas' is not really doing a service to our friends in the Islands. They are in a very precarious position and take the hit before we do and don't have the back-up support we do. But I understand your statement.


Everyone wherever you live has a local tragedy lurking - who even considered Richmond, Va and their problem, at times of the year, fires, heat, tornados, floods, etc.

Ours are mostly hurricanes and people who try to vacation and cruise from here-are in our situation-and will have to deal with the down side-the upside is there will be no delay and they get the bargain price.

To all my fellow Floridians-God Bless and hope we don't have to suffer too long without power and that is our only problem ! MaryAnn

[hdawson]

Carnival has announced they are brining one ship in one day early. Friday.
Lithium. Good luck. You might call the airline and ask if you can go a day early. Well, maybe not. Not sure about hotel availability. Good luck.

[Ziggy7]

The 'bounces off the Bahamas' is not really doing a service to our friends in the Islands. They are in a very precarious position and take the hit before we do and don't have the back-up support we do. But I understand your statement.
Yes, I meant no harm to anyone :)
They are all in our thoughts and prayers!

[stillfrantic]

I'm guessing we won't be on the Zuiderdam next week. We were suposed to land in Ft. Lauderdale Friday night. Although United still says no changes due to weather, I can't believe they are going to be landing in the middle of the storm.:(

[Sunviking]

Stillfrantic,

We're in the same boat (no pun intended). I don't think we'll be on the Z either next week. They're talking about a meeting in Broward county at 9AM to discuss a mandatory evacuation. I think that's Fort Lauderdale. It has always been my understanding that with mandatory evacuations that means people in hotels or weekly rentals have to leave. So even if we go down we'll have to stay somewhere pretty far away or in a shelter - not much fun.

[Krazy Kruizers]

This is so sad that some cruise lines are making decisions now and HAL is keeping everyone on pins and needles.

Every hour more evacuations are taking place in Florida.

There is no escaping the fury of Frances.

[jollycruiser]

From the sound of things there is no way the Z is going to dock at FLL this weekend. So HAL's choice is to ride it out and wait for FLL to be available making the current cruise a 9 day'er or dock on time maybe in Key West?? Either way I feel for the pax on the current cruise since getting home is going to be a major pain in the butt. Hoping against hope that Frances Fizzles.

[sail7seas]

Even if Broward County (FLL) or Dade (Miami) do not get a direct hit, this storm is so very large that they will still have high winds and heavy rain.

It sounds as though at present the prediction is for a slightly more Northern hit but even still Zuiderdam cannot come in Port Everglades and unload pax. If there is an evacuation ordered, these pax could not go to hotels or airport. I doubt HAL would be planning on having them shelter in the ship terminal building.

Port Everglades supposedly is being ordered closed.

HAL HAS to start making decisions and advising travelers. What are they supposed to do??? Sit in airports with cell phones while Seattle continues to debate?

[stillfrantic]

S7S: I was told by an ill mannered HAL employee that they wouldn't make contact with passengers and that no decision would be made until the very last minute, as in sometime on Saturday jst prior to the scheduled sailing. I feel sure that could not not possibly have been right, but 2 messags left for HAL since have been unanswered. They set up an 800 hotline, but the message is from yesterday and they still say they are sailing fom FLL Saturday afternoon.

I could not be more disappointed in Holland America. Seems as though every other cruise line has stepped up to the plate and made decisions and notified guests. HAL does neither.

My next vacation dollars will go to a line that is more guest friendly during times of stress.