What is there to do in Caribbean Port over nights?

If Celebrity decides to change their itineraries, they should do it on ships that are not posted yet. Then those who book the cruises can choose from ships with overnights or ships without overnights. Changing in mid-stream after many have booked one thing and are getting another is similar to Bait and Switch. Yes, we can cancel and rebook, but usually at a loss of perks, cabin or other benefits.

 

I haven't seen anything grab my interest for nightlife in Curacao. Staying overnight on a Sunday seems equally boring. Will probably stay on board.

 

Melissa :(

To give credit this was from Project Gal on another thread this pm.

Melissa, this is for your information:

We have completed 9 cruises on Celebrity sine 2006 and have two more booked. There has been an itinerary change on 10 of them. The other cruise was cancelled and we had to rebook for a year later - although that cruise had no itinerary changes! We are destined never to get to Casablanca or Grenada.

So, yes, from our experience, Celebrity do make more itinerary changes than other cruise lines but it is not just recent cruises.

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Sue

We are booked on a cruise that lost Bonaire for an overnight in Curaçao. We did receive a survey after our last cruise asking if we would like overnights in the Caribbean and which ports. I said yes, and Curaçao!

 

I don't know if we would even spend the evening hours in port but what people don't seem to be grasping is that this gives us 2 full days to enjoy the island. If Celebrity offers an evening excursion we might consider trying one but could go either way. I read earlier that Celebrity is looking to plan some evening exc. so we will see later.

What usually happens with overnights is they get into port late one day and leave earlier the next so in my opinion it sometimes just messes up both days. An overnight port really needs to be one that has real evening attractions.

To give credit this was from Project Gal on another thread this pm.

 

Melissa, this is for your information:

 

We have completed 9 cruises on Celebrity sine 2006 and have two more booked. There has been an itinerary change on 10 of them. The other cruise was cancelled and we had to rebook for a year later - although that cruise had no itinerary changes! We are destined never to get to Casablanca or Grenada.

 

So, yes, from our experience, Celebrity do make more itinerary changes than other cruise lines but it is not just recent cruises.

__________________

Sue

It took me a few minutes for this to sink in.

According to this post, it would appear it's a common practice for Celebrity to change itineraries. There can't be any legislation bringing penalties otherwise this practice would not be tolerated. I get it with safety issues but to make so many changes after booking is shocking.

So it's buyer beware, if you hope to go to a particular destination, that may not happen. I will have to analyze which Cruise Line has very limited changes to what was booked and govern myself accordingly.

According to the "latest" itinerary listed on Celebrity website we arrive in Curaçao at 7am on the 11th and leave at 5pm on the 12th - of course things could change!!

I'm in favor of some overnights, just not in the Caribbean.

Ma Bell, you just sent me on a journey down memory lane, a great one at that.

Triggered by, overnight and Caribbean.

It is 2007, we are on the RCCL Mariner Eastern, for our 25th Anniversary.

We meet one of my wife's former managers at the Hyatt in Dallas, in St Thomas. He moved down to become a tour boat Capt! At the end of his tours, he picks us up at the ship and drives us up in the hills overlooking the bay. He says, " I wish ya'll could be here at night and see the real reason I moved to paradise " the city does not come alive till the cheap t-shirt sellers lock up and go home.

Fast forward to 2013, we are back in St Thomas on the Reflection, we go to Back St to one of our favorite hole in the wall bar n seafood dives. Where we are greeted with a firm hand shake, a slap on the back, and a warm hug for the wife by the owner. Again he too says, " I wish you could be here for the night, that is when St Thomas really comes alive"

Has RCCL/Celebrity thought out the best country's and places for these extended stays? Only time will tell. But we can only hope if the chance presents itself, one of these dear friends is still around to help us experience it.

EW

With Capt Jeff overlooking the harbour

According to the "latest" itinerary listed on Celebrity website we arrive in Curaçao at 7am on the 11th and leave at 5pm on the 12th - of course things could change!!

That's good.

We are doing the Summit b2b in 2017, so we will have 2 overnights, one in Aruba and one in Barbados.

One of our favourite things to do on a ship is sit outside at the end of the day and watch the sunset. We haven't had a beach vacation in years, so this will be an opportunity to watch the sunset from a beach.(and maybe watch the other ships sail out to sea!)

I only wish that the Barbados overnight would be a Friday, because the Synagogue is open Friday night and I hear it is a gem. Alas, we will overnight during the week.

Celebrity has started to load evening excursions for the Caribbean overnights. I think there are 5 for Cartegena listed:)

Select "Evenings around the World" from the "What are you Interested in" section

http://www.celebritycruises.com/asr/shorex/BrowseByLocationLanding?destinationCode=CARIB

Celebrity has started to load evening excursions for the Caribbean overnights. I think there are 5 for Cartegena listed:)

 

Select "Evenings around the World" from the "What are you Interested in" section

 

http://www.celebritycruises.com/asr/shorex/BrowseByLocationLanding?destinationCode=CARIB

I had a look at these evening Tours to make up for losing a Port.

Old City by Horse, 2 hours and 15 mins., $100 for two.

Medieval by Horse, 2 hours and 30 mins., $120 for two,

Harbour Cruise, two hours, $160 for two.

Romantic guided walk and a drink (perhaps it's Dom Perignon) two hours and 15 mins., $198 for two. These could be done with time to spare for a late evening sailing.

I would not want to give up an Island for an evening two hour horse and buggy tour.

Thanks for bringing this to our attention.

Well, prostitution is legal in Curacao..... :eek:

 

Not sure if that's the kind of nightlife Celebrity is eager for its passengers to enjoy while staying there overnight.

Perhaps having overnighters was a request from the ships officers?;)

Celebrity has started to load evening excursions for the Caribbean overnights. I think there are 5 for Cartegena listed:)

 

Select "Evenings around the World" from the "What are you Interested in" section

 

http://www.celebritycruises.com/asr/shorex/BrowseByLocationLanding?destinationCode=CARIB

Thanks Chritine for bringing this to our attention. No excursions for Barbados and Curaçao yet but I've book marked the link.

Thanks again,

Katie

Perhaps having overnighters was a request from the ships officers?;)

I doubt it Karysa as that would not increase X 's earnings. Where as a cut of a two hour $199 early evening Tour and the savings on oil from sitting at a Port for two days would.

You do however bring up an interesting point regarding vested interests. Why do a handful want overnights in the Caribbean? Europe, we can all agree on. Do they have old friends in some Ports that they want to catch up with? Do some want liaisons with locals over night? Why are they unhappy about leaving a Port previously scheduled for say 11 pm when they could have done most things like dinner and a two hour buggy ride and not give up the next day Island?

I do realize there are a half dozen X boosters on here with a combined 70,000 or so posts who support X in wanting the overnights. I may do an analysis of the Posts to determine the exact number of who were for and against but that will take me away from trying to improve my dreadful golf game. I have not, however, heard one valid reason for staying at a Caribbean Port beyond say 11 pm to give up a previously scheduled Port the next day.

Lets be reasonable here. Ask yourself the question, would passengers who booked particular Ports be happy to give up a Port so as to over night in a Caribbean Port?

I have not, however, heard one valid reason for staying at a Caribbean Port beyond say 11 pm to give up a previously scheduled Port the next day.

 

?

And what is the valid reason for not staying? We have not heard one of those yet either.

And what is the valid reason for not staying? We have not heard one of those yet either.

Go back to the beginning and read again.

The overnight stay means we completely miss an island that we would like to see (and booked the cruise to see) that was scheduled for the following day. In my case, Grenada. I'd say that's a pretty valid reason for not wanting to stay overnight.

 

Lets be reasonable here. Ask yourself the question, would passengers who booked particular Ports be happy to give up a Port so as to over night in a Caribbean Port?

Yes, I am happy to give up Costa Maya for two days and a night in Cartagena. Although I was fine with Costa Maya being included on the itinerary when we booked, I'm more excited about the change than the original itinerary, for several reasons:

• We've been to Costa Maya several times, but this will be our first visit to Cartagena.
  
• I have booked both an evening and a day tour with a very reputable guide in Cartagena.
  
• I will be in Costa Maya again in December of this year.
  
• Costa Maya is an extremely difficult port to dock at...the bigger the ship the more difficult it can be to make the port. We've been to Costa Maya several times, but we've missed it due to wind and water conditions just as many times as we've made it in. I think chances were high we would have had problems again in March, when wind is always a problem for the Western Caribbean.
  
• The itinerary change significantly improves the passenger load in every port but one.
  

I might feel differently if the change had been a different one, but for the change in my itinerary I'm happy.

Disclaimer: I'm not a Celebrity cheerleader, and I'm not loyal to any cruise line.:p I am, however, somebody who likes to make the best of things. I've been around long enough to know that when I stop and look closely at the hand I was dealt, it often offers possibilities I didn't see at first glance.

Go back to the beginning and read again.

 

The overnight stay means we completely miss an island that we would like to see (and booked the cruise to see) that was scheduled for the following day. In my case, Grenada. I'd say that's a pretty valid reason for not wanting to stay overnight.

That is a valid 'personal' reason. There are 2234 other personal reasons on the same sailing. Are the ones that don't feel the same not valid because they don't share the same view?

Lets be reasonable here. Ask yourself the question, would passengers who booked particular Ports be happy to give up a Port so as to over night in a Caribbean Port?

Yes, I am happy to give up Costa Maya for two days and a night in Cartagena. Although I was fine with Costa Maya being included on the itinerary when we booked, I'm more excited about the change than the original itinerary, for several reasons:

• We've been to Costa Maya several times, but this will be our first visit to Cartagena.
  
• I have booked both an evening and a day tour with a very reputable guide in Cartagena.
  
• I will be in Costa Maya again in December of this year.
  
• Costa Maya is an extremely difficult port to dock at...the bigger the ship the more difficult it can be to make the port. We've been to Costa Maya several times, but we've missed it due to wind and water conditions just as many times as we've made it in. I think chances were high we would have had problems again in March, when wind is always a problem for the Western Caribbean.
  
• The itinerary change significantly improves the passenger load in every port but one.
  

I might feel differently if the change had been a different one, but for the change in my itinerary I'm happy.

 

Disclaimer: I'm not a Celebrity cheerleader, and I'm not loyal to any cruise line.:p I am, however, somebody who likes to make the best of things. I've been around long enough to know that when I stop and look closely at the hand I was dealt, it often offers possibilities I didn't see at first glance.

Good for you Cindy. My case is just the opposite: we're overnighting in Barbados, which we've visited several time previously, and will be missing Grenada, which we've only visited once and would love to see again. Quite frankly, I'd rather skip Barbados and overnight in Grenada if we had to choose between the two!

In my view, a bad decision that was also badly implemented. :(

And what is the valid reason for not staying? We have not heard one of those yet either.

I know you are in favor of over nights. I seem to recall you looking forward to getting together with an old friend in St. Thomas or some Island like that.

Let me explain things from my perspective, unlike you, coming from Texas, we come a long way from the frozen north (high air fares) and want to experience the far south Islands, Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire. These are not close by islands like Nassau, Caymans or Cozumel. We are on a 14 night deep south Celebrity veranda Cruise including the A, B. C. Islands before heading over to Barbados etc. The " B" was taken away from us and by the way we still have not heard from Celebrity or our T.A. on that. We feel short changed. We are getting on in age, some in our group are in their 70's and probably don't have many years left on the Planet. We just want to be treated with respect. We are the customers, we paid substantial money for air, veranda cabin and so on to find one of the Islands we booked and payed for was taken away. We may never get there again. Yes, I realize now that they can do what they want. Fortunately, I can also do what I want in the future and one of the things I will be looking for is to be treated with respect, give me what I contracted for. Other than the so called survey mentioned on C.C. we have not heard a word from Celebrity on dropping Bonaire.

I know you will come back and say like before, cancel. Not so easy when you have Air booked. X takes a chance in cancelling Ports, lets see if that effects the bottom line eventually. People will lose confidence in them keeping to itineraries.

I think the most important question will be, what will their experience be on Caribbean overnights. As someone who has been around the block a few times including living and working in the Caribbean, I don't see this experiment lasting.

That is a valid 'personal' reason. There are 2234 other personal reasons on the same sailing. Are the ones that don't feel the same not valid because they don't share the same view?

Of course its a personal reason! How does that make it any less valid? My choice of Celebrity was personal. My choice of my itinerary was personal. My preference that Celebrity provide the itinerary I booked is personal.

Lets be reasonable here.

If anyone thinks Celebrity has made a mistake, I suggest you take a look at the pricing for the cruise you are on with the changed itinerary and compare the price now to the price you paid.

Ours is significantly higher, indicating a stronger demand than when we booked.

This leads me to believe people are now booking for the overnights, exactly as Celebrity had expected given the market research they did.

It's a done deal folks.

If anyone thinks Celebrity has made a mistake, I suggest you take a look at the pricing for the cruise you are on with the changed itinerary and compare the price now to the price you paid.

 

Ours is significantly higher, indicating a stronger demand than when we booked.

 

This leads me to believe people are now booking for the overnights, exactly as Celebrity had expected given the market research they did.

 

It's a done deal folks.

 

Cruise lines like Air Lines have algorithmic software, they may charge less early on to set a base. They want a decent average Cabin revenue, this is not by luck it's all planned.

"Leading you to believe the Caribbean is booked for the overnights". Lets revisit your opinion by the end of the first quarter 2016.

That is a valid 'personal' reason. There are 2234 other personal reasons on the same sailing. Are the ones that don't feel the same not valid because they don't share the same view?

Of course its a personal reason! How does that make it any less valid? My choice of Celebrity was personal. My choice of my itinerary was personal. My preference that Celebrity provide the itinerary I booked is personal.

It does not make it less valid, never said it did.

Lets revisit your opinion by the end of the first quarter 2016.

And that is exactly what RCCL/Celebrity will do. If it works, it will be kept. If not, it will be scuttled and a different course of action put into the works.

And that is exactly what RCCL/Celebrity will do. If it works, it will be kept. If not, it will be scuttled and a different course of action put into the works.

Glad we can agree on something wallie! Have a good night way down in the Lone Star State and although we are at odds on this issue let me rise above it and wish you a Happy Independence Day!

Are the cruiselines that are having overnights in the Caribbean building "villages" or what ever you want to call them like the one RCCL is building at the port in St. Maarten? Will the casino's be open while in port?