Back from Miracle and Hurricane Dennis

We've only had 2 encounters with hurricanes, once in Washington DC and now the Miracle and both were named Dennis!

We really had a great cruise on the Miracle. Food, staff, and entertainment were great. The ship was just the right size and easy to find your way around.

Now to Dennis, I know the cruise line wants to get back as close to schedule as possible, but what good did it do to let us sit outside of Tampa all day Sunday? They offered 5 free minutes of phone, but the phones were not working. There was a line of maybe 20 people all day waiting to use the phone in the purser's office, as it was working. Luckily my daughter brought her cell phone and even though we have crummy T-Mobile we were able to get a signal when others could not. So we called the airline and they put us on the same flight on Monday, and our travel insurance to find us a hotel.

So we finally got off the ship and what a disaster that was. Everyone was trying to get taxis and there were lines and people at the front grabbing taxis and running between taxis. It was terrible.

My mom has a cane and someone found a cab for her and these people put there luggage in and would not remove it. The people who got the cab were yelling that they got it for my mom and they just jumped in and took off. We tried to wait for one but it was so bad that we ended up doing what everyone else was - hijacking your own cab! There really should have been some Carnival representatives out there keeping the peace. I'm definately writing Carnival about that.

Sue

That was the worst part of our debarkation from the Victory on 7-03..... getting a cab at the port in Miami. This is an issue I think Carnival really needs to address. Because of multiple and confusing lines there were people getting frustrated and there were almost 3 fights over people cutting in line.

I know the cruise line wants to get back as close to schedule as possible, but what good did it do to let us sit outside of Tampa all day Sunday? .

the cruiselines had nothing at all to do the ship sitting in the channel. THe channel was closed so you could not get back.

Sad about the cabs. when we sailed in February there were people directing people to cabs. VEry organized I thought.

Dennis played havoc with everyone's plans. Brother and his two sons are currently on the Miracle and from what I could gather the ship never left port until Monday around 10 am - offered $150.00 ship credit - that's is ridiculous since he does not drink nor does his 16 and 12 year old sons.

The stop in Grand Cayman was also cancelled.

And now with Emily at their backs - they will have some stories to tell about their first cruise.

- offered $150.00 ship credit - that's is ridiculous since he does not drink nor does his 16 and 12 year old sons.

Well....if they don't spend it on the ship, they'll get to take it home with them! Still $150 ahead....right?

Hey we saw yall in Belize. We were on the Elation!

Dennis played havoc with everyone's plans. Brother and his two sons are currently on the Miracle and from what I could gather the ship never left port until Monday around 10 am - offered $150.00 ship credit - that's is ridiculous since he does not drink nor does his 16 and 12 year old sons.

 

The stop in Grand Cayman was also cancelled.

 

And now with Emily at their backs - they will have some stories to tell about their first cruise.

What else would you expect them to do? The hurricane was not Carnival's fault... and they didn't have to give anything at all... there is more to spend money on than just drinks... They can use it for excursions, spa, gambling, arcade, gifts, etc... it wasn't a drink credit. This is the chance you take when you cruise during hurricane season... I'm sorry they have had trouble on their first cruise, I hope it turns around for them... they shouldn't have any trouble with Emily, hopefully, as they generally get back into port in the middle of the night Sunday, and will probably put the pedal to the metal if things look iffy come the weekend...

the cruiselines had nothing at all to do the ship sitting in the channel. THe channel was closed so you could not get back./QUOTE]

 

We received a letter on Friday in Cozumel that said if you want to make it back to Tampa by Sunday get a flight from Cozumel due to the port most likely being closed. So Carnival knew the port situation. The captain also said there was another ship in port that had to leave before we could come in.

What else would you expect them to do? The hurricane was not Carnival's fault... and they didn't have to give anything at all... there is more to spend money on than just drinks... They can use it for excursions, spa, gambling, arcade, gifts, etc... it wasn't a drink credit. This is the chance you take when you cruise during hurricane season...

Hurricanes can come from June through October (even into November in rare cases). Cruiselines like to have passengers year round. It is in Carnival's best interest to give reasonable credits for problems arising from hurricanes. Sounds to me like $150 was reasonable - I assume you could apply that credit to tips if you didn't want to gamble, drink or buy stuff on the ship. If you are not able to travel during the non-hurricane season you just have to be flexible. So you don't get to go to a particular port you had your heart set on - - - go with the flow.:)

I think the cab problem was related to the delay. We left the Miracle on July 3 and there were waiting cabs -- no problems.

Judy

the cruiselines had nothing at all to do the ship sitting in the channel. THe channel was closed so you could not get back.

 

We received a letter on Friday in Cozumel that said if you want to make it back to Tampa by Sunday get a flight from Cozumel due to the port most likely being closed. So Carnival knew the port situation. The captain also said there was another ship in port that had to leave before we could come in.

I was on the Miracle. You should have listened to that letter if it was that big of a deal to you to get of Sunday. They knew the port may be closed, they told you that ahead of time, it was closed when we got there, whats the problem? You were warned in advance. The ship leaving Port was most likely a tanker, there are more than cruise ships at ports.

Sorry if it seems like I am being rude. I live in central fl(5miles from where the 3 eyes of charlie, frances, jeanne all crossed) and own a flooring store. so you can imagine how many people I have dealt with since the last hurricanes. I just wish people would realize that a Hurricane is an ACT OF GOD and that people cant be responsible for anything that is cause by them.

These are the risks that you take when you book a cruise during hurricane season. That is why prices are lower at this time. $150 is reasonable. We didn't drink at all, but we spent at least $150 on pictures. You could use the $150 at the casino, at the gift shop or the spa. Lot of ways to enjoy your credit.:)

complain complain complain complain

blah blah blah blah

People really need to get over this blame and gimme attitude they have and be thankful for something else.

The ship leaving Port was most likely a tanker, there are more than cruise ships at ports.

.

Actually, it was the Inspiration that docked on Saturday and could not leave the dock (due to the channel being closed) It did not leave til SUnday, so the miracle could not come into the channel.

I am under the impression that the 150.00 is per person.. Can anyone clarify this and it is NOT per cabin?? 3 people sailing = 450.00

carnival may knew that the channle was closed-- They offered people to get off in Cozumel and take a flight from there. Since the port was gonna be closed...what option did Carnival have?

You made it sound--since they knew they should have done something. What would you have liked them to do?

These are the risks that you take when you book a cruise during hurricane season. That is why prices are lower at this time. $150 is reasonable. We didn't drink at all, but we spent at least $150 on pictures. You could use the $150 at the casino, at the gift shop or the spa. Lot of ways to enjoy your credit.:)

I understand that there are risks but in terms of prices, I believe they are higher than ever for crusing during the summer (given the fact that so many people are interested in this type of vacation). Our cruise in the Caribbean during the summer was way more expensive than our trip on Pride of Aloha through Hawaii. Of course, I agree, summer prices are lower than holiday prices but that is about it at this point in my opinion.

These are the risks that you take when you book a cruise during hurricane season. .:)

Some folks have no alternative on when they can cruise. We have to go in the summer because my daughter is still in school. Also, I found that the summer rates are much higher than fall rates, so its not always true that going during hurricane season is cheaper.

And to everone out there flaming the Original poster, sheesh.:( Give them a break. They have a right to be a little bummed and they are just venting a little. They are just sharing their experiences with you so that you can be better informed about events that may happen to you.

We are cruising in August and would be slightly bummed if the same things happen to me. Probably by that time the hurricanes will be making their way through the alphabet for the second time:eek:

Some folks have no alternative on when they can cruise. We have to go in the summer because my daughter is still in school. Also, I found that the summer rates are much higher than fall rates, so its not always true that going during hurricane season is cheaper.

 

And to everone out there flaming the Original poster, sheesh.:( Give them a break. They have a right to be a little bummed and they are just venting a little. They are just sharing their experiences with you so that you can be better informed about events that may happen to you.

 

We are cruising in August and would be slightly bummed if the same things happen to me. Probably by that time the hurricanes will be making their way through the alphabet for the second time:eek:

It is understandable that this is the only time some people can cruise, but that does not change the fact that this IS hurricane season... if the only time of the year you can go to Niagra Falls is in January, you can't come back and complain that there was ice and snow everywhere... My post, as indicated above, was not directed to the OP... cruiselines will handle these things the best they can, and sometimes they don't get them right, but it is not always in their control. I don't think anyone is "flaming" the OP because they were bummed... I think most people are just stating that some things, weather related, are out of the cruiselines control.... the fact that they made the offer to fly back home, and offered a generous credit, would be enough to satisfy me... maybe I'm easily satisfied... but if I book a cruise during hurricane season, regardless of my reason for it, I understand that things can happen that are out of my (and the cruiselines) control...

- offered $150.00 ship credit - that's is ridiculous since he does not drink nor does his 16 and 12 year old sons.

Since when does onboard credit mean you have to drink? There's a LOT more than just booze to spend that money on; souviners, supper club, specialty coffee and deserts, spa services, etc... And as KenMo said, if it's not spent onboard you get it in cash at the end of the cruise.

We are going on the Miracle in August and purposefully decided to drive down to Tampa in case the ship schedule was changed because of bad weather. I would hate to have to fly back from Cozumel and miss the fun day at sea to catch a flight back home on Sunday. The drive is not going to be fun but the expectations will be building each mile.:rolleyes:

OKAY Okay so I got some wrong information.

Hostility is not becoming at all.

You've read my last post. I don't need to be yelled at by people on this board. I posted what happened, did not expect any replys, let alone negative ones, but thats the whole attitude of this board. So Cleacat hangs up her name and I'll find a better board in the future.

Clecat: I am sorry that you feel you must leave the board. I am sure that with some of your post the majority of the replies are all good. Please weigh that with the bad. This is jsut a opinion board. and people will have different opionions. I read this posts a few times over and over and I am sorry that you feel people are yelling at you.

Sue... we were on the same cruise... in fact met your daughter at Tom n Cheryls. After reading your brief review, I'm a little hesitant about posting a review of my own.

Yes... we were all aware that it was hurricane season

Yes... we are all aware the CCL does NOT control the weather or the channel

HOWEVER... Carnival DOES control what goes on onboard during the cruise, what information they choose to give us, and how they choose to let us disembark.

Was I Happy with my cruise....Absolutely

Will I cruise again....Absolutely

Will it be with Carnival... Possibly (I would like to try other lines)

Was I unhappy with SOME of the things that happened at the end of the cruise.....YEP!

Eileen