Rancher Dave

The way it's looking right now the Majesty will have an issue coming in on Friday. The way it looks right now we're going to get hit the worse on Thursday into Friday with the center only about 65 miles off shore. The on shore surf is expected to be 12-20 ft. The seas off shore will probably be 30-40 ft.

Definitely not a sailing I'd want to be aboard. Perhaps they will get a pass on Jones Act requirements and bus some folks who have to be back on Friday up the coast, not that buses on 95 in such weather seems highly sensible either...perhaps they go to Tampa running new pax to Tampa and offloading "old" pax off to PC via bus. I'm sure they have folks on shifts looking at the logistics for all these options right now.

I decided to see what folks were saying about Majesty...if they really go "home" for turn around day on Thursday, I can honesty say I'm glad not to be aboard...will be a rough ride if it is safely accomplished.

The projection cone definitely seems to be making Florida officials more nervous.

At least all the other RCCL ships seem to be able to make adjustments and keep a fun week in place for everyone, at least that's how it looks as of the 10pm Texas time report tonight.

OP sails in two weeks and the booking was made for a single. Don't think they can add names at this point.

Would be worth a try...would validate that they were selling SI GTYs only if he can't. In that case RCCL would have a pretty serious issue of bait and switch that they need to correct in their system. If that's the outcome they need to make it right to OP by giving him a better cabin or lots more OBC and charge it back to their IT department for allowing such bait and switch sales to take place in the first place.

dedosr, I agree with you. I have never had a problem with GTY before and never complained if the location was not ideal. But, this circumstance is a little more complicated than just complaining about a room assignment. Without going through the whole thing again as stated in previous posts, RCI did a bait and switch on me. They still have not fixed their website in that they are not informing passengers that they could be assigned a studio. I am surprised that I haven't heard from anyone defending these studios. Like good location, roomy, anything?

May be this is suggested among next few posts...but add another name to the rezzie and have them no show. That would force them to move you to another cabin. The only extra cost would be the taxes, which I believe you'd get back at no show time.

Agree this is a bait and switch, and even more crazy is that had you had two names on rezzie from start they could never have put you in a studio, so there is definitely some issues RCCL must consider for public relations as well as legal reasons.

Maybe local press would like to get involved and put RCCL on the spot in a bad light. Would be easy for RCCL to find a way to make it right still.

Do the cabs from the airport take credit cards so I don't need Canadian money?

I've used credit cards. In fact last visit to YVR I never used any Canadian cash. That was for a three day stay.

I completely agree. I think that this may be part of the problem that Carnival has been having in arranging Cuban sailings. The story has been all over Miami news media. The Cuban-Americans (disclaimer: I am half Cuban) are outraged about this discriminatory law in Cuba against Cuban born US citizens arriving by sea vessel.

It's an interesting law. They can fly in without any problem but not sail. Wonder what kind of damage that will do to the ferry lines planning to run back and forth all the time to Havana.

I'd imagine my Cuban born friends I know from my time living in Florida are offended that they can fly but not "sail" to Cuba.

I am on two Alaska Roll Calls for this July and both have little activity

The roll call for our June southbound might as well disappear. I started it almost a year in advance (:rolleyes:) and it has almost no participation. One would think that, with the cruise only 79 days away now that there would be participation but... I am extremely disappointed.

 

Hopefully your roll call will reappear.

Alaska cruises tend to bring in lots of new cruisers, especially when sales appear. Many new cruisers are unaware of Cruise Critic or those who know the forums don't always realize there are roll calls

Wishing both of y'all great Alaska cruises.

personally I'd pick trains as much as possible because the scenery is incredible along the tracks. Not seeing other cars and that mess is a pleasant bonus. Been on the train tracks along the Southern routes and to Denali and back. Roads along much of the same area as driver and passenger and hands down would do the train if it fit my travel schedule.

Trains just add to the overall cruisetour experience.

(At this point I mostly fly where I am going in Alaska, do what I am doing and fly or drive on. Most of the places I go now are not on the typical cruise port of call list.)

We will arrive in Halifax early afternoon tomorrow.

Laurie

Better a few hours late than not at all. Enjoy the happy hour aboard later today.

I don't think the Triumph has anything to do with this. All cruise ships, including the Triumph, have split bus capability, which allows at least half of the generators and half of the propulsion to be supplied regardless of damage to one half of the bus. A split bus plant will also have the "feeder" panels that supply power to various areas (galley, engine room aft, engine room forward, all cabins and public areas in each fire zone, etc.) to have the ability to be fed from each half of the main bus. Sometimes the transfer is not automatic, so there can be a temporary loss of power to limited areas. As I say, these types of power arrangements have been on nearly every cruise ship for years, and even the Triumph had this set up, but the fire damaged cabling to both halves of the main switchboard.

There were some cabling changes after the poop cruise. I've been fortunate to get into the actual engine room on a cruise in the past with the chief engineer. Think the emergency power was also changed after that cruise to ensure it could come online and be more useful if ever really needed in the future.

Regardless sounds like whatever it happened to be is rectified and just needs approval. Hopefully its a permanent fix not a band aid, which I doubt Lloyds or USCG would approve.

In the end missing one port is not end of world, happens due to weather in Caribbean at times.

But were they able to see the fireworks from the anchorage?

I asked that a while back, but no one on board has answered. :(

My parents said yes they saw lots of fireworks shows from their balcony.

Still at anchor at 215p East Coast time. Sounds like they are awaiting Lloyds and USCG to clear ship to sail. Was apparently a major electrical panel related issue and they apparently were able to divert power to make hotel functions work and with the repairs done, or nearly done, should have full propulsion restored which is likely the reason Lloyds and USCG are checking it over.

I am pretty sure are watch these things much more closely after the carnival poop cruise. May be one of the reasons they were able to divert power fairly easily and get the hotel functions mostly if not totally back on line fairly quickly.

I bet USCG will sign off as quickly as they can see the repairs are really done correctly to fix the core issue not just as a patch.

Based on info passed to me repairs still underway and then USCG has to check them and see tests completed before sail away can commence. Also, sounds like Seattle office is hard at work ensuring new itinerary is ready to go, which likely is just skipping first port if sailing happens this afternoon, and also compensation for all on board.

Sounds like as a bonus everyone got to see fireworks around the Boston area from the ship. Although nice, I am sure most folks wanted to see the first port of call.

Parents seem ok with the situation at this time. I bet some of y'all have met, and met my parents as well, at the CC gathering on boarding day yesterday.

I suppose a few more hours before sail away is likely, but if y'all get sailing soon after noon I'd expect next port of call should be achieved on time. Best of luck on the fix being signed off and getting out with only one skipped port of call.

Texted with my parents who are aboard for the 14 night RT sailing. Basically what those on board reported is what I heard from them. Last announcement was around dinner time, that was after a late departure caused by a late arriving fuel barge. Then after pulling off dock the power situation got bad.

Now appears some work restored all hotel functions more or less and they are working on the rest of the electrical issues to restore full power and propulsion.

My last text with them was about 3 nearly 4 hours ago when mom said she expected no news before they went to bed. Dad sent a picture of their view of Logan's runway from his balcony and also said no expectation of news before bed.

Looked on Marinetraffic com and see they are still sitting in the special anchorage area well off the end of the runway. (Does seem an odd place for an anchorage though.)

Of course getting info out of HAL in evening hours on a weekend seems to be a dead end since they stay open short hours over the weekend to field calls.

The key is knowing root cause of the system failure and fixing that, not just putting a band aid on the problem where it could easily occur again, perhaps at sea. Sounds like the captain feels the same way based on what I hear he indicated he was doing, which was not going anywhere or making speculation on go forward plans until he knew the cause of the problem. Hopefully he continues to put safety first above all else with regard to sailing the itinerary.

Prayers for the passengers and their families, the pilot and their family as well.

Took that excursion a few years ago. Was even contemplating fly out fishing this Summer, but with DW a nervous flier she will not agree now.

Can't imagine how rough it will be on pax and crew on the ship learning people with whom they dined and chatted are no longer on the cruise. Even worse is that some family were on the ship waiting the news of a fun excursion and instead were tracked down and provided such devastating news while on a cruise.

After being too sick on one of the last mornings of the cruise to hoof it onto a dining venue, I asked mom to pick up some dry toast and juice from O'Sheans to bring back to me in the cabin. I'd have been in quite a bad way if she couldn't have done that...or I'd have had to shell out a few pennies shy of $8 bucks for what would cost far less in an on land venue.

Agree if this is to keep the hallways clear, then either institute a rule that plates etc...to be left in cabin for removal, or discontinue room service as well as the take out service. That would never happen...so unless they go option one keep dirty stuff in cabin or call RS for a pickup of dirty stuff they will find the halls littered with dirty dishes. Now I saw some last cruise where it looked like the people literally threw the dishes out of their cabin, and that is just rude behavior compared to stacking them neatly outside their door.

I don't like the idea of not being able to take my sweet ending from the fine dining venues to my cabin to eat a couple hours later, but if the deal I get on the sailing outweighs the pain of the new, maybe not so well thought out, rules I will still sail NCL. Ideally I will sail in a Haven suite so the Butler can figure out how to get me the sweet endings I want when I want them.

What about hotels you stay at, planes you fly on, public transportation you take. Eating out at restaurants, buying groceries? Will you boycott all of them?

My last trip to Seattle I spent nearly the entire time in bed or the bathroom. Day I arrived was the only good day. Not sure if it was the hotel or the food from the national pizza chain. Not boycotting either, but know it was one of the, possibly even the rental car or could it have been the airplane...don't know and really it doesn't matter, I got noro from someplace other than a ship. Stinks because I had big plans for my visit to Seattle.

Always nice to see good comments about saving life at sea. Good work to those who took and shared pictures, video, and to the crew who executed the life saving rescue.

When I was part of a ship crew years ago we picked up some fishermen who messed up in their fuel calculations etc...fortunately no injuries and they were only 12 - 18 hours late getting home, but all alive with their boat.

Escape will take the top spot once delivered.

I just got off Oasis yesterday. I put a luggage tag on my case of water and gave it to the porters without a problem.

A lot of how it happens depending on the departure port, some are more strict about the rules than others. I saw folks carry them on various ships at various ports, checking by the case seems to be more spotty.

I'd vote like several others for considering heading on down to the Keys. Key Largo would be great for the family and not too far of a drive. Rental cars are fairly inexpensive in Florida as well.

Thank you! You guys are making me feel pretty good about this.

 

I can tell you that when you lose your partner, your soulmate, your perspective on life changes. it is all about spending time and making memories with people you love. You can take that to the bank!

Even a major illness can bring on those strong feelings. I believe it was you who said making memories was more important than buying things...that's my feeling.

Glad y'all will have a great time together.

I found that with IConcierge working I managed to also get IMessage working without being logged into the internet. DD found the same on Princess a few weeks ago.

definitely get with NCL or the TA and get it officially pre-approved and you will be fine.

For those that sailed NCL recently and received the post-cruise e-survey, there is a specific questions (actually, a 2nd. questions with sub-questions) about knowing, active, reading & posting on social media, including CC.

 

I don't recall if we got the survey last year sailing the BA, but both DW & I got one this year for the BA. For old-timers, it used to be done on the ship & dropped off in a box at Guest Services, and even drawings held - then, it changed to a random/select sampling only, post-cruise with the followup email.

 

The PCC was possibly just reading off the script & clueless about CC himself/herself so I will believe 50% of what's said and then discount 50% of the info as useless ...

 

Case-in-point, I happened to think that on the ship's M&G, they have a sign-in sheet for all CC'ers attending, there must be some reason for them to collect our names, stateroom #, CC username/handles AND email addresses - of course, they just put it into the round file bin right afterward. The Captain himself commented that they do read & follow CC - maybe not the details of every other thread on NCL, but somebody sitting in front of a monitor screen is doing what I call "intel" work on trending & the pulses on social media. If they don't - they are fools in this day & age to pretend that they ignore it all, which they can as it is well within their prerogative to do so.

Funny to hear the captains comments about following CC. The internet manager on Jewel was following CC especially the thread started two weeks ago about the unlimited internet package on the ship. (It was a nice package, as I used it last week. Between the phone and computer, switching between them, I used over 4500 minutes of time and nearly 3T of data.)

Mom's cruising with their son does happen...I'm on Jewel right now having invited mom along and since dad had to travel also, she was glad to get away instead of staying home alone. I took DD and DW on a cruise three weeks ago so didn't skip out on my immediate family without having taken them on a fun cruise as well.