08/20/2005 Panama Canal... Did you get the letter?

[LibertyBelle]

We got the letter yesterday in the mail stating that they changed the itinerary for the 14 night Panama Canal (LA/Port Canaveral) sailing. Nothing major I guess on their part, but they cut out the stop to Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala and are now going to over night in Acapulco. Not sure how I feel about that. When I sail I like to be taken to different ports of call, I am not a big fan of sea days as I like to see different places. As it stands the sailing had 7 sea days and now it will have 8. Hum... The price is still excellent for a 14 night sailing and the group on board should be a great one (since it seems to be the die hards that had the patience to wait in the phone que for hours just to book)... Anyone else get the letter? Does it bother anyone else?? Am I being stupid to let it bug me? I know the trip will be a blast and it is a great opportunity to do something completely different but 8 sea days on on a 14 night cruise??? Oye.

 

[webray]

Haven't received a letter..only going what I heard from other boards.

Are you on the west to east 14 day.

It was reported that the east to west 14 day added mazatlan to their itinerary to replace puerto quetzal. We however were not thrilled with that either..since we are doing the 14 day and mex. back to back...ugh.

 

[LibertyBelle]

Yes we are on the West to East (From LA to Port Canaveral in August). The current itinerary that they sent us yesterday is as follows:

Aug 20 Depart LA
Aug 21 Day at Sea
Aug 22 Cabo San Lucas
Aug 23 Day At Sea
Aug 24 Acapulco (overnight)
Aug 25 Morning departure/Day at Sea... this is where Puerto Quetzal was to be
Aug 26 Day at Sea
Aug 27 Day At Sea
Aug 28 Travel through the Panama Canal
Aug 29 Day at Sea
Aug 30 Curacao
Aug 31 Day at Sea
Sept 1 Day at Sea
Sept 2 Castaway Cay
Sept 3 Arrive Port Canaveral

So in reality if you count the Panama Canal (since you won't be getting off the ship that is actually 9 days at sea.... with 5 consecutive).

 

[wide awake]

We haven't received the letter yet but I knew about the change from the boards. I am not at all happy about it...emailed customer service and got back a thanks for your input note. We are still doing the cruise but I too like to see different things, and sleeping in Acapulco doesn't sound like much fun to me. If I wanted to spend the night I'd rent a hotel. I'm thinking all those sea days could be a problem for those with kids.

 

[kpgclark]

I do wish there was another port but I'm not sulking about it. I think we'll have a great time and we also got a great price. If you want to feel better about the sea days just check out some of the past navigators at dcltribute.com and maybe that will pick your spirits up. I imagine they'll have a lot more and more varied activities for us. I really hope they plan more for the kids too because I wasn't overly impressed by what they do in the clubs.

 

[outahere]

Nope.......... no letter yet.

I really wished they had added another port, but I am not at all disappointed about skipping Puerto Quetzal. About the only thing we would have had time for, would be to get off the ship and walk around, just to be able to say "I've been to Guatemala".

Since the eastbound cruise is a few hours shorter than the westbound, I guess something had to give.

We'll just be happy to be on the Magic. The main reasons we booked this cruise were that a) it is the Magic and b) we are going to completely transit the canal. I'm sure this is a once in a lifetime trip for me and DW and might be for DS. It can't get here soon enough.

 

[jrabbit]

We received the letter and I am very surprised. I'm guessing that the itenerary will change a couple of more times before we sail. It wouldn't surprise me that DCL changes the itenerary between the May and August repo cruises.

Because of the Internet I guess that they felt like they had to send out some sort of notice (so that everyone knows about the change). Like I said, I'm expecting further itenerary changes - and am hoping that Costa Rica get added.

 

[invaderzim]

Many cruisers started a letter writing campaign last week when this news broke that the August Repo was losing a port. Send them a letter or email. As I see it, the more protests they get, the more likely it is they will add another port. I don't think an overnight in Acapulco does us much good since they are leaving at 7:30 the next morning! Don't even get an extra morning.

 

[Mboothby]

I too knew a few weeks back from these boards, but have yet to receive a letter. I wonder if that's because I have my booking through DU. Anyone get a letter who booked through them? I'd imagine that the letter would go to them and they'd forward it on since they handle all of the ressies.

I don't care where we stop, as long as we see CC. I actually LIKE sea days and am not super excited about our ports (save for Curacao). So, for me..as long as they don't cut CC or seriously mess with the dates for something, I don't really care where or if they stop.

 

[invaderzim]

My TA is AAA, and I have not received a letter yet either.

 

[sandygirl]

Received my letter today. I too am expecting more changes or tweeking before we actually sail. Can't get twisted over change. I'm thrilled to be sailing through the canal and I think they will have new entertainment for sea days. Taking a wait and see attitude.

 

[LibertyBelle]

Thanks guys. Seems to be mixed emotions on this one. I just really hate Sea Days. I tend to sleep the whole day. I guess I will just wait and see what happens as well, I am hesitant to cancel and rebook something else since it was such a great price and it is sold out (as of now) but...another sea day just makes me sigh!

 

[Mboothby]

I just this second got an e-mail from DU notifying me of the itinerary changes. So, I guess this is what DU people are getting in lieu of a letter.

 

[Verandah Man]

Yep, received our letter in today's mail as well.

 

[RickW]

Originally posted by LibertyBelle
I just really hate Sea Days.

I don't want to open up another debate about the positive or negitive aspects of this change, but I am surprised that people who dislike sea days would want to go on either of the repositioning cruises.

One of the reasons we decided to go on the Panama Canal cruise was because we really enjoy sea days (also the reason we didn't really enjoy the 3-day cruise as much as we thought we would). Given the fact that these cruises have the highest percentage of sea days of any Disney cruise ever, it seems that those who dislike sea days would be happier with back-to-back 7 day cruises or something like that.

This is just an observation. I don't want LibertyBelle to feel like I am picking on her, because I'm not. She has some other valid reasons for going, but no one should feel that they need to justify their decisions to cruise or not cruise to anyone else.

 

[ceejay13]

We are a huge fan of sea days. We took a 12 day Hawaii cruise a few years ago and had 5 sea days back to the mainland and loved every minute of it. We received our letter yesterday and was glad we have all those sea days rather than a 6 hour stop over in Guatemala. Now an extra day at CC or Key West would be great!!

 

[triple7]

We received the letter yesterday. Reservation is through DCL. Really do not care that a port was dropped or that the schedule may change again in the future. Cancel the Panama Canal part and I might get a little upset. Being on the Magic is all that counts.

 

[Mboothby]

Ditto...RickW
I agree. I'm on the ship to sail, not so much to see land. If I wanted to do that, I'd not sail. So, I agree. But, I guess everyone has their personal idea of what a cruise is. I only hope that those who are more "landlubbers" than "sea captains" will be happy being on such a long cruise. I'm a "sea captain" myself and to me, 2 weeks at sea isn't ENOUGH!

 

[NYGiantsRule!]

I haven't been home yet today to check the mail, but I did get the email from DU regarding the change. Also, if you look at the DCL website the change has been made in each trips description. I agree with the OP that a stop in Guatemala is not what sold me on the cruise.

 

[EmmasGrammy]

I didn't get a letter yet. Maybe because I switched my reservation to Costco Travel. I already knew about the changes and I am just so thrilled to be sailing on the Magic that I really don't care where we stop!!

To any of you fellow CA to FL cruisers... how about joining our little group on the cruise meets threads at the top of this board. It's a great way to "meet" the other cruisers before we sail. We are a chatty bunch and we have lots of fun. Our "little" group numbers almost 450!!! Come on over and say "HI"!!!