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How many cruises actually make it to Half Moon Cay?

pixie411

By pixie411,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

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pixie411

pixie411

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This is my third cruise coming up that has Half Moon Cat as a port. On my last 2 cruises on Holland America the ship bypassed the island. They claimed it was too rough to tender. I was very disappointed and now feel like I will never get there. Someone on the cruise said if they didn't make their mark financially they would pass up the island to make up some revenue with a sea day. So my question is how many cruises don't make it there?

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gck1249

gck1249

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Was just there Saturday on Carnival and it was the most beautiful island I have ever been to. We stayed there as long as we could and hated to leave. It was a little windy so we weren't sure what would happen but got off ship by 9:30 AM no problem.

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Pellaz

Pellaz

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When this question has come up before here on CC, it seemed like an average of 1 out of every 5 visits to HMC is cancelled due to wind, weather or wave. The odds of missing HMC are a bit higher in winter than summer.

 

So far I'm 0-for-1. Ask me again after mid-October. :)

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winddawn

winddawn

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This is my third cruise coming up that has Half Moon Cat as a port. On my last 2 cruises on Holland America the ship bypassed the island. They claimed it was too rough to tender. I was very disappointed and now feel like I will never get there. Someone on the cruise said if they didn't make their mark financially they would pass up the island to make up some revenue with a sea day. So my question is how many cruises don't make it there?

This happened to me a couple of times too, both in the winter. Once was on my 50th birthday cruise and I was very disappointed. Luckily I have made it several times though. It is my favorite beach. Wind can make it difficult and dangerous to tender. Keep trying. It is worth it.

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vacruizer

vacruizer

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I've made it 2 out of 2. The whole passing it up on purpose thing is just a rumor angry cruisers start when they do miss port.

 

Carnival owns the place. They get the revenue from drinks sold onshore, chair rentals, excursions like snorkeling and horseback riding, cabana rentals, etc. Plus they aren't consuming all that fuel they would be at sea (although casino isn't open so there are things to offset each other.)

 

I always chuckle at the missed port conspiracy theories. I've yet to miss a port in 13 cruises. You'd think if it happened regularly and Carnival had a big plot to make more revenue that way I'd have missed one by now.:p Sailed all different times of year, too.

 

I've been told (by someone at Carnival) that Carnival gets about the same profit from a port day vs a sea day. Sea days they bring in more in drink and casino sales, but are using more fuel and food. Port days they are getting the excursion revenue and saving on food and fuel.

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NCTribeFan

NCTribeFan

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Past experience is absolutely no indication of whether you'll get to tender over or not. Pretty sure there are no statistics (publically available, at least) that shows how often the port is missed, so whatever responses you get here aren't going to necessarily be a representative sample.

 

And bear in mind that it is HAL's island, and they sail there much more frequently than Carnival, so asking here simply won't get any information that will be of any use to you.

 

FWIW, we made it the first five times but missed last October not because the weather or seas were bad that time but because Hurricane Sandy had come through a few days earlier and there was damage.

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cruise_girl2002

cruise_girl2002

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been there 3 times. 2 times we were actually able to tender there and enjoy the island. the other time, it took them just about 2 hours to get anchored, they let 1 group off, and determined it was to rocky and dangerous, they brought everybody back. It was WAY to rocky. so we anchored there for the day. the ended up opening the casino and stores early and planned activities. they did a great job. Its been the one and only time we couldn't port on all my 17 cruises

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golfadj

golfadj

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I've made it 2 out of 2. The whole passing it up on purpose thing is just a rumor angry cruisers start when they do miss port.

 

Carnival owns the place. They get the revenue from drinks sold onshore, chair rentals, excursions like snorkeling and horseback riding, cabana rentals, etc. Plus they aren't consuming all that fuel they would be at sea (although casino isn't open so there are things to offset each other.)

 

I always chuckle at the missed port conspiracy theories. I've yet to miss a port in 13 cruises. You'd think if it happened regularly and Carnival had a big plot to make more revenue that way I'd have missed one by now.:p Sailed all different times of year, too.

 

I've been told (by someone at Carnival) that Carnival gets about the same profit from a port day vs a sea day. Sea days they bring in more in drink and casino sales, but are using more fuel and food. Port days they are getting the excursion revenue and saving on food and fuel.

 

Agreed

 

Only time we were there bad storm was coming and they closed it early so guess we had half a day.

 

Going again later this month and expect to get there.

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jcearth

jcearth

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Made it 100% of the time (1 for 1) -- would hate to book a cruise now and miss it. Consequently, I am 0 for 1 going to Coco Cay on Royal (50+ mph winds that day). However, anecdotal evidence is inconsequential. I would disagree with the statement about missing it due to revenue concerns, however, seeing as how all the alcohol purchased (and excursion revenue) on the island goes back to the cruise line (and at an a higher price - $5.75 beers were $6.25 on the island).

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gusandgidgetsmom

gusandgidgetsmom

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We have made it 8 out of 8 times. Someone with us last cruise to HMC said they had missed it 3 times and it was their 4th try. Boy were they excited to get in. Statistics are only that to me. All that matters is if the conditions are right you'll get in if not you won't. We have been in several hurricanes and have had to go different places so not so lucky on every port!

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Georgiagolfer

Georgiagolfer

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This is my third cruise coming up that has Half Moon Cat as a port. On my last 2 cruises on Holland America the ship bypassed the island. They claimed it was too rough to tender. I was very disappointed and now feel like I will never get there. Someone on the cruise said if they didn't make their mark financially they would pass up the island to make up some revenue with a sea day. So my question is how many cruises don't make it there?

 

DW and I have made it to HMC on 2 of 4 cruises scheduled for the stop.

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