Itinerary change on current Western

[february_magic]

We are presently sailing on the Magic (7-night Western). Yesterday afternoon the captain made an announcement over the PA regarding an itinerary change. We also got an insert in our evening Navigator. This is what it says:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Due to the anticipated weather and sea conditions forecasted to be near the island of Grand Cayman on Wednesday, we have been informed that it is unlikely that the port will operate the tender service to go ashore. Therefore, instead of visiting Grand Cayman tomorrow, we will sail toward fair weather and favorable sea conditions and spend the day at sea. On Thursday, we will visit Nassau followed by our regular call at Disney's Castaway Cay on Friday.

... <snip> ...

While we realize that this itinerary change may be disappointing to some, we hope you understand that the safety and well-being of our guests and crew members is our highest priority. "

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In his announcement, the Captain mentioned the incident two weeks ago when the Magic could not undock from Castaway Cay. He said that they have decided they should try to be more proactive to avoid such events.

This itinerary change doesn't really bother us, as we had no excursions planned in GC anyway. Actually, in our party of 12, there are several of us who find tendering difficult due to mobility issues, so it's just as well. GC was the only port in which we were going to have to tender. So today we can enjoy a sea day, and tomorrow, just walk off the boat onto Nassau.

How common is it to have these weather-related itinerary changes??

 

[mammacaryn]

We are presently sailing on the Magic (7-night Western). Yesterday afternoon the captain made an announcement over the PA regarding an itinerary change. We also got an insert in our evening Navigator. This is what it says:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Due to the anticipated weather and sea conditions forecasted to be near the island of Grand Cayman on Wednesday, we have been informed that it is unlikely that the port will operate the tender service to go ashore. Therefore, instead of visiting Grand Cayman tomorrow, we will sail toward fair weather and favorable sea conditions and spend the day at sea. On Thursday, we will visit Nassau followed by our regular call at Disney's Castaway Cay on Friday.

... <snip> ...

While we realize that this itinerary change may be disappointing to some, we hope you understand that the safety and well-being of our guests and crew members is our highest priority. "

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In his announcement, the Captain mentioned the incident two weeks ago when the Magic could not undock from Castaway Cay. He said that they have decided they should try to be more proactive to avoid such events.

This itinerary change doesn't really bother us, as we had no excursions planned in GC anyway. Actually, in our party of 12, there are several of us who find tendering difficult due to mobility issues, so it's just as well. GC was the only port in which we were going to have to tender. So today we can enjoy a sea day, and tomorrow, just walk off the boat onto Nassau.

How common is it to have these weather-related itinerary changes??

How was Key West and Cozumel?

 

[MassDisLovers]

BOY! The Magic has had it's share of challenges the past few weeks - stuck at CC, shortened cruise, now this. Lotsof stress for the crew/staff as well as passengers. They must be more than ready for a incident-free sailing!

 

[scrapycruiser]

BOY! The Magic has had it's share of challenges the past few weeks - stuck at CC, shortened cruise, now this. Lotsof stress for the crew/staff as well as passengers. They must be more than ready for a incident-free sailing!

Yes, and I hope it's ours ! We sail this Sat on the Magic !!

 

[MassDisLovers]

Yes, and I hope it's ours ! We sail this Sat on the Magic !!

Well good luck - I hope it's yours too! I was on the shortened/missed St. Maarten Eastern after the stuck-at-Castaway Cay Western!

 

[scrapycruiser]

Thanks ! I'll report back when we get home !

 

[has]

Winter months are common for rough waters. But a day a sea, YIPPEE!!!!!

 

[tecdavidt]

We have been on a western cruise 4 times, not all DCL, and in those 4 times only could stop at GC once. My experience tells me missing GC for rough waters for tenders is not uncommon. Also all of those cruises were in the winter months so that probably has a lot to do with it. Kathy

 

[TIGGER/POOH4]

How common is it to have these weather-related itinerary changes??

We ended up in Nassua last October (2009) instead of St Thomas in order to avoid Hurricane Omar. We were disappointed since we have been to Nassau twice before but the weather was very nice in Nassau compared to hurricane force winds in St Thomas .

 

[E&BMom]

Be glad to not be tendering in bad weather. On our Western cruise a few years ago we docked in Grand Cayman to beautiful weather. We tendered in, did the Stingray encounter and came back to Disney having to move their checkin tent for tendering due to freak wave. They suspended tendering indefinitely. Apparently some freak waves had come ashore. then they moved us to a loading dock for cargo ships. We got on a tender pretty early and the waves were so bad that the boat almost flipped. One of the ropes holding us snapped. The CM's that had the day off were helping people get on the tender between swells. Then getting on Magic was scary too. They had 2 people run at a time between swells. We actually left 5 hours late that night due to trying to get people back to the ship. People waited on the loading dock for a long time. Disney did bring out food and water. The Magic and another ship next to us actually turned sideways to try to help block the waves. It was very scary but not anyone's fault (but the weather). Disney worked hard to make it ok.


I am happy that they take bad weather seriously after having that bad experience.

 

[kcashner]

Grand Cayman has a lot of weather issues. We missed it on at least 3 Westerns...2 due to lack of ability to tender, one because a hurricane had devastated the island and closed it to all tourist traffic. In our cases, it became a sea day...no alternate ports. Can't say much for the Nassau stop on your schedule, but such is life.

However, we've been on other cruises that had to change route due to weather--it happens, and DCL does a good job of making the best of it.

OH...this is another reason to schedule thru reputable excursion companies. Anything booked thru DCL will not be charged (will be refunded to your KTTW card). Captain Marvin's will not charge your credit card if your ship is unable to get in for any reason.

 

[lar32]

so I never realized some western itineraries stop in Nassau. Is Nassau in place of GC and then you will continue on to Cozumel and Castaway Cay? I've heard it is a common theme with Grand Cayman that the tender company chooses not to work even in the slightest chance of bad weather. Better to be safe than sorry I guess but you'd think the loss of tourist spending could cripple them. We were on the recent extra day cruise and were totally bummed to have to be back on the ship by 2:30 at Grand Cayman considering the reason we chose the western itinerary was for Grand Cayman. It was especially hard when you looked out that morning to such a beautiful day... Luckily our tour to Stingray City still turned out fabulous but I was stressing for a couple hours now knowing if we'd be able to do it.

 

[son3disfan]

We were on the Magic Feb. 6th sailing.( The cruise that never ended).

We were able to make it in to Grand Caymen, but all excursions through Disney were cancelled because "TENDERS WERE GOING TO STOP RUNNING AT 2:00pm DUE TO UPCOMING WEATHER"
People were really upset, because the weather was beautiful. Even at 2:00. Tenders managed to run until 3:00. Still good weather. Line ups were huge to get back on the ship, as well as other ships in port.

I think Disney is really playing it safe, as they had "lots of explaining to do" to passengers when the weather was so good, and their excursions were cancelled.

We booked through Fat Fish tours (thank goodness) and we were able to still go, and be back in time.

 

[elgerber]

We ended up in Nassua last October (2009) instead of St Thomas in order to avoid Hurricane Omar. We were disappointed since we have been to Nassau twice before but the weather was very nice in Nassau compared to hurricane force winds in St Thomas .

LOL, seems like yesterday, but it was 2008. We didn't mind the move, as we really didn't want to get up early for customs the next day!

 

[tigger2002]

It looks like there is a huge storm right over Grand Cayman right now. Maybe it will move about before we get there in two weeks.

,

 

[DisFamily10]

It looks like there is a huge storm right over Grand Cayman right now. Maybe it will move about before we get there in two weeks.

,

I second your thoughts tigger2002. Here's to a uneventful, relaxing cruise. 9 days to go.

 

[HallsofVA]

How common is it to have these weather-related itinerary changes??

We've done 2 Western cruises, both in December (2005 & 2008), and had beautiful weather in Grand Cayman both times, with no problems tendering. Our 2005 Western was diverted to Costa Maya instead of Cozumel because of the hurricane that had wiped out Cozumel that November. Originally they were going to divert us to Nassau, but the day we boarded they informed us of the schedule change to go to Costa Maya instead.

Unfortunately, when the Western diverts to Nassau, it changes the whole schedule around since they have to flop the sea day and port day, which results in people scrambling to move Palo, nursery and excursion reservations.