Conquest & Voyager Fogged-In in Galveston!

[klmorg]

What day is the Key West wedding that some passengers are supposed to attend?

 

The answer is in bobstack's first post:

"...One lady guest in the 10 pm Welcome Aboard Show said that their family is here on the ship for a Tuesday wedding on Key West. Chris said that he wished her well, meaning, no promises..."

 

Looks like they didn't make it. Unless the wedding party was able to re-schedule to Friday.

[aprilivy]

We were part of the group that opted off the Voyager.

There was no compensation offered other than the 100% refund if we got off the ship by 11:00 on Monday.

I think it could have been handled better - and wished many times that I was on the Conquest where I remember how helpful and caring the crew is.

Voyager - not so helpful - not very caring - and for the most part just ignoring the fact that they had 2000+ passengers with no information and nothing to do.

If they had offered us some additional compensation if we stayed on board, would have been something to think about. We just couldn't see staying on board and perhaps once again missing the window of opportunity to sail out.

They told us (at about 5:30 p.m.) that the issue was they had to turn around and to do so, the Conquest had to leave port first and the pilot didn't feel it was safe to turn around with the limited visibility. With all the technology - that didn't make much sense to us....

As I watched them leave on the web cam this morning - it was very difficult.

To the Conquest passengers - have a wonderful time - wish we were with you. If you meet our friends Holly and Burkhart from Arlington, TX - tell them Sue says to have a great time.

[kmt1000]

Wow - I'm glad everyone finally got underway. I had to drive my daughter back down to school (Texas A & M Galveston) for finals, and it was a wall of fog from Tiki Island and beyond. I was wondering how the cruisers were doing. Me personally - I would have stayed on the ship and relaxed and enjoyed some OBC compensation. Anytime I don't have to work and do laundry and answer the phone and the million other things I can never get done, is a good day indeed - even if it is on a ship stuck in port :) :D :cool:

Only 25 days till my cruise - I can't wait! I don't care if I get fogged in, rained out, or even snowed on - I WILL have a great time!

[aprilivy]

Not sure about the Conquest, but the Voyager offered NO on board compensation. It was simply all or nothing!

[camarodrivenrs]

I saw another poster ask earlier and I tried to do a little research on the minimums for a ship leaving port and couldnt find much. I know as a pilot there is a number of different categories and each has different decisions heights where a pilot must see the runway and also depends on equipment at the airport as well as equipment inside the plane. There must be a similar system for harbour masters and port pilots to follow. I can't believe it is just based on the master or pilot's call.

[firefly333]

Not sure about the Conquest, but the Voyager offered NO on board compensation. It was simply all or nothing!

 

Conquest only offered $20, standard for missing a port, nothing for the missed day, and didnt offer future cruise credit if folks wanted to cancel totally.

 

Not much?

[Luluwa]

This has been a very interesting event! It's been great for BobStack keeping us up to speed. My family and I sail on the Conquest Jan 3 and we will NOT have fog - I declare it! :rolleyes:

[aprilivy]

Unfortunate all around - we really wish we had been able to leave port when the Conquest did.

[bobstack]

Hi fellow cruisers:

 

Let me say up front. We feel for our fellow cruisers on Voyager. Please make that lemonde. We hope you are have a good cruise, or a good future cruise on her. And thanks, cruisers, for posting your well wishes.

 

It's 1 pm, Tuesday, first full day at sea. 500 miles ESE of Galveston, Gulf of Mexico, Heading mostly E, making 21 knots.

 

The weather is sunny and in the 70s. The bands (Calypso, and Mambo) are taking their turns playing on the Promenade Deck. The new band location is one deck up from the Lido deck, immediately underneath the new large screen TV monitor. People are sun bathing and the kids are enjoying the slide and the pools. Conquest has opened the retractable roof over the aft pool. The day’s delay from leaving Galveston is now a memory.

 

The Captain’s 12 noon update told us that we should have mostly sunny skies with occasional clouds. The seas are only 3-4 feet, making everyone happy. We are sitting on our aft balcony, enjoying the sun from the starboard (the south), and looking at this beautiful multi-blue colored wake behind us. We are making process every second.

 

The crew is planning our Deck Party tonight at 10 pm on the Lido Deck, and of course, all three color teams will parade in our Mardi Gras celebration. Meanwhile, we parade ourselves to lunch, music, some karaoke, and games. How lucky we all feel to have the chance to leave Galveston for a quick week, and enjoy a new port of call for us, Nassau. I remember watching the James Bond move, Thunderball, as a young boy, and marveling at the locations in the Bahamas. Tomorrow, we join the locals, and celebrate the beauty of the Bahamas.

 

We have cruised this week before Christmas week several times, mostly on Conquest. This Bahamas/Key West week just happened to have been the itinerary for our regular holiday cruise. I’ll have more to report after we become guests of the Bahamas late tomorrow.

 

THE ATMOSPHERE: I think we are now on a regular cruise. The fellow guests are dancing to the music, laughing and visiting over lunch and dinner, and playing in the games. (I hear they serve breakfast on the ship — who knew???). The music last night in the disco was very hip for us (70s and 80s music), including some tunes from the late King of Pop. There are some ladies who sang at karaoke last night with beautiful, melodic voices. We thank their churches for training and encouraging them to sing, because they sure are sharing their gifts with us when they take the stage to sing. How hard it is to anticipate the gift of their voice as they take the stage. Then surprise! And we love to hear the song that means the most to them. Megan is our karaoke hostess, originally a native of LA. She is no shrinking violet, and loves to encourage everyone to sing. She is recruiting people to sing the gala music event at the end of the cruise, where guests dress up and sing in the Legends Show on Saturday night. There are tryouts during karaoke for Madonna, James Brown (ouuwww!), Aretha Franklin, and others. Of course, some us will enjoy their music gifts from the audience.

 

I see we are now about 515 miles ESE of Galveston, making good time, with partly cloudy skies, temperature in the mid 70s, and light winds. We hope you’ll be where we are soon, and telling us how good life is for you. Off to Monet’s for lunch!

 

Bob and Donna from Dallas / Ft. Worth

Carnival Conquest, the Gulf of Mexico, heading to Nassau, Bahamas

[DFW Airwolf]

Tell us more about this NEW karaoke host. We were on the Conquest in May with VACATION Vitalli (If you know him, you will understand) We love Karaoke & were both in the Legends show then. We are sailing on the Conquest in a month January 17, 2010 & plan on doing Karaoke every night.

[MicksMom]

Bobstack thanks keeping us updated, you have a great attitude & that is what makes a vacation.

 

I really feel for the people who were booked on Voyager - Based on the voucher or nothing... wonder if they will allow passengers to upgrade to higher vacant cabins for the rest of the cruise?? That would be a nice gesture & might get some to book a more expensive cabin next time.

 

Less than 3 weeks til we are on the Conquest & I guarantee I will be glued to the webcam the next 2 Sundays...

[sjn911]

Dear Bobstack,

 

Well you made me wet eyed again!!! I really am glad to know a little more about Galveston and a full week cruise with complications on Carnival. Thanks for mentioning a

little about the music etc. in more detail. I love music and have pretty broad tastes and had so much fun in kareoke lounge (karaoke) on a short 4 day cruise on the Paradise. I can heartily reccomend graduation time and families in that lounge on a 4 day cruise.

 

sjn911

[GaryfmCol]

I saw another poster ask earlier and I tried to do a little research on the minimums for a ship leaving port and couldnt find much. I know as a pilot there is a number of different categories and each has different decisions heights where a pilot must see the runway and also depends on equipment at the airport as well as equipment inside the plane. There must be a similar system for harbour masters and port pilots to follow. I can't believe it is just based on the master or pilot's call.

 

That was me asking..

You are correct...there are different minimums for landing

and, for takeoffs..all are different depending on the particular situations.

I've taken off in zero/zero conditions before, while other guys

have had to sit waiting for 1/2 mile. I was completely legal

to do so...but, where as, never landing zero/zero, except in

training situations in simulators, other guys have been able to do that legally.

But, while the ship is manuvering at one or 2 - 3 knots,

on the water, we were coming down at minimum of 130 knots,

feeling for the ground.. ;)

[LHP]

Conquest only offered $20, standard for missing a port, nothing for the missed day, and didnt offer future cruise credit if folks wanted to cancel totally.

 

Not much?

 

I would imagine nothing was offered for a "missed day" because there was not a "missed day". Folks were on the ship eating, sleeping, partying etc etc etc.

 

 

When we sailed on the Victory on a 7 day to Canada .... we had one whole day in fog going and one whole day in fog coming home....it was COOL!!!!

[bobstack]

Fellow Cruisers: Thank you for all of your posts and support.

 

Our new karaoke host, Megan, originally from LA, and only on the ship 4 weeks, has a bright welcoming attitude and way. Be sure you practice your tunes if you can, because Megan will draw people into the Degas lounge for you!

 

Tonight’s events on Conquest include the Mardi Gras and Deck Night party. To make sure we all have the moves, we have just completed the afternoon pool deck dance instruction. Yes, it’s time for the Electric Slide, ChaCha Slide, Cupid Shuffle, and Follow Da Leader! The refresher course sure has helped.

 

We will leave soon for the Captain’s returning guest party in the Toulouse Lautrec Lounge, about 1000 feet forward! The food, the music, and the fellow passengers have been a lot of fun. We are so grateful that we left port.

 

A fun and regular cruise is underway. We will see what it is like to cruise into Nassau tomorrow night at 8 pm for our first port call. I think we’ll spend some time on the CC boards to see what to do in the evening in Nassau (who knew we’d spend the night in port?).

 

Good luck in all your cruise plans. And by all means, STAY FLEXIBLE! More later,

 

Bob and Donna from Dallas / Ft. Worth

Carnival Conquest,

600+ miles ESE of Galveston, and 275 miles WNW of Key West,

Heading ESE, making 21 knots, 5 foot seas, overcast with some light mist, and COMFORTABLE

[rme3]

That was me asking..

You are correct...there are different minimums for landing

and, for takeoffs..all are different depending on the particular situations.

I've taken off in zero/zero conditions before, while other guys

have had to sit waiting for 1/2 mile. I was completely legal

to do so...but, where as, never landing zero/zero, except in

training situations in simulators, other guys have been able to do that legally.

But, while the ship is manuvering at one or 2 - 3 knots,

on the water, we were coming down at minimum of 130 knots,

feeling for the ground.. ;)

 

 

FARs are a piece of cake compared to finding info on ships:

 

2. Definitions of Reduced Visibility

a. Tankers greater than 150,000 DWT: 1 nautical mile

b. Tankers greater than 60,000 DWT: .75 nautical mile

c. All other vessels 45’ draft or more: .75 nautical mile

d. All other tankers and petroleum barges: .5 nautical mile

e. All other vessels: 3 times vessel’s LOA

3. General Guidelines

a. A vessel should not initiate an inbound transit if the area in the vicinity of the destined berth is experiencing reduced visibility.

b. A vessel should not initiate an outbound transit if the area in the vicinity of the berth is experiencing reduced visibility.

c. An intra / inter – harbor shift is considered to combine two parts, as in 3a and 3b above.

d. Whenever visibility inside the federal breakwater is less than .5 mile, the respective Vessel Traffic Center (VTC) will impose one-way traffic where appropriate.

e. When reduced visibility is encountered after commencing a transit, all precautions should be taken to minimize the risk of collision. These precautions include but are not limited to anchoring, reducing speed, enlisting shore-based radar support and securing a tug escort.

 

This is from S. California and may be port-specific.

 

http://mxsocal.org/MARITIME-INFORMATION/VOP-Quick-Reference.aspx

[barbmac]

Bobstack,

I have enjoyed reading about your adventures. So nice to hear such a positive attitude. Don't ya just love that aft balcony. Had the aft wrap last April, Have the same balcony booked for this may. I can wait. Enjoy your cruise.

[camarodrivenrs]

That was me asking..

You are correct...there are different minimums for landing

and, for takeoffs..all are different depending on the particular situations.

I've taken off in zero/zero conditions before, while other guys

have had to sit waiting for 1/2 mile. I was completely legal

to do so...but, where as, never landing zero/zero, except in

training situations in simulators, other guys have been able to do that legally.

But, while the ship is manuvering at one or 2 - 3 knots,

on the water, we were coming down at minimum of 130 knots,

feeling for the ground.. ;)

 

Nice to see another pilot on the boards. I'm a Embry Riddle grad although currently out of work in the aviation field. Ever since Ive started cruising though I've been trying to learn as much as possible about seamanship and there are definitely a lot fewer sources of knowledge out there. I purchased a copy of Dutton's Nautical Navigation and I take it when I go cruising as it makes for interesting balcony reading. Nothing in the world quite like breaking through fog or cloud layers and the runway being only a 100 feet away.

 

BTW I see your from Colorado, Ive done some simulated instrument approaches into TEX and the approach plates and missed procedures are for sure a big PITA

[robtx100]

Here is an amazing video showing the Conquest leaving Galveston yesterday. You can get a better view of just how foggy it was even as she was under way.

 

[cjkbleonard]

I can't believe the "VACATION" karaoke guy is gone. I've been looking forward to seeing him in a week and a half :(

[coachj]

Just off the Fantasy out of Mobile. The port was indeed closed and we ended up with an extra day at sea. Of course Carnival kept us in the dark about when we would dock. I changed my flight twice and thought about booking a room in Mobile until it was obvious after awhile we would not dock Monday. They reopened all venues, food, bars, casinos and entertainment. It meant of course the next cruise loses a day at sea and probably a port. I heard they took all who arrived for the next cruise to the civic center. We docked very early Tuesday to avoid a major jam as Mobile still has not figured out how to deal with the larger ship.

[bobstack]

Fellow Cruisers: It is now 12:40 am on Wednesday morning. What a great first sea day!. Here's the story:

 

We have just enjoyed an energetic Tuesday evening. We started in the Monet Dining Room of the ship, and proceeded to find live music at various locations. We value highly many options for live music on vacation. Conquest does not disappoint! We watched the entertainer/singer in the Toulouse Lautrec Lounge, who was very good. Then we enjoyed karaoke with Megan for a short while, too. Afterwards, we went to the Lido Deck (9) to listen to the Manilla Magic rock and roll band, which made the evening a lot of fun. Then, the passenger Mardi Gras groups appeared, ready to compete for the loudest, the most coordinated, and most fun groups (there were 3 groups competing). We did the Electric Swing, Cha Cha Swing, and Follow Da Leader with them, as observers and sometimes participants. Now its time to get to bed, because our first port of call, Nassau, comes up at 8 pm tomorrow. We’ll review the CC threads for nightlife in Nassau (maybe Atlantis for pops!).

 

I see that Conquest is 810 miles SE of Galveston, and only about 100 miles WSW of Key West. The seas are maybe 4 feet, we had a mostly sunny day, perhaps in the mid 70s, and everyone was in the spirit of cruising for our first full day at sea. We love the options for do things here on Conquest, and we hope you will also enjoy the many things to do when you come aboard.

 

Please post your questions on the Boards. We will try to provide answers when we return to Dallas.

 

The Captain did announce at our frequent cruiser party that when there was a clearance to leave foggy Galveston, he took it quickly, and we were able to just leave Galveston. As I reported earlier, we were thrilled to see that our cruiser friends on Voyager also started their vacation this morning. Every one of us who loves cruising must flex when the unexpected occurs. This was Voyager’s turn. Another day, it will be ours. We hope that all of us can live in the present to enjoy the benefits of this cruise, while we are on ship. We are.

 

Finally, the drink of the day: The Galveston Fog. A little rum, and things get more clear!

 

Thanks for your support. More later once we clear the Florida Straits on Wednesday.

 

Bob and Donna from Dallas / Ft. Worth

Carnival Conquest, Gulf of Mexico

Heading Due East, Making 24 knots!

[bobstack]

Fellow cruisers:

 

We are enjoying breakfast on the balcony, looking at this blue, blue wake behind us! The weather is now sunny, with just a few clouds. I see that we are 50 miles due east of Marathon Key, headed due NE, and making almost 24 knots. Because the seas have only light waves, there is no problem walking around -- just that wonderful sutle reminder that you at sea on a cruise!

 

We hope you will be enjoying this ship, its ports of call, and crew and passengers soon. What a wonderful treasure this time away has been.

 

Off to Nassau to explore and enjoy!

 

Bob and Donna from Dallas / Ft. Worth

Carnival Conquest, cruising the Straits of FLA!

[KITKAT0229]

I can't believe the "VACATION" karaoke guy is gone. I've been looking forward to seeing him in a week and a half :(

 

I know! Last time I was on the Conquest we thought he was kind of annoying at first, but then it really grew on us. We still find ourselves going "VACATION." Well we'll just have to bring it back on our own :-p

[bobstack]

Kitkat:

 

Are you talking about Jay, the KJ? He was our KJ this week in December, last year, on Conquest, and was a lot of fun. Hope you enjoy Megan, new to Carnival and our KJ, when you cruise.

 

Bob and Donna from Dallas / Ft. Worth

Carnival Conquest, in the FLA Straits!