November 8th Sailing of the Magic News!!

[LivingtheWDWdream]

Just went to DCL's website for a different matter but for those sailing on the November 8th Cruise they have modified the Itinerary!

November 8, 2008, Disney Magic sailing:
- Saturday — Port Canaveral, Florida
- Sunday — Day at Sea
- Monday — Costa Maya, Mexico
- Tuesday — Cozumel, Mexico
- Wednesday — Grand Cayman The Cayman Islands
- Thursday — Day at Sea
- Friday — Castaway Cay, The Bahamas
- Saturday — Port Canaveral, Florida

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/dcl/en_US/general/specialMessage?name=SpecialMessagePage

Hope this helps everyone plan!

[lbgraves]

LOL! Well, since most are on their way to the port in some fashion they will get a surprise when they check in tomorrow. :)

[LivingtheWDWdream]

Yep and for those who might check in online here tonight or tomorrow can be prepared. I didn't know trying to be helpful was funny since I travel with a laptop and a blackberry to stay connected for business and for downtimes to have something to do, thought others might do so as well.

Hopefully the seas won't be too bad for them and the ports are not overly crowded!

[slindamood]

For an Eastern cruise, Mexico is quite a change!!

[MelissaE1]

Thanks OP! Since I happen to know one of those people in real life, I just spoke to her at the Radisson and she will let anyone else in their DIS group that she runs into know about the change. :)

As an aside, here's a DIS story on how I met above mentioned person: We ran into each other on a totally random Disney Cruise thread (not a cruise meet one) and in a strange series of events found that not only do we live within a half hour of each other, we went to grade school together for four years 2,000 miles away from here! Only on the DIS!

[disneyfaninaz]

For an Eastern cruise, Mexico is quite a change!!

Yep, thats what happens when a hurricane is brewing in Eastern Caribbean waters.

[bmalonef45]

I'd be surprised if they make a stop at Grand Cayman since it was just hit by the hurricane. What bad timing. I'm sure all the cruisers were thinking that they booked late enough to miss the bulk of the storms.

[mommasita]

I'd be surprised if they make a stop at Grand Cayman since it was just hit by the hurricane. What bad timing. I'm sure all the cruisers were thinking that they booked late enough to miss the bulk of the storms.

I agree. Cayman took a bad hit, and it would be surprising to stop there. You never know. I would not book any excursions (on my own) there in advance.

[shoes99]

I called my family members on this cruise and told them to be prepared that they are going West to Mexico. I called them at 10AM and they were still at Old Key West and did not know about the itinerary change, but they did know about the storm.

[CastleCreations]

When did the hurricane hit? We were just there a few days ago...it was raining when we left. We didn't have a weather channel on our stateroom tv...

[Mom2PrincessesLinSy]

Yep, we got out of the Cayman Islands just in time!! Geez, I knew we had downpours, but you would have thought the tour dudes would have said there was a hurricane coming!!

Glad I didn't find out til Thursday evening when Brent:lovestruc told us at the show. I missed the Captain's announcement on Wed. about it!!:sad2: Probably for the better though, or I would have been packed up ready for the life boats!!:rotfl:

I didn't think they were going to Costa Maya anymore though? I hope they can have a good time in Grand Cayman!!

[CarolynU]

Apparently not doing Grand Cayman but now have two stops in Castaway Cay, one tomorrow and one Friday as well as Cozumel and Costa Maya.
Oh and my son is on there on his honeymoon, and he is pleased that they are making two stops at Castaway Cay because last year he was going to propose to his fiancee at Castaway Cay, but there was a hurricane and they couldn't berth there! Keep everything crossed that this cruise isn't ruined for him and his new wife.

[lbgraves]

I think that two stops at CC would be a great way to improve any cruise! :)

[mmackeymouse]

Man I would be devastated if that was my cruise. Don't get me wrong, I am sure I would have a blast.

And, if you think about it, you are getting 4 ports for the price of 3, a Western for the price of an Eastern. And I am sure it is a blast either way.

But, coming from a family of obsessive planners, it would be really really hard to adjust. Not only would we have to cancel all reservations and excursions through the old ports, but we'd have to scramble to find excursions at the new ports (if they'd even be available last minute.) unless we want to do excursions through DCL.

I am trying to keep myself open, and half prepared that a port could be changed. But, the entire itenerary? That would really be throwing me for a loop.

[nobodycares]

Wow, what a surprise for the guests booked on the 11/8 Magic. We were on 11/1 through 11/8 and had spectacular weather in Cozumel and again at Castaway Cay, with one very, very rainy day in Grand Cayman.

The crew said that the week before 11/1/08 the weather was bad all week, and then the week after (the 11/8 sailing) had the total change in itinerary because of the hurricane.

Hope they were able to make the best of it, but I can certainly see where some people would be upset. So much careful planning goes into a trip like this and that is a huge change for the guests.

Hope they don't take it out on the crew, who were wonderful. Blame Mother Nature but spare the crew.

[Eric, Julie and Hailey]

The crew said that the week before 11/1/08 the weather was bad all week, and then the week after (the 11/8 sailing) had the total change in itinerary because of the hurricane.



I was on that 10/25 to 11/1 sailing. The weather was on and off all week. It rained half days at CC, but the other half of the days were very nice. We skipped GC due to winds, but had a nice day at Key West instead. Cozumel was windy, but warm enough to enjoy. The sea days were not ideal, but not bad either.

[Kim in TN]

Yep, we got out of the Cayman Islands just in time!! Geez, I knew we had downpours, but you would have thought the tour dudes would have said there was a hurricane coming!!

Glad I didn't find out til Thursday evening when Brent:lovestruc told us at the show. I missed the Captain's announcement on Wed. about it!!:sad2: Probably for the better though, or I would have been packed up ready for the life boats!!:rotfl:

I didn't think they were going to Costa Maya anymore though? I hope they can have a good time in Grand Cayman!!

We had seemed to time everything in the Caymans well, UNTIL we got on the tender boat back to the ship, and it came a downpour and we got DROWNED. We were soaked! The wind was blowing the rain even harder and there was no where to go. We heard the Captains speech. :scared1:

On a side note did you see the tender boat racing up to the Carnival and delivering some late passengers while it was still moving? :boat:

[trimix]

We had seemed to time everything in the Caymans well, UNTIL we got on the tender boat back to the ship, and it came a downpour and we got DROWNED. We were soaked! The wind was blowing the rain even harder and there was no where to go. We heard the Captains speech. :scared1:

I have to ask - what do you mean about hearing the Captain's speech?

[Kim in TN]

Just that the tropical depression, had turned into a tropical storm and was turning into a hurricane and was headed towards the Caymans and Cuba if it continued on its path.

[madelinesmum]

Others may disagree but....as long as I don't miss Castaway Cay, I'm good to go. I know there are folks that have done Western and may want a change but I think I'd just be happy to be on board.

[shoes99]

Others may disagree but....as long as I don't miss Castaway Cay, I'm good to go. I know there are folks that have done Western and may want a change but I think I'd just be happy to be on board.
I think they went to Castaway Cay on the first stop, and will be going again on the last stop, an unscheduled double dip.......

[#1 goof]

Did thay go to GC?:confused3

[Mozart]

The Nov 8th cruise went like this:

Sunday - Castaway Cay
Monday - At Sea
Tuesday - Cozumel
Wednesday - Costa Maya
Thursday - At Sea with a stop offshore Key West for a medical emergency
Friday - Castaway Cay

Very few people onboard were happy with the change in itinerary, most more than a little annoyed. But unlike other times I've heard about, I saw no bad behavior as a result.

[disneyfaninaz]

As much as we'd like to think that DCL controls the weather, they don't and mother nature happens! I hope these people who were upset, understand that sometimes itineraries have to be changed and they should make the most of it.

Hope you had a great cruise Mozart, looking forward to reading your report.

[Chiefos]

Yes I do agree some times they need to change but this storm was closer to the ship when it changed to the western then it would have been if it went on its true eastern. In my opinion alot of people did feel it was a bad call on the Captains part. It was still a Disney cruise so most of the time I could look by this call and still have a great time.

[cheeringmom]

Thanks OP! Since I happen to know one of those people in real life, I just spoke to her at the Radisson and she will let anyone else in their DIS group that she runs into know about the change. :)

As an aside, here's a DIS story on how I met above mentioned person: We ran into each other on a totally random Disney Cruise thread (not a cruise meet one) and in a strange series of events found that not only do we live within a half hour of each other, we went to grade school together for four years 2,000 miles away from here! Only on the DIS!Yeah Melissa and thanks!!!!!!! as I told Melissa, I was the hottest ticket at the Radisson since I knew the scoop. But it changed a little the next day as Mozart said. And I think the Captain did a fine job keeping us on calm seas. The weather was perfect. Couldn't have been better. And it was a little upsetting to do research on a specific place only to go to another but heck, it happens. The excursions desk was full of helpful cast memebers armed with info. My daughter got an unplanned swim with the dolphins. She was happy with that! I had a great time and I am sure most of the Dis'ers did too!

[Family-of-4]

This was our first ever cruise, so we had no problem with the change. I saw absolutely no rude behavior on board about the change and everyone seemed to have a great time, but I don't really have anything to compare it to. The crew was incredible!