Should I change St. Maarten/San Juan cruise to a Western?

[Disneyfied4]

We are currently booked on the March 4, 2018 Eastern on the Wonder. We are not sure if St.Maarten and San Juan will be ready. If DCL changes this cruise to a Western, we would be bummed bc a Western cruise is not our first choice especially if it's not on the Fantasy.

Should I just switch to a Western on the Fantasy that week now ? Or do you think St.Maarten and San Juan will be ready? Or do you think DCL will go to alternate Eastern ports? TIA!

 

[Dug720]

I am debating the same but for a different week. (Also debating doing a land-sea with WDW first (knowing it will be insanely busy) and a 4-night Dream.)

 

[Maggie'sMom]

That's a tough call. Personally, I believe those two ports will be open by then. Both places are dependent on tourism and need to get that industry back up and running for their financial survival. There are no guarantees though. And if you'd be really unhappy with a Western itinerary on the Wonder, then the safer bet would be to go ahead and switch. It's a really difficult decision.

 

[Dug720]

That's a tough call. Personally, I believe those two ports will be open by then. Both places are dependent on tourism and need to get that industry back up and running for their financial survival. There are no guarantees though. And if you'd be really unhappy with a Western itinerary on the Wonder, then the safer bet would be to go ahead and switch. It's a really difficult decision.

Yeah... For me, it would be the completion of my Grand Slam to do the Wonder. And I would like to be able to help their economy and recovery as I am able.

But another part of me would like to plan ahead (though likely too late for the private clubs for Presidents’ Week) and just jump to the Fantasy now.

Such a tough decision!!

 

[Capang]

Hard to say. Can You switch without penalty or fees? San Juan will probably not be open any time soon. My mom had a cruise booked for January leaving from San Juan and she was able to get a full refund because the hotel was severely damaged and the port was obliterated.

 

[Dug720]

Hard to say. Can You switch without penalty or fees? San Juan will probably not be open any time soon. My mom had a cruise booked for January leaving from San Juan and she was able to get a full refund because the hotel was severely damaged and the port was obliterated.

At this point I can - and March would be able to assuming no flights had been booked - as both are well outside of PIF. The Wonder is out of Port Canaveral at that point.

 

[Capang]

At this point I can - and March would be able to assuming no flights had been booked - as both are well outside of PIF. The Wonder is out of Port Canaveral at that point.

That is such a tough call. You could try to switch to the Fantasy, but if your heart is set on this current itinerary that you have could you just hold off and reschedule for a later date? Good luck! I feel so bad for the people of the island impacted by the hurricanes.

 

[Dug720]

That is such a tough call. You could try to switch to the Fantasy, but if your heart is set on this current itinerary that you have could you just hold off and reschedule for a later date? Good luck! I feel so bad for the people of the island impacted by the hurricanes.

Tell me about it! I have priced out the Fantasy, and it is not ridiculously more expensive. The Western itinerary would be new to me - I have done the Eastern route to St Maarten and San Juan before...it was ok. I do feel so much for the people of the islands and want to help, but even if they say “come, we’re open” I don’t know that I won’t feel they are rushing things.

My bigger “issue” with the Fantasy is I am not a fan of Star Wars, but could always make that day a Rainforest Room and Palo brunch day...

I don’t want to hold off too long on switching if I do to avoid cabin selection decreasing and rates increasing. Gah!!!

 

[Maggie'sMom]

The Western itinerary would be new to me - I have done the Eastern route to St Maarten and San Juan before...it was ok.

Since you've done St Maarten and San Juan before and not done the Western ports, I'd go ahead and switch to the Fantasy.

 

[tlprice]

I'm in the same boat. I'm booked on the January 14th Southern. My PIF date is October 16th. I'm debating whether to risk it or change it. I already have my plane tickets to San Juan. I would probably be out that money. I have until December 30th to cancel my hotel if needed. I really just want to hope for the best and go through with it all. For Puerto Rico's sake, I'm hoping for the best.

 

[Dug720]

I'm in the same boat. I'm booked on the January 14th Southern. My PIF date is October 16th. I'm debating whether to risk it or change it. I already have my plane tickets to San Juan. I would probably be out that money. I have until December 30th to cancel my hotel if needed. I really just want to hope for the best and go through with it all. For Puerto Rico's sake, I'm hoping for the best.

Most of the time you can change flights for a change fee plus any difference if the new flight is more. Not ideal, but can be done in many cases.

 

[lklgoodman]

We're also booked on the Wonder March 4 cruise. I hope it doesn't get switched to a Western because we just did the Western last Jan. We've been on the Wonder before, but it was before her last dry dock. I'm looking forward to seeing Frozen, eating at Tiana's, and the changes in the Oceaneer's Club (for my dd). I figure the Fantasy always goes to WC, so we can always book that some other time. The Wonder may not go to these places again, so we're keeping our reservation on the Wonder and will just go where ever.

 

[bumbershoot]

My mom had a cruise booked for January leaving from San Juan and she was able to get a full refund because the hotel was severely damaged and the port was obliterated.

Does Disney use panamerican? If so, Royal, is using it to get people out and to deliver goods and supplies. It wasn't obliterated at all.

And of the big hotels in the area I've only seen one that estimates December before they are fully functional. The other ones have estimated much earlier than that.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Rccl theoretically is embarking a cruise in San Juan this coming Saturday. I don't know that I believe that will happen, but they are sure sticking to their story.
St Maarten is expecting to welcome ships back on Nov 11. St Thomas says late October.
I don't know how likely any of this stuff is, but that is the latest info. I'd hold off on changes if you really want to do the southern.

 

[Capang]

Does Disney use panamerican? If so, Royal, is using it to get people out and to deliver goods and supplies. It wasn't obliterated at all.

And of the big hotels in the area I've only seen one that estimates December before they are fully functional. The other ones have estimated much earlier than that.

My mom was scheduled to go RC from San Juan to st Maarten and other ports. They were told that they needed a new resort as theirs was destroyed in Maria. It lost a roof and several walls. It evidently is a major resort and they are not estimating to have it open before February. From what we were told they are giving best case scenarios on when things will reopen but the reality is that it will take much longer to accommodate tourists than people are being told. Several of my friends have family in PR (mostly San Juan and surrounding areas) that they still have not heard from. The island is in ruins.
Not sure about pan American.

ETA: I have somewhat been following what RC is doing to help get aid to areas in need. It makes me more inclined to sail with them in the future. They are doing an outstanding job getting aid to people and getting people out of harms way.
That said, it will still be a while before they are ready for tourists to return,

 

[lizabu]

Rccl theoretically is embarking a cruise in San Juan this coming Saturday. I don't know that I believe that will happen, but they are sure sticking to their story.
St Maarten is expecting to welcome ships back on Nov 11. St Thomas says late October.
I don't know how likely any of this stuff is, but that is the latest info. I'd hold off on changes if you really want to do the southern.

This was the same thing I read too. We're doing the San Juan to port Canaveral cruise in February and I know our hotel in San Juan says they're prepared to start taking new reservations by the end of October. And with the other ships arriving in October and November I think we're probably not going to see any itinerary changes all the way in February.

 

[BruinEd03]

We are currently booked on the March 4, 2018 Eastern on the Wonder. We are not sure if St.Maarten and San Juan will be ready. If DCL changes this cruise to a Western, we would be bummed bc a Western cruise is not our first choice especially if it's not on the Fantasy.

Should I just switch to a Western on the Fantasy that week now ? Or do you think St.Maarten and San Juan will be ready? Or do you think DCL will go to alternate Eastern ports? TIA!

If you have the funds, you might want to consider putting down a deposit down on a 2nd reservation with the Western on the Fantasy. That way you lock in your room and also your pricing. Then as it gets closer to the PIF date, you can see if San Juan is open yet or not. If it isn't, then you might want to consider switching the first reservation and compare how much you would save by switching the first reservation to the Western with Fantasy. If it's more expensive (e.g., even without OBB or 10% discount) to switch the first reservation to the Western on the Fantasy, then just cancel the first reservation and go with the second reservation.

 

[Dug720]

If you have the funds, you might want to consider putting down a deposit down on a 2nd reservation with the Western on the Fantasy. That way you lock in your room and also your pricing. Then as it gets closer to the PIF date, you can see if San Juan is open yet or not. If it isn't, then you might want to consider switching the first reservation and compare how much you would save by switching the first reservation to the Western with Fantasy. If it's more expensive (e.g., even without OBB or 10% discount) to switch the first reservation to the Western on the Fantasy, then just cancel the first reservation and go with the second reservation.

The rub is DCL has not been making the call until a week or two out - so by far well after PIF.

For those of us locked into vacation schedules by school calendars (I’m a teacher, so I can’t just pull myself out of school for an “educational trip”), we are limited. Add in that for me it is an onboard booking and the other times I am free are generally blackout dates and I already have plans for Winter Break 2019 - and a big cruise at the beginning of the summer 2018, so even if I found a not blackout date in the summer, that is a lot of time away. Plus hurricane season AND Caribbean heat) - and this week is pretty much it before the benefits expire.

It’s just a tough call all around.

 

[BruinEd03]

The rub is DCL has not been making the call until a week or two out - so by far well after PIF.

For those of us locked into vacation schedules by school calendars (I’m a teacher, so I can’t just pull myself out of school for an “educational trip”), we are limited. Add in that for me it is an onboard booking and the other times I am free are generally blackout dates and I already have plans for Winter Break 2019 - and a big cruise at the beginning of the summer 2018, so even if I found a not blackout date in the summer, that is a lot of time away. Plus hurricane season AND Caribbean heat) - and this week is pretty much it before the benefits expire.

It’s just a tough call all around.

Yeah, it’s a tough call, but you’ll get a much better sense of what’s happening by your PIF date. If the dock is fixed and otherwise cruise lines predict they will enter or have entered then you can guess Disney will keep the sailing. If on the other hand the island still lacks power and other cruise lines cancel their San Juan trips for the year, then you can guess that Disney might do the same. Again, the extra deposit just gives you options to push your decision down the road while locking in your room and cost. It might even be cheaper than the OBB discount of OBC if prices rise.

 

[Dug720]

Yeah, it’s a tough call, but you’ll get a much better sense of what’s happening by your PIF date. If the dock is fixed and otherwise cruise lines predict they will enter or have entered then you can guess Disney will keep the sailing. If on the other hand the island still lacks power and other cruise lines cancel their San Juan trips for the year, then you can guess that Disney might do the same. Again, the extra deposit just gives you options to push your decision down the road while locking in your room and cost. It might even be cheaper than the OBB discount of OBC if prices rise.

I will have a better idea by mid-month (actually hopefully sooner if payroll portal has its act together). We're getting another lump of our retro pay for the 9 years we worked without a contract on that check - we just know the percentage, and can't even go by the last time because it's earned interest and more raises have been factored in. It's one of those "no perfect solution" things - there are pros and cons to staying on my Wonder itinerary, changing to the Fantasy Western, or doing a land-sea with time at the parks and a 4-night Dream...and none of them really come out far ahead of the other when I do that.

Biggest advantage to the Wonder is I've never been on it before (and IF St Maarten is open possibly being able to do Capt Bob Cass' excursion again).
Biggest advantage to the Fantasy is new itinerary never having done a Western (and ability to plan).
Biggest advantage to land-sea is the payments are spread out a bit more with the land portion not being due until January (and being able to see Pandora, which I really want to).

Biggest disadvantage to the Wonder is the unknown factor and difficulty in planning.
Biggest disadvantage to the Fantasy is Star Wars (so many shades of NOT a fan).
Biggest disadvantage to the land-sea is cruise is only 4 nights.
BUT each of those can be overcome - by just going with the flow, by doing a spa/Palo/Deck 13 day, or by staying on board in Nassau and just making that an extra "sea day".

Gah! *cue Ursula voice* Life's full of tough choices, isn't it?