Disney Dream Oct. 14th

[Barbie C]

DD and I are booked on the Oct. 14th Dream cruise. Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts or ideas about whether the Dream will even be able to leave Port, or be back to the Port by then. Praying for all those poor people in the Bahamas, Haiti, etc....

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

DD and I are booked on the Oct. 14th Dream cruise. Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts or ideas about whether the Dream will even be able to leave Port, or be back to the Port by then. Praying for all those poor people in the Bahamas, Haiti, etc....

We are on the Oct 15 Fantasy and not even thinking that far when it comes to this hurricane.. They don't even seem to have any idea about sailings this weekend...
We are hoping for the best, my GUESS is that yes we will sail.

 

[HoosierH]

Also on the dream on the 14th. Does anyone know if they will still sail even if no ports are available (all sea days)? Hoping for best case scenarios, but I can't imagine either of the Bahamas ports being in good shape (Nassau and CC). For a short 3-nighter, I don't know where else they can go? Would they do Key West if that is in decent shape and then just do a day at sea maybe? I don't think anything else is in range.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Also on the dream on the 14th. Does anyone know if they will still sail even if no ports are available (all sea days)? Hoping for best case scenarios, but I can't imagine either of the Bahamas ports being in good shape (Nassau and CC). For a short 3-nighter, I don't know where else they can go? Would they do Key West if that is in decent shape and then just do a day at sea maybe? I don't think anything else is in range.

Just my opinion, but I believe the Dream will be available for sailing on Oct 14. Most hurricanes don't hang around that long. I doubt that there will be NO ports available. They may not be the original ports (depending on the hurricane damage to them), but there will be ports. Especially since "cruises to nowhere" (those cruises that sail out, with no port stop, and return to beginning port) are no longer allowed.

 

[AquaDame]

There are some patterns being shown that have the storm looping back around a second time after this first hit. They aren't even announcing changes for this Friday yet. I'm sorry.

Since the storm hasn't hit Nassau or PC until tomorrow/Friday its impossible to say how long it will take for them to reopen the port. If the destruction is minor you'll be able to sail from there, but if it is severe it could take much longer and you may sail from a port that has less destruction. Same with porting in Nassau. There is just no way to hazard a guess right now.

 

[HoosierH]

Thanks, I know everything is very much up in the air and I share the main concern of safety for residents right now. I was wondering if any experienced cruisers know of alternate ports a 3 nighter could reach. Southern Florida ports are obviously reachable (Miami, Key West). I know cruise ship often take it fairly easy speedwise, so I wasn't sure what the actual range would be for a 3 night cruise. Could it make it to somewhere like Jamaica or Puerto Rico and back if the Bahamas suffer major damage or is that out of range? Are Cancun or Cozumel options or is that also out of range?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thanks, I know everything is very much up in the air and I share the main concern of safety for residents right now. I was wondering if any experienced cruisers know of alternate ports a 3 nighter could reach. Southern Florida ports are obviously reachable (Miami, Key West). I know cruise ship often take it fairly easy speedwise, so I wasn't sure what the actual range would be for a 3 night cruise. Could it make it to somewhere like Jamaica or Puerto Rico and back if the Bahamas suffer major damage or is that out of range? Are Cancun or Cozumel options or is that also out of range?

Cozumel is close to out of range. It takes a full sea day from Port Canaveral to Cozumel. The Dream & Fantasy can't call at Key West, as they are too large for the port. Legally, none of the DCL ships can do a cruise from Port Canaveral that only calls at US ports.

 

[AquaDame]

Thanks, I know everything is very much up in the air and I share the main concern of safety for residents right now. I was wondering if any experienced cruisers know of alternate ports a 3 nighter could reach. Southern Florida ports are obviously reachable (Miami, Key West). I know cruise ship often take it fairly easy speedwise, so I wasn't sure what the actual range would be for a 3 night cruise. Could it make it to somewhere like Jamaica or Puerto Rico and back if the Bahamas suffer major damage or is that out of range? Are Cancun or Cozumel options or is that also out of range?

Out of range and there may yet be damage to the other ports within easy reach as well. Cozumel is doable on the 4-nighters coming up since they just did it but not the 3-night. It is not only an issue of what is technically doable but how expensive it would be for DCL to do and if the ports are available on those days. Would it be an enjoyable experience as traveling swiftly can create more rocking and high winds on deck? Hindsight and saying what they have done in the past under known conditions is different than speculating without knowing what is going to happen - no one knows if this storm will do similar damage in the same spots as in 2004 or not.

 

[PlanoNana]

Cozumel is close to out of range. It takes a full sea day from Port Canaveral to Cozumel. The Dream & Fantasy can't call at Key West, as they are too large for the port. Legally, none of the DCL ships can do a cruise from Port Canaveral that only calls at US ports.

I read somewhere that the code that makes it illegal can be waived because of weather. Maybe it can be waived because of port damage also. Guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I read somewhere that the code that makes it illegal can be waived because of weather. Maybe it can be waived because of port damage also. Guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens.

Yes, it can be waived, on a specific ship if the issue develops during the cruise. I'm not sure how the waiver would work if the cruise was set up to violate the law. Even if the reason was due to a specific (required) port being damaged.

 

[Barbie C]

Thanks everyone for all of your advice and thoughts. Daughter and I closely watching the news and weather for any updates. I would think by tomorrow we will have a better idea of how Nassau and CC has weathered the storm and hopefully by this weekend know whether to start packing or not. Stay safe and think positive!

 

[eskimoinparadise]

Yes, it can be waived, on a specific ship if the issue develops during the cruise. I'm not sure how the waiver would work if the cruise was set up to violate the law. Even if the reason was due to a specific (required) port being damaged.

Super storm Sandy caused several cruises to become "cruises to nowhere". If they were fined, no one ever talked about it.

 

[eskimoinparadise]

DD and I are booked on the Oct. 14th Dream cruise. Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts or ideas about whether the Dream will even be able to leave Port, or be back to the Port by then. Praying for all those poor people in the Bahamas, Haiti, etc....

We're on this cruise as well. Based on the current satellite images of Matthew, it looks like the eye is passing west of CC, Nassau, and RCL's private island, so all may not be lost for those ports. CC and Nassau survived a direct hit by Joaquin (sp) last year.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Super storm Sandy caused several cruises to become "cruises to nowhere". If they were fined, no one ever talked about it.

The decision on the cruise to nowhere actually being illegal didn't happen until 2016. After Superstorm Sandy.

 

[n2mm]

On the oct 17th 4 night cruise, so glued to the boards and the weather channel.

 

[ratt1345]

DW and I are on the Fantasy on the 15th as well. As of now, only the Dream sailing for the 7th is cancelled. We will go, but the ports may be altered.