Andy Posted April 2, 2013 #1 Share Posted April 2, 2013 Hi Everyone, Just received this notification from Celebrity. Will also post on the Roll Call : ======================================= We are contacting you with important information regarding your upcoming sailing on the Celebrity Eclipse on April 6th. Due to recent government budget reductions, U.S. Customs and Border Protection staffing has been affected, creating a longer immigration processing time for departing guests, and the ship has experienced a later clearance time for arriving guests. Therefore, your check-in window is now between 12:00pm to 3:15pm, which is later than the times published in your cruise documents. Please do not arrive at the terminal prior to 12:00pm. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation, and look forward to welcoming you onboard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orator Posted April 2, 2013 #2 Share Posted April 2, 2013 Hi Everyone, Just received this notification from Celebrity. Will also post on the Roll Call : ======================================= We are contacting you with important information regarding your upcoming sailing on the Celebrity Eclipse on April 6th. Due to recent government budget reductions, U.S. Customs and Border Protection staffing has been affected, creating a longer immigration processing time for departing guests, and the ship has experienced a later clearance time for arriving guests. Therefore, your check-in window is now between 12:00pm to 3:15pm, which is later than the times published in your cruise documents. Please do not arrive at the terminal prior to 12:00pm. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation, and look forward to welcoming you onboard I'mon Connie April 6th and no notice received. Guess the problems are port specific. My guess is that from this point on all problems will be blamed on sequestration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLHugh Posted April 2, 2013 #3 Share Posted April 2, 2013 I'm on the Equinox on the 5th and just received this message. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PinotBlanc Posted April 2, 2013 #4 Share Posted April 2, 2013 Also today, emails say cocktail vouchers for Elites aboard 4/6 Eclipse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgirlejfan Posted April 2, 2013 #5 Share Posted April 2, 2013 We just got the very same thing for our cruise on the Silhouette leaving Sunday the 7th. LOL, I think they wanted to make sure I believed it, because I got two of the very same thing!:p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Posted April 2, 2013 Author #6 Share Posted April 2, 2013 I'mon Connie April 6th and no notice received. Guess the problems are port specific. My guess is that from this point on all problems will be blamed on sequestration. Hi Orator, I wasnt willing to accept that excuse previously, as Pier 25 issues were ongoing long before sequestration. However, in light of the new developments, I will not be quick to blame Celebrity. Let's hope things will improve when the ships return to Florida in November & December. With today's alert, I plan to keep our embarkation expectations low for Saturday's sailing. Hoping for the best. I wish you a wonderful Cruise ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orator Posted April 2, 2013 #7 Share Posted April 2, 2013 Hi Orator, I wasnt willing to accept that excuse previously, as Pier 25 issues were ongoing long before sequestration. However, in light of the new developments, I will not be quick to blame Celebrity. Let's hope things will improve when the ships return to Florida in November & December. With today's alert, I plan to keep our embarkation expectations low for Saturday's sailing. Hoping for the best. I wish you a wonderful Cruise ! Andy: Once you're on the ship, you're on the ship. Somehow the frustrtation seems to vanish and you're ready to just enjoy. Have a great cruise as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missminnie Posted April 2, 2013 #8 Share Posted April 2, 2013 Thanks Andy We're on the 6th Apr Eclipse sailing and not received anything so thanks for the heads up. We usually get to the terminal early and usually onboard around 11-11:30am so we won't rush this time from South Beach. We'll take a leisurely breakfast in Miami, drop the car off at Ft Lauderdale airport and grab the complimentary Alamo shuttle which they say starts around midday so actually that's now good timing. I love getting onboard early as we take loads of photo's without people in it of the ship. Oh well, prob no such luck this time. See you onboard on Saturday! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CathyCruises Posted April 2, 2013 #9 Share Posted April 2, 2013 Hi Orator, I wasnt willing to accept that excuse previously, as Pier 25 issues were ongoing long before sequestration. However, in light of the new developments, I will not be quick to blame Celebrity. Let's hope things will improve when the ships return to Florida in November & December. With today's alert, I plan to keep our embarkation expectations low for Saturday's sailing. Hoping for the best. I wish you a wonderful Cruise ! Andy, if you can let us know how boarding goes when you actually get on the ship, it would be much appreciated. Trying to figure out timing for the next weekend! Thanks, Cathy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jg51 Posted April 2, 2013 #10 Share Posted April 2, 2013 We hope that Celebrity personnel (especially check-in clerks, ships' Captains, and Cruise Directors) will have the wisdom to adjust certain things accordingly. Suggested examples: 1. Brainstorm to find ways to speed up the check-in process, so that people can be aboard to eat lunch at a reasonable time (well in advance of dinner time). If lunch and dinner are too close together, the folks in the early dinner seating will be extremely unhappy, because they will feel the need to skip lunch (or eat very little) -- or they may experience an inability to enjoy dinner (after having had a big lunch). 2. Extend each lunch-time dining area's hours by 30 to 60 minutes to benefit those who will be forced to check in late. 3. Delay the mandatory safety "muster" and the sailaway by 30 to 60 minutes, if tides and port officials allow. (The "lost" time can be made up at sea, especially since the next day will not be in port.) 4. Delay the closing time of the main dining room by 30 to 60 minutes, to help the many guests who have "Celebrity Select" dining. Those who have had a delayed (normal-sized) lunch will then be able to have dinner later than usual. 5. Delay the closing time of the specialty restaurant(s) by 30 to 60 minutes, to help guests who have early seating in the MDR. They would then be able to have a delayed (normal-sized) lunch, followed by the option of making late dinner reservations in a SR. 6. Leave all bars open 30 to 60 minutes later than usual. 7. Require porters to accept all luggage, take it aboard, and distribute it to staterooms AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE, so that guests may unpack (if they wish) during the now-shortened afternoon hours. Folks, please feel free to add other ideas, hoping that the "powers-that-be" will see this thread and will accept at least some of our suggestions. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruisestitch Posted April 2, 2013 #11 Share Posted April 2, 2013 Do you think that they currently DON'T require the porters to distribute the luggage as early as possible? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenna109 Posted April 2, 2013 #12 Share Posted April 2, 2013 If guests are travelling with Celebrity, ie air package - provide lunch in hotel and delay departure to ship. Open main dining room to accommodate the large number of guests wanting lunch at the same time. Buffet would not be able to seat this number of cruisers. Allow guests into cabins as soon as possible. They will be tired and irritable - not good for first impressions and for many the cruise will go down hill from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Posted April 2, 2013 Author #13 Share Posted April 2, 2013 Andy:Once you're on the ship, you're on the ship. Somehow the frustrtation seems to vanish and you're ready to just enjoy. Have a great cruise as well. Hi Orator, We always try to make the best out of a less than perfect situation, and are excited about sailing on Saturday. Regarding the embarkation delay, all we can do, is hope for the best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jg51 Posted April 2, 2013 #14 Share Posted April 2, 2013 If guests are travelling with Celebrity, ie air package - provide lunch in hotel and delay departure to ship. Open main dining room to accommodate the large number of guests wanting lunch at the same time. Buffet would not be able to seat this number of cruisers. Allow guests into cabins as soon as possible. They will be tired and irritable - not good for first impressions and for many the cruise will go down hill from there. Thanks, "Jenna109," for these good ideas. With regard to your last idea: If departing guests will be out of their staterooms at the normal (early) times to disembark, the stewards may have enough time to finish their work shortly after the time arriving guests begin to board -- instead of an hour or two later. Do you think that they currently DON'T require the porters to distribute the luggage as early as possible? Hello, "cruisestitch." What we suggested was this: "Require porters to accept all luggage, take it aboard, and distribute it to staterooms AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE, so that guests may unpack (if they wish) during the now-shortened afternoon hours." The emphasized words were not intended to criticize past performance (as you mistakenly inferred). Instead, those words were intended to imply this: "Although new folks will be boarding an hour or two later than usual, porters should not delay the acceptance of the luggage for an hour or two beyond their past practice. Instead, they should accept it according to the old timetable, so that it will be delivered in a timely way." . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lois R Posted April 2, 2013 #15 Share Posted April 2, 2013 We just got the very same thing for our cruise on the Silhouette leaving Sunday the 7th. LOL, I think they wanted to make sure I believed it, because I got two of the very same thing!:p Sharon, I got 2 emails saying the same thing:p.......see you soon:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reno islandhoppers Posted April 3, 2013 #16 Share Posted April 3, 2013 Received two e-mails also but what do you do might as well deal with it and not let it ruin a great time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arizona Cruz Chic Posted April 3, 2013 #17 Share Posted April 3, 2013 We always try to make the best out of a less than perfect situation, and are excited about sailing on Saturday. Regarding the embarkation delay, all we can do, is hope for the best. This is whet I keep telling myself. :) Also am hoping for the best for disembarkation....and our noon flight! Looking foreword to meeting you on board *** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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