Does MSC cancel dockings if they can't get enough shore excursion bookings

Hi,

we are currently on Orchestra and have just had our docking at Katakolon cancelled due to high wind. This sounds wrong because the wind wasn't that strong and our friends who were waiting for us at port told us the port officers told them the ship was cleared to dock but decided not to because they did not have enough shore excursions booked and it was cheaper to keep everyone on board and move to the next port.

Does this sound correct to anyone? We had much stronger wind condidtions the previous two ports in trickier port access and docked no problem.

In short, we were told on board that we couldn't dock due to wind and our friends at the Port were chatting with officers who said the boat didn't dock due to not enough $$$ from their shore excursions being sold on board.

I find that assertion highly questionable. Ships commit to ports far, far in advance and pay port fees to be there. I cannot imagine they would just decide to skip because not enough excursions were sold. Wind is a common reason for missing a port and the decision can be made by the port authorities or the captain. Just because it may not appear all that windy does not mean wind speed is not sufficient enough to impact a safe docking. Last year we had to miss Costa Maya, Mexico due to wind. Did not seem all that bad at first, but then looking out at the dock we could see waves crashing right over the pier.

I doubt that was the reason. The captain has to consider what the conditions are going to be like for the whole time the ship is in port. Perhaps the forecast was for strong winds later on that day which could have impacted on the ship's departure.

We were on Splendida in Tunis, when the ship broke it's moorings at lunchtime due to a very strong gust of wind and drifted for a time in the port. It took almost an hour for the captain to get control again! We had been ashore for the morning and it was a beautiful day, with no hint of a breeze, even. There were people on the gangway at the time. Fortunately, no-one was injured - or worse!

I would trust the captain of the ship regarding safety matters rather than my friends or port officers.