Voyager back home, stuck in Galveston

[Vauxhallgirl]

thanks carol and vauxhall girl - I hope you have a great cruise even with this glitch. It will be interesting to see how many people take them up on the re-booking offer.

 

By the looks of it a bunch! We just went down to deck 2 where they issue the disbarkation documents and you couldn't move down there! The rest of the boat is looking a lot less busy. I feel very sorry for RCCL as it isn't their fault. A little bit of communication of their part would have helped. Police cars have gone anyway!

[CGBCruiser]

The worst part about this, besides being stuck in horrible Galveston would be that stupid TX law that restricts the ship to only selling a VERY limited selection of alcohol and beer until they're in international waters. Being stuck on the ship wouldn't be too bad as long as you can have your preferred drink served.

 

 

Somehow I think that not being able to pick a particular type of alcohol to be served in your drink is the least of these people's worries. I really don't think that this is the "worst" part of the whole ordeal. I think I'd be more upset about missing some ports of call and changing up my itinerary on a cruise vacation that I had planned for a long time! I feel so sorry for them stuck in this horrible fog that we've had here since Saturday! How disappointing for the cruisers... :(

[Snoozeman]

Luckily got off on Sunday.

 

Having been stuck OUTside the port of Galveston in a previous fog isssue, we were so worried that we would not be able to debark on Sunday morning. We did the B2B so were already on the Voyager for 21 days. I'm so glad we are not stuck on her outside the port as some ships in Florida & Mobile have been since Sunday. NO WAY I wanted a 23 day cruise.:rolleyes:

 

I have a partial review on the blog & will try to get the the 14 day TA posted soon.

 

So sorry for those on board now.

[lady_cruiser]

Voyager Captain making a "very important announcement" in 5 minutes...

CarolSW, you and BobStack has a great lookout on life. When life gives you the lemons, you both know how to bring out the Tequila. If I get to watch the Voyager leave tomorrow morning I'll be waving to you <from my computer scren> and wishing you and your family Godspeed for a safe trip.

[lady_cruiser]

Captain Frank. He said the reason they could not leave is the port has been closed all day. That doesn't make much sense as Conquest left. He also said that the ship is too big to turn round in the fog and safety is the number one consideration, which is totally correct. Right now looking like sometime tomorrow morning for the departure.

 

Great attitude Vauxhallgirl - enjoy the rest of your cruise. We watched the Conquest leave at 2:30 ish and I can tell you that they just made it. In fact if you read Bob's blog you will know that before they made it out of the ship's channel they were in heavy fog and could not see the shorelines. Then within a few minutes after they left the fog was rolling back in and the Voyager was once again shrouded in the darkness of the fog.

[lady_cruiser]

By the looks of it a bunch! We just went down to deck 2 where they issue the disbarkation documents and you couldn't move down there! The rest of the boat is looking a lot less busy. I feel very sorry for RCCL as it isn't their fault. A little bit of communication of their part would have helped. Police cars have gone anyway!

 

If you keep a travel journal you will surely have some interesting things to write in it. If you don't now might be a good time to start one.

[RMILLER4292]

I don't know that I would call Galveston "horrible"....There are some great restaurants and places to go and enjoy yourself....But I guess its all in how you look at it...

[mrstay]

• Port of Galveston has been closed all day and remains closed at this time.

• No explanation given how Conquest was able to leave if the Port has been ‘closed all day’. Captain did say it was the decision of the port officials and himself to stay in port, AND that the size of this ship, and the fact that it needs to turn around to depart, leaves only 30 meters room of error. I guess Conquest was pointed in the right direction!

• Weather not due to improve until tomorrow morning at the earliest.

• Cancelled port of call at Roatan Honduras. Still on the itinerary is Costa Maya on Thursday and Cozumel on Friday, but as always, that is contingent upon weather.

• No compensation forany missed ports.

• Guests who want to abandon this cruise may do so by 11 pm tonight and get 100% refund to be applied to a future RCCI cruise.

• Guests who would like to debark to spend the evening in Galveston may do so but are asked to be back on oard by 11 pm tonight.

 

Captain Mortensen sounded very terse. I know this cannot have been a good day for any of the crew, especially after the chaotic embarkation yesterday. Oh well, I’m OK for now in my Promenade cabin with my Christmas lights and mini-tree!

LIVE at 5:40 pm MON 12/14 aboard the Voyager of the Seas in Galveston…..

 

I wonder if negotiating being "bumped" to a suite (if someone chooses to vacate it) would be a possibility? Would be smart on RCCL part to let them, since they are there and would continue to get revenue from them this cruise (and the staff), and they would not have to refund.

[BecciBoo]

I would sure be interested in knowing how Conquest subnavigated the port authority to leave...somehow I think they lifted the closure when the fog left, but it was not enough of a window for Vger. The fog closed back in almost like a curtain the minute Conquest left. I don't see how Carnival could break maritime law just to get away. We'll have to see what the Carnival threads say. And maybe by then Erica will report in.

And what stupid law do you think Texas has about liquor. This county isn't dry. They just don't gamble.

[Margaritaville TX]

I bet that RCCL will consider to turn the VOS around before docking in the future at Galveston. They might of had the window of opportunity such as the Conquest had if the VOS was pointed towards the Gulf.

[Loyal2RCCL]

And what stupid law do you think Texas has about liquor. This county isn't dry. They just don't gamble.

 

When the ship is docked in Galveston, there's some TX law that prohibits the ship from selling their full offering of alcohol. It's something like the ship can only sell alcohol they've purchased from TX (I think it has to do with liquor taxes). Because of this law, the ship only offers a VERY limited variety of beer and spirits. You'll notice on embarkation day each bar will only display the limited alcohols. Once the ship sails into Int'l waters the bars will be stocked as usual.

 

It was very strange and a bit disappointing not to be able to order my preferred drink of choice (Crown Royal) until the ship sailed, as the liquor on offer was very basic with not much choice.

[Cindy]

I bet that RCCL will consider to turn the VOS around before docking in the future at Galveston. They might of had the window of opportunity such as the Conquest had if the VOS was pointed towards the Gulf.

 

In the 2008 season, the captain almost always turned the ship on arrival in Galveston, but last year I don't think the ship was ever turned until departure. I wonder why that is?

[futaba951]

At least the VOS folks were able to get on the ship. Carnival Fantasy has been stuck in the Gulf all day and probably tonight as well, leaving 2200 pissed off people to be stuck in the Mobile Civic Center all day, only to be told they had to go back to the terminal and get all their luggage and find a hotel for the night tonight. I bet there will be some interesting reading on these boards in the next week or so.

[Woe is me]

Probably because fog is more likely in the early morning than late afternoon.;)

[Tucker in Texas]

In the 2008 season, the captain almost always turned the ship on arrival in Galveston, but last year I don't think the ship was ever turned until departure. I wonder why that is?

 

I was on the VOS trans-Atlantic that docked on Sunday. When I woke up and saw the fog, I thought we might be in trouble. However, I noticed the ship was moving if slowly. I suspect the Captain was happy just to slide up to a dock at that point and not too worried about turning around to dock because the fog might lift at noon. It does that down here a lot. On the 2009 trans-Atlantic, I think they did turn before docking because I noticed this time we got off the ship on the opposite side than last year.

 

Tucker in Texas

[granghee]

I think you are right, Tucker.

I also noted the fog while waiting to bebark and thot we were stuck there for a long time, but we got off fairly early and easy.....:)

[firefly333]

I would sure be interested in knowing how Conquest subnavigated the port authority to leave....

 

Someone apparantly on Conquest gave a blow by blow account. Sounds like the fog lifted barely, enough for a pilot boat to guide them on out.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1104150&page=4

 

CC Board members:

 

Bob and Donna from Dallas/Ft. Worth

Carnival Conquest, Leaving the Galveston Pier, 2:22 pm

 

Fellow Cruisers:

 

We are cruising east and north through the Galveston ship channel, but I can tell you, the visibility is very limited...not even 1/8th mile. We cannot see Pelican Island on the Port Side, from our aft balcony.

 

Bob and Donna from Dallas/Ft. Worth

Carnival Conquest, from the Galveston Ship Channel, 2:41 pm

 

Fellow Cruisers:

 

We have cruised past Seawolf Park (barely visible through the fog), and have been right rudder now for some time. We must be on the east end of Galveston Island. There's no land-landmarks, though, through this fog. My Sprint Aircard will be out of range soon.

 

Bob and Donna from Dallas/Ft. Worth

Carnival Conquest, About to enter the Gulf of Mexico, 2:52 pm

 

Fellow Cruisers:

 

Carnival Conquest is in the Gulf! We just cleared the east end of Galveston Island and Bolivar Peninsula a few minutes ago. How do I know? Because of GPS. Certainly this fog is preventing any visibility for us. The pilot boat is dutifully following a hundred yards behind us (see attached photo).

 

Bob and Donna from Dallas/Ft. Worth

Carnival Conquest, from the Gulf of Mexico (finally!)

 

Cruisers:

 

We are picking up speed, now up to 16 knots. We are about 12-13 miles into the Gulf. The sky is getting brighter, and we are feeling sooo good! Thank you for all your stories, and well wishes. We want to cruise with you all, and will look for you on the Roll Calls when we sail again. Blue waters and clear skies to y'all!

 

Bob and Donna from Dallas/Ft. Worth

Carnival Conquest, somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico! (YEAHH!)

 

[mrstay]

A guy just posted to me on the webcam page and said he had just picked up his parents from the ship. They were some of the first ones off. They apparently had taken the offer of the free voucher for a future cruise. They said the lines were quite insane of those accepting the offer. He said 11PM was the deadline for accepting the offer.

[CGBCruiser]

We've had fog down here in SE Texas since Saturday! Although it's not uncommon for it to be foggy here in the winter months (because it can be 75 one day and 45 the next!), it is unusual to have it for this length of time. The air is so thick outside you can hardly breathe! Hopefully, things will be better tomorrow.

[CarolSW]

It’s closing in on the debarkation deadline of 11 pm for Voyager passengers who are choosing to opt out of this cruise. We were watching from the deck after our late-seating formal night dinner (dining room was maybe 1/3 full), and they are streaming off. It’s kind of an eerie desloate sight, hundreds of folks traipsing off the ship from the lower deck, schlepping their own luggage, trudging down the dark, damp, foggy dockside. It reminds me of that scene in Planes,Trains and Automobiles when the train broke down. We have not considered giving up this cruise, but I think it would have been problematic for us to do so to arrange transportation back to our EZ Cruise parking lot. Maybe they are out there with shuttles for all the folks who ARE leaving, I don’t know. I just hear Derek Lewis entertaining a crowd below me in the Pig & Whistle Pub and it sounds like those still onboard like us are having a good time with him. BTW, they postponed the Captain’s Reception for tonight. Said he was busy on the bridge. I just figure tonight would NOT be the evening he would be up to chit-chatting with a bunch of passengers, who would have endless questions and criticisms. Tomorrow is another day and we hope to see some clearing!

[Rancher Dave]

Carol, I agree would not be a good night for Captain to do his reception. He may be early to bed with a good prayer for rain and a quick moving cold front to rid the area of fog. At least that is what the WX forecast was on the news. DENSE fog advisory to 6am. Perhaps he is hoping to pull out at 6am.

 

I don't know if I would stay or leave...probably stay and enjoy whatever cruise ends up happening. However everyone who got a night on the ship and gets a whole week again later may be thinking that is such a good deal.

 

Hope y'all still have fun if all you do is go to Coz and back.

[firefly333]

EZCruise has 24 hour live security, so you could have gotten to your car. Iv walked to EZCruise myself, so its not that far, even if the shuttle wasnt running.

 

I think I would have been tempted to take the voucher for another cruise. 2 days short, so only a 5 day cruise without any inducement to stay ...

 

Im thinking of booking Voyager april 4th probably and just listening in here.

 

Good for you that you stayed.

[mrstay]

On the webcam page there is someone reporting that someone messaged her from the Conquest and told her that they only sailed to international waters and have been floating there. That way they could open the casinos and shops. Has anyone seen anything else from Bob or someone else on the conquest? The last post he posted made it seem as though they were sailing at over 10 knots and were on their way. ?????

[Driftwoodgal]

We were on the sailing that was stuck outside of the port Jan 08. It was really spooky to be sitting still in the water only to have the fog lift and see tons of boats surrounding you. Since we were on a B2B we got to see the problems from dealing with the fog on both ends. None of it was pretty.

 

I feel for the passengers as well as the pier and ship employees that are having to deal with all of this mess. We are totally socked in here near Austin and not near any water.

 

Angie,

 

Hope you don't have a repeat in February.

[Loyal2RCCL]

In the 2008 season, the captain almost always turned the ship on arrival in Galveston, but last year I don't think the ship was ever turned until departure. I wonder why that is?

 

Is there even room for the ship to turn around at the pier? When we sailed on her from Galveston, we backed all the way down the channel and turned right before entering the Gulf. On our return, we turned at the entrance to the channel and backed all the way into the pier.