Panama Canal Cruise "Adjusted"

[Etta1213]

5 hours ago, babyblue78 said:

I work for a major importer and we just got this notice from one of our carriers... the fact we are getting this notice as it relates to cargo, wanted to share this may be a long-term issue with cruises via the canal.  

 

Three-Week Backlog At Panama Canal

Shippers Advised to Route Cargo Bound For

U.S. East and Gulf Coast Ports Through the Suez Canal

 

Dear Valued Customer, 

 

The drought in the Panama Canal region has gotten progressively worse, forcing the Panama Canal Authority to implement a number of restrictions on the amount of cargo that is allowed to traverse through the canal.

 

Thank you so much for this info. Classy of you to share.👍

Edited August 12, 2023 by Etta1213

[TheMichael]

The situation is crazy, and aside from wondering how quickly the oil companies will hike gas prices using this as their Excuse of the Week, I've got my fingers crossed since I haven't heard anything yet about my Emerald Princess eclipse/PC cruise in April.

[orville99]

7 minutes ago, Carnival Cheerleader said:

It's the same with the Adventure OTS TA sailing next year. Cut it from a 13 day to a 12 day cruise and it's too bad, so sad. Nothing offered. 

Did they eliminate as port stop on that one, or are they just trying to get into the dry dock a day sooner than originally scheduled?

[smokeybandit]

4 minutes ago, Carnival Cheerleader said:

according to the email it is to "enhance our experience". 🙄

Those of us who lost our bucket list Panama canal cruise also had it canceled to enhance our experience.

Edited August 12, 2023 by smokeybandit

[cruiselvr04]

It’s so dumb of Royal to use that terminology “to enhance your experience “.  It’s an insult to everyone who reads it.  Do they use AI to write these things?

Edited August 12, 2023 by cruiselvr04

[FionaMG]

1 hour ago, Carnival Cheerleader said:

They eliminated Funchal but added CocoCay so same number of stops (3). I have to assume it is to get to the dry dock one day earlier but according to the email it is to "enhance our experience". 🙄

 

1 hour ago, smokeybandit said:

Those of us who lost our bucket list Panama canal cruise also had it canceled to enhance our experience.

 

I think their copywriter needs to have his/her experience enhanced by being fired. 🙄

[FionaMG]

1 minute ago, cruiselvr04 said:

It’s so dumb of Royal to use that terminology “to enhance your experience “.  It’s an insult to everyone who reads it.  

I couldn't agree more.

[Jimbo]

15 hours ago, coaster said:

Welcome to Colon! Sorry you paid so much to fly here and go on an older ship to places that are much more convenient to go to from a FL departure port.

 

 

 

 

Looks like pre and post cruise stays in Colon will be really cheap. See everyone it's not all bad?

[firefly333]

1 hour ago, cruiselvr04 said:

It’s so dumb of Royal to use that terminology “to enhance your experience “.  It’s an insult to everyone who reads it.  Do they use AI to write these things?

No worse than  D+ when they removed the drink you choose as a welcome, soda, beer .. and subbed another bottle of water .. and emailed us they are hydrating us more .. not a mention we lost a drink. .. though not a huge deal. 1 soda lol. It was just the way they told us. 

 

Not even close to changing your ports in my book nd calling it enhancing.. I would cancel.  

[coaster]

1 hour ago, Jimbo said:

Looks like pre and post cruise stays in Colon will be really cheap. See everyone it's not all bad?

Only port I have been to that not one excursion is offered to see the town. That tells you something....

[coaster]

On 8/9/2023 at 6:10 PM, saltwaterhappy said:

On 8/9/2023 at 5:43 PM, coaster said:

I wonder if that was one of the problems. I actually loved the option to get in a Panama Canal cruise without flying to the West Coast! And a B2B would have been fantastic. We were just at the Colon port, and it's ALL BRAND NEW and beautiful. 

 

 

FYI....I did not post that about Colon.

Edited August 12, 2023 by coaster

[ONECRUISER]

2 hours ago, cruiselvr04 said:

It’s so dumb of Royal to use that terminology “to enhance your experience “.  It’s an insult to everyone who reads it.  Do they use AI to write these things?

Nah, even AI would have a better response

[ONECRUISER]

1 hour ago, firefly333 said:

No worse than  D+ when they removed the drink you choose as a welcome, soda, beer .. and subbed another bottle of water .. and emailed us they are hydrating us more .. not a mention we lost a drink. .. though not a huge deal. 1 soda lol. It was just the way they told us. 

 

Not even close to changing your ports in my book nd calling it enhancing.. I would cancel.  

Shoot 25yrs ago Diamonds, top tier at time, were first on/off Ships, had access to CL and would meet with Capt and Senior Staff. But yeah I get it, and cheap water at that, agree

[orville99]

32 minutes ago, coaster said:

Only port I have been to that not one excursion is offered to see the town. That tells you something....

You wouldn’t have missed much.

[son3cruisers]

On 8/10/2023 at 2:57 PM, coaster said:

Wonder if they cancelled the canal portion as the ship was underbooked for these sailings. I understand the ship pays the transit taxes based on the number of berths on the ship whether they are occupied or not. Not enough passengers onboard to cover the taxes could of been a reason.

There were quite a few staterooms available on our March 9th sailing, as we checked quite often. I’m curious to see how many will continue with this new sailing, or if it will be changed again ( which sounds like others on here are quite confident it will!) 

[cruisetorelax44]

On 8/10/2023 at 7:58 AM, cuterlmt said:

I'm hoping to be able to do something similar - ours was a casino offer as well. Which sailing did you choose that they allowed you to switch to? and i assume minimal (or no) extra cost? I still have part of my list from the offer, but only kept January through Apil since we have a cruise in November, and try to cruise every 6 months (versus two in two months). thanks.

 

December 3rd of this year

[love to cruise 2017]

11 hours ago, son3cruisers said:

There were quite a few staterooms available on our March 9th sailing, as we checked quite often. I’m curious to see how many will continue with this new sailing, or if it will be changed again ( which sounds like others on here are quite confident it will!) 

changed to what lol they alreasy ruined bucket list trip...we are now talking to airline they been pretty unserstanding unlike royal with the take it or leave it deal 

[unpackonce]

I’m on a sailing on March 23 2024. I don’t know if I should keep the new itinerary or to cancel/find something new. The problem is that I am traveling with kids on spring break, and don’t have much flexibility with time. I have booked the flight there, and a hotel as I am arriving the night before. Part of me thinks it would be more convenient to just get on in Colon, but the canal was the biggest reason I booked in the first place. Anyone know if there are sailings to the canal during that same week, or a week before? I am open to any suggestions.

[firefly333]

23 minutes ago, unpackonce said:

I’m on a sailing on March 23 2024. I don’t know if I should keep the new itinerary or to cancel/find something new. The problem is that I am traveling with kids on spring break, and don’t have much flexibility with time. I have booked the flight there, and a hotel as I am arriving the night before. Part of me thinks it would be more convenient to just get on in Colon, but the canal was the biggest reason I booked in the first place. Anyone know if there are sailings to the canal during that same week, or a week before? I am open to any suggestions.

I think that's the issue, there arent other sailings doing similar still going you can transfer to.

 

It's either take it or figure out how hard it is to cancel your air and hotel you booked ahead. 

 

Take the refund or just go and make the most of the new stops?

[unpackonce]

10 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

I think that's the issue, there arent other sailings doing similar still going you can transfer to.

 

It's either take it or figure out how hard it is to cancel your air and hotel you booked ahead. 

 

Take the refund or just go and make the most of the new stops?

I am looking at other cruise lines but can’t find much more interesting.

[cruisetorelax44]

9 hours ago, unpackonce said:

I am looking at other cruise lines but can’t find much more interesting.

We moved our cruise. But while our flights are non refundable,  we're allowed one change. We're considering changing the dares and doing a 4-5 day panama tour sometime next year instead...

[son3cruisers]

So the new “ enhanced “ sailings are showing online as able to book. 

Interesting addition, 

for our sailing, instead of departing / returning from Colon on Sat , there is an option to depart / return from Cartagena Sunday to Sunday. 

 

Edited August 17, 2023 by son3cruisers

[orville99]

On 8/15/2023 at 5:26 AM, cruisetorelax44 said:

We moved our cruise. But while our flights are non refundable,  we're allowed one change. We're considering changing the dares and doing a 4-5 day panama tour sometime next year instead...

The westbound canal transit from Miami to LA this November on Serenade now shows as having about a half dozen balcony cabins available as well as quite a few ocean view and interior cabins if that fits.

[Biker19]

43 minutes ago, son3cruisers said:

Interesting addition, 

for our sailing, instead of departing / returning from Colon on Sat , there is an option to depart / return from Cartagena Sunday to Sunday. 

The initial deployment already had her interporting - usually reserved for O class ships in the Med.

[smokeybandit]

52 minutes ago, son3cruisers said:

So the new “ enhanced “ sailings are showing online as able to book. 

Interesting addition, 

for our sailing, instead of departing / returning from Colon on Sat , there is an option to depart / return from Cartagena Sunday to Sunday. 

 

The itinerary I was on is the exact same price it was when it was canceled. Who's going to pay that?