Too many ships?

[cruisin from florida]

We all know that cruise itineraries can change because of weather, etc. I was wondering if the sheer number of huge ships cruising these days is making the situation worse for passengers when this happens. If several mega-ships get diverted because of a storm, and they all end up in Nassau, the port is going to be overloaded, and everyone is going to have a less enjoyable experience. There are now just so many ships that carry so many passengers to the same areas, that when "stuff happens" it can really wreck the experience, rather than just be a "oh, we ended up in Cozumel instead of Belize, que sera, sera," kind of thing. Given the nature of cruising (stuff happens) and the continuing addition of megaships to the same itineraries, I think the chances that vacation experiences will be SUBSTANTIALLY, NEGATIVELY impacted by port changes may go up over the next few years. I'm wondering what the effect may be on the industry.

[yogimax]

We had a five night cruise turn nto a seven nighter two years ago because of a hurricane. We sat off the coast of Cuba for two days.

 

Was our experience "SUBSTANTIALLY, NEGATIVELY impacted?" Definitely not. We enjoyed the extra days.

[TexCruise371]

We used to try and do the excursion thing and still will do an occasional dive with a private outfit. Now, when we're in port we may get off the ship just to walk around or eat at a favorite place that we've found in the past. We just don't enjoy fighting the crowds anymore. We go on a cruise to enjoy the cruise and ship ........we love sea days and actually enjoy the ship more because it's not so crowded when everyone else is onshore. Only thing is.....the casino isn't open:rolleyes: . Gosh, we remember Cozumel when only one or two ships a week showed up. Now, that was nice!

[Madkitty]

We had a five night cruise turn nto a seven nighter two years ago because of a hurricane. We sat off the coast of Cuba for two days.

 

Was our experience "SUBSTANTIALLY, NEGATIVELY impacted?" Definitely not. We enjoyed the extra days.

 

wow bet that was fab :D

[TexCruise371]

We had a five night cruise turn nto a seven nighter two years ago because of a hurricane. We sat off the coast of Cuba for two days.

 

Was our experience "SUBSTANTIALLY, NEGATIVELY impacted?" Definitely not. We enjoyed the extra days.

 

Some people have all the "bad" luck :D

[cruisindoggie]

I would rather have sea days anyway

[Merion_Mom]

We really lucked out on the Enchantment this past week: Four ports, two other ships in two of them, one in the third, and no others at CocoCay, of course.

 

It really DOES make a better port experience when there are NOT 12 ships there! (happened in St. Thomas, not to us, but to others)

[tkportersat]

I was in Grand Cayman once where there were at least 8 ships, it was miserable. I believe I would have rather skipped it altogether and had a nice relaxing sea day instead. Unfortunately though, half the passengers would have been ticked off for skipping because we had already missed Key West. I am pretty sure it is a no win situation for the cruise lines, can't make everyone happy all of the time.

[TexCruise371]

I was in Grand Cayman once where there were at least 8 ships, it was miserable. I believe I would have rather skipped it altogether and had a nice relaxing sea day instead. Unfortunately though, half the passengers would have been ticked off for skipping because we had already missed Key West. I am pretty sure it is a no win situation for the cruise lines, can't make everyone happy all of the time.

 

If ya'll will excuse the expression, the cruise lines are "Damned if they do and damned if they don't!".

[Jay Bee]

We all know that cruise itineraries can change because of weather, etc. I was wondering if the sheer number of huge ships cruising these days is making the situation worse for passengers when this happens.

 

I know that when I plan my next cruise, I'm going to make sure to consider not only my intinerary but how many other ships are scheduled for each port. Of course, you can't plan for changes, but at least you can avoid a port that has 6 megas scheduled already, especially when you think of sharing a port day with a Genesis ship that could conceivably carry 6000 passengers. More the reason to consider a small ship that can get into ports that the big ones can't.

 

Jan

[The Big Booper]

That is one of the good points about a canal repo from LA to Fla, aside from sail-away day at LA where we saw the Diamond (and also at Cabo), we never saw another ship at any of the stops. No crowds at all and the Radiance had 2100 + pax with very few kiddies.

[leoandhugh]

you don't have to have bad weather to cause too many ships at one location. with all the ships sailing the Caribbean at this time of the year, there are just not enough ports - the huge new ships avoid the smaller islands as a rule. Just the other day, I counted 7 ships at Grand Cayman for one day and that is a port where everybody has to tender - there is no wharf. the tender back up trying to get passengers ashore from 7 ships was a nightmare. similar situation at StMaarten the other day - 4ships docked and 3 at anchor - you can just imagine what the streets and sidewalks in Phillipsburg were like. and it will just get worse with more and bigger ships. the Caribbean situation is relieved in the summer when the ships head to Europe and Alaska. even though the weather there is great at this time of the year, uncrowded shore excursions on small Caribbean islands and a quiet day at the beach have become non existent in the winter.:(

[ORANGEinINDY]

We had a five night cruise turn nto a seven nighter two years ago because of a hurricane. We sat off the coast of Cuba for two days.

 

Was our experience "SUBSTANTIALLY, NEGATIVELY impacted?" Definitely not. We enjoyed the extra days.

Sheeze... 2 days with no port... You should have gotten a significant refund, and a discount on your next cruise...

[BillOh]

Sheeze... 2 days with no port... You should have gotten a significant refund, and a discount on your next cruise...

 

Recognizing the up side of this, and your obvious sarcastic humor (appropriate) I wonder how difficult handling all the flight changes were. I could handle calling the boss and telling him I was stuck at sea.

[cruisin from florida]

It really DOES make a better port experience when there are NOT 12 ships there! (happened in St. Thomas, not to us, but to others)

 

12 ships in St. Thomas - yikes! We were in Nassau on the Sovereign when a tropical storm or hurricane (forget which - this was around July 8 of '05) forced several ships into Nassau. We took a picture as our snorkeling boat was coming back - two Voyager class ships, a couple of the BIG Carnival ships, the Sovereign... It must have been a mess for those who had been diverted.

 

I know that diversions happen for many reasons, and it's possible to enjoy the unexpected port. But at some point, you have to wonder if another day at sea might be more enjoyable than a completely overloaded port (at least the casino would be open!) And as the possibility of more and more megaships docking unexpectedly at overcrowded ports increases, maybe the powers that be will consider the extra day at sea option, or look harder for other alternate ports.

 

Then again, as they say, any port in a storm!

[weebo]

I hear all of you mention how many ships are at different ports... How do you know what ships are at what ports when? Is this of all the different cruise lines?

 

I guess there must be a link... can someone post it for me!? :)

 

Thanks, Weebo

[caviargal]

Recognizing the up side of this, and your obvious sarcastic humor (appropriate) I wonder how difficult handling all the flight changes were. I could handle calling the boss and telling him I was stuck at sea.

 

When I got a "bonus" day on a cruise in the 90s due to a hurricane, the airline situation was miserable. We were dumped at San Juan airport and received no help whatsoever from Princess since we had done our own air. We sat there for over 12 hours trying to get home and paid a large premium to do so, along with many others. We could not get a hotel room as many ships were in the same situation.

 

While some might consider an extended cruise a bonus, it really depends on the circumstances. High winds and torrential rains are not my idea of fun on land or at sea and dealing with the travel aftermath can be awful.

[Jay Bee]

I hear all of you mention how many ships are at different ports... How do you know what ships are at what ports when? Is this of all the different cruise lines?

 

I guess there must be a link... can someone post it for me!? :)

 

Thanks, Weebo

 

http://www.cruisecal.com

 

Jan

[cruisin from florida]

Wow - 6 ships in St. Maarten today. Definitely a website worth visiting if overcrowded ports are something you want to avoid.

[superjerryw]

12 ships in St Thomas, 6 ships in St Marten, too crowded, probably. Say what you will, but I would rather be in St Thomas with 12 ships than at work. A bad day cruising is always better than a good day at work......:rolleyes:

[superjerryw]

Seriously though, this is just part of the continuing dumbing down of the cruise experience. Just as the shipboard experience is not what it used to be, the port experience is not what it used to be either. The reality is that overloading the ports is a money making proposition for everyone. The ports get more revenue in terms of port taxes. The local merchants sell more since there are more cruise ship passengers. The cruise lines sell more shore excursions, "welcome to the island" photos, etc. As long as the ships continue to sail full the cruise lines will continue to do what they are doing. If the passengers were really unhappy they would not continue to cruise. By continuing to cruise we are giving a stamp of approval to what is going on. There is no point in changing your business model when you are making lots of money.

[cruisin from florida]

12 ships in St Thomas, 6 ships in St Marten, too crowded, probably. Say what you will, but I would rather be in St Thomas with 12 ships than at work. A bad day cruising is always better than a good day at work......:rolleyes:

 

There are lots of things better than a good day at work. For me, a good day at home with a good book is better than a good day at work. I have higher hopes for an expensive cruise than that it beats a day at work. Maybe bad day cruising versus good day at home should be our barometer....

[caviargal]

There are lots of things better than a good day at work. For me, a good day at home with a good book is better than a good day at work. I have higher hopes for an expensive cruise than that it beats a day at work.

 

I could not agree more:).

[Lightsluvr]

So many ships.... so little time... ;)

 

LL

[superjerryw]

Maybe bad day cruising versus good day at home should be our barometer....

 

How de we define a good day at home. Would that be a day when I'm home but my wife is out all day.....:D