Live from the crashed Grandeur in Costa Maya

[bobbie_81348]

Cindy and Cathy we would like to thank you for keeping us posted on what has been happening. I have been glued to this board since we found out. We are on the cruise this week. We will be heading to NO in a few hours. This was to be our first cruise on a RCCL ship and we were so excited. I had been wanting to sail with them for a long time, just had never worked out. So we finally get to book a cruise with RCCL and what a cruise to book. The one you are on would have been our preference, the extra days would have been nice. We are trying to have a positive attitude and give RCCL a fair shake and make the best out of the shorten cruise. Hope the trip back is safe and again thanks.

Barb

[CAC104]

I have just finished reading all the posts, and am glad to find out what had happened to y'all. I was supposed to be a passenger on the 23rd and arrived in N.O. on Thursday to stay for two nights at the Hampton Inn and see a bit of N.O. I was meeting a group of friendsfor a mystery cruise, and our cabins cost us almost $800.per person. Most of us left before hearing about the accident, so we didn't have a choice of whether we should go to New Orleans or not.

 

Arriving in N.O. our travel agent said there was a problem and the ship would be arriving a little late. Everyone knows that the little late extended into more than two days late. Instead of stepping to the plate and taking care of those of us who were there on time to take a scheduled cruise, RCCL just more or less said "tough luck, you are on your own."

 

People on this site asked what else could they have done. I can suggest a few things. First, they should have provided us with complimentary hotel rooms starting Sat. night. Next, we should have received meal vouchers from Sat. until we were able to board the ship. Afterall, we were contracted to receive room and board starting Sat. at 3:00pm. Instead, they said you can cancel for a refund, or $300.00 SHIP CREDIT. That doesn't put the money back in my pocket that I had to pay because the ship did not arrive!!!

 

The Hampton Inn was charging us $116.00 a night for the nights leading up until Sat., but raised the price to between $179.00 and 199.00 for the weekend evenings because of Jazz festival. Meals in restaurants were not inexpensive. If the ship couldn't provide this service, then they should have refunded the days we were not on board, plus given the ship credit to offset the inconvenience of us having to scramble to take care of things. New Orleans is fun, but it wasn't what we booked. For cancelling, we should have been offered a future discount on a cruise.

 

When the ship was supposed to come in on Sunday, I was going to still sail, when it was coming in on Monday, I was too upset to want to hang around without being compensated fairly. I called United Airlines to see how much it would cost to fly home to Washington, DC on Sunday, and to change my ticket it was going to cost $468.00 extra. Some of the folks upon finding out the last minute prices to fly home, figured it was easier to wait for the ship. Thank goodness for South West Airlines. I have rapid rewards credits and called them and was out on a free flight this morning at 7:00am. So, I cancelled my cruise.

 

When I called the number listed to cancel, I asked if there was going to be any future consideration for the added expense and inconvenience. I was told no. I said that the negligence of the Capt. crashing the ship shouldn't affect my pocketbook, and was told that the Capt. was not to blame, that the Port Pilot was the one who hit the pier. I then informed this customer service agent that I love to cruise, but unless RCCL comes forth with some kind of compensation or future discounts, then I would never sail with them again. Perhaps if enough of us tell them this, they will think again about what they manage to give us back.

[GranysT]

Hi everyone,this has been a very interesting and informative thread.Glad you're finally underway,and have a safe journey back. The CD,Tom,must have a wonderful sense of humor. Showing a film of Baltimore in case you're still on board,when she gets there,is a hoot. I am from Chantilly,VA,Hi neighbors,and am sailing on Grandeur from Baltimore,on July 17th. Keep her shipshape til then.:D

[Hondu]

RCI is being very cheap and callous. If they don't come thru with adequate compensation, I would recommend calling the Times Picayune in New Orleans. They would just pile it on to the crash story. A little more bad publicity should light a fire under the cheapos.

[negc]

I have just finished reading all the posts, and am glad to find out what had happened to y'all. I was supposed to be a passenger on the 23rd and arrived in N.O. on Thursday to stay for two nights at the Hampton Inn and see a bit of N.O. I was meeting a group of friendsfor a mystery cruise, and our cabins cost us almost $800.per person. Most of us left before hearing about the accident, so we didn't have a choice of whether we should go to New Orleans or not.

 

Arriving in N.O. our travel agent said there was a problem and the ship would be arriving a little late. Everyone knows that the little late extended into more than two days late. Instead of stepping to the plate and taking care of those of us who were there on time to take a scheduled cruise, RCCL just more or less said "tough luck, you are on your own."

 

People on this site asked what else could they have done. I can suggest a few things. First, they should have provided us with complimentary hotel rooms starting Sat. night. Next, we should have received meal vouchers from Sat. until we were able to board the ship. Afterall, we were contracted to receive room and board starting Sat. at 3:00pm. Instead, they said you can cancel for a refund, or $300.00 SHIP CREDIT. That doesn't put the money back in my pocket that I had to pay because the ship did not arrive!!!

 

The Hampton Inn was charging us $116.00 a night for the nights leading up until Sat., but raised the price to between $179.00 and 199.00 for the weekend evenings because of Jazz festival. Meals in restaurants were not inexpensive. If the ship couldn't provide this service, then they should have refunded the days we were not on board, plus given the ship credit to offset the inconvenience of us having to scramble to take care of things. New Orleans is fun, but it wasn't what we booked. For cancelling, we should have been offered a future discount on a cruise.

 

When the ship was supposed to come in on Sunday, I was going to still sail, when it was coming in on Monday, I was too upset to want to hang around without being compensated fairly. I called United Airlines to see how much it would cost to fly home to Washington, DC on Sunday, and to change my ticket it was going to cost $468.00 extra. Some of the folks upon finding out the last minute prices to fly home, figured it was easier to wait for the ship. Thank goodness for South West Airlines. I have rapid rewards credits and called them and was out on a free flight this morning at 7:00am. So, I cancelled my cruise.

 

When I called the number listed to cancel, I asked if there was going to be any future consideration for the added expense and inconvenience. I was told no. I said that the negligence of the Capt. crashing the ship shouldn't affect my pocketbook, and was told that the Capt. was not to blame, that the Port Pilot was the one who hit the pier. I then informed this customer service agent that I love to cruise, but unless RCCL comes forth with some kind of compensation or future discounts, then I would never sail with them again. Perhaps if enough of us tell them this, they will think again about what they manage to give us back.

Did you purchase travel insurance prior to your cruise? If so, you should be able to recoup much of the extra expenses you incurred. If not, you now know why many people recommend that you purchase it. I wouldn't rely on any verbal comments that have been made to you by RCI customer service representatives but would write to the company and see what their response will be. Perhaps, if you document your inconvenience and extra expenses they will give them some consideration, especially if you make sure your requests are reasonable. Before you condemn the company give them a chance to make a reasoned response to your claims. :)

[CruisinMaterial]

Again, for those who are on the kick of dissing the cruise lines. READ YOUR PASSENGER CONTRACT! I posted that before and I'm posting it here. You are at their mercy when you choose to provide them with the final payment. You agree to the contract and are binded to it. If you didn't read it, or better yet, didn't choose to take the insurance on the cruise - that's your fault. If you are not happy with the compensation, then be done with it and don't sail them again. :mad:

 

As for the comment about just calling up the media. I'm happy you seem to think that these issues should be played out in the media with all the drama that comes with it. They are just looking for your folks who are unhappy about this to print their ads. If you're an avid cruiser, you'd be able to shake this off as just a mishap and move on! Sure the compensation might be cheap, but when you multiply it across the board it really is costing them a lot of money! :eek:

 

IMHO, buy travel insurance next time! :p

[PhoenixCruiser]

Again, for those who are on the kick of dissing the cruise lines. READ YOUR PASSENGER CONTRACT! I posted that before and I'm posting it here. You are at their mercy when you choose to provide them with the final payment. You agree to the contract and are binded to it. If you didn't read it, or better yet, didn't choose to take the insurance on the cruise - that's your fault. If you are not happy with the compensation, then be done with it and don't sail them again. :mad:

 

As for the comment about just calling up the media. I'm happy you seem to think that these issues should be played out in the media with all the drama that comes with it. They are just looking for your folks who are unhappy about this to print their ads. If you're an avid cruiser, you'd be able to shake this off as just a mishap and move on! :eek:

 

IMHO, buy travel insurance next time! :p

 

AMEN!! My thoughts exactly.

 

###

[CruisinMaterial]

Did you purchase travel insurance prior to your cruise? If so, you should be able to recoup much of the extra expenses you incurred. If not, you now know why many people recommend that you purchase it. I wouldn't rely on any verbal comments that have been made to you by RCI customer service representatives but would write to the company and see what their response will be. Perhaps, if you document your inconvenience and extra expenses they will give them some consideration, especially if you make sure your requests are reasonable. Before you condemn the company give them a chance to make a reasoned response to your claims. :)

 

Bill, you and I think alike! It's all about the trip insurance! I would never book a cruise without it given all the stuff that can go wrong and if some credit cards give it to you included for being a member with them! So it's even better, so long as you book the trip and all related expenses on their card, you're golden! I think this person who wrote the long posting didn't have it and is mad that she took the gamble and lost!! :eek:

 

I also agree that maybe she should try and write the line for compensation for her expenses although she is really not owed anything given the passenger contract she agreed to when she gave her final payment. :rolleyes:

[weezi]

for any of those who are on the ship right now, has the captin told you what time the ship will arrive tomorrow?

i'm trying to figure out what time i want the taxi to pick me up and i'd like to get a better idea, as to when ya'll will be arriving.

 

thanks

[megust]

Maybe a little off topic - but here goes - Cindy or Cathy if you get a chance can you let me know which nights were formal nights. I am cautiously packing for our cruise tomorrow and just realized that I don't know if a 5 day cruise has 2 formal nights like a 7 day or if they'll just pick up the schedule on Monday like nothing happened and we will just have one formal night left....not the end of the world but you should see how much I am packing!

 

If I can see the hole tomorrow I will be more than happy to take a pic of it, just don't know how to download it...LOL...am not that computer savvy...

 

Thanks again for all your reporting. Hopefully there will be no further "delays" and I will be sailing tomorrow night!

[EricVik]

I am truly sorry to all that have been effected by this accident. I look forward to my vacations for months and can not imagine being scheduled for the 23rd cruise. I know travel insurance can help, but some people do not have the flexibility to change vacation weeks with their employers or extra resources to change their plans from what they believed would be an "all inclusive" cruise. I personally would not have taken the credit and shorter cruise as it is totally an insufficient credit. I believe RCCL should do better by their customers. After all, as a business, I am sure that they are also insured for their loss which would cover the ships damage and business expenses. I don't think it would be an undue burden on the cruise line to be fair with their customers.

[CruisinMaterial]

Hey Cindy & Cathy,

 

I know you both are eating right about now! LOL. What is planned for entertainment this evening? Are they going to have a deck party? Details! Where are you located on the GPS map thingy? Making good time I presume too! :confused:

 

I know, questions questions but this is uncanny the real-time experience we have with you two ladies on board! Thanks again for giving us all the updates!

~Jake

[ChoosinCruisin]

I've read the entire thread and am sorry for all involved. I'm not surprised at RCI's lack of compensation, but there is a way to use the credits even if you don't drink, shop, or take particularly good photos. Go to the casino, by chips on your account at one of the tables, go to the cashier and cash them in. We used this method when we had unused ship credits on a sailing and it was no problem.

 

Best of luck to all of you involved.

[bigreid07]

Are there any pictures of the hole after it got patched?

[HB Cruiser]

While I agree that RCL is being a little lax on the compensation for the "23rd" cruisers, I also agree on the travel insurance. One never knows what is going to happen while on a cruise. If those that are having the extended visit in NO had travel insurance, you would not be out one dime, other than the cost of the insurance which you would have already exceeded by several dollars.

 

I really think RCL will be changing the compensation for those going on the now 25th cruise. They always seem to come through when necessary.

 

Tim

[yuckamuk]

OK, unfortunately I am back again.

 

I wasn't planning to post again since I couldn't get to a PC in NO yesterday, but seeing that the whole drydocking stuff was still on like page 29-30, blah. Again, sorry for the... whatever I caused.... no more rumors, but I just want to say a quick few things....

 

-The alleged "rumors" I picked up weren't from a couple of other cruisers, but they were crew members, some of them I talked with as "fellow cruisers" because once their uniform is off they can say "whatever" they want without having to worry about work-related repercussions.

 

-I did have school to go to, so I flew out on Saturday, but I did get to talk with a few of the RC people from Miami who had gotten flown in early that morning to help with things. They said that drydocking had been considered, but after the first RC inspection they said no structural damage was caused, and it wasn't necessary, but a further assment would have to be conducted after the repair work was completed. At this point I'm guessing they aren't going to do it.

 

-I still have pics, but I don't have my camera here even though I'm home. I'll try to post them later.

Sorry for the thread bump, but maybe people want to put pics here and make the thread a "shrine to our adventure" or something haha. And of course, again, sorry for the hassles I caused when I did all this, it really was not my intent. At least I screened the crap I heard before I posted all the other stuff on here :). Cheers to everyone still onboard, hope your return journey is a safe one.

[CruisinMaterial]

Yuckamuk

 

Glad to see you made it home safely! I would say turning this posting into a shrine would be a good thing. Especially when more pictures get uploaded. Your candor on the situation is truly appreciated from me at least. As for the rumors or whatever they were, sounds like you got a good talking to them when you guys crossed paths on Saturday! Welcome back to the US :)

[zachnlucy]

As to location, we're out of the deep blue and into the light blue on the map. Does that help? :) We maintained speeds around 22 knots all day. Captain says we should get the pilot onboard at the mouth of the Mississippi around 2 a.m. and ETA for NOLA is still 11:00 a.m.

 

Tonight we have another comic and the RCI singers and dancers ... doing something together or something.

 

Formal nights are Sunday and Thursday.

 

We received our flight arrangements today and ... lucky us ... get to spend another day in NOLA, fklight departs on Tuesday morning. RCI is putting us up in the Hyatt tomorrow night and giving us a $70 meal allowance. So this is probably it from me. We're all packed and ready. See you guys later.

[CAC104]

For those of you who sanctimoniously state " purchase travel insurance,"...I want you to know THAT I HAVE TRAVEL INSURANCE WITH CSA!! There is a limit on how much the insurance will compensate, but it is not so much that I personally have to file insurance claims...it is the rather obnoxious attitude of the cruise line towards those passengers stranded in New Orleans. Plus the lack of any firm direction on what should be done when arriving in a port to find that the ship is not there.

 

While I have insurance, a lot of people do not. If one takes the chance of suffering for a missed cruise because of one own's mishandling of the trip it is one thing, but why should people be penalized for something that the ship company is responsible for. Let's get real. This is clearly a case of negligence and poor judgement in trying to dock that ship. The passengers on the ship, and those waiting to board should not bear the financial burden of a mistake made by the crew of the Grandeur. If the weather and currents were so bad, then they should have had the good sense not to attempt a docking. The fact that the cruise line has done everything possible to keep this under wraps is a clear indication that they are afraid of the truth and their own responsibility for the accident.

[Judyl]

I did see an article in the Baton Rouge paper about the accident on Sat.

The article said the Grandeur would be returning to NO on Sunday or Monday and that the cruisers were to be compensated. Also said the next cruise would be shortened to 5 days and a $300 refund would be given.

I am surprised the ship would be seaworthy with that big a gash in the side. I am amazed the people in the cabin where it hit were not hurt. Wow, what a way to wake up!!

I think from now on I will request an inside cabin or one higher than the piers!

[wwinfl91]

Thanks again from all of us, Cindy and Cathy. You both did a great job as on-scene reporters and kept all the rest of us back here in the states and around the world appraised of what was really going on.

 

The news media here in Florida and the National news did not seem to pick up on this cruise liner problem as much as they did on NCL's Dawn. I guess since it was heading back to New York probably helped the media frenzy that erupted over it.

 

Great Job, and Thanks again, Cindy and Cathy.

 

Have a smooth trip home.

[hdawson]

CAC. "clearly a case of negligence and poor judgement" And your qualifications to judge? Didn't another ship dock that day too? As for the lack of news reporting, do you think AP, UPI or CNN has reporters at Costa Maya? There are no cities close to Costa Maya, a contrived Mexican port.

I think one news agency did report on Friday.

[CAC104]

I of course do not have the qualifications to judge the conditions at sea, but a trained officer is supposed to have the ability to analyze a situation and make life and death decisions regarding the safety of the passengers and the ship under his command. With the result that followed, it seems to me that the judgement is lacking...By the way, my husband was an officer in the U.S. Merchant Marine and he said that the blame should rest on the Captain of the Ship because that is what their job entails...safety of the passengers, crew and vessel. This was not a major weather situation, such as a hurricane or 70 foot rogue wave, and human error had to factor into it.

[hstrybuf]

Ship happens. Buy travel insurance and use it or take the $300 refund.

[MonaCK]

As someone who has bought travel insurance, and would file a claim in such situations, you people can't really think that RCCL is treating those who were supposed to be on the 4/23 cruise fairly at all...