LIVE from Explorer with a bad propellor 2/1/09

[MaryZ]

They really won't know til they get a better look at the prop. I looked at other cruises as well for this time period just in case...

 

no news is good news, but keep your fingers crossed....

 

 

Well I hope your weather gets better. It should when you get to St thomas.

 

We have our backup plans ready to go.

[wrp96]

 

So we are going to try and fix the prop AND the capp machine....you can't believe how many people are freaking out over no cappuccino in the CL!!!:D:p

 

Oh I can. Don't want to make those Diamond cruisers mad.;) Glad they gave you a break from rowing to come post on CC.

[upsers]

I'm new to posting so I don't even know if this will come out right. We're sailing on the EOS on 2/22/09. Just hope that they get it fixed by then. Can you let us know what happens after St. Thomas? Oh yeah, I'm one of those people that would be freaking over the cappacino machine in the CL!

[alwalaska]

Sailwx.info charts out the Explorer due east of Jacksonville,Fl this am

N 31 00' W 073 30'

 

If you look at the date, this is where the Explorer was in December of 2007, not today.

[alwalaska]

Meg,

 

Thanks again for the updates.

 

You said embarkation was easy. What time did you get to the port and how was the traffic getting in?

 

Thanks.

[luv2travel29]

keeping my fingers crossed for my sailing next friday... meg: sounds like you are having crappy weather.....:( i hope it is better than the snow we are having on long island....

[mom2NnB]

Did anyone on the current cruise bring on non alcholic drinks? Someone on my Roll Call said they called and was told you can't bring on non alcoholic drinks. Is this another new rule? I was planning on SF juice and water. Please advise if I should empty the bag.

[whadyanuts]

Hi Meg!

 

...play those progressive pennies on that back wall. very very hot machines. the progressive paid three times in one day for over a thousand each time.

 

Where exactly are they. If you are entering casino from "glass floor" heading toward front of ship, where are the machines? i.e. midway through on left, etc. What else is near them? How did I miss them!? They are penny machines?

[whadyanuts]

On our Dec 21st Explorer 12 nighter I brought 6 12 Packs of Diet Dr. Pepper. Taped 4 12 packs together and slapped a 8x 10 piece of paper with our name sailing date, ship, cabin # to it and gave it to the porter with the luggage, (did the same with 2 12 packs going to my daughter's room). They all arrived safely without any interferrence.

 

Don't know if things changed as of the 1st of the year.

[Demongear]

OK I'm outta here...will try for pix...as for a new captain....again, if it was human error and happened on his watch.....regardless of who cause it, the captain is still responsible.....

 

that said..we don't have all the facts.....i try to find out what i can......but it's hard to get all the info!

 

anyway..................see y'all later...fight nice!:)

 

 

I was on the previous sailing. My wife and I were on our Aft Balcony (starboard side) when everything happened. The ship was in the middle of the channel markers (could the markers have been in the wrong spot?). After the incident the wake in the rear of the ship was off and churning funny.(Usually center)

[jkpetronis]

Wow!!! On the ship from Sunday till Friday before being able to get off!!!! All I can say is WOW!!! Hope they make the best of it. And hope they get this problem fixed soon!!

 

Patty

 

RCCL never should have sailed that ship on Sunday the 1st, it's going so slow they are going to miss soo much!! I feel awful for thoes people!! RCCL KNEW the ship was broke and they sailed it anyway!! Whoever made that decision made the wrong one in my opinion!!

[Rancher Dave]

I was on the previous sailing. My wife and I were on our Aft Balcony (starboard side) when everything happened. The ship was in the middle of the channel markers (could the markers have been in the wrong spot?). After the incident the wake in the rear of the ship was off and churning funny.(Usually center)

 

 

So did they hit a submarine? :D That only comes to mind because as we were heading out of Norfolk a USNS Sub came up on the radio and asked us to move over close to the side so they could pass without our punching a hole in their sail. No problem, we didn't want to sink either...

 

 

Really though if it was something in the channel I'd think it would close the channel or they would have been down and recovered the item and somewhere we could find what that was.

 

Oh well, glad I was not on the bridge...

[aloha43]

RCCL never should have sailed that ship on Sunday the 1st, it's going so slow they are going to miss soo much!! I feel awful for thoes people!! RCCL KNEW the ship was broke and they sailed it anyway!! Whoever made that decision made the wrong one in my opinion!!

 

What should have they done?

In your opinion.....what was the alternative?

Cancel the 2/1 sailing at the last minute after everyone was on board, or while people were already on their way traveling to the port?

 

IMO - I would rather be on a slow sailing ship enjoying the only vacation time I will get this year, then have them cancel our cruise. (Besides that....it is a 50th birthday celebration and a retirement celebration on the same day....that would have been awful.)

 

I'm sure they would have refunded the cruise fare, and maybe get part of the airfare back, I would lose vacation time (saved 2 years worth for a 2 week trip that would be GONE), and the anticipation for 2 years prior to sailing.

 

I would rather go and enjoy my vacation. :)

[jkpetronis]

I called RC Sunday night and my TA called yesterday afternoon also and we were assured our cruise (2/13) will definitely go on and so far no ports have been canceled.

 

I wouldn't count on going to all ports...I came off the EOS on Sunday and we missed Labadee b/c we hit a Reef and we had to cruise on only 3 props not 4. We went soooo slow. They have YET to fix this prop with another set of cruisers on board. We were told the only way to fix a broken prop is DRY dock and I highly doubt they will do this in St. Thomas. If they coulod fix it, why didnt they fix in in NJ when we docked at 3:00 am Sunday morning??? I would try to cancel and get money back to reschedule. Trust me, I didnt feel safe, we were going so slow...what happens if another prop goes??? Only 2 props then?!?! RCCL is not going to tell you the truth they don't want bad press....Just make a good decision. If you want a 9 day cruise with 4 ports you most likley wont get it and the $100 they are offering isn't enough to compenstate.

[sprite]

jkpetronis - like aloha43 says, would should they have done? Cancelled the entire cruise or skip ONE port? Or did I miss the news that they cancelled another stop?

 

BTW - there's already been discussion on the board that the water was too murky in NJ and they're headed to St. Thomas where it will be clear. Who told you that it could only be fixed by dry dock?

 

And, they don't have to give anyone any compensation for a missed port so you're lucky you got anything.

[SI Cruiser]

Royal is not going to cancel a cruise with the stock in the $6 range and their recent rating drop to junk status.

 

Cancelling a cruise normally costs them $.02 per share and with them already projecting a $.30 loss for the quarter they are not going to risk being worse than that.

 

In tough times big corporations lose their ability to think straight. Royal would rather gamble on 2 screws(props) getting them home versus the alternative of cancelling.

[Beachcombers]

Hello Meg Dahlin'......boy...never thought I'd be posting to you and all the "gang" regarding this damn problem...but thanks for keeping us "up to speed"....so to speak....:D

I can't believe you're all going thru this...Peter and I are beginning to think maybe "we knew something the Captain didn't" when we had to cancel this cruise.....but you're such a wonderful group of folks on our 'Explorer Thread" that we know you're making the best of it....and enjoying each other.....please give hugs to you and Mom, Alice & Steve, Carl & Ginny, Nora & Dan, and all the rest of the fantastic gang....we miss talking to you all 'daily'....and know you're all making the best of a miserable situation....keep on sluggin' kiddo....we're having a couple of Martinis for you all tonight:);)...hope you're doing the same!:cool:..

Look forward to more news from "Reporter Meg"....hope your seas are smoother and all works out for the best.:)

Hugs to all the gang, Loie and Peter xxoo

[mom2NnB]

Jkpetronis:

 

Thanks for the advice, but like aloha said, I will not cancel and as I've discussed on here, there is too many factors for us to be able to rebook this cruise. I do not care about the ports that much. I love the idea of just being onboard. That is only my opinion, but I do appreciate your concern. :)

[sluggo]

I for one wish everyone currently sailing the best of luck given the conditions. I had to let my wife know this afternoon about this topic - we will be on the 3/6 sailing with our 4 kids (first time for them). Hoping that things will get cleared up by that time. Missing one port won't bug me, missing the whole thing will be another story :(:mad:

[crisndeefromde]

Where exactly are they. If you are entering casino from "glass floor" heading toward front of ship, where are the machines? i.e. midway through on left, etc. What else is near them? How did I miss them!? They are penny machines?

 

there are 5 penny machines on a wall that have a progressive linked to each of them. when you enter casino and the cashier is to the left, these machines are on wall to the very right....the casino office is right by them and the 2cent fishing machines are right by them too.....very very good pays...all of them....

[FIRELT5]

I wouldn't count on going to all ports...I came off the EOS on Sunday and we missed Labadee b/c we hit a Reef and we had to cruise on only 3 props not 4. We went soooo slow. They have YET to fix this prop with another set of cruisers on board. We were told the only way to fix a broken prop is DRY dock and I highly doubt they will do this in St. Thomas. If they coulod fix it, why didnt they fix in in NJ when we docked at 3:00 am Sunday morning??? I would try to cancel and get money back to reschedule. Trust me, I didnt feel safe, we were going so slow...what happens if another prop goes??? Only 2 props then?!?! RCCL is not going to tell you the truth they don't want bad press....Just make a good decision. If you want a 9 day cruise with 4 ports you most likley wont get it and the $100 they are offering isn't enough to compenstate.

 

You actually Docked at 0601 in Cape Liberty on 2/1/09. :)

[SouthernSparkler]

Hey there -- sounds like you are taking it all in stride & still making the most of your cruise! Was just wondering what the CD is doing to make the cruise more enjoyable? What kind of activities are they adding to the compass or what is there to keep you entertained for an extra day at sea?

 

Oh -- and the most important thing I want to know for my upcoming cruise! How is the DJ in the Chamber?? We really enjoyed spending time there on our Halloween cruise but wonder if its still enjoyable. Thanks in advance!!

[gatour]

I wouldn't count on going to all ports...I came off the EOS on Sunday and we missed Labadee b/c we hit a Reef and we had to cruise on only 3 props not 4. We went soooo slow. They have YET to fix this prop with another set of cruisers on board. We were told the only way to fix a broken prop is DRY dock and I highly doubt they will do this in St. Thomas. If they coulod fix it, why didnt they fix in in NJ when we docked at 3:00 am Sunday morning??? I would try to cancel and get money back to reschedule. Trust me, I didnt feel safe, we were going so slow...what happens if another prop goes??? Only 2 props then?!?! RCCL is not going to tell you the truth they don't want bad press....Just make a good decision. If you want a 9 day cruise with 4 ports you most likley wont get it and the $100 they are offering isn't enough to compenstate.

 

You were told by a WAITER that the only way they could fix a prop is by going into dry dock. That is like having a dentist tell you that to fix your heart problem is to remove the heart.

 

Losing 1 out of 4 props will not cause a dangerous situation. It will just delay your arrival. If you look at some of the maps of the Caribbean, some of the islands are relatively close together so the ship will "go around in circles" between ports.

[MaryZ]

You were told by a WAITER that the only way they could fix a prop is by going into dry dock. That is like having a dentist tell you that to fix your heart problem is to remove the heart.

 

Losing 1 out of 4 props will not cause a dangerous situation. It will just delay your arrival. If you look at some of the maps of the Caribbean, some of the islands are relatively close together so the ship will "go around in circles" between ports.

 

There are only 3 engines/props on the Explorer.

 

And it sails the Atlantic.

[cruz4evr]

I was on the 1/23 cruise and have to agree with Aloha and Sprite. RC made the right decision in not cancelling the February 1 cruise and the compensation we received for missing one beach day in Labadee was adequate. Perhaps other cruise lines wouldn't even give one.

 

As for feeling unsafe on the ship with only 2 propellers, I never did and the fact that the we were travelling at a reduced speed did not bother me at all. One has to remember that the Captain was in contact with officials from RC in Miami regarding this mishap and was more than likely advised as to the best solution to the problem as well as the safety of its passengers and crew. :)