Aug 14 Magic - Unhappy w/ Changes?

[RJake1]

I give up. Why bother reading my posts at all?

The only person who in over 30 replies suggested anything remotely making sense is that going to GC on Weds might have resulted in too far a sail to reach CC early enough on Friday.

I appreciate those taking time to reply, even those who felt a need to personally insult me instead of offering any substantive information.

 

[JenKatt]

It's hard to offer evidence to complaining

 

[wnissen]

RJake,

I think it's just that they're very conservative, and don't want to run any risk. I saw the same projections as you did, where Earl was going to pass through and be gone quickly. And that's exactly what happened.

However, I get seasick pretty easily, and with 35 mph winds even the big stabilizers don't do enough. Just because it is safe doesn't mean it's pleasant. My guess is they figure sun and calm seas in Nassau is better than pouring rain and rough seas anywhere. If I were in charge of the vacations of a couple thousand people, I'd get pretty conservative too.

Walt

 

[LibertyBelle]

Originally posted by RJake1
Why didn't Disney just swap days between Cozumel and Grand Cayman?

Why does Disney obess over Nassau?

I am glad to see the replies to this were exactlly what I felt. I can not believe that you would even question this. As was stated the tender situation is a serious issue. Also did it occur to you that Hurricane Charley had just come through that general area (though not a direct hit) they still got some pretty good force through there, having just lived through Hurricane Charley I would venture to say that Grand Cayman had some cleaning up to do...

As far as why Disney obsees over Nassau... Let me think real quick... while you were looking at the ship perhaps taking some pictures did you happen to notice on the back of the ship where it says NASSAU... o' and the Bahamian flag that they fly... that's right Nassau is where the ship is registered. Nassau is an easy port to get to and most cruise lines will use it as an alternative as it has a lot of berths for those last minute changes...You will also notice that when the Wonder goes into rehab the Magic takes over the 3/4 night cruises...WHY because Disney has a contract with Nassau stating that they have to dock there X amount of days a year in order to keep their registry. That is why when the Magic leaves for the West Coast the Wonder will remain on the 3/4 night sailings and there will be no 7 night cruises...

SAFETY first... I applaud and commend the Captain for making sure that you reamined safe on your sailing... If you had gone into Grand Cayman and had such horrible weather that the tenders made you ill from the motion you would have written that the Captain didn't do enough.

Sorry for the rant, this one just touched a nerve.

 

[RJake1]

Please re-read my original post.

There was no "complaining." I was interested in acquiring information and the opinions of others who were on the Aug 14 cruise. I offered my own opinion regarding Nassau but that's hardly a complaint.

Instead of an informative exchange I received personal insults from people that weren't even on the August 14 cruise.

 

[allears]

What more evidence do you need than that the captain determined it wasn't in the best interest of the guests, crew and ship to go to GC that day. No one here is going to do better than that. That's part of their job and responsibility. How can you get more authoritative.

Things just don't always work out the way we think they should, that's life. This was not a service issue, or a contract issue. You just wanted your way and no body has validated that you were right and the professionals on the ship were wrong.

Disney generally meets or exceeds it's guest expectaions, but sometimes those expectations need a reality check. Or next time, demand to see the captain and show him what you found out on your lap top and CNN, perhaps they'll change their minds.

PS. From your original post:
If anyone has any thoughts or information, or wants to vent, please respond. Thanks.

I do believe you got what you asked for. As far as not being a comoplaint, it sure sounded like a disgruntled musing at the least

 

[paulmc80]

I for one appreciate your post RJake1. You should be respected for your opinions and desire for information. Thank you very much.

 

[JenKatt]

Originally posted by RJake1
Why didn't Disney just swap days between Cozumel and Grand Cayman?

Why does Disney obess over Nassau?

Since the 3 and 4 day cruises go to Nassau, do you feel your 7 day Magic cruise was 'devalued' by Disney decision to swap GC for Nassau?

IMHO, if I wanted to see Nassau (again) I'd have booked a 3 or 4 day cruise. I specifically booked 7 day western to see new ports of call.

I understand the weather issues but the weather had cleared sufficiently to allow Magic to sail into GC Weds so I don't understand why we didn't.

If anyone has any thoughts or information, or wants to vent, please respond. Thanks.

Thsi is your orginal post.
I see whining. I see someone who wanted people to whine with him, to "vent". Well we're venting.

 

[RJake1]

LibertyBelle, thank you for the information on requiring certain amount of stays to maintain Nassau registry. I wasn't aware of that. I doubt that the Magic needed one more stay to keep its registry, but your reply was perhaps more informative than insulting.

 

[LibertyBelle]

I am sorry that you missed Grand Cayman, but please keep in mind that Hurricane Charley just made a destructive path through that area, Cuba and Florida and that the people there probably have a lot more on their mind than catering to Cruise ship passengers.

It is a risk that you take sailing during Hurricane season. Sorry about my rant in the previous post...

 

[dtuleya]

Originally posted by RJake1
I doubt that the Magic needed one more stay to keep its registry, but your reply was perhaps more informative than insulting.

I think that this kind of second guessing of the captain and DCL and its policies (or any other line) is exactly why you got the responses you did.

 

[cjsmith]

Originally posted by RJake1
Why didn't Disney just swap days between Cozumel and Grand Cayman?

Why does Disney obess over Nassau?

Since the 3 and 4 day cruises go to Nassau, do you feel your 7 day Magic cruise was 'devalued' by Disney decision to swap GC for Nassau?

IMHO, if I wanted to see Nassau (again) I'd have booked a 3 or 4 day cruise. I specifically booked 7 day western to see new ports of call.

I understand the weather issues but the weather had cleared sufficiently to allow Magic to sail into GC Weds so I don't understand why we didn't.

If anyone has any thoughts or information, or wants to vent, please respond. Thanks.

I guess people took this as complaining. You titled the thread Aug 14th- unhappy with Changes? and then went on to complain about seeing Nassau again because if you wanted that, you would have booked that. You also posed the questions about the Magic cruise being "devalued" which means the thought was running through you mind. You then asked people to post or VENT. You invited venting which is a loud complaint! No one else seemed to want to vent including those on the cruise with you.

I realize that you watched the weather reports on television, but that same weather report doesn't report on sea conditions. Sea conditions is what the decision may have been based upon as you have to tender. Would you rather have gone to Grand Cayman and spent the afternoon sitting in the harbor looking at it as the seas were too rough to tender? Grand Cayman also only allows so many ships in port. Maybe just maybe the Magic wasn't allowed to come into port. Mother Nature is a tricky uncontrollable thing and we just have to learn to go with the flow. You only missed a port, there were a lot of people on the islands and here in Florida on vacaton who were forced to evacuate and missed days of their vacaton. They made those people staying here in Naples at the Ritz Carlton and everything other hotel on the water leave. Some where bused over the Miami and couldn't come beack for days. Again, when you travel anywhere in hurricane season, you take the chance that your plans are changed or ruined.

 

[crisi]

I read someplace that Nassau can handle more cruise ships than anywhere else in the Carribean. You have to have a place to dock. If GC was full on Wednesday, even if they were allowing docking, you wouldn't have been able to get a spot - they were booked.

My guess is that knowing this, one of the first phone calls you make when looking for a slip is Nassau. Chances are good they will be able to accomodate you. There may be other places to dock, but if you spend too much time calling around, Nassau will book up as well. And while Nassau may not be the greatest stop in the world, it gives people the opportunity to get on shore which a day at sea doesn't.

In other words, I doubt Disney is obsessed about Nassau - its probably more of an availability thing.

 

[SandraLee]

Is this done, yet?

 

[Boomerwon]

RJake,

I'm astounded that you are taking the threat of a tropical wave so lightly! Even though the storm had been downgraded it was common knowledge that it could have picked up and been upgraded again.

THE REASON WE DID NOT GO BACK TO GRAND CAYMAN WAS BECAUSE OF THE TENDERS. THEY ARE DANGEROUS!!! PEOPLE CAN BE KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED.

Is it really worth the risk for passengers or crew? I don't think so.

By the way, going to an island that is windy is very unpleasant to do any sort of sight-seeing. I'm glad that the captain made the choices that he did.

 

[izzinmac]

Originally posted by SandraLee
Is this done, yet?

AMEN!!

 

[DVC4US]

RJake1,

I'll try not to make this an insult to you, but I do have a comment to make. In your postings you stated you watched CNN, listened to weather reports, and also checked the the weather on the Internet, but my question is this. Did you call the Port Authority in GC? If I am not mistaken, I am sure the Captain was in touch with them. I do not know the exact reason the ship did not go to GC on Wednesday but a few could be: port was closed to any ships, seas were to high for tendering, too much damage in GC to accept cruise passengers at that time, or it is to far to go from GC to CC in one day. I know it is hard when itineraries are changed but especially with cruising you just have to deal with the changes. Like mmouse37 our March 2003 cruise was unable to port in GC because the seas where to high. It was beautiful sunny weather out but the wind was blowing so the tenders were not running. We did not get an extra port, but spent an extra day at sea and made the most of it. I am sorry you did not make GC, but hopefully you can take another cruise in the future and make that stop.

Leilani

 

[markey]

I have been reading this post, and I too was on the 8/14 cruise.
I think I feel the way the poster did to some point.
We were in Florida 5 days before sailing and had a wonderful vacation planned on Captiva Island, where Charley hit. We had to leave on Thursday not knowing where to go and 2 days of our vacation there gone. So we went to WDW where we thought Charley would not hit. Had a nice day thursday swimming in the pool and DTD. When to Epcot on Friday and left when they closed at 1 pm.
Stood in line at CSR for 1 1/2 hours to get a ham and cheese sandwich on a hamburger bun for $6.50 because there was nothing else. Took us 3 hours to drive to the port on Saturday morning. Got all our luggage and ourselves wet in a rain storm before boarding. Did not get to do the excursion we wanted at GC. Did not get to do the dune buggy tour at Couzmel. Do not really like the Bahamas. BUT - we still had sunny skies, except for Charley late Friday afternoon and evening. We had a great time, with some laughing moments we would not have had. Do I blame Disney? NO IT WAS THE WEATHER! We are thankful we had a safe trip and thankful we had the money to go. I think it is ok for the poster to vent-but please direct it to the cause not Disney.

 

[LibertyBelle]

Well said Markey.

I have to say you were lucky that the ship even got into Port Canaveral to pick you up. The Sovereign of the Seas (Royal Caribbean) was forced to leave Port Canaveral on Friday at 3pm (2 hours before their scheduled departure). The port authority told them be out by 3 or you don't leave... Imagine how many people missed their vacation all together not just one port.

I also would like to say that sometimes you need to take a step back and look at life. I know the oringinal poster did not want any more "my story is worse that yours" but you have to think about this. You were able to make it to the ship (regardless of the storm), you were able to have a good vacation...minus Grand Cayman... There are STILL, 11 days after Charley, families in Central FLorida that do not have power to their homes (in the middle of August in FLorida)... Ther are over 36,000 homes in Central FLorida that are damaged (millions of dollars of damage) there are DISNEY CM's that no longer have homes, our entire lives have been uprooted (not to mention the devistation in Punta Gorda). But you know what Walt Disney World was open the very next day... Walt Disney World and the Cast Members that make it what it is were there for each and every guest regardless of the fact that they had nothing to go home to.

I understand your frustration in missing Grand Cayman and the answer as to why it was missed lies with the Captain (who by they way I would never question). You sailed during Hurricane Season and that is just a chance that you have to take. I understand that you don't feel like you were complaining, but that is how it came off in your post. I am sorry that you don't like Nassau but just be happy with the knowledge that you were able to take your vacation and when you returned from it you were able to sit in your home (because it was still there) and come to the Dis Boards.

Sorry another rant, but we have CM's at WDW that have no homes, we have millions of dollars of damage to my hometown and your upset that you missed Grand Cayman...

 

[JC Butterfly]

I can't believe that the life this thread has taken on, and I don't think I have anything too constructive to share except:

I empathize with the idea of how far in advance I plan out my vacations. I love thinking of all of the details of what I will do and what I will see. I understand that you were excited to see Grand Cayman because it was something new to you. And you did spend a lot of money to go, so you hoped against hope that the weather would cooperate with you and were somewhat taken by surprise when it didn't. I think we all live in a semi-state of denial that even though it's hurricane season "it won't happen during my vacation" and I know this because I have been disappointed when things didn't work out as perfectly as I had dreamed they would.

On the one level of course I understand and I'm grateful that there are Disney cast members who will look out for my safety and well being, but I had a whole year to imagine just what sitting on that one beach would be like. Vacations are such an "escape" from the real world and nobody does that better than Disney so it's unfortunate when there are real world concerns that happen and Disney isn't able to shield you from them.

I am sorry for the devastation caused by these storms, for those without homes, etc and I am also sorry that your vacation wasn't what you hoped it could be. Despite the change in ports of call, I hope you still found some "Magic" and have better luck next time.