"Dancing of the Ships" Speculation

[Jay Sam]

There will defiantly be something, really a matter of when. We have it on our bucket list to do a canal passage.

 

Jimbo,

 

Canal cruise sounds good to me too, especially ending in my home port.

 

I am wondering will Miracle then stay in Tampa through April, then go somewhere else for the Summer season returning here in the Fall, or maybe stay here full time, or just do another reposition to another port in the Fall.

 

Or will she do just the charter and then move on in late Feb?

 

Jeff

[jimbo5544]

Jimbo,

 

Canal cruise sounds good to me too, especially ending in my home port.

 

I am wondering will Miracle then stay in Tampa through April, then go somewhere else for the Summer season returning here in the Fall, or maybe stay here full time, or just do another reposition to another port in the Fall.

 

Or will she do just the charter and then move on in late Feb?

 

Jeff

 

I surely don't know, but that would be my guess. When I asked about it today, I was told they have not yet decided.....(which does not ring quite true to me).

[kybluecruiser]

There are actually 3 ships still in limbo jimbo lol. What will they do with the fantasy still hasn't been answered. I think she is scheduled up to December.

[jimbo5544]

There are actually 3 ships still in limbo jimbo lol. What will they do with the fantasy still hasn't been answered. I think she is scheduled up to December.

 

 

True enough, good catch.

[joepeka]

I surely don't know, but that would be my guess. When I asked about it today, I was told they have not yet decided.....(which does not ring quite true to me).

 

Thanks much for asking. I suppose we could have guessed something vague and non-commital like that would be the answer. :mad:

Edited August 19, 2015 by joepeka

[texast518]

Correct - on time for completion in April, 2016.

 

We were there March this year and the word @ the canal was two more years,sometime 2017. There was still a lot of work to do. They make 4 billion a year, net 3. That will greatly increase when completed, certainly motivation.

[belkin]

According to this article dated July 3rd, 2015 the locks are on track to open in April 2016.

 

http://www.joc.com/maritime-news/international-freight-shipping/panama-canal-track-open-its-expanded-locks-april_20150703.html

 

This is a link to the official website for the locks and it look like they are 93% complete.

 

http://micanaldepanama.com/expansion/

[texast518]

According to this article dated July 3rd, 2015 the locks are on track to open in April 2016.

 

http://www.joc.com/maritime-news/international-freight-shipping/panama-canal-track-open-its-expanded-locks-april_20150703.html

 

This is a link to the official website for the locks and it look like they are 93% complete.

 

http://micanaldepanama.com/expansion/

 

Press probably right, just quoting a low construction supervisor. They have done a lot since March when they said it was 86% complete, now 91% both ends.

[mikem5]

The only class ship I have not been on yet is the splendor class. I really hope it is in LA in the summer of 2017 because my sister wants to leave out of California for her high school graduation. I think my chances are pretty good. What are your thoughts?

[AmberTeka]

Perhaps I am missing something here, and I have not followed this thread but a cruise to the Panama Canal, round trip from Miami, on the Splendor is on the Carnival web site for December 10,2016.

 

I put a deposit down on it. I have my cruise confirmation in my documents folder.

 

It leaves Miami on the 10th. Two Sea days which I love. then Cozumel. Another sea day then Colon Panama. Then Limon in Costa Rica then another sea day and home.

 

I might not have it just right but it is 8 days from Miami. It goes to those places. It is on the Carnival website and the fares are amazingly cheap. IMHO

 

We booked a balcony for $1890.00 mid-ship on the Empress Deck.

 

Suites......ocean suites are going for $1239.00

 

If all of you know about this.........pardon my dumbness. I have recieved so many helpful tips from Cruise Critic Message boards.........just passing it along.

[HawksFan74]

Perhaps I am missing something here, and I have not followed this thread but a cruise to the Panama Canal, round trip from Miami, on the Splendor is on the Carnival web site for December 10,2016.

Yes, that sailing has a port call in Colon, Panama, but it does not transit (or even enter) the canal. It is not what most would consider a Panama Canal cruise.

[Surfwench]

Perhaps I am missing something here, and I have not followed this thread but a cruise to the Panama Canal, round trip from Miami, on the Splendor is on the Carnival web site for December 10,2016.

 

I put a deposit down on it. I have my cruise confirmation in my documents folder.

 

It leaves Miami on the 10th. Two Sea days which I love. then Cozumel. Another sea day then Colon Panama. Then Limon in Costa Rica then another sea day and home.

 

I might not have it just right but it is 8 days from Miami. It goes to those places. It is on the Carnival website and the fares are amazingly cheap. IMHO

 

We booked a balcony for $1890.00 mid-ship on the Empress Deck.

 

Suites......ocean suites are going for $1239.00

 

If all of you know about this.........pardon my dumbness. I have recieved so many helpful tips from Cruise Critic Message boards.........just passing it along.

 

That's an interesting itinerary, but it isn't a transit or a partial transit of the canal. Thanks for bringing it up, though, I didn't know that was an option. :)

 

Every day I check the Miracle schedule waiting for the Panama transit to appear. January 2017. Fates allow, I'll be on her. Easy sell to hubby as his favorite class is Spirit and the cruise ends at our home.

[jimbo5544]

That's an interesting itinerary, but it isn't a transit or a partial transit of the canal. Thanks for bringing it up, though, I didn't know that was an option. :)

 

Every day I check the Miracle schedule waiting for the Panama transit to appear. January 2017. Fates allow, I'll be on her. Easy sell to hubby as his favorite class is Spirit and the cruise ends at our home.

 

I still think it is safe bet, just a matter of "when".

[JLee1973]

That's an interesting itinerary, but it isn't a transit or a partial transit of the canal. Thanks for bringing it up, though, I didn't know that was an option. :)

 

Every day I check the Miracle schedule waiting for the Panama transit to appear. January 2017. Fates allow, I'll be on her. Easy sell to hubby as his favorite class is Spirit and the cruise ends at our home.

 

I haven't booked a cruise for Fall 2016 yet since I am waiting to see if there is going to be an early 2017 transit cruise. I plan on doing the re-positioning if and when it happens

[joepeka]

There are actually 3 ships still in limbo jimbo lol. What will they do with the fantasy still hasn't been answered. I think she is scheduled up to December.

 

I didn't catch this comment about Fantasy until today but it's true - Fantasy has nothing on it's schedule after November 4th, 2016 when it finishes a 4 day Western in Miami. Curious......

[cruisexlife]

I didn't catch this comment about Fantasy until today but it's true - Fantasy has nothing on it's schedule after November 4th, 2016 when it finishes a 4 day Western in Miami. Curious......

 

When Carnival originally released the statement, someone asked John if she would be retired, and he said "no, we still have plans for her after November 2016 with Carnival".

 

Maybe an extensive overall (similar to Costa neoRomantica) will occur and they will send her to either Tampa for long cruises, or to Brisbane and join the AU fleet. Maybe even to China..... But I'm leaning more towards Carnival Australia, because Royal recently put the Legend of the Seas in Brisbane, and many locals are taking advantage.

 

Or, they're leading us on like crazy, and they'll just throw her somewhere like Mobile, FLL, Miami, etc.

[tiggerman101]

Perhaps I am missing something here, and I have not followed this thread but a cruise to the Panama Canal, round trip from Miami, on the Splendor is on the Carnival web site for December 10,2016.

 

I put a deposit down on it. I have my cruise confirmation in my documents folder.

 

It leaves Miami on the 10th. Two Sea days which I love. then Cozumel. Another sea day then Colon Panama. Then Limon in Costa Rica then another sea day and home.

 

I might not have it just right but it is 8 days from Miami. It goes to those places. It is on the Carnival website and the fares are amazingly cheap. IMHO

 

We booked a balcony for $1890.00 mid-ship on the Empress Deck.

 

Suites......ocean suites are going for $1239.00

 

If all of you know about this.........pardon my dumbness. I have recieved so many helpful tips from Cruise Critic Message boards.........just passing it along.

 

Your not being dumb. This actually used to be a somewhat regular itinerary for Carnival awhile ago. I did it on the Freedom about 6 years ago. The ship docks in Colon, Panama which is right by the entrance to the Panama canal. You sail right through the line of ships waiting to get in. It is a spectacular site really. You have to get up early to see it though.

 

The port itself is not real friendly. I don't think you want to stray too far. However, you have the whole day and there are a ton of tour options for the canal. You can just go see a lock at an observation tower or more. The popular tour (which we did) is a ferry transit through two of the locks and more than half of the canal itself. They bus you over to the pacific side outside Panama city to the other end of the canal. The views of the city and the ships lined up are again, incredible. You board the ferry and go through the first two sets of locks and down the Gaillard Cut, etc. It is a long trip but very interesting and quite beautiful as well. You will see a lot of the canal and going through the locks on a smaller craft is exciting. Especially if a huge ship is in the one next to you.

 

Limon is another bit of a dump. You really don't want to stroll those city streets. However, there are again a ton of tour options. You can go explore quite a bit of different things from here. It is just a bit more "raw" than other Caribbean ports. Don't get me wrong, there is a lot of cool things here.

 

Overall, the cruise is a bit different for a Caribbean cruise with four sea days and different ports. However, it is a very interesting and relaxing time. I really enjoyed it. It was the cruise that made me realize how much I enjoy sea days. I say go for it.

[joepeka]

When Carnival originally released the statement, someone asked John if she would be retired, and he said "no, we still have plans for her after November 2016 with Carnival".

 

Maybe an extensive overall (similar to Costa neoRomantica) will occur and they will send her to either Tampa for long cruises, or to Brisbane and join the AU fleet. Maybe even to China..... But I'm leaning more towards Carnival Australia, because Royal recently put the Legend of the Seas in Brisbane, and many locals are taking advantage.

 

Or, they're leading us on like crazy, and they'll just throw her somewhere like Mobile, FLL, Miami, etc.

 

Yes I suppose it could be any of your explanations, all of which sound reasonable. Perhaps the one making most sense (to me anyway) is the big renovation idea and they are still working on the full planning and scheduling (thus the nothing scheduled after early November). I just thought it odd that there was a schedule void after November 2016 unless they were selling the ship or had some serious out of service plans.

Edited August 21, 2015 by joepeka

[joepeka]

Yes I suppose it could be any of your explanations, all of which sound reasonable. Perhaps the one making most sense (to me anyway) is the big renovation idea and they are still working on the full planning and scheduling (thus the nothing scheduled after early November). I just thought it odd that there was a schedule void after November 2016 unless they were selling the ship or had some serious out of service plans.

 

I just noticed that Fantasy is going in for maintenance in early February of 2016 so I think that eliminates the renovation idea in late 2016. Oh well, keep on guessing I suppose. :o

[kicia]

I think they're waiting for Cuba to open up.

[rlkubi]

I too am hoping for a Panama Canal cruise in Jan/Feb of 2017. Fingers crossed!

[AmberTeka]

We did take the Freedom Cruise. We took the tour where we rode the railroad through the USA military bases......then to the Miraflores Lock. A movie. then a bus to the Pacific. Toured the living quarters of the Americans posted there. Some nice housing areas. then a ferry down two locks.

 

What I liked most about it was not paying Panama a total of $700 dollars in taxes for two people to go through a canal we built and should still own as a matter of national security

 

I know that is not in mode these days, and I don't mean to offend anyone, and If I ever make the full transit I know it would be great....but...........

I felt like I saw a lot of Panama. As one poster suggested, it is not the safest place. Nice people but there were signs posted to stay with your group

 

Costa Rica........We toured a botanical garden. And the young guide was so passionate about it and talked so long, some of us had to go sit down after the first hour and a half. I remember her to this day. I was impressed that schools require students to attend to the 11th grade. AND they are all in school. We saw a Volcano. Ate some pineapple picked and sliced from a Plantation. it was like sugar. I was so impressed with Costa Rica. I have always wanted to go back. I love the sea days. to read. to donate to the casino. to play trivia. to play bingo. See shows. eat more than I should..just sit and watch the sea..

 

I priced tours on Princess and HAL where they enter the canal and go through one for two locks. That $350 tax pp was on those. UGH. It seems to me that with as many billions as the canal is taking in..........and as Panama only has 3 million citizens.........the wealth could be spread a little more. The cities had that mildew that is the sign of poverty all over ....Ugh.

Not impressed by Panama. Totally awed by the Canal.

I am excited about going back.

 

This really is the most helpful source of information about cruising that is out there. Information is here......before anywhere else. Reviews are most honest.....right here. I would not book a cruise without coming here every day.

Edited August 22, 2015 by AmberTeka

[jimbo5544]

I see JH just announced on his blog site that the Pride will be in Tampa for January and February 2017. Interesting...............

[Alexv500]

I see JH just announced on his blog site that the Pride will be in Tampa for January and February 2017. Interesting...............

 

 

I just saw that too. I wonder why they're just going to send the Pride for a few months and then send it back to Baltimore. Hmm.. Will just have to wait for the rest of the dance to finish up! I'm waiting to see where the Splendor and Miracle go, if carnival is still going to move them to new homes!

[joepeka]

I just saw that too. I wonder why they're just going to send the Pride for a few months and then send it back to Baltimore. Hmm.. Will just have to wait for the rest of the dance to finish up! I'm waiting to see where the Splendor and Miracle go, if carnival is still going to move them to new homes!

 

I did some quick schedule checking and it looks like Pride will be doing a 13 day Journeys from Baltimore on Jan. 2nd, ending in Tampa then staying in Tampa until the end of February and returning to Baltimore March through April (the schedule stops at April 2017). I wonder what (if anything) that does to the scuttlebutt about Miracle coming to Tampa in early February??

Edited August 26, 2015 by joepeka