goehoe

Nov.12-19th cruise on Dawn. Yes, We went to St. Thomas. Three tours available. Town is open, port stores are all open. 78% of island, no power. Interior bleak looking, but around port and town, greenery is returning. A lot stores on generators. They are struggling but trying to work. Happy to see customers. We had a great pizza in a place across street from port stores and owner told us, "thank you for supporting us and just being here". Another store employee told us many are living together to make ends meet and pooling resources. Go in and spend some money on the island as they need the income badly.

They'd rather have Euros for cash purchases. If you give US you won't get back the correct exchange and you end up paying more with US. There is a open street market where my friend ended paying double because she had no Euro and paid with US. But she wanted what they had so bought it. A french bakery downtown with great pastries, Euros are expected there last time i was here.Things do change though but it's what i experienced. On our excursion she wanted a painting at a little road side market, would not take US or CC. So she couldnt buy. I wonder if the ship will exchange some US for Euro?

Oh, I really don't. TA work hard. It's that reports from FEMA is that the area isn't ready for masses of visitors and they are trying to get ships booked and people down there in the middle of chaos in Dec.Too soon and Unfair to cruisers, unaware of condition they are going into. BUT, perhaps in Dec. everything will be wonderful in SJ. I do hope so.

All i know is what FEMA sister is telling me. And why i feel as i do....FACTS from her are:.Limited hotels even for FEMA and Red Cross, electric is coming on slowly BUT IS coming on. Grids are off and on. A few places to eat are opening for workers to have food other than MRE's. Ports are running well to get supplies in, Ports for ships are back. Airport is operating but have cut flights. Cafes in airports are open. SJ is being cleaned up from debris, grocers are opening with new supplies, workers are thrilled and im sure so are residents. ATM's work off and on and still have lines . Some Taxi's are running but having issues with atm to get money so have your correct change and tip for them. She said it's just not time to "visit" whether intention is to help economy or not.Perhaps that meant us getting in the way of workers, i don't know. After first of year i'm told. They are working nonstop, no day off, busting their butts to get islands back liveable for the residents first, then the needed tourists. Not bashing crusing as i've done my share of it, i realize they are strapped for ports to dock with so many ships sailing. Been nightmare for all. Since the terminal and dock is operable , they take us out of SJ, we sail from there. Perhaps in three more weeks more progress will be seen. But she's saying a long time. I know she's tired, worked to death, and perhaps sees only what SHE sees but this is what i know NOW. We wish for the best for those affected and working to bring back livable conditions. I personally feel bad going to a ship vacation with so many not having a dish to cook in at this time but all i can do is donate funds to help out in some small way, which we have generously done. Sometime posts come off as not intended. If i've offended someone, an apology is extended.

Ok. i'll take the "bait".....NO , not a TA. Travelmarketreport.com under cruises it's posted. Not having a "bitchfest" as been stated in responses, BUT, i can say from a conversation yesterday with a FEMA sister that SJ isn't quite ready for cruise lines to sail in and out with 3000+ passengers coming on land. NOT Yet. And said really won't be until Jan. This is why hotels are cancelling....Aide workers and FEMA NEED the hotels to help the area. They come first. My air was booked in JUNE, with hotels on front and end of it, so i'm not complaining about air rates now., don't even know what they are. I'm happy to give up hotels for FEMA, and i had to rebook air to fly in same day to board ship. That is fine, i get that. NCL would not allow to rebook for another date, even to go into an inside stateroom and keep the money difference for our mini suite. I still haven't been contacted by them for changes. Neither has TA. Get a different script each time i've called to find out IF we were sailing, or from what port so i could change air in time to get a seat since flights are still limited. Finally found info i needed on my own. I'm not concerned of ME getting 50$. Its' the "incentive" to get folks to book and sail out of an area that isn't ready from them. SJ is coming along she told me, electric being restored with grids going off and on, cafes that are reopened the FEMA workers are supporting, gas is there but ATMS are iffy, a lot of hotels are still on generators. Stated environment not ready for influx of visitors for a few months. Before someone writes, " cancel", i've tried, tried to rebook, blah, blah, blah, will not work with me. SO, we go in same day, that's fine, and we go straight to ship so not to interfere with relief workers as asked to do.

Interesting.......I said.

I find it interesting that NCL is offering travel agents and extra bonus of $50.00 for each booking out of San Juan on the Dawn, for December......What about the clients that are already booked and have had to absorb extra expenses to even GET to SJ due to Maria.....? and make revisions to travel, etc. I'm thinking NCL and other lines should be thinking of the clients at this time with all the frustration of no communication between Corp. and client. Wow........unbelievable . I know its marketing and revenue but.........could be Corp. should think about this...

You are welcome. I'm Not playing games with this. Only passing direct info from a FEMA worker in SJ NOW. I'm sure there is a hotel somewhere but we decided not to chance re-booking , getting there to find it not suitable. We change airfare to fly in same day as sailing. We can revisit SJ once things are more stable. Personally, and i only speak for myself, husband and i would only be "in the way" of the workers at this time. Hope things work out well with all the cruisers.

Again, From a FEMA working there in SJ: While docks are up to board a cruise ship, SJ is NOT ready for visitors per say. Hotels are being filled with relief workers and will be for MONTHS. Some still sleeping on floors due to no hotel rooms. Gas is still iffy for taxis although they ARE working some. Limited flights in and out of airport and why Jet Blue moved our returning flight 6 hours earlier. While electric IS up and running In parts of SJ, most hotels are still using generators. Grids are off and on i'm told BUT they ARE working on it. SJ is coming back, but it is NOT ready for us meander about expecting hotels, stores and cafes to be plentiful. FEMA workers are using hotels, eating at the open cafes, and going to CVS, and grocery stores that are open now. ST. Thomas nor St. Maarten will NOT be ready for 3000 cruisers for months on end and perhaps a year, Along with St. Croix that I got notice we ARE docking. It's still a MESS down there. California is now getting the "news" and why we don't see this. This is coming from a FEMA worker that is there NOW. We can fly in, board the ship and go where the line takes us if we can't cancel. Me? If i could, i'd cancel, and rebook later, but that's MY take on it. The ports NCL rebooked are ok to visit, but from what i'm told from FEMA sister, St. Croix isn't ready for us and won't be for months. It's devastated along with 5 other islands down there. I have paid my final, so we have no choice but to loose 4000 bucks total or go on and make the best of what we have. I DO know the frustration all are having by not knowing.......I'm frustrated they didn't just allow me to rebook. Out of my control.......Also FORGET Tortola for 6 months. It's one the worst hit. I realize as time goes by and work is being done, things change. But i was TOLD, straight to the ship, don't expect service mid-Nov. as usual, as you are there with 16,000 aid workers competing for the commodities being brought ashore. We could get there and see otherwise but i'm taking her advice for now.

Smong, Im on Nov. 12 out of SJ. They ARE sailing. NO doubt, it is revenue and they will NOT cancel. Ports are Martinique, st. Kitts, Barbados, exchanged St. Thomas and St Martin for Antiqua and St. Croix. uhmmmm, St. Croix is a MESS with a CAt. 5 going over it. I was told when calling NCL and asking about why there, was told "a good spa day". Red Cross still removing people from the island as of last week. Water is good, no power as of last week. Hoping the best for the people , just cant understand why we are docking here. Maybe we get a great surprise once there and all is better. NOT !!! My sister worked for FEMA & got a call from them. SJ isn't as up to par as lead to believe. Asking why we are still going there? Because NCL insists we board ship there or loose all our money.......We will make the best of it. Bought transfers to ship through NCL instead of taxi that i can't be sure is up and going. Still have gas issues. She should know, as she's connected with FEMA. Hotels are on generators, ours cancelled, FEMA workers are using rooms. So change airfare to fly in same day. The whole thing has been a mess. Thank you Maria.

Nov.12-19 is leaving and ending SJ. Barbados, St. Kitts, Martinique, Antiqua, St. Croix. I have NO hotel, was emailed saying closed until Dec. 31, Old SJ Sheraton, can find nothing . I have rebooked air to fly in same day of cruise, the 12th, going straight to cruise ship via NCL transfer so not to be concerned about taxi not being plentiful. Transfer via ncl back to airport post cruise. Was told by a NCL rep when i asked why St. Croix because it is a MESS, still taking people of island as of yesterday., " this will be a great spa day".......yep. that was i was told. There are no excursions available when i called tonight to check for St. C. That tells me they are docking to kill time before docking SAN Juan at 6 am. No ports available for them i'm thinking other than this one. Realize the people need the income from us but if island is in shambles what do they have to share? Oh well. We are going and hoping for the best.

Yep, it's all about revenue. THEIRS, not yours........

called again today. Same crap script with and added "we have over 100 sailings to be rescheduled. we are doing it in Sailing date order. REALLY???? And Why are Flordia sailings in Dec. are already changed?? But not Nov. out of SJ ???? I'm beyond ticked off.....insurance doesn't pay off unless they cancel so i'm stuck

Appreciate the post, boards, cruisecritic.com/show. However, if it's so grand in old san juan why are 100,000 in line to come to Florida??? I know they need our tourism $,but until i don't see a mass exodus from their own island , i'm not wanting to go into the hurricane relief environment right now, unless i'm there to help them. Nor should be expected to by a multi million $$ cruise ship industry. I just don't believe it's ready for visitors when on FOX New, Gerado is asking "no visitors now" as of this morning. Hoping they get the needed help and it the area CAN take visitors asap but just not seeing it anytime within the next 3-4 months. Hope i'm totally wrong for their sake.

one reason i'm so aggravated is that Florida sailings, most, have been notified of itinerary change to Western. Even through DECEMBER, and this ONE ship out of PR, isn't getting "jack" yet. I was emailed over two and half weeks ago by agent ports are changing from St. T. and St. Maart. , duh, no kidding, but have gotten nothing else. Agent can't get them to tell her a thing either. Perhaps other lines have taken spaces for imbarkation ports in Fla. and NCL is having issues finding one. IF So, please just refund, cancel, or allow us to rebook. I'm NOT being unreasonable. The ships and ports are there to sail to at some point. I have a deadline with airline to rebook or loose our fare......

This is totally unreal........The white shirts should get off their butts, too put it mildly, and get this mess changed and notify the clients. What part of devastation don't they get? None of us want to fly into SJ in the condition it will be in for months to come ,& none of us want to suck up the supplies being brought in for the PR people and USVI. All we are asking for is a new boarding port and to be notified to change airfare !!!! Keep the revenue, just get a new port plan in place, please. UNREAL.....

Ia totally agree. No one other than care givers, relief workers and FEMA should be entering SJ for a long time. They do not need tourists absorbing resources flown in for the residents in SJ or the other islands.

consider yourself lucky not to loose 4000 bucks, cruise, pre paid gratuites, airfare, insurance fees.......unless cruise is cancelled travel insurance doesn't pay out, unless it is "any reason insurance" and it only pays 75%. And I'm lucky not to be without water, gas, a job, and food at this time as the islanders are. NCL will be "lucky" for me to book in the future if they don't get on this quickly.

Unbelievable with all the info coming in t hat ANY cruise line would not reschedule a SJ booking through the end of the year and do it NOW!! Wow !

I have a flight into SJ, Nov.11th, suppose to sail 12th. Have called three times, Nothing. Same script, same song,"will contact within two weeks". Well. i'm praying their contact is a cancellation. Most of the islands, not only PR, that ships dock aren't ready for cruisers. Only and a handful. Islands need time to access and rebuild before accepting visitors. What i don't understand is that RCCL immediately changed ports from the damaged ones, once storms where gone. NCL has ONE, ONE ship cruising So. Caribbean. Cancel it or get updates to us so we can make arrangements. Saying this, i understand it takes planning, time, etc. to reschedule. I feel since the Dawn goes to Western Car. mid. Jan. that's where the ship will reposition. No cancellation more than likely. Just tell us, please.........

they should just cancel and be done with it. send ships with supplies to help PR. Most of us will rebook to another area .

Razor 7....I have called NCL three times getting the same song and dance. I Posted the ? bc RCCL IS Sailing this Wednesday, turmoil or not. Since cruise lines loose big revenue i expect a SJ sailing, turmoil or not , the way Carnival and RCCL is continuing out of SJ. Common sense should be used and hopefully the lines will reschedule from another port but hopefully not at the last minute so 5000 don't have to go scrambling to rebook air, cancel hotels. I DO realize that is minor to what the people are suffering in the islands. NCL has ONE ship out of SJ now..you'd think by now the passengers would be contacted since they have our paid fare in their bank. Nope and NCL operators not know more that we do......

The well being of the residents should be the primary objective. I understand that, of course. So many different answers on news and on line........"my cruise" can be rebooked......only wondering if anyone had concrete notice from NCL yet, in order to cancel air and hotel. I could send reimbursements to help in recovery if taken care of in time. I do have insurance but rules are only if NCL cancels and not reroute us. Thanks in advance to anyone who'd have info to help with any info as the days go by.

Has anyone gotten an update of changes to the date of Nov.12th sailing, NCL Dawn out of SJ? I have to believe the ship will be rerouted to another sailing port for boarding since SJ is devastated with probably no hotels rooms available by then. Sister worked for FEMA and is saying relief workers will end up with any hotel rooms to help the area come back to living status. Understandable, but we have day before booking in Sheraton Old SJ hotel, don't know if it will be operable and need to change day of airfare to go straight to ship if we have no lodging day before sailing. What a mess for all, especially the people on the islands........

Our flight leaves Miami at 8:00 Pm. We are booking a post tour to Everglades that drops off at airport. Has anyone taken this tour and if so, what is the process of getting our luggage off ship and to airport? Do we collect our luggage at the terminal, take luggage on tour with us or will the cruise ship arrange for luggage to be sent to airport ahead of us? The later was arranged for us in Hawaii, Alaska, and Europe but do not know procedure out of Miami.