Royal Princess Victoria and Embarcation

[waltocruiser]

Hi,

 

We have a small group of 6 sailing on the Royal out of Los Angeles on Sept. 17th. to Alaska.

We were notified less than a month before leaving that we would only be in Victoria for 2 hours, our stop was changed to a Service Call only. (jones act). No one is allowed off the ship. Originally, we were scheduled to be in Victoria for several hours with tours and were free to get off the ship.

Does anyone know why this was changed.

Our second question is we have received a few notices (emails) informing us that our boarding time keeps moving to the right - now 2pm and we are in the first group to board. 

My wife is concerned that there may be a virus on board, or there could be an maintenance issue, anyone with information that could be shared would be appreciated.

We are going on the cruise -but will take extra precautions if this is an illness issue -  just always interested in knowing the facts.

 

Thanks, W&M

[nukesubsailor]

4 minutes ago, waltocruiser said:

Hi,

 

We have a small group of 6 sailing on the Royal out of Los Angeles on Sept. 17th. to Alaska.

We were notified less than a month before leaving that we would only be in Victoria for 2 hours, our stop was changed to a Service Call only. (jones act). No one is allowed off the ship. Originally, we were scheduled to be in Victoria for several hours with tours and were free to get off the ship.

Does anyone know why this was changed.

Our second question is we have received a few notices (emails) informing us that our boarding time keeps moving to the right - now 2pm and we are in the first group to board. 

My wife is concerned that there may be a virus on board, or there could be an maintenance issue, anyone with information that could be shared would be appreciated.

We are going on the cruise -but will take extra precautions if this is an illness issue -  just always interested in knowing the facts.

 

Thanks, W&M

So far this season, there have been scheduled port time changes that have been reported as due to the timing of tides at a bridge that ships must pass under to enter Vancouver.  The height of the Royal Princess, even after shortening her stacks, is so great that she must pass under the bridge when the tide is at it's lowest level.  Low tide times are not the same every day.

While is may be true that the tide levels can be calculated years in advance, it is also not yet practical for a cruise line to publish a different set of port times for every sailing of a ship on a specific itinerary.  

[ceilidh1]

48 minutes ago, nukesubsailor said:

So far this season, there have been scheduled port time changes that have been reported as due to the timing of tides at a bridge that ships must pass under to enter Vancouver.  The height of the Royal Princess, even after shortening her stacks, is so great that she must pass under the bridge when the tide is at it's lowest level.  Low tide times are not the same every day.

While is may be true that the tide levels can be calculated years in advance, it is also not yet practical for a cruise line to publish a different set of port times for every sailing of a ship on a specific itinerary.  

I don't believe OPs sailing is calling at Vancouver so the bridge wouldn't be the issue. We are on the sailing prior (3 days down to LA) and have an early boarding/departure notice due to speed restrictions on the West Coast. Not sure if this has something to do with OP getting no time in Victoria - if only there for 2 hours, the logistics of getting everyone on and off would be a nightmare so easier to just keep everyone on! As for later boarding, it is the first time the ship is back in LA so it may be due to mandatory coast guard inspection, which is not unusual at all!

[cruisingrob21]

I got a notice from victoria port authority about this a few weeks ago and wondered about it.  Interesting.

[skynight]

I think it has to do with slow speeds this time of year in the Santa Barbara Channel to protect the whales while exiting into the Pacific Ocean, thus delaying the arrival in Victoria.

Delay in boarding is probably for the same reason, slower speeds in the channel delaying arrival in San Pedro and thus delaying disembarkation and subsequent boarding.