Triumph murdered by Frances (Partially)

[lmondrop]

Well Folks....I was supposed to be leaving on my 7-day cruise Saturday (as you can see from my counddown clock). However, Frances has taken it upon herself to alter my vacation.

 

I'd like to take this moment to say that in the event of a natural disaster that Carnival has absolutely no control over...I feel that they have gone above and beyond thier duty to compensate its passengers.

 

I learned today that even though our cruise has been cut down to a 5 day cruise, losing one port of call, we are getting a 30% refund, $100 onboard credit, and 50% towards a future 7-day cruise. Needless to say that we have already chosen to go on the new Valor to the exotic Western Carribean , NEVER IN HURRICANE SEASON AGAIN.

 

I feel overly content that even though I was looking forward to a 7 day cruise we are still getting a 5 day cruise with all the emenities we could even ask for.

 

For now, I have worked feverishly helping my parents board up the house, bring everything in, and basically brace for the &*^%$ :mad: Frances who not only has altered my vacation but may take my house with it...:(

[christhree]

Why you don't book during hurricane seaon....

Hope yall are SAFE and back online soon...a little humor from my Carnival PVP:

Hurricane Preparation - The Real Story

 

I found the following in a local South Florida paper:

 

"We're about to enter the peak of the hurricane season. Any day now, you're going to turn on the TV and see a weather person pointing to some radar blob out in the Atlantic Ocean and making two basic meteorological points :

 

(1) There is no need to panic.

 

(2) We could all be killed.

 

Yes, hurricane season is an exciting time to be in Florida. If you're new to the area, you're probably wondering what you need to do to prepare! for the possibility that we'll get hit by "the big one." Based on our experiences, we recommend that you follow this simple three-step hurricane preparedness plan:

 

STEP 1: Buy enough food and bottled water to last your family for at least three days.

 

STEP 2: Put these supplies into your car.

 

STEP 3: Drive to Nebraska and remain there until Halloween.

 

Unfortunately, statistics show that most people will not follow this sensible plan. Most people will foolishly stay here in Florida.

 

We'll start with one of the most important hurricane preparedness

items:

 

HOMEOWNERS' INSURANCE:

 

If you own a home, you must have hurricane insurance. Fortunately, this insurance is cheap and easy to get, as long as your home meets two basic requirements:

 

(1) It is reasonably well-built, and

 

(2) It is located in Nebraska.

 

Unfortunately, if your home is located in Florida, or any other area that might actually be hit by a hurricane, most insurance companies would prefer not to sell you hurricane insurance, because then they might be required to pay YOU money, and that is certainly not why they got into the insurance business in the first place. So you'll have to scrounge around for an insurance company, which will charge you an annual premium roughly equal to the replacement value of your house. At any moment, this company can drop you like used dental floss. Since Hurricane George, I have had an estimated 27 different home-insurance companies. This week, I'm covered by the Bob and Big Stan Insurance Company, under a policy that states that, in addition to my premium, Bob and Big Stan are entitled, on demand, to my kidneys.

 

SHUTTERS:

 

Your house should have hurricane shutters on all the windows, all the doors, and-if it's a major hurricane-all the toilets. There are several types o! f shutters, with advantages and disadvantages:

 

Plywood shutters: The advantage is that, because you make them yourself, they're cheap. The disadvantage is that, because you make them yourself, they will fall off.

 

Sheet-metal shutters: The advantage is that these work well, once you get them all up. The disadvantage is that once you get them all up, your hands will be useless bleeding stumps, and it will be December.

 

Roll-down shutters: The advantages are that they're very easy to use, and will definitely protect your house. The disadvantage is that you will have to sell your house to pay for them.

Hurricane-proof windows: These are the newest wrinkle in hurricane protection: They look like ordinary windows, but they can withstand hurricane winds! You can be sure of this, because the salesman says so. He lives in Nebraska.

 

Hurricane Proofing your property: As the hurricane approaches, check your yard for movable objects like barbecue grills, planters, patio furniture, visiting relatives, etc...You should, as a precaution, throw these items into your swimming pool(if you don't have a swimming pool, you should have one built immediately). Otherwise, the hurricane winds will turn these objects into deadly missiles.

 

EVACUATION ROUTE:

 

If you live in a low-lying area, you should have an evacuation route planned out. (To determine whether you live in a low-lying area, look at your driver's license; if it says "Florida," you live in a low-lying area.) The purpose of having an evacuation route is to avoid being trapped in your home when a major storm hits. Instead, you will be trapped in a gigantic traffic jam several miles from your home, along with two hundred thousand other evacuees. So, as a bonus, you will not be lonely.

 

HURRICANE SUPPLIES:

 

If you don't evacuate, you will need a mess of supplies. Do not buy them now! Florida tradition requires that you wait until the last possible minute, then go to the supermarket and get into vicious fights with strangers over who gets the last can of SPAM. In addition to food and water, you will need the following supplies:

 

23 flashlights.

 

At least $167 worth of batteries that turn out, when the power goes off,

to be the wrong size for the flashlights.

 

Bleach. (No, I don't know what the bleach is

for. NOBODY knows what the bleach is for, but it's traditional, so GET some!)

 

55 gallon drum of underarm deodorant.

 

A big knife that you can strap to your leg.(This will be useless in a hurricane, but it looks cool.)

 

A large quantity of raw chicken to placate the alligators. (Ask anybody who went through Andrew; after the hurricane, there WILL be irate alligators.)

 

$35,000 in cash or diamonds so that, after the hurricane passes, you can buy a generator from a man with no! discernible teeth.

 

Of course these are just basic precautions. As the hurricane draws near, it is vitally important that you keep abreast of the situation by turning on your television and watching TV reporters in rain slickers stand right next to the ocean and tell you over and over how vitally important it is for everybody to stay away from the ocean.

 

Good luck, and remember: Its great living in Paradise.

 

Hope yall are ok

[jemingway]

When are you going on the Valor? We are going July 10.

[hilltopfamily]

:) Well, since I live in Nebraska, I found the posting by christhree especially funny!

 

Thanks for the laugh, and of course I had to copy/paste and send it to a few of my other Cornhusker buddies here, so thanks for that as well.

lmndrop: glad to hear Carnival is being pretty good about handling this for you. hope your house is spared.

[poolgal]

That is halarious! I had to copy and paste as well!

Thx for the much needed laugh

PG

[PammyHound]

I'd like to take this moment to say that in the event of a natural disaster that Carnival has absolutely no control over...I feel that they have gone above and beyond thier duty to compensate its passengers.

I couldn't agree with you more!! I was amazed at their generousity! The only thing I was disappointed to see was those passengers sailing on ships that were canceled all together, we not offered any type of compensation other then a full refund. I don't think that's appropriate at all. I know that's what trip insurance is for but trip insurance could also cover those itineraries that are being shortened, yet Carnival is bending over backwards to compensate them. Even offering to assist financially with costs incurred to reschule air, (up to $100) for those that booked their own air. It would've been nice to see Carnival offer some type of discount off of a future cruise to those people as well. JMHO.

[cruiserlisa]

Christhree, this is just hilarious. After going through all the preparations and anxiety waiting for this hurricane this was just what we all needed. Thanks.

Lisa :cool:

[lmondrop]

When are you going on the Valor? We are going July 10.

We are aiming for sometime in February or March.

[lmondrop]

I agree with you Pam. Becuase at least I get to go on my cruise...but those people are canceled all together with no option but a refund or a reschedule...

[gymbrat33]

lmondrop,

 

I'm sorry that your cruise will only be 5 days, but am glad that you received a 50% off your next cruise, a 30% refund on this cruise, and a $100 shipboard credit.

 

Were you watching channel 4 news last night here in Miami? This man's Carnival cruise was canceled. Then they asked everyone at the hotel where he was staying to evacuate. Since he couldn't fly home because of all the airports closing, he ended up going to a shelter. They were telling the locals to bring pillows and blankets for the tourists because there were a lot of them at the shelters.

[PammyHound]

Getting stranded would be no fun at all.

[serene56]

lmon: thats great they are offering you all that-- is that from Carnival or the Travel agent? Coz I see the 100.00 credit. and the 50% off next cruise.

[lmondrop]

lmon: thats great they are offering you all that-- is that from Carnival or the Travel agent? Coz I see the 100.00 credit. and the 50% off next cruise.

HI-

That's actually from Carnival themselves. It's posted on thier wbsite where the hurricane information is.

 

I think is great! We are planning our next cruise for sometime in March with the 50% discount.

[lmondrop]

Yes I was listening to that. Also I heard that it took hours for people to be able to get a bus or a cab just to get to the aiport. Those poor tourist!!

 

Wherebout in Miami are you?

[gymbrat33]

I'm in Kendall.

[lmondrop]

Funny...we are neighbors! I'm in Kendall as well...however my boyfriend lives in Coral Gables and I work in Coral Gables so I spend a lot of time here.

[IKE]

I think Carnival has been very fair to all their passengers whose cruise had to be altered in someway due to Hurricaine Frances. I know many people are disappointed but I would rather be safe than out on the seas with a hurricaine the size of Texas around me. We can always take another cruise. I am booked on the "Legend" end of Sept.out of NYC and the way this Hurricaine Season has turned out, I wished, but it too late,to cancel my cruise. I have sailed in Sept. since 1991 and have outrun hurricaines and navigated rough seas and survived without getting seasick. I hope my luck holds out for this upcoming Cruise. The Atlantic ordinarily is rough and then with this turbulent weather, I am very fearful. I have always gone out of Fla. in the past. Now I have 2 extra sea days both directions to deal with if We are caught up in another hurricaine. I keep praying all will be well for all of us on our Cruises this Fall Season. Ike

[IBEEMOM]

Christhree,

 

How funny and true. As a former Miamian I have seen a lot of what you described. By the way, the bleach is to purify water, if you have it, or to clean out the bath tub and fill it with water. That is what we did when I was a kid and before bottled water.

[Travelitis]

I'm not in FL, but I'm 6 ft BELOW sea level in the Gulf Coast area of TX, and am watching Ivan and hoping it dies soon. We were going to visit Jacksonville, FL this weekend but decided to stay home. I thought the hurricane preparations were hilarious!

 

I understand Carnival compensating passengers who get only a partial cruise, but hurricane season is common knowledge. I think a full refund or option to rebook when your cruise is cancelled is sufficient. If Carnival controlled the weather, then, yes, more compensation would be in order. The only one who could have legal liability that I know of is a TA if they didn't inform the client they were booking during hurricane season. There's a good reason for using a TA. They have legal liability to tell you about hurricane season, rainy season, etc. - any regular occurrance like that that could affect your trip.

[cruise pup]

Just read this. Very funny about Nebraska, but isn't that smack in the tornado belt?

[hstrybuf]

Yep, just north of us and in the tornado belt. The thing about tornados is that they come suddenly, do a lot of damage and then they're gone. I can't imagine living in Florida and waiting for days on end to see what Frances will do and how long she'll be around. My heart goes out to all of you in the path of this storm.

 

BTW, cute note on hurricane preparation.

[judyf]

I think CCL is doing a good thing for all the cruisers. At least you get a 5 day cruise and extra's to boot. I wouldn't mind that. I never cruise in Hurricane season my job is not that flexible to just switch dates. I also now always get the insurance and never did my first 4 cruises.