San Juan riots impact cruise itineraries

[nutshell]

there's only been 2 (two) ships that skipped San Juan due to protests, as of midday today. I've been following it closely as I really hope DCL does cancel/skip that POC on our upcoming cruise.
As @cdoc29 correctly points out, there's been zero, or very few grave incidents against tourists in PR recently.
Not the case for Nassau or other destinations (Jamaica, Mexico) where its way more unsafe.

And again, there might be zero incidents because the cruises are avoiding PR. Also, could you imagine the nightmare public relations and litigation that would result if a cruise passenger was injured or killed in a riot? Not saying it will happen. Just saying I understand their caution.

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

Looks like things are ramping up in PR. Impeachment talks by the PR legislature and an official investigation to report in 10 day. May not go away anytime soon..

 

[bbel]

Allure stopped in SJ after the cancelled harmony and empress stops.

 

[cdoc29]

Allure stopped in SJ after the cancelled harmony and empress stops.

How many cruise passengers died as a result?

 

[MillauFr]

And again, there might be zero incidents because the cruises are avoiding PR. Also, could you imagine the nightmare public relations and litigation that would result if a cruise passenger was injured or killed in a riot? Not saying it will happen. Just saying I understand their caution.

I doubt if the tourists would head down to the area of the riots just to check out the action. The news media makes it sound like there are riots in the entire city rather just confined a a few block area.

 

[soniam]

There is definitely a line between protests and riots. They have had protests in Barcelona since my first visit in 2013, with them increasing with the independence vote. As far as I have read, the protest participants have not usually been violent, and the that I have seen wasn't violent either. I don't think they got violent until the Spanish government got involved in the last couple of years. However, people go there everyday on vacations and cruises and don't have issues. We even saw a small, peaceful protest there this summer. We did leave soon, just to not get our child swept up in something in which we weren't involved. Rioting to me usually involves violence and criminal mischief, like luting and stealing. I hadn't heard about what's going on in PR. I am sad to hear about it though, because we absolutely loved it last year when our SC cruise left from there and would love to go back to just visit the island more.

 

[MillauFr]

Actually it does look like the rioters are in an area that is uncomfortably close to the cruise ship terminal. I can see both side of the issue.

 

[DisneYE]

I doubt if the tourists would head down to the area of the riots just to check out the action. The news media makes it sound like there are riots in the entire city rather just confined a a few block area.

Yah after reading more in depth about the situation in PR, I worded the title of the thread WRONG.
These are protests, NOT riots. - And they're confined to the main governor's building area, not a very tourist-y place.
There have been no fatalities (thankfully) but people love hyperbole.
Some silly person on the FB group for our upcoming cruise said she's praying DCL would skip the port bc she 'heard from a friend' a kid got shot 14 times in the face...I replied to her to stop with the fake news and she blocked me... smh... some people love the attention that being too dramatic brings.
Oh well. Praying for the ppl of Puerto Rico.

 

[MillauFr]

I replied to her to stop with the fake news and she blocked me... smh... some people love the attention that being too dramatic brings.

Yes enough with the fake news. The worst is the weather news. That Louisiana hurricane coverage last week was the worst. They made it sound like the entire city of New Orleans was going to be under 10' of water.

 

[ironz]

Actually it does look like the rioters are in an area that is uncomfortably close to the cruise ship terminal. I can see both side of the issue.

Our upcoming cruise begins in PR, so that would be our concern (needing to stay there overnight pre-cruise, rather than missing a port stop), but we have a few months to go. I'll be keeping an eye on this. So far, we are not planning on staying overnight in old town or near the governor's building. We can keep Old Town as an optional part of our pre-cruise visit, and play that by ear.
Though I hope the people of Puerto Rico have come to some resolutions by then.

 

[bcwife76]

MSC and Celebrity have cancelled tomorrow's (Monday July 22) stops in San Juan.

 

[bumbershoot]

Hmmmmm, cruises are skipping Puerto Rico (a US territory) over political protests yet continue to sail to Nassau everyday despite the crime rate against tourists.

I’ve still never heard of an actual incident in Nassau where cruise tourists might be (and at a time cruise tourists would be there).

 

[DisneYE]

MSC and Celebrity have cancelled tomorrow's (Monday July 22) stops in San Juan.

Today they have some sort of a general strike with most of SJ closed down
But yah, protests aren't slowing down. So I'll put the chances of DCL canceling this stop at 80% now... and it makes me so mad.

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

Just called DCL and while I got a bit of a non-answer; they did say that for our 11 night the CC club line was being told that we're pulling in to San Juan. The Captain has the last word, and if he deems it unsafe to pull in, the decision will be made in situ as to whether they bail to another port (none given over the phone) or if we have another day at sea. They'll follow the same model the Fantasy did on the 7 night Western recently where they missed Jamaica due to shafting issues. We'll be notified. Hope you don't have excursions in San Juan!

 

[DisneYE]

Just called DCL and while I got a bit of a non-answer; they did say that for our 11 night the CC club line was being told that we're pulling in to San Juan. The Captain has the last word, and if he deems it unsafe to pull in, the decision will be made in situ as to whether they bail to another port (none given over the phone) or if we have another day at sea. They'll follow the same model the Fantasy did on the 7 night Western recently where they missed Jamaica due to shafting issues. We'll be notified. Hope you don't have excursions in San Juan!

Thanks for calling DCL.
I do have an excursion & those who have them will be reimbursed if the port is skipped. So no biggie.
More than missing the excursion I'll be bummed about missing the city in general. I booked this cruise almost entirely bc I wanted to visit San Juan.
I guess if they skip it it'll be a night at CC, dontcha think? Or what would the alternative be?
Oh well, I wish all the world's problems are confined to missing a port in an expensive, vacationing cruise.

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

I guess if they skip it it'll be a night at CC, dontcha think? Or what would the alternative be?

I specifically asked if we'd have another day at sea, bail to another port (St. Thomas?) or just press on for an extended stay at CC. I had the supervisor online and got a non-answer that 'The Captain will make the decision'. If I had my druthers, I'd like a different port. Not been to Tortola yet.

Oh well, I wish all the world's problems are confined to missing a port in an expensive, vacationing cruise.

Aren't we lucky that this is the biggest problem on our plate?

 

[DietCokeMommy]

Thanks for calling DCL.
I do have an excursion & those who have them will be reimbursed if the port is skipped. So no biggie.
More than missing the excursion I'll be bummed about missing the city in general. I booked this cruise almost entirely bc I wanted to visit San Juan.
I guess if they skip it it'll be a night at CC, dontcha think? Or what would the alternative be?
Oh well, I wish all the world's problems are confined to missing a port in an expensive, vacationing cruise.

I'm sorry you may have to miss San Juan, the old city is beautiful and so much fun to walk around. I would guess they'll go to St. Thomas instead.

We have a cruise starting out of there in January and I'm assuming/hoping that things will have been resolved by then.

 

[cdoc29]

I’ve still never heard of an actual incident in Nassau where cruise tourists might be (and at a time cruise tourists would be there).

https://travel.state.gov/content/tr...eladvisories/the-bahamas-travel-advisory.html

 

[DisneYE]

I specifically asked if we'd have another day at sea, bail to another port (St. Thomas?) or just press on for an extended stay at CC. I had the supervisor online and got a non-answer that 'The Captain will make the decision'. If I had my druthers, I'd like a different port. Not been to Tortola yet.


Aren't we lucky that this is the biggest problem on our plate?

Tortola is so underwhelming, imo.
I love St. Thomas, would be totally up for it.
If it was up for a vote (lol, I know) I'd go for an extended stay at cc.

Yes, first world problems. As said, I wish all the problems in the world would be like that, and that alone.

 

[KashasMom]

Tortola is so underwhelming, imo.
I love St. Thomas, would be totally up for it.
If it was up for a vote (lol, I know) I'd go for an extended stay at cc.

Yes, first world problems. As said, I wish all the problems in the world would be like that, and that alone.

I'd be so disappointed if they replaced our San Juan with St. Thomas, Tortola, or CC! Of course, since we're disembarking in San Juan, it would present logistical problems not just not liking the replacement port. Still have many months to go though so only hoping it's resolved quickly for the people of PR.