Harry Gammons Posted November 8, 2022 #1 Share Posted November 8, 2022 Hi. We are looking at Holland America cruise. The wife is Platinum on Carnival but they don't have Los Angles to Florida through the Panama Canal cruises in April. We tried Celebrity for the first time earlier this year and liked the ship and crew but they dropped three ports in Canada and when I ask for a refund. They stated that Canada had hostile ports and they could change the internatery at anytime. So no refund, and we also slowed down to 10 knots on the way back to use up all the time. So before another surprise I thought I would ask y'all. We haven't cruised the western side of Mexico so are really interested in lots of stops on that side and going thru the canal. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted November 8, 2022 #2 Share Posted November 8, 2022 Hostile ports in Canada ?? 😲 Well if you read the T & C of any cruise line yes they can changed the ports at will If you want a Panama trip in April check Princess, HAL from California to Florida Or Florida to west coast look at RCL, HAL, Princess,Carnival, NCL Celebrity More Panama sailing are usually Jan to Mar 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Ferry_Watcher Posted November 8, 2022 #3 Share Posted November 8, 2022 25 minutes ago, Harry Gammons said: They stated that Canada had hostile ports and they could change the internatery at anytime. OP, what do you mean - '"hostile ports" 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Essiesmom Posted November 8, 2022 #4 Share Posted November 8, 2022 Most spring transits go east to west, as the ships are repositioning to the west coast for the Alaska season. That said, I did find two eastbound cruises in April. Emerald Princess leaving LA on 1 April going through the new locks. HAL Zaandam leaving San Diego on 09 April through the original locks. That’s pretty much it until fall. EM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquahound Posted November 8, 2022 #5 Share Posted November 8, 2022 Platinum on Carnival and enjoyed Celebrity tells me you'll be fine on just about any cruise line. If Essiesmom is correct on options, I'd go with Princess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted November 8, 2022 #6 Share Posted November 8, 2022 they could also do East to West more options in April as ships reposition for the Alaska season https://www.cruisecritic.com/cruiseto/cruiseitineraries.cfm?port=134&depcity=342&startDate=2023-04 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Gammons Posted November 8, 2022 Author #7 Share Posted November 8, 2022 Thanks all, I will look up the others y'all mentioned. The wording hostile was from their office when I ask for at least the port fees. So since they were so snappy we will use other lines from now on. Carnival is easy for us to get to, and its just 3.5 hours away, but we have grown bored of the Gulf Ports. From Celebrity's email "Unfortunately, due to escalating violence in the area, our Global Security team determined that these port cities were unsafe for our guests to visit" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted November 8, 2022 #8 Share Posted November 8, 2022 33 minutes ago, Harry Gammons said: From Celebrity's email "Unfortunately, due to escalating violence in the area, our Global Security team determined that these port cities were unsafe for our guests to visit" What ports were you supposed to visit?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Mary229 Posted November 8, 2022 #9 Share Posted November 8, 2022 I notice you are in Texas. Princess now does Panama Canal cruises from Galveston Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare *Miss G* Posted November 9, 2022 #10 Share Posted November 9, 2022 10 hours ago, Harry Gammons said: They stated that Canada had hostile ports and they could change the internatery at anytime. So no refund, and we also slowed down to 10 knots on the way back to use up all the time. Hostile ports in Canada? Did they not apologize for something? 😂 I’m guessing you went around the time of Hurricane Fiona, which was an historic storm for Canada and caused a lot of destruction and closed ports. It also sounds like you were traveling in the Gulf of St Lawrence where all vessels more than 13 metres in length have speed restrictions of 10 knots to protect endangered North Atlantic Whales; not “to use up all the time”. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Gammons Posted November 9, 2022 Author #11 Share Posted November 9, 2022 12 hours ago, LHT28 said: What ports were you supposed to visit?? Prince Edward Island , Bay of Fundy, and Sidney are the ones we missed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Gammons Posted November 9, 2022 Author #12 Share Posted November 9, 2022 11 hours ago, *Miss G* said: Hostile ports in Canada? Did they not apologize for something? 😂 I’m guessing you went around the time of Hurricane Fiona, which was an historic storm for Canada and caused a lot of destruction and closed ports. It also sounds like you were traveling in the Gulf of St Lawrence where all vessels more than 13 metres in length have speed restrictions of 10 knots to protect endangered North Atlantic Whales; not “to use up all the time”. We cruised in open waters very slow, we knew about the St Lawrence area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Gammons Posted November 9, 2022 Author #13 Share Posted November 9, 2022 We cruised in open waters very slow, we knew about the St Lawrence area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Gammons Posted November 9, 2022 Author #14 Share Posted November 9, 2022 (edited) 2 minutes ago, Harry Gammons said: Edited November 9, 2022 by Harry Gammons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Gammons Posted November 9, 2022 Author #15 Share Posted November 9, 2022 21 hours ago, Essiesmom said: Most spring transits go east to west, as the ships are repositioning to the west coast for the Alaska season. That said, I did find two eastbound cruises in April. Emerald Princess leaving LA on 1 April going through the new locks. HAL Zaandam leaving San Diego on 09 April through the original locks. That’s pretty much it until fall. EM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Gammons Posted November 9, 2022 Author #16 Share Posted November 9, 2022 Ok thanks. (I'm still figuring out how to use this site) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted November 9, 2022 #17 Share Posted November 9, 2022 1 hour ago, Harry Gammons said: Prince Edward Island , Bay of Fundy, and Sidney are the ones we missed. Was it during Hurricane Fiona ? Those ports were badly hit & still in recovery mode Not just the Caribbean Islands get hit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare *Miss G* Posted November 9, 2022 #18 Share Posted November 9, 2022 (edited) 3 hours ago, Harry Gammons said: We cruised in open waters very slow, we knew about the St Lawrence area. You were in the Gulf of St Lawrence. Edited November 9, 2022 by *Miss G* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donaldsc Posted November 9, 2022 #19 Share Posted November 9, 2022 Hostile ports in Canada?????? They must think that you are really dumb. What are you going to be attacked by - angry indigenous peoples? DPM 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Essiesmom Posted November 9, 2022 #20 Share Posted November 9, 2022 2 hours ago, donaldsc said: Hostile ports in Canada?????? They must think that you are really dumb. What are you going to be attacked by - angry indigenous peoples? DPM In Canada they are called First Nations. EM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crystalspin Posted November 10, 2022 #21 Share Posted November 10, 2022 On 11/8/2022 at 7:17 AM, Harry Gammons said: Hi. We are looking at Holland America cruise. ...We haven't cruised the western side of Mexico so are really interested in lots of stops on that side and going thru the canal. Thanks Hi! Looking at the two cruises @Essiesmomfound in post #4, I see these factors: Emerald Princess: 3100pax at double occupancy. Ports -- LA, Puerto Vallarta, Huatulco, San Juan del Sur (Nic), Puntarenas (CR), Cartagena (Col), FLL. New Locks. 15 days. Zaandam: 1400pax at double occupancy. Ports -- SAN, Puerto Vallarta, Huatulco, Puerto Quetzal (Gua), Cartagena (Col), FLL. Old Locks. This cruise sails on April 4 not 9. 14 days. Looking at your interests, I'd have to recommend Princess. Have not been to Nicaragua, but Puntarenas is a great port (recommend a crocodile boat excursion!). You get one more west coast port stop. I personally would go with HAL: smaller ship that I have cruised on twice, and I have not been to Puerto Quetzal. I liked the old locks! Also much prefer SAN to LA for a few days before the cruise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Gammons Posted November 10, 2022 Author #22 Share Posted November 10, 2022 7 hours ago, crystalspin said: Hi! Looking at the two cruises @Essiesmomfound in post #4, I see these factors: Emerald Princess: 3100pax at double occupancy. Ports -- LA, Puerto Vallarta, Huatulco, San Juan del Sur (Nic), Puntarenas (CR), Cartagena (Col), FLL. New Locks. 15 days. Zaandam: 1400pax at double occupancy. Ports -- SAN, Puerto Vallarta, Huatulco, Puerto Quetzal (Gua), Cartagena (Col), FLL. Old Locks. This cruise sails on April 4 not 9. 14 days. Looking at your interests, I'd have to recommend Princess. Have not been to Nicaragua, but Puntarenas is a great port (recommend a crocodile boat excursion!). You get one more west coast port stop. I personally would go with HAL: smaller ship that I have cruised on twice, and I have not been to Puerto Quetzal. I liked the old locks! Also much prefer SAN to LA for a few days before the cruise! Wow that's a lot of good info thanks for sending it to me 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Gammons Posted November 10, 2022 Author #23 Share Posted November 10, 2022 Wow that's a lot of good info thanks for sending it to me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Gammons Posted November 10, 2022 Author #24 Share Posted November 10, 2022 20 hours ago, donaldsc said: Hostile ports in Canada?????? They must think that you are really dumb. What are you going to be attacked by - angry indigenous peoples? DPM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Gammons Posted November 10, 2022 Author #25 Share Posted November 10, 2022 Poor communications on their part. Similar to they should have let us know when boarding that they were going to drop ports and we would have ask to take the next cruise. Needless to say we will not be going back on this line again. As well as their premium balcony we had has an obstructed view. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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