Freedom just denied entry into Grand Turk

[hawgndodge]

So i booked an 8 Day Cruise to San Juan, St. Maarten, Grand Turk, and St. Kitts. What i got was an 8 day Cruise with a 7 hour stop in Antigua. 

 

There is no way i will book another until this is over. 

[ninjacat123]

8 day cruise with just one stop?  Wow, that's crazy!

[hawgndodge]

Yup. 

 

Saturday board at 1030

Sunday day at sea

Monday day at sea

Tuesday antigua

Wednesday day at sea

Thursday day at sea

Friday day at sea

Saturday day at sea

Sunday back in Miami

[ninjacat123]

Yikes!  I love days at sea but that's a little ridiculous!

[Guest BasicSailor]

That has to be tough. We made the decision to wait this covid cruising out after omnicrom reared it's nasty head.

[K_e_short]

Air Canada is cutting flights to all those islands because of Covid.

 

It seems like parts of Mexico (eastern) and private islands are the only sure ports right now.

 

[wavehopper62]

How has it been on ship? Are a lot of things closed or cancelled??  We are supposed to sail on Freedom the 23rd.

[pirate4me2]

So sorry to hear that! I like sea days, but I would be restless with that many. 

[hawgndodge]

Listen I'm not afraid of covid or anything but there is no way i would get back on this ship. I'm not complaining i should get money back or anything but i just wouldn't get back on this ship. Unless you're somebody who just likes to sit on the deck and drink for a week. I don't sunbathe and i don't drink. 

[1kaper]

8 minutes ago, hawgndodge said:

Listen I'm not afraid of covid or anything but there is no way i would get back on this ship. I'm not complaining i should get money back or anything but i just wouldn't get back on this ship. Unless you're somebody who just likes to sit on the deck and drink for a week. I don't sunbathe and i don't drink. 

 

Fair enough.  I do drink and sunbathe and that is too much for me too. 

[Cruise, J.D.]

Sorry to hear that and I agree with you. Most cruise ports are "meh", but I still like to get off the ship a bit and walk around. Wife likes to do some shopping too.

[gnocchi_mommy]

I like at sea days, but that’s ridiculous. I wouldn’t be happy either.

[wardwhitty]

Did they say why were you denied ?  The Mardi Gras was there yesterday.  We sail on the Freedom on Sunday with a stop in Grand Turk also.

[UpstateCruizer]

I’m sorry that you are disappointed with the sea days. I love sea days so it wouldn’t bother me at all. Given the current situation with Covid thanks for sharing your experience and now hopefully others with the same mindset can use that info and cancel their cruise. Cruising right now is so fluid with absolutely nothing guaranteed. If you are ok with that then cruising is a great option but if not cancel and rebook when things are better. My next cruise is a super bowl cruise. If it doesn’t get cancelled I’ll be on the ship. 

[ledges1]

I will be on the Freedom in late February with the same ports. I have a $600 flight credit to Miami that expires in March. Use it or lose it. I will pretend I am on a transatlantic cruise with lots of sea days. Always wondered what it would be like.

[jsglow]

1 hour ago, hawgndodge said:

Listen I'm not afraid of covid or anything but there is no way i would get back on this ship. I'm not complaining i should get money back or anything but i just wouldn't get back on this ship. Unless you're somebody who just likes to sit on the deck and drink for a week. I don't sunbathe and i don't drink. 

Completely reasonable response.  Look, I totally respect you for not blaming the cruiseline.  It's truly NOT their fault.  But those onboard paid a price for the 'exotic' 4 destination cruise they signed up for, not essentially an 8 day to nowhere.  I'd do 8 days to nowhere....... just not anywhere near that price point.

 

To that end, we switched up our planned 1/29 Freedom (doing the same route) yesterday and saved almost $900 substituting a B2B on Sunrise. The savings was applied to our European cruise next Fall.  Our wonderful PVP handled everything.  Now they can drive us anywhere in 3 weeks; fine by me at the price we now paid. And of course we can still cancel if things go downhill some more.  If one's destination specific, I'd bail for sure because extreme flexibility is necessary these days unfortunately. 

 

 

Edited January 7, 2022 by jsglow

[Drazil65]

It seems like parts of Mexico (eastern) and private islands are the only sure ports right now.

 

Until they aren't!  Everyone should be under the assumption that things can and will change moment to moment in travel (especially cruising and the ports).  No sure bets at this point, so travel with eyes wide open.

 

OP, even in pre covid times they could (and did) change itineraries when needed (and it is stated in the cruise contract that they can change things as needed), yeah tough break for you BUT that was the chance you took when you choose to step foot on the ship.  If the itinerary change is for reasons beyond Carnival's control, no additional compensation will be provided on board.  

 

We are all aware and make choices based on facts as they present each day.  Things are changing rapidly and you really cannot blame the ports for what they need to do either.  Vax ppl can still carry and pass covid as well as get the virus more than once (diff variants and breakthrough repeats).  

[jsglow]

39 minutes ago, wardwhitty said:

Did they say why were you denied ?  The Mardi Gras was there yesterday.  We sail on the Freedom on Sunday with a stop in Grand Turk also.

Freedom has to be way over the limit with a helluva outbreak among the crew.  Of course this is simply my speculation.

 

Don't be shocked if she gets anchored for 6 days just to get Omicron to run its course on Deck Zero. (Again, more speculation.)

[jsglow]

3 minutes ago, Drazil65 said:

It seems like parts of Mexico (eastern) and private islands are the only sure ports right now.

 

Until they aren't!  Everyone should be under the assumption that things can and will change moment to moment in travel (especially cruising and the ports).  No sure bets at this point, so travel with eyes wide open.

 

OP, even in pre covid times they could (and did) change itineraries when needed (and it is stated in the cruise contract that they can change things as needed), yeah tough break for you BUT that was the chance you took when you choose to step foot on the ship.  If the itinerary change is for reasons beyond Carnival's control, no additional compensation will be provided on board.  

 

We are all aware and make choices based on facts as they present each day.  Things are changing rapidly and you really cannot blame the ports for what they need to do either.  Vax ppl can still carry and pass covid as well as get the virus more than once (diff variants and breakthrough repeats).  

He didn't blame anybody.  OP 'gets' it.  We benefit from his keeping us informed.  The risk of port substitutions/denials skyrocketed in the last 10 days.  Savvy cruisers should respond accordingly.

 

[Drazil65]

He didn't blame anybody.  OP 'gets' it.  We benefit from his keeping us informed.  The risk of port substitutions/denials skyrocketed in the last 10 days.  Savvy cruisers should respond accordingly.

 

You are right and I didn't say he blamed anyone BUT OP seemed a little disappointed (rightfully so) and surprised it happened to him on this cruise.  At this point, anyone that chooses to cruise should expect nothing to be as the same on day 1...and on day 2, 3 etc...managing expectations...

 

 

[hawgndodge]

You have no clue what you're talking about. I'm not surprised it happened to me. What do you think, that i think I'm better than everybody else? All i was saying what was booked and what it ended up. Disappointed, maybe a little bit I'm still not at work. I'm on vacation. In the climate right now I'm just saying i wouldn't book on this ship unless you're good with just laying out and drinking. Some people are some people aren't. 

[jsglow]

2 minutes ago, hawgndodge said:

You have no clue what you're talking about. I'm not surprised it happened to me. What do you think, that i think I'm better than everybody else? All i was saying what was booked and what it ended up. Disappointed, maybe a little bit I'm still not at work. I'm on vacation. In the climate right now I'm just saying i wouldn't book on this ship unless you're good with just laying out and drinking. Some people are some people aren't. 

You got caught up in a crappy situation hawg.  We all empathize with you.  Enjoy the rest of the trip. 👍

[Drazil65]

There is no way i will book another until this is over. 

 

I guess I took this statement as being a little surprised at this point (3 years into covid) sorry about that speculation, my mistake.  

 

What do you think, that i think I'm better than everybody else?

 

LOL...not quite sure what this refers to but I definitely dont think you are better than anyone else.  

 

I hope you are able to enjoy the rest of your trip anyway, like you said, its not being at work!  Its all good!  

 

 

[pjhootch]

25 minutes ago, hawgndodge said:

You have no clue what you're talking about. I'm not surprised it happened to me. What do you think, that i think I'm better than everybody else? All i was saying what was booked and what it ended up. Disappointed, maybe a little bit I'm still not at work. I'm on vacation. In the climate right now I'm just saying i wouldn't book on this ship unless you're good with just laying out and drinking. Some people are some people aren't. 

I appreciate the update.  I am boarding on Sunday for 6 days.  I hope it isn't a cruise to nowhere, but it could be.  I tried to update people when I got off the Freedom on December 18th that were many, many people on my cruise that became symptomatic the day we disembarked or a day or two after.  Some who never developed symptoms but tested positive when they read how many people in our FB group alone were ill.    I saw a lot of posters on FB and here at CC kind of shrug and say "it must be the crew spreading it" or "those people probably got sick at airports or traveling home". 

 

Nope- there are ill folks on the cruise and it spreads easily. My December 12-18 cruise many passengers were not looking out for themselves or for other people.  Wandering around and getting in packed elevators without masks... sitting for hours in the casino without masks... cramming into the theater or comedy club or piano bar without masks.   People thought they were bullet proof and some of them were stunned and really upset they got sick.  Naturally, some people blamed Carnival for not "enforcing" the rules.  

 

I am going Sunday (with a buddy) knowing it might turn into a cruise to nowhere and I really appreciate the OP letting us know they got turned away from Grand Turk.  That is a bummer.  Eight days of cruising with one 7 hour stop would make me a bit stir crazy.  I may do 6 days without a port stop... but I do drink... and I find a shady spot and read my kindle and will be fine.  😉

 

Anybody reading this PLEASE don't think it won't happen on your cruise and then be upset if you get sick or wind up cruising to nowhere.  Hang in there, roll with the punches and have a good trip. 

 

[elcuchio24]

2 hours ago, hawgndodge said:

Listen I'm not afraid of covid or anything but there is no way i would get back on this ship. I'm not complaining i should get money back or anything but i just wouldn't get back on this ship. Unless you're somebody who just likes to sit on the deck and drink for a week. I don't sunbathe and i don't drink. 

 

Ya that sucks. We love ports, and port heavy itins. I'm with you. Without the ports might as well just do an all inclusive which is alot easier and with less BS these days.