Any updates on GC?????

[LAMPSKIES]

We are sailing 11/20/04 Western.........we were told by a CM that we WILL be stopping......just wondering if anyone has heard anything..............Thanks

 

[MarkRG]

http://www.stormcarib.com/reports/2004/cayman.shtml

This site is still keeping update info, it still sounds like a mess down there.

Also read on a post here a few days back that said that Disney wasn't realistically looking at going back till Jan or Feb.

Just need to scroll down a bit more to see the post titled 'Grand Cayman' that's right here: http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=668785

 

[LAMPSKIES]

Thanks Mark, I'll wait to book an excursion......

 

[DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR]

MarkRg: You seem to have been really keeping up on this issue. What is your opinion? When do you think the Magic will start sailing to the Caymans again? At this point, I just want Disney to make a decision for the next couple of Westerns.

 

[TheWog]

this site talks about ships being allowed to arrive beginning Nov. 1. Looks like it will be a Carnival ship allowed to return first with others to follow.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=94155

 

[AnnMorin]

One CM told me no way for the 12/4/04 and the other said we are definately going, I really wish they would at least allow us to prebook excursions for costa maya as a back up.

 

[budwmn]

I saw a message posted on another board stating that RCCL would also be among the first to return to GC. It looks like the big lines which frequent GC many times a week are going back first. Disney only visits twice a month.

 

[DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR]

Ann: I totally agree with you. At this point, I just want to be able to have an excursion booked for Costa Maya and by Disney not deciding yet, my hands are tied since no one will take my reservation. I really think that we will be going to Costa Maya.

 

[AnnMorin]

BUT frankly at this point I would prefer to go to costa maya. I really wish they would allow us to make ressies, I have a feeling that we won't be able to until we board and then I won't get to the ruins

 

[jel0511]

Originally posted by AnnMorin
BUT frankly at this point I would prefer to go to costa maya. I really wish they would allow us to make ressies, I have a feeling that we won't be able to until we board and then I won't get to the ruins

Most likely if your cruise does end up gong to Costa Maya you'll have to wait until you board to book any Costa Maya excursions. All the Westerns up to mine (11/6) haven't been able to pre-book any Costa Maya excursions due to the closeness to departure. To make it fair for all sailing, they are allowing only the original ports from the itinerary to be pre-booked and the subsitute port only booked on board.

 

[AnnMorin]

would be if they allowed you to prebook for both GC and CM and then use the reservation that ends up being the port you go to.

 

[budwmn]

Just read this on Cruise Critic's GC Board posted today:

Members of the FCCA who travelled to Grand Cayman for the meetings today were: Mr. Patrick Schneider --Royal Caribbean, Executive, Shore Excursions; Mr. Gerry Larsoon Fechle – Royal Caribbean, Captain; Mr. Graham Davis – Princess Cruises, Manager of Shore Operations, Caribbean & Atlantic; Mr. Steve Nielsen – Princess Cruises, VP Shore Operations; Ms. Michele Paige – FCCA, President; Mr. Amilcar Cascais – Carnival Cruise Lines, Director Tour Operations and Mr. Larry Stauffer – Disney Cruise Line, Operations Manager for Island and Shore Excursions. “As partners we have determined, together, that cruise ships will begin visiting our shores again in the first week of November,” said the Hon. Minister.


Well, DCL has seen GC first hand. Let's see what they do!

 

[jel0511]

I called DCL again today to again talk about Costa Maya excursions. I again got a chatty CM (I've been lucky with that) and he indicated that part of this decision is out of DCL's hands. They first heard from the GC government that they could resume stopping for the 11/6 cruise, and then heard that it has been extended past the 11/6 cruise. Even though the island will be re-opened to cruise ships, GC is going to be limiting the ships that do stop due to lack of tenders. Most of them were either lost or damaged during the hurricane and it is going to take time to replace them and be a full operational (Meaning 100% occupancy). On some of the GC sites, they have indicated that they will be limiting the number of ships to 3 or 4 per week, for a while, rather then the 3 or 4 per day they sometimes had in port. It will take GC time to be able to handle the influx of tourists that cruise ships provide. Many of the vehicles that transport tourists are damaged as well, so there is no way to provide transportation to as many as 8,000 passengers at once at this current time. If you are scheduled to go to GC anytime before the end of the year, I'd prepare yourself for the probability that you'll be visiting Costa Maya instead.

 

[DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR]

However, in my case, I cannot book a DCL excursion aboard the Magic for Costa Maya. DCL does not allow children under 10 for snorkeling in Costa Maya. I need to book it on my own and I would rather not wait until I get to Costa Maya.

Okay, people might flame me for this, however, I will say it anyway. It was said that in order to make it fair, they are only accepting reservations for those who where originally suppose to stop in Costa Maya. Most of these people have had months to plan and make their reservations. I reserved our Cayman reservation about 6 months ago. I think that if DCL knows we will be stopping in Costa Maya, we should be able to reserve now.

 

[budwmn]

October 27, 2004

Carnival & Princess Plan Grand Cayman Return

Carnival Cruise Line and Princess Cruises are the first to announce they are heading back to Grand Cayman. That island, which underwent serious damage at the hands of Hurricane Ivan in September, has been off-limits to travelers since then as tourism entities scrambled to repair businesses.

According to a Carnival spokesman, beginning October 30, cruises that originally included Grand Cayman on their itineraries will return; this includes ships such as Inspiration, Imagination, Carnival Triumph and Carnival Conquest. Beyond that, all ships will visit Grand Cayman as originally scheduled.

Princess will resume calls there with Coral Princess making the first visit on November 6. Other cruise lines have not yet reported a change in their itineraries.

A spokeswoman for the Cayman Islands did not return a call to Cruise Critic. But we have learned that some attractions will be open in time for cruise calls. These include Pirate's Caves and the village of Hell. Restaurants, for the most part, have generally reopened. Island tours and horseback rides are ready to go. Most dive operators are back in business.

On the other hand, some attractions may not immediately be reopened, including the Butterfly Farm, most golf courses and some shops. Those passengers on ships returning to Grand Cayman in the first few weeks of November should be prepared for flexibility in their plans.