St Maarten damage

[Sleepyluke]

I sort of asked this in another thread, but this is a revision since the hurricane has hit now. It seems that St Maarten has some pretty good damage and currently has no water or electricity to most of the island. We are scheduled to be there in less than 2 weeks. IF they get water back to most of the island and IF they electric back, but still have lots of damage and clean up to do, do they put a ship full of passengers into the middle of the mess, or do they try to keep them (us) away and get it cleaned up first. There is no way that it will all be fixed. Having been through tornado and hurricane clean up it is much easier without all the extra people that show up and jsut get in the way.

Any thoughts?

 

[mmouse37]

I sort of asked this in another thread, but this is a revision since the hurricane has hit now. It seems that St Maarten has some pretty good damage and currently has no water or electricity to most of the island. We are scheduled to be there in less than 2 weeks. IF they get water back to most of the island and IF they electric back, but still have lots of damage and clean up to do, do they put a ship full of passengers into the middle of the mess, or do they try to keep them (us) away and get it cleaned up first. There is no way that it will all be fixed. Having been through tornado and hurricane clean up it is much easier without all the extra people that show up and jsut get in the way.

Any thoughts?

My only thought would be that they would want tourists as soon as possible to drive the economy especially after a disaster. That said, don't know how quickly they can accept tourists. I guess it all depends on how bad the damage is. I don't know how quickly they could get building supplies, etc. to fix what is damaged.

MJ

 

[Floridagram]

I went to another forum I frequent on St Maarten, where the people love the island and our frequent visitors. Some people that post there live on the island. There was a lot of damage, one person's perspective is that half of Orient Beach is gone. The French side was the hardest hit and many boats are damaged and sunk.

I could not really tell how damaged Front St might be but wind did blow water through door cracks on the Dutch side so stores could be damaged too. If the island is not ready for guests cruise ships will change the itinerary.

I find it most sad that many of the beautiful beaches may be gone. Friars Bay restaurants are severely damaged.

 

[Bettyscruise]

It looks like the fantasy is currently on an alternative cruise. Scheduled for St. Thomas but headed west instead. St. Martin damage sounds heavy. We're scheduled there on Oct. 29 but I doubt they'll be ready. How does DCL communicate a change in itenerary?

 

[jdb in AZ]

It looks like the fantasy is currently on an alternative cruise. Scheduled for St. Thomas but headed west instead. St. Martin damage sounds heavy. We'ew scheduled there on Oct. 29 but I doubt they'll be ready. How does DCL communicate a change in itenerary?

When our itinerary was changed by Hurricane Sandy, we got e-mails on our cell phone the morning we were due to board, but those notifications were hours behind. We actually received more up-to-date info by reading the DIS boards. The crew on the ship was very busy with other things, like cleaning up damage and bringing the Fantasy into port. She was a few hours late, but at least they got there. The itinerary kept changing after we boarded, and the captain announced those changes over the P.A. system.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I would try to find info sources for St Maarten specifically. There are more far-reaching sites than this one.

They won't open the port to tourists if it's unsustainable to do so. Will the island look like nothing ever happened? Of course not. But, they'll also want to get that tourism cash flow rolling again asap. Keep yourself updated. Know what to realistically expect if they do open the port. You may not have the same day you previously planned. I guarantee at the very least you'll have the chance to experience the heart of the islanders, their resiliency and strength. Hurricanes are part of their life. Not fun but they know what to do and will always bounce back with a smile.

My heart does go out to the residents of the affected islands. Horrible-canes are never fun. I know.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I have turned up at the port and found our cruise was now a Western after booking an Eastern due to a storm.

 

[Desnik]

I didn't even know it suffered so much damage! That is terrible & so sad for those affected.

We cruise there in 24 days. Now I'm curious if our itinerary will change?

 

[sailortena]

Relaaaaaaaax.

This is what vacations are for. Go with the flow.

 

[Floridagram]

Relaaaaaaaax.

This is what vacations are for. Go with the flow.

I was looking for the LIKE button! Wrong website but I agree!

 

[Dug720]

Relaaaaaaaax.

This is what vacations are for. Go with the flow.

This! I don't cruise until February, and likely things will be fine. BUT if for some reason they aren't, I made sure that my non-ship excursion would give a refund should anything prevent us from docking, which it does. Will it be different? Yes. But it will be vacation and NOT being here in the cold city.

 

[truck1]

How does DCL communicate a change in itenerary?

The port and cruise lines are probably in daily communication. When the port authority feels it's safe they'll tell the cruise lines to come back. Going on an assumption the say port x is no longer available the cruise lines will do 1 of 2 things. Either substitute the port with another or a sea day or change the itinerary completely. In either case DCL or your ta or both will email you the change and it most likely will be in a pop up on DCL homepage.

 

[Sleepyluke]

I am very much a relax and go with the flow and more than happy to go anywhere, but curious more than anything.

And I very much appreciate the monetary help rebuilding but also spending a small fortune to go somewhere with nothing open and damage seems less than ideal. I have an uncle with a tree through his office from a tornado Monday so I am fully aware of storm damage first hand. Hoping all is well and not an issue.

 

[RemysMom]

POINT BLANCHE, St. Maarten – The first cruise ship to call at Port St. Maarten will be on Saturday when the Carnival Valor docks at the Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo facility.

After a side sonar inspection of the seabed in and around the cruise piers, no undersea obstructions were found.

Cargo operations are well underway already and cruise will come online on Saturday, October 18th.

Port St. Maarten after an assessment was carried out received only superficial and cosmetic damages such as broken tree limbs and signs. The cruise facility is ready to welcome the first cruise visitors back to the 'Friendly Island.'

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Port St. Maarten Mark Mingo said on Thursday that it's back to business.

"Much has been accomplished since the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo on Monday evening.

We have seen all hands on deck where it concerns people coming together to get the country back on its feet.

From the seaport to the airport, destination St. Maarten is back," CEO Mark Mingo said on Thursday.

 

[longboard55]

Thanks for the update, we are on the Oct 26 eastern and did not want to switch to nassau

 

[lbgraves]

We stopped at Grand Cayman after a hurricane hit there one cruise. There was still mud in the streets, some storefronts were boarded up and others had large windows broken. They won't wait until everything is in perfect condition before having cruise ships return there. Like MJ said, the port is concerned about having the economy get flowing again.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Thanks for the update, we are on the Oct 26 eastern and did not want to switch to nassau

I can't see DCL substituting a Bahamian port for a Caribbean one. I'd think they'd stop in San Juan in place of St. Maarten before they'd stop in Nassau.