need more cruise options from west coast!

[ampleiwb]

Living on the west coast has always been a blast...but now that I am 100% addicted to cruising I am kind of bummed/jealous that the east coast has SO MANY options compared to us. I have even heard rumors (Rumors!!!) that carnival might eventually pull out of this side of mexico all together...then what am I supposed to do? Any other west coasters out there wish there were more options for cruising off our coast?

[DEBnGAB]

Living on the west coast has always been a blast...but now that I am 100% addicted to cruising I am kind of bummed/jealous that the east coast has SO MANY options compared to us. I have even heard rumors (Rumors!!!) that carnival might eventually pull out of this side of mexico all together...then what am I supposed to do? Any other west coasters out there wish there were more options for cruising off our coast?

 

Why sure...but where else would you like to go that we can actually make round trip in 7 or 8 nights?...or less.

[mariamherrera]

I soooo agree!! I'm in WA and we can cruise to Alaska from here I think there are also cruise to hawaii from here But I like to go to Cali to catch cruises too since flights are always convinent and cheap there. some of the hawain ones I looked into are only one way which makes it really inconvenient But that would be a great change up from the typical mexican riviera/ Alskan cruises offerd along the west coast

[dobiemom]

I am with you on that! I've cruised the Mexican Riviera so many times that I now go just to be on the ship. Princess has a few Pacific Coastals that sound interesting, but so far the timing hasn't been right for me.

[MsSoCalCruiser]

I would love it. I even wish Carnivals 4 day cruise would leave on Thursday, like the Elation used to do. It would be nice if the 7 day cruises could just make a quick stop in Ensenada and then head up north. Maybe we could have a Mega Ship like the Oasis here on the west coast....I know, I'm dreaming.:(

[ampleiwb]

Who knows where it would go-I dont have any real answers here:) Im just WISHING that there are options that I may not have thought about...I mean, the Caribbean has HOW MANY ports? And our coast of mexico has..what..5?? I just wish there were more options

[Ryancoke]

Living on the west coast has always been a blast...but now that I am 100% addicted to cruising I am kind of bummed/jealous that the east coast has SO MANY options compared to us. I have even heard rumors (Rumors!!!) that carnival might eventually pull out of this side of mexico all together...then what am I supposed to do? Any other west coasters out there wish there were more options for cruising off our coast?

 

I've thought the same thing. Coming from Alberta;).

[woodey]

I agree ....I wish we had like a 7 or 8 day that went to like San Francisco, Monterey, Seattle, Alberta or Victoria there are several port ideas....I heard the water is rough going north so they dont do it...not sure the real reason...and I know it would be more money ...spend more on fuel and port fees...even if they did it just a few times a year....i wish they gave us more options...

[DocF]

I agree ....I wish we had like a 7 or 8 day that went to like San Francisco, Monterey, Seattle, Alberta or Victoria there are several port ideas....I heard the water is rough going north so they dont do it...not sure the real reason...and I know it would be more money ...spend more on fuel and port fees...even if they did it just a few times a year....i wish they gave us more options...

 

The real reason it is not done is that market research says it will not sell. During the swine flu scare, it DID NOT sell without huge discounts.

 

Doc

[firefly333]

If the cruise ships were filling at good enough prices, the cruiselines would not be pulling out of the west coast, lets be honest.

 

Iv heard of $499 JS prices on Mariner when it was on the west coast, and Im paying that for a inside.

 

prices for carnival had to have been too low too, or they would not have removed one of the ships.

[firefly333]

I agree ....I wish we had like a 7 or 8 day that went to like San Francisco, Monterey, Seattle, Alberta or Victoria there are several port ideas....I heard the water is rough going north so they dont do it...not sure the real reason...and I know it would be more money ...spend more on fuel and port fees...even if they did it just a few times a year....i wish they gave us more options...

 

Yea I remember when splendor did that route to canada, and couldnt fill the ship at $99 insides for 7 days and balconys, any one you wanted for $299.

 

... and then people complained it was not sweetened with OBC at those rates.

[*Mach*]

Living on the west coast has always been a blast...but now that I am 100% addicted to cruising I am kind of bummed/jealous that the east coast has SO MANY options compared to us. I have even heard rumors (Rumors!!!) that carnival might eventually pull out of this side of mexico all together...then what am I supposed to do? Any other west coasters out there wish there were more options for cruising off our coast?

 

 

The West Coast is difficult. Where do you go? It's either Canada, Alaska or Mexico. With seven day itineraries there are a very limited number of port options available.

Perhaps a twelve day or fourteen day itinerary would work but sailing such as those are almost special events and are difficult to sell.

C'mon over to Texas and join us sailing from Galveston! Lots of beautiful, fun islands and ports out there to explore!

:)

[PAPERBKWRITER]

Living on the west coast has always been a blast...but now that I am 100% addicted to cruising I am kind of bummed/jealous that the east coast has SO MANY options compared to us. I have even heard rumors (Rumors!!!) that carnival might eventually pull out of this side of mexico all together...then what am I supposed to do? Any other west coasters out there wish there were more options for cruising off our coast?

 

Buy an airplane ticket like the rest of us.

[joepeka]

It's a shame that west coast Mexico has become a difficult place for the cruise lines to visit for safety (or perceived safety) reasons. There weren't a lot of options to begin with and when you starting dropping ports, us folks west of the Rockies are left feeling a little lonely in terms of near-by cruise availability. And no, I don't want to move to Texas.... no offense Mach. ;)

[firefly333]

 

C'mon over to Texas and join us sailing from Galveston! Lots of beautiful, fun islands and ports out there to explore!

 

:)

 

And no, I don't want to move to Texas.... no offense Mach. ;)

 

lol I think Mach was suggesting you come join us on some cruises, not saying to move. .. but I admit its just a guess. I love going out of Galveston.

[jonbgd]

I soooo agree!! I'm in WA and we can cruise to Alaska from here I think there are also cruise to hawaii from here But I like to go to Cali to catch cruises too since flights are always convinent and cheap there. some of the hawain ones I looked into are only one way which makes it really inconvenient But that would be a great change up from the typical mexican riviera/ Alskan cruises offerd along the west coast

 

Have you ever checked flights on Continental to houston we have flown $99pp SEA to IAH

 

C'mon over to Texas and join us sailing from Galveston! Lots of beautiful, fun islands and ports out there to explore!

One of the reasons i agreed to move here

[joepeka]

lol I think Mach was suggesting you come join us on some cruises, not saying to move. .. but I admit its just a guess. I love going out of Galveston.

I think you're right Fire.... Mach probably doesn't want me living in Texas anyway. ;)

 

We've sailed from Galveston before and like it but it's one of those dicey destinations in terms of deciding whether to fly in the day of or the day before (we're in Phoenix). Then there's the airport to port travel (looong way from IAH to Galveston, Hobby isn't too bad) which is kind of expensive. But we'll do it again I'm sure as long as CCL keeps sailing from there.

[NotWthOutablcony]

Thanks for posting this!!!! I agree!!! We want more/better/longer itineraries from the West Coast!!! Pretty please Carnival?! I would rather take the money I have to spend on flights and upgrade my cabin to a suite!!! We hate flying, not the act of flying, but the airports and the delays and the crowded seats and the LONG flights, so it really does deter us from cruising more often and cruising the East Coast itineraries. Caribbean cruises from the West Coast would be AMAZING!!! Or 14 day Alaska cruises out of LA!!! How about Hawaii/Tahiti/Australia/New Zealand RT LA or San Diego?! We like at least 14 days when we cruise, how about something for us?!

[victory2020]

Yea I remember when splendor did that route to canada, and couldnt fill the ship at $99 insides for 7 days and balconys, any one you wanted for $299.

 

... and then people complained it was not sweetened with OBC at those rates.

I don't think it was so much the itinerary as not havinf the time to market it - the itinerary changed so quickly & people canceled because they wanted to go to Mexico. I had just gotten off a cruise but booked the coastal because it is our dream itinerary. If CCL offered this a couple of times a year (maybe during their slower weeks) they could fill them up. I know several people who would have gone with us in 09 if they had more advance notice. I'm planning the Princess coastal in March 12.

[OK Rancher]

I live in one of those states without an ocean on one of its borders, so an airplane is mandatory...and I just deal with it. When I lived in California (San Diego), I took advantage of some repositioning cruises going to or from Alaska. I got to see a number of coastal cities I'd never seen and, as I was going south, the seas were not rough. The 10-14 cruises that some have mentioned (to Australia, NZ, and other destinations) are more likely to be offered by cruise lines other than Carnival.

[firefly333]

The 10-14 cruises that some have mentioned (to Australia, NZ, and other destinations) are more likely to be offered by cruise lines other than Carnival.

 

Spirit is going to hawaii and then to australia. I have a whole group of friends doing one or the other leg to australia. One got a whole week or more in Hawaii to stay to make the flight worth it.

 

Then spirit will stay in australia. Obviously carnival thinks there is more $$$ to be made there than from the west coast? The demand just isnt there. People say its the terrible calif economy and other reasons why calif just doesnt have the demand other ports do.

 

Cruiselines move ships around to where they anticipate the strongest demand is so they dont have to sail at greatly discounted prices to fill a ship.

[cruiserguy11]

I agree ....I wish we had like a 7 or 8 day that went to like San Francisco, Monterey, Seattle, Alberta or Victoria there are several port ideas....

 

Yep...we were going to book a cruise to ALBERTA but the locks over the Rockies weren't working that week. :rolleyes:

[gck1249]

Not happy about it but it is not a "precieved" problem in Mexico, it is very real and very sad. When I lived in LA years and years ago I would go down there all the time.

A big perk for me living in Florida is having 5 cruise terminals to drive to.

 

Dozens killed in Mexican casino fire attack

By the CNN Wire Staff

August 26, 2011 10:09 a.m. EDT

 

At least 53 people were killed in a fiery attack at a casino in an upscale area of Monterrey, Mexico, government and emergency officials said.

Eight others were injured in the Thursday afternoon attack, the Red Cross said.

Witnesses have told investigators that up to six people entered the Casino Royale and asked for the manager, according Adrian de la Garza, the state attorney general for Nuevo Leon. When the manager refused, they set the building on fire, he said.

It's believed a solvent was used to start the blaze, possibly gasoline, de la Garza said.Video from the scene showed a burned-out building as firefighters made rescue attempts to break the wall of the facade of the casino to release the smoke inside the building.

Authorities suspended rescue efforts Thursday night for fear that the building could collapse.

[joepeka]

Not happy about it but it is not a "precieved" problem in Mexico, it is very real and very sad.

I used the term "perceived" because there are a lot of people that would argue whether the problems in Mexico are any worse than anywhere else. That's not my opinion but you'll find it expressed on this board.

[MissDiva1]

The real reason it is not done is that market research says it will not sell. During the swine flu scare, it DID NOT sell without huge discounts.

 

Doc

 

Correct!

 

If the cruise ships were filling at good enough prices, the cruiselines would not be pulling out of the west coast, lets be honest.

 

Iv heard of $499 JS prices on Mariner when it was on the west coast, and Im paying that for a inside.

 

prices for carnival had to have been too low too, or they would not have removed one of the ships.

 

If that were true I would have booked it.......however we did book the balcony cabin for a little under what the Splendor was offerring but not even close to that price.....

 

Not happy about it but it is not a "precieved" problem in Mexico, it is very real and very sad. When I lived in LA years and years ago I would go down there all the time.

A big perk for me living in Florida is having 5 cruise terminals to drive to.

 

Dozens killed in Mexican casino fire attack

By the CNN Wire Staff

August 26, 2011 10:09 a.m. EDT

 

At least 53 people were killed in a fiery attack at a casino in an upscale area of Monterrey, Mexico, government and emergency officials said.

Eight others were injured in the Thursday afternoon attack, the Red Cross said.

Witnesses have told investigators that up to six people entered the Casino Royale and asked for the manager, according Adrian de la Garza, the state attorney general for Nuevo Leon. When the manager refused, they set the building on fire, he said.

It's believed a solvent was used to start the blaze, possibly gasoline, de la Garza said.Video from the scene showed a burned-out building as firefighters made rescue attempts to break the wall of the facade of the casino to release the smoke inside the building.

Authorities suspended rescue efforts Thursday night for fear that the building could collapse.

 

Check out where Monterrey Mexico is my friend........right next to Texas........not even close to the Mexican Riviera.....

Media hysteria (this kind of post just fuels it) and Californias economy being in the dump is the reason for the pull out.........