Victory out of Dominica

[divers2]

Check out the Carnival website now. I wonder of they are still lying on the phone. I am so mad they lied to me all week. Remember that you can cacel with no penalty (even if ES) so long as you cancel within 24 hours of official notice TO YOU from either your TA or Carnival. I am still waiting for Carnival to notify me. I think they are banking on making the change on a holiday weekend and that most people will not see the email or get the message or have tome to react. We specifically booked this for all 7 ports, but were especially excited about Dominica. I do not have my air yet, so we plan to cancel and book another line. Now we can save the airare to Sam Juan, since no days at sea was the only reason we decided the flight was worth it. Not any more! Plus, they are liars!

[gone_cruisin]

Just got an email confirming the cancellation. I am on the Nov 21st cruise. Booooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!

 

Now what? I'm trying to get my port charges for Dominica refunded - no luck. Carnival is refusing!

[quietmn12]

Maybe I'm a little slow, but I still don't understand. Are they planning on cruising around in a circle or something to kill time until its time for Barbados? I thought they might extend the shore time in St Thomas or something. The geography of the thing just doesn't make much sense, it shouldn't take 36+ hours to get from St Thomas to Barbados.

Don't get me wrong, I'm taking this cruise! We were planning a ship day for Dominica anyway.

[gone_cruisin]

I'm not sure either. I was planning on making St. Kitts our ship day since we didn't have any sea days, but I guess Carnival made the decision for us.

[cowgirlamy]

I am very upset about Carnival cancelling Dominica. I do not buy their lame excuse about fuel costs. Dominica was one of my favorite islands on the itinerary. It was completely unlike any other island we stopped at. The people were awesome and the island is stunning ( though not the port area). We went river tubing with Wacky Rollers. There was so much to do on the island I would have loved to go back. Shame on you Carnival.

 

The only reason I chose this trip was being in port everyday. Otherwise I would never have chosen Carnival ( just thought it was not my kind of cruise line) but this itinerary was too good to pass up. And I loved Carnival but now I am unlikely to cruise with them again.

 

This is a major blow to the people of Dominica.

[Deckhandoug]

Yes, we only booked for the port a day experience too, we HATE sea days and I wish Carnival would have left the existing cruise alone!

[gone_cruisin]

Yes, we only booked for the port a day experience too, we HATE sea days and I wish Carnival would have left the existing cruise alone!

 

Confederate - are you on the Thanksgiving cruise also?

[Deckhandoug]

yes

[gone_cruisin]

I'm not a happy camper either. I wanted the port a day cruise otherwise we would could have gotten an even better deal on Princess.

 

I emailed Carnival asked them to consider adding another port in replace of Dominca, but I do believe the economic tale they gave was merely to get more casino/drink/bingo money out of us on sea days. :mad:

[tjeanty]

My letter was in my inbox this morning! I have attached it. My SO did this itinerary last year, and Dominica really wasn't a favorite of mine. I do hope they change the Sea Day to another port.

 

Sorry if the image is small.

[Luke gs Daddy]

I just spoke to Carnival and I was told I would not be getting any refund for port fees.

 

As of today the port fees went up not down. Seems weird to me that they drop a port and no fee credit.

I still will sail though. Good value for the money.

[markstudy]

We took our first trip on Princess to see Dominica and Bonaire.

 

Dominica was the high-point of our 10 day trip. Wow! They filmed the new Pirates of the Caribbean movies there... and it was the type of beauty you usually only see in movies.

 

Drop Dominica for a sea day or other island and I'm not coming back to Carnival or Princess. Just thought I'd let my vote be known, in case Carnival reads these things. LOL

 

 

 

[jpg1747]

Just got an email confirming the cancellation. I am on the Nov 21st cruise. Booooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!

 

Now what? I'm trying to get my port charges for Dominica refunded - no luck. Carnival is refusing!

 

hi, I'm on this cruise too. I'm disappointed that they dropped Dominica; I'd already booked and paid for an Antours river tubing excursion. Luckily, it's fully refundable. But, still, this was an island I was looking forward to visiting. Never thought about the refund of port charges; I'll have to ask my PVP about it. We should either get that or some sort of OBC.

 

On the plus side, trying to put a positive spin on this, there are things that happen on a sea day that don't happen on port days, so I'll have those to look forward to.

[jjtimes6]

We are on Victory March 20, 2011. Interestingly enough, although Barbados is still listed as a port (we are sailing out of San Juan), if you go to bookings, there is no longer a cruise listed as leaving Barbados on March 23rd. There are no cruises listed out of Barbados after March 16th. Are they replacing Barbados as an embarkation port with Trinidad?

[VictoryLover2]

Everything on the CCL site has changed..... the itinerary of upcoming cruises.... my info on the boarding pass.... So for those who want :) Dominica :) in Dec 2010 or in 2011.... NCL Dawn visits (out of Miami) Princess (out of FLL or SJU).

[Indy Island Hopper]

We have booked our second cruise on the Victory because of the "port-a-day" itinerary. We have been to Dominica three times and as beautiful as it is, it is our least favorite of the ports that Victory visits. If you like pot smoking tour guides, literally, and old taxi drivers that hate Americans then I can see why you would miss Dominica.

 

We do love Champagne Reef for snorkeling. That's all we did on the island when we were their with our kids in February on the Caribbean Princes. That's all we would do in December as well so we make Dominica our day at sea anyway. It will just be more crowded now.

 

I do hope that Carnival will replace Dominica with another port of call.

[klepton]

While I'm not sure I buy the excuse, I can see how skipping Dominica would save fuel charges. The victory likely had to book it to get from St Thomas to Dominica overnight, as evidenced by the late arrival in Dominica. If it was travelling at a faster speed than was optimized for fuel consumption, slowing the travel down could potentially save significantly on fuel.

 

I don't know what evidence there is of replacing Barbados with Trinidad, but if that is the case then dropping Dominica makes a lot of sense. As Dominica would be out of the way from a St. Thomas to Trinidad cruise. And that would be so long that a sea day would be required.

 

I've voice my concerns via every channel I know how... Not much to do now except wait.

[cowgirlamy]

We have booked our second cruise on the Victory because of the "port-a-day" itinerary. We have been to Dominica three times and as beautiful as it is, it is our least favorite of the ports that Victory visits. If you like pot smoking tour guides, literally, and old taxi drivers that hate Americans then I can see why you would miss Dominica.

 

We do love Champagne Reef for snorkeling. That's all we did on the island when we were their with our kids in February on the Caribbean Princes. That's all we would do in December as well so we make Dominica our day at sea anyway. It will just be more crowded now.

 

I do hope that Carnival will replace Dominica with another port of call.

 

 

I didn't experience any of that when I went to Dominica. Our tour guide was awesome and funny. Everyone seemed to love us no matter where we were from. Most people on the ship we spoke with had nothing but positive things to say about Dominica. In fact, for many it was their favorite place. The rest of the islands, while beautiful, don't offer what Dominica has. They all look/feel the same. Dominica was so raw and untouched, not as touristy. Felt very authentic!

[old sole]

While I'm not sure I buy the excuse, I can see how skipping Dominica would save fuel charges. The victory likely had to book it to get from St Thomas to Dominica overnight, as evidenced by the late arrival in Dominica. If it was travelling at a faster speed than was optimized for fuel consumption, slowing the travel down could potentially save significantly on fuel.

 

It's hard for me to imagine that a day at sea, no matter how slow you are going, uses less fuel than a day sitting in port. Especially since they are still going all the way down to Barbados, the fuel thing just doesnt make sense. Maybe their overall costs including port charges are lower but I don't buy the lower fuel cost story.

 

Dominica was our favorite port on that itinerary when we did it on Destiny a couple of years ago, and the one port we tell everyone we know to make sure they get to on a S. Caribbean itinerary. What a shame that Carnival isn't going to go there any more.

[VictoryLover2]

I didn't experience any of that when I went to Dominica. Our tour guide was awesome and funny. Everyone seemed to love us no matter where we were from. Most people on the ship we spoke with had nothing but positive things to say about Dominica. In fact, for many it was their favorite place. The rest of the islands, while beautiful, don't offer what Dominica has. They all look/feel the same. Dominica was so raw and untouched, not as touristy. Felt very authentic!

 

 

A reading from the book of cowgirlamy, AMEN..... :)

That was only a joke.... I agree 100%;)

[cowgirlamy]

A reading from the book of cowgirlamy, AMEN..... :)

 

That was only a joke.... I agree 100%;)

 

 

:)

 

 

Count me in as also not buying the Carnival story about fuel costs. I am planning another trip next summer with the people we met on the Victory. We will not sail Carnvial because I am protesting them adding an at-sea day and pulling out of Dominica and for lying about the reasons. Very disappointed in Carnival.

 

We will now sail RCL, Norwegian, Princess or Celebrity for the next cruise.

[susan123]

We've been to Dominica twice, and it is our favorite island for natural beauty. Our tour guides have been well-informed, friendly, funny and professional. On one excursion I stayed behind for a few minutes at a little local fruit, beverage, etc., stand on the side of the road while the others on the excursion did an activity I didn't feel physically comfortable doing. It was a delightful experience to sit and listen to the local people chatting about everyday things. They spoke a Caribbean dialect with each other, but since I am fluent in Spanish and know a little French, I was able to follow much of the conversation without their realizing I understood a word of it. I was just an old woman from the US who didn't want to swim in the strong current in the gorge. I didn't hear any anti-American, anti-tourist sentiments in their conversation, and they were very gracious to me, spoke English to me, and made every effort to be sure I was comfortable for the few minutes I waited there.

 

These people were poor, but no one tried to sell me anything except to ask if I wanted a soft drink. They were not well educated, but they were proud of their island and were happy living there. I didn't feel the least bit unsafe, but I am used to hanging out with the "locals" when I travel. There wasn't anyone using or selling drugs, and I would have been happy to have any of these people come to my house for dinner. Please don't base your opinion of the people of Dominica on one taxi driver.

 

Off my soapbox now.....I hope Carnival puts Dominica back in the itinerary even if they need to raise the price of the cruise. The natural beauty of the island is spectacular. We've done the Southern Caribbean cruise twice, once on the Destiny a few years ago and on the Victory this past winter. One of the main reasons we did it the second time was because DH and I loved Dominica so much. Of course, there are other islands we liked almost as much, and we'll take the cruise again with or without Dominica. Some islands are very nice, but they are so touristy that I don't care to see them again and again. On islands like Dominica there is so much to experience and to discover that I could go over and over without feeling I've already seen this.

[cowgirlamy]

We've been to Dominica twice, and it is our favorite island for natural beauty. Our tour guides have been well-informed, friendly, funny and professional. On one excursion I stayed behind for a few minutes at a little local fruit, beverage, etc., stand on the side of the road while the others on the excursion did an activity I didn't feel physically comfortable doing. It was a delightful experience to sit and listen to the local people chatting about everyday things. They spoke a Caribbean dialect with each other, but since I am fluent in Spanish and know a little French, I was able to follow much of the conversation without their realizing I understood a word of it. I was just an old woman from the US who didn't want to swim in the strong current in the gorge. I didn't hear any anti-American, anti-tourist sentiments in their conversation, and they were very gracious to me, spoke English to me, and made every effort to be sure I was comfortable for the few minutes I waited there.

 

These people were poor, but no one tried to sell me anything except to ask if I wanted a soft drink. They were not well educated, but they were proud of their island and were happy living there. I didn't feel the least bit unsafe, but I am used to hanging out with the "locals" when I travel. There wasn't anyone using or selling drugs, and I would have been happy to have any of these people come to my house for dinner. Please don't base your opinion of the people of Dominica on one taxi driver.

 

Off my soapbox now.....I hope Carnival puts Dominica back in the itinerary even if they need to raise the price of the cruise. The natural beauty of the island is spectacular. We've done the Southern Caribbean cruise twice, once on the Destiny a few years ago and on the Victory this past winter. One of the main reasons we did it the second time was because DH and I loved Dominica so much. Of course, there are other islands we liked almost as much, and we'll take the cruise again with or without Dominica. Some islands are very nice, but they are so touristy that I don't care to see them again and again. On islands like Dominica there is so much to experience and to discover that I could go over and over without feeling I've already seen this.

 

 

Great post! ICAM!

[Indy Island Hopper]

My opinion is based on three different experiences on Dominica. The first was in 1998. The last two within the last year. I never felt unsafe. I feel pretty safe anywhere I go. The Island is not high on my "like" list. It's interesting to see the vastly different opinions of Dominica. It just won't be missed in my book.

[klepton]

It's hard for me to imagine that a day at sea, no matter how slow you are going, uses less fuel than a day sitting in port. Especially since they are still going all the way down to Barbados, the fuel thing just doesnt make sense. Maybe their overall costs including port charges are lower but I don't buy the lower fuel cost story.

 

Dominica was our favorite port on that itinerary when we did it on Destiny a couple of years ago, and the one port we tell everyone we know to make sure they get to on a S. Caribbean itinerary. What a shame that Carnival isn't going to go there any more.

 

Well, I'll start by saying I agree with you. I'm not buying the fuel excuse either. Whether the real reason is it's just a prelude to a bigger restructure, or they just think they can make more money with a sea day, I think the fuel explanation is just a convenient excuse to get it done.

 

That said, I think you're looking at it wrong. The distance between St. Thomas and Barbados isn't changing, except that it might be slightly shorter now if they take a more direct route. The only thing changing is they are not taking the "break" in Dominica. If they traveled *extra distance* instead of a port stop then you would be absolutely correct. But by travelling the same distance at a more fuel efficient speed, they are bound to save some money on fuel. It's like if you were driving a car 400 miles. You'll use more fuel driving 100 mph for 4 hours than you would driving 50 mph for 8 hours. Cars are built to run more efficient at 50 mph than 100 mph. Cruise ships are more efficient at cruising speed (21 to 24 knots) than max speeds (up to 30 knots).

 

Source:

http://www.travelinsurancereview.net/2010/02/03/how-fast-does-a-cruise-ship-travel/

 

But all that said, I agree with everyone's general sentiment. I don't know why they couldn't have just enacted the fuel surcharge they reserve to right to impose when you book. I would much rather pay the fuel surcharge and keep dominica. It was one of our favorite islands when we sailed the Victory in Feb. The people were great, we never felt unsafe, and the island is simply amazing. I honestly think they have some reason to do this, be it revenue from sea days or the start of a bigger restructure of ports. But in their meeting they decided they couldn't tell us the real reason, so had to come up with something else to tell us. They did a controlled leak of the information with two reasons given, fuel cost and people complaining about the busy itinerary, and went with the fuel cost "official reason."

 

Just my two cents...