coaster

Those booked on Carnival Paradise from Tampa which also got reduced to 3 nights really got a deal. Refund for one day like Serenade, but 50 percent FCC and $200 OBC per cabin.

Not a foreign port. Can’t happen.

Any guesses on what port a cruise ship from Tampa can make it to in back in only 3 days? Don’t ever recall seeing it attempted before.

Signed up for other wine events onboard after the galley tour that were not offered precruise. Sadly, they were cancelled due to low signups. Really wanted to do the port wine tasting. Just fyi..... Not sure why they don't offer all of them in the cruise planner as they would book to a higher level.

Think it was well worth it. I recall for 4 tables setup and just kept going back. I drink cheap wine at home so it all seemed better to me than that. Good use of promo OBC also between this and using it for onboard gratuities.

FYI....I did not post that about Colon.

Only port I have been to that not one excursion is offered to see the town. That tells you something....

Just hoping they don't add purple slides blocking the aft view, relocation of Diamond lounge to lower decks 'basement' without natural light and robots taking over the Champagne bar. Playmakers replacing Rita's Cantina where you can't even pay extra to order a taco or nachos to go with your beer would be ok though. Rita's is a dead space most of the time also.

Welcome to Colon! Sorry you paid so much to fly here and go on an older ship to places that are much more convenient to go to from a FL departure port.

Starting to think that Royal has too many ships now. This itinerary just says 'we got nothing'. These sailings will never fill. Just a matter of predicting when these sailings will be cancelled and not if.

I agree. The bottom line in regards revenue and little or nothing to do with water level issues.

Think it will all be speculation now. Royal deciding be upfront and reveal the factor or factors involved even if it is a revenue issue with Rhapsody canal transits being cancelled will help eliminate the uncertainty in regards to their other ships.

I just can't picture ships being stranded on the west coast and not being able to transit back to the east coast to reposition from Alaska. I would say since you are sailing from a US port, the chances are your sailing is booked to a healthy level and a lower chance of an itinerary change. My gut feeling, but could be wrong if other cruise ships stop their repositioning transits through the canal.

I understand it is based on tonnage also. Either way, it would seem reasonable that an underbooked ship might not be able to cover the cost no matter how it is calculated. Royal not stating the reason for the cancellation only strengthens my belief. Royal is never going to state a fact like this as it would just add to an uproar from those that booked.

Early 2024. Pretty sure they know most folks would have to fly to board on this type of sailing and would not get many last minute bookings due to that.

Wonder if they cancelled the canal portion as the ship was underbooked for these sailings. I understand the ship pays the transit taxes based on the number of berths on the ship whether they are occupied or not. Not enough passengers onboard to cover the taxes could of been a reason.

Saw that tour being offered also at a lower price. I believe it is worth paying extra for the one that actually takes you through the locks. You get to see Panama City via bus also when the boat finishes it's journey to the Pacific.

Boat we took in April. Nice closeup views of the canal.

High fence to climb over.

For those that want to transit the canal, ships port in Colon. Going back to Colon again on Celebrity in December from Tampa. We took an excursion on a small boat down the canal to Panama City in April. You take a bus to Gamboa and the boat goes through the canal to Panama City where you take the bus back to Colon. Excursion probably cheaper than the port taxes they charge on a cruise ship and you get an up close view of the canal locks as you are not so high up like on a cruise ship. Nice lunch onboard the boat also with cheap Panama beer. Cost of these 12 night sailings on Celebrity from Tampa are lower than Royal when pricing it per night and pp. You also stop in Costa Rica and Columbia.

Bizarre itinerary. Don't see these sailings ever being booked close to capacity. Colon is a pretty dismal port. Looks like the buildings have been bombed when we were there in April on Celebrity. Only reason to stop is to take an excursion to the canal. Heard the government is trying to move people out of Colon to Panama City for some reason. Can't imagine flying there to sail to ports that are so common from FL departure ports. Locals going to fill these ships?

I know the time is ticking to go on smaller ships at mass market prices. I don't expect Royal to build smaller ships in the future. Glad we have got to experience smaller ships the last 30 years and for maybe 10 more years when Vision, Radiance and M class on Celebrity ships are retired. It will just be high end lines with smaller ships at premium prices after that.

I tell DW all the time when she gets excited watching a YouTube video of a new ship to wait about 10 years. Ships need some time to be 'broken in'.

Was not effective for Covid either. Gels are just theater. If everyone washed their their hands properly in the 'perfect world' all would be good. Never going to happen. The need for crew to plate food is the only option to be proactive against future outbreaks.

Trusting and encouraging cruisers to do the right thing in regards to proper hand washing is a lost cause. Lazy and uncaring passengers will never go away. Cruise lines know now that serving plates of food by crew at buffets without sharing tongs can be accomplished due to the restart a couple of years ago. It will take a commitment on the cruise lines part to be proactive as extra staffing costs are involved in doing this type of service. HAL has managed to do it for years. Kind of surprised the CDC has not mandated the need for crew to plate food in a buffet setting.