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

[FigmentSpark]

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?

I guess I would ask, will you be disappointed if you change from the Wonder and she sails as scheduled, even if the Fantasy has an itinerary that would be new to you?

Also, if that cruise doesn't go from San Juan, will it be re-routed? Would you be satisfied, if it were?

 

[Dug720]

I guess I would ask, will you be disappointed if you change from the Wonder and she sails as scheduled, even if the Fantasy has an itinerary that would be new to you?

Also, if that cruise doesn't go from San Juan, will it be re-routed? Would you be satisfied, if it were?

I don't think so... I have been to both before (on the Fantasy actually) and loved St Maarten - was more neutral on San Juan though I chalked it up to the guide I had more than anything. I love that the Wonder has an extra sea day, but if it gets changed that could be a moot point.

It is out of Port Canaveral, not San Juan, when I am on it.

My bigger issue is the unknown - I would like to make plans, and given their couple of weeks out announcement thing, DCL is making that a challenge. I know they want to help the economy by going back ASAP (which is probably why the late announcements) but I am worried that things might get pushed too much and not be really ready or safe (meaning structurally and so forth - I realize there is always an element of risk to life).

 

[FigmentSpark]

I don't think so... I have been to both before (on the Fantasy actually) and loved St Maarten - was more neutral on San Juan though I chalked it up to the guide I had more than anything. I love that the Wonder has an extra sea day, but if it gets changed that could be a moot point.

It is out of Port Canaveral, not San Juan, when I am on it.

My bigger issue is the unknown - I would like to make plans, and given their couple of weeks out announcement thing, DCL is making that a challenge. I know they want to help the economy by going back ASAP (which is probably why the late announcements) but I am worried that things might get pushed too much and not be really ready or safe (meaning structurally and so forth - I realize there is always an element of risk to life).

It sounds like Star Wars day is the only thing holding you back from changing. Tough choice, but you would be able to plan and if you'd be okay missing those ports this year (maybe book next year?), then a change might work for you.

Star Wars day last year was okay. There were meet and greets, which you were given appointments for and the movies played all day. The food was normal food with Star Wars-esque names. You could avoid all of that, but the hallway music is essentially from the background music to the movies. Nothing that was the recognisable themes, but that stuff that plays to give a movie more 'feeling'. It had a somber tone, not the usual Disney feel. The fireworks were nice, of course. But that hallway music might turn you off. You could just use headphones and have your own happy music on for the hallway walks, though.

 

[bumbershoot]

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,

What hotel???

If Disney goes out of PA and ymshes being told the port is obliterated when it's simply not, I really wonder about the other info she's being given.

Biggest disadvantage to the Fantasy is Star Wars (so many shades of NOT a fan).

I despise pirates night on Dream (I specify bc it's the only Disney ship I've been on) but manage to avoid most of it.

I know they want to help the economy by going back ASAP (which is probably why the late announcements) but I am worried that things might get pushed too much and not be really ready or safe (meaning structurally and so forth - I realize there is always an element of risk to life).

I can't imagine the lawyers or insurance companies for Disney (or Royal) would allow them to go back until it's safe.

 

[Dug720]

I despise pirates night on Dream (I specify bc it's the only Disney ship I've been on) but manage to avoid most of it. .

Ah, but that is a night. Star Wars is an entire day of the ship being taken over - music and all from what I read in reports.

 

[Capang]

What hotel???

If Disney goes out of PA and ymshes being told the port is obliterated when it's simply not, I really wonder about the other info she's being given.





I despise pirates night on Dream (I specify bc it's the only Disney ship I've been on) but manage to avoid most of it.



I can't imagine the lawyers or insurance companies for Disney (or Royal) would allow them to go back until it's safe.

I'm not sure of the resort name. Disney did not tell her it is obliterated (she's not traveling with Disney), the resort and TA did. Because it is gone. I've seen the pictures. It is gutted on most sides. The port is still closed. I've heard optimistic reports of November/December and I've heard others saying February. The island is still a mess and not open to tourists yet.

ETA: I found this list and it is a good indicator of what's going on. The port is open for aid with restrictions and no date is firmly given for reopening. I'm guessing my moms resort is one of those closed until further notice.
http://puertoriconow.seepuertorico.com/

 

[bumbershoot]

Ah, but that is a night. Star Wars is an entire day of the ship being taken over - music and all from what I read in reports.

Pirates evening feels like a whole day to me.

Now how can you not like some good John Williams music?

I'm not sure of the resort name. Disney did not tell her it is obliterated (she's not traveling with Disney), the resort and TA did. Because it is gone. I've seen the pictures. It is gutted on most sides. The port is still closed. I've heard optimistic reports of November/December and I've heard others saying February. The island is still a mess and not open to tourists yet.

ETA: I found this list and it is a good indicator of what's going on. The port is open for aid with restrictions and no date is firmly given for reopening. I'm guessing my moms resort is one of those closed until further notice.
http://puertoriconow.seepuertorico.com/

Royal is bringing things in and took evacuees from the port. While I doubt they'll do the 7th cruise they are still holding out hope. That's a small number of hotels without hopeful October opening dates. And that's the site I've been going by. There are commercial flights going in and out and when I checked yesterday I could have bought a ticket to sju for $103 from Boston (leaving is a little harder). So....

We're getting the same info and digesting it differently.

 

[Dug720]

Pirates evening feels like a whole day to me.

Now how can you not like some good John Williams music?

Compared to some good Sherman Brothers' music or Alan Menken music?? Seriously???

But in other thoughts... I've gotta say, in spite of it only being a 4-night cruise, the idea of land-sea where I could focus the land part on DAK and Pandora (with a day for Epcot or MK) and the chance to see BATB on the Dream is getting more and more tempting...