Docked in one port for multiple days: casinos, etc. stay closed?

[Leo Jay]

We'll be sailing to Bermuda in May, and it will be my first experience on a ship that's docked in one port continuously for a number of days, so I'm wondering if the usual features that are unavailable while a ship is in port (casinos, shops, laundry, lunch in MDR) also apply in this situation?

 

And do ships in with this kind of itinerary tend to be as empty during the day as on a normal island-hopping itinerary? Or do a higher percentage of guests stay onboard?

 

Any feedback would be appreciated! Thanks!

[paul929207]

I haven't been to Bermuda, but we have overnighted in other ports. The casino and shops have always been closed. Until recently the MDR was opened for lunch, but Princess has started closing it on port days. Our last overnight, we had full day tours both days, so I did not notice if it was open either day. I would think the laundry would be open unless there are local regulations prohibiting it.

[cb at sea]

The laundry will certainly function EVERYDAY!!!! How many will stay onboard will vary from cruise to cruise. Folks who have "been there, done that" do tend to stick around the ship more than someone who has never been to a particular port!

[isujim]

What cruiseline will you be on? What is open may vary by cruiseline and some cruisers specific to a cruiseline can probably help you more specifically.........some things will apply to all like casinos shutting down.......dining room etc may vary by cruiseline.

[Leo Jay]

What cruiseline will you be on? What is open may vary by cruiseline and some cruisers specific to a cruiseline can probably help you more specifically.........some things will apply to all like casinos shutting down.......dining room etc may vary by cruiseline.

 

We'll be on Celebrity; I've also posted the question on that forum. Thanks.

[njhorseman]

Casino and shops will be closed the entire time you're in port. Bars, restaurants, dining rooms will be open and there will be entertainment in port.

 

As others have noted, it's getting more common for cruise lines to not open the MDR for lunch while in port.

 

Most passengers will be off the ship for most of the daytime hours, with the exception of the last afternoon because passengers don't want to risk missing the ship and tend to stay close by and come back on board early that day.

[Mary Ellen]

What cruiseline will you be on? What is open may vary by cruiseline and some cruisers specific to a cruiseline can probably help you more specifically.........some things will apply to all like casinos shutting down.......dining room etc may vary by cruiseline.

No, it will depend upon the local laws in the port(s) involved.

[njhorseman]

No, it will depend upon the local laws in the port(s) involved.

 

I don't think you read the post very carefully..it said "some things will apply to all like casinos shutting down.......dining room etc may vary by cruiseline" and that information is correct. Local laws do not dictate whether the dining room can be open.

[isujim]

No, it will depend upon the local laws in the port(s) involved.

 

Local laws I don't believe would have any bearing on whether a cruise line continues to operate their dining room for lunch or dinner........but you are right as far as casino, on board shops etc. That will indeed be dictated by local law. Not everyone will get off the ship, there will be food venues of some type open on the ship.

[isujim]

I don't think you read the post very carefully..it said "some things will apply to all like casinos shutting down.......dining room etc may vary by cruiseline" and that information is correct. Local laws do not dictate whether the dining room can be open.

 

Thanks.......you got what I at least meant to say:D

[Mary Ellen]

Yes, the restaurants being open can even vary from sailing to sailing on the same ship. No guarantee there. Casinos and shops being open will depend upon local laws.

[Leo Jay]

Thanks, all.

 

I'm somewhat surprised to hear that laundry service continues; I had heard that the reason self-serve laundry was always shut down while in port (on ships I've sailed on that have had the facilities) is that the laundry wastewater can't be dumped so close to the shoreline... so I would have thought that that would restrict laundry service as well...?

[njhorseman]

Thanks, all.

 

I'm somewhat surprised to hear that laundry service continues; I had heard that the reason self-serve laundry was always shut down while in port (on ships I've sailed on that have had the facilities) is that the laundry wastewater can't be dumped so close to the shoreline... so I would have thought that that would restrict laundry service as well...?

 

If you think about it, if they had to close down the laundry for the reason you cite, wouldn't they have to prohibit the use of water used for anything? You wouldn't be able to use the bathrooms on board...that water is obviously far dirtier than water from the laundry.

 

Cruise ships in general can't dump any water in port and modern ships have sophisticated water treatment plants. If they have to unload waste water in port it can be pumped onto local barges that would then properly dispose of it.

[BruceMuzz]

Thanks, all.

 

I'm somewhat surprised to hear that laundry service continues; I had heard that the reason self-serve laundry was always shut down while in port (on ships I've sailed on that have had the facilities) is that the laundry wastewater can't be dumped so close to the shoreline... so I would have thought that that would restrict laundry service as well...?

 

It's actually a bit more complicated than that.

 

1. Many ships - especially those smaller ones that go to Bermuda - have limited waste water storage and limited waste water processing capabilities. Even when we do have the option of paying a shore based company to haul away waste water, it can be quite expensive. Usually the cruise line will opt to close down any non-essential systems producing waste water, in order to save money. The first ones to be closed are self service laundries for crew and pax. Next to go is the main laundry. It is more cost effective to purchase additional linen, and keep the main laundry closed for a few days.

 

2. A growing number of countries and ports do not allow any phosphate-based waste water to be dumped in or near their shores. Most phosphates come from detergents. Most dishwashing detergents for ships are now phosphate-free. But laundry detergents are lagging behind in that department. Even if the ship's laundry is phosphate-free, crew and pax usually use phosphate based detergents purchased ashore. The cruise lines don't want to risk a huge fine for this. It is easier to close the self-service laundries.

[paul929207]

Bruce,

Thanks for the explanation

[njhorseman]

It's actually a bit more complicated than that.

 

1. Many ships - especially those smaller ones that go to Bermuda - have limited waste water storage and limited waste water processing capabilities. Even when we do have the option of paying a shore based company to haul away waste water, it can be quite expensive. Usually the cruise line will opt to close down any non-essential systems producing waste water, in order to save money. The first ones to be closed are self service laundries for crew and pax. Next to go is the main laundry. It is more cost effective to purchase additional linen, and keep the main laundry closed for a few days.

 

2. A growing number of countries and ports do not allow any phosphate-based waste water to be dumped in or near their shores. Most phosphates come from detergents. Most dishwashing detergents for ships are now phosphate-free. But laundry detergents are lagging behind in that department. Even if the ship's laundry is phosphate-free, crew and pax usually use phosphate based detergents purchased ashore. The cruise lines don't want to risk a huge fine for this. It is easier to close the self-service laundries.

 

Of the six contract ships that call on Bermuda, only Holland America's Veendam has self-service passenger laundries. The NCL, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity ships do not, since the poster who asked the question is on Celebrity it's moot point...there's no passenger laundry room to close...and the Celebrity Summit is far from a small ship with limited waste water processing capability. In 2012, the six contract ships will make a total of 140 calls on Bermuda, and all remaining ships will make a total of only 22 calls, with 14 of those 22 calls on small ships, accounting for fewer than 10% of Bermuda's cruise ship calls.

 

By the way, you're wrong about crew and pax using phosphate based detergents purchased ashore. Phosphates have not been a component of laundry detergents available for sale in the US, Canada, Japan, as well as some Western European countries for some time . Phosphate based consumer laundry detergents will also be barred in all EU countries effective June 30, 2013.

 

I've cruised to Bermuda many times and have always been able to have my laundry done on the ship.

[BruceMuzz]

Of the six contract ships that call on Bermuda, only Holland America's Veendam has self-service passenger laundries. The NCL, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity ships do not, since the poster who asked the question is on Celebrity it's moot point...there's no passenger laundry room to close...and the Celebrity Summit is far from a small ship with limited waste water processing capability. In 2012, the six contract ships will make a total of 140 calls on Bermuda, and all remaining ships will make a total of only 22 calls, with 14 of those 22 calls on small ships, accounting for fewer than 10% of Bermuda's cruise ship calls.

 

By the way, you're wrong about crew and pax using phosphate based detergents purchased ashore. Phosphates have not been a component of laundry detergents available for sale in the US, Canada, Japan, as well as some Western European countries for some time . Phosphate based consumer laundry detergents will also be barred in all EU countries effective June 30, 2013.

 

I've cruised to Bermuda many times and have always been able to have my laundry done on the ship.

 

Not sure where your crew purchase their laundry detergent. My crew purchase it in Mexico and the Caribbean, where it is much cheaper and it does contain phosphates. The crew stores on my ships also purchase it in the islands, where it is much cheaper. Unfortunately it does contain phosphates, and we cannot take the chance with a fine.

 

I have cruised to Bermuda hundreds of times, on many different sized ships. Some of the ships I worked on kept the laundries open, some did not. Some of the ships I was on had to leave port duing the night to dump grey water at sea, and then return in the morning. This decision is usually dependent on where the ship is coming from, how fast it has been sailing, and how many pax and crew are onboard. This allowed us to keep the main laundry open.

[njhorseman]

Not sure where your crew purchase their laundry detergent. My crew purchase it in Mexico and the Caribbean, where it is much cheaper and it does contain phosphates. The crew stores on my ships also purchase it in the islands, where it is much cheaper. Unfortunately it does contain phosphates, and we cannot take the chance with a fine.

 

I have cruised to Bermuda hundreds of times, on many different sized ships. Some of the ships I worked on kept the laundries open, some did not. Some of the ships I was on had to leave port duing the night to dump grey water at sea, and then return in the morning. This decision is usually dependent on where the ship is coming from, how fast it has been sailing, and how many pax and crew are onboard. This allowed us to keep the main laundry open.

 

How can the crew on the typical Bermuda itinerary ship purchase laundry detergent in Mexico and the Caribbean when Mexico and the Caribbean are not in the itinerary? Some how I doubt they're buying six months worth of detergent in advance of the Bermuda cruise season.

 

In more than 20 years of frequent cruising to Bermuda on many cruise lines, I've never been on a ship that left port during the night and returned in the morning.

[bob brown]

The last HAL ship I was on, the Amsterdam in 2010, dispensed liquid soap into the self-service washing machines as part of the cost....

 

I read somewhere that Bermuda is considering allowing cruiseships to open their casino's while docked there, although perhaps limited to certain hours, in an effort to get more cruise ship calls there. I can't remember the details.

[BruceMuzz]

How can the crew on the typical Bermuda itinerary ship purchase laundry detergent in Mexico and the Caribbean when Mexico and the Caribbean are not in the itinerary? Some how I doubt they're buying six months worth of detergent in advance of the Bermuda cruise season.

 

In more than 20 years of frequent cruising to Bermuda on many cruise lines, I've never been on a ship that left port during the night and returned in the morning.

 

You have obviously never worked on a cruise ship. Most crew stay onboard for nearly a year. The Bermuda season is only a few months for most ships. The majority of my crew join the ship when we are in the Caribbean. Even if they do not, we stock our crew store when in the Caribbean and Mexico - where things are generally cheaper.

I worked on ships sailing into and out of Bermuda for 32 years on 11 different cruise lines. Some have had to leave in the night to dump wastewater; some have not.

[njhorseman]

You have obviously never worked on a cruise ship. Most crew stay onboard for nearly a year. The Bermuda season is only a few months for most ships. The majority of my crew join the ship when we are in the Caribbean. Even if they do not, we stock our crew store when in the Caribbean and Mexico - where things are generally cheaper.

I worked on ships sailing into and out of Bermuda for 32 years on 11 different cruise lines. Some have had to leave in the night to dump wastewater; some have not.

 

When was the last time you were on a ship that left Bermuda at night to dump waste water? Everything I've read says that modern cruise ships have waste water treatment plants that treat grey water (the type of waste water produced from washing machines) sufficiently...to nearly potable water quality...to allow it to be reused on the ship as technical water for uses such as flushing toilets, in fire suppression sprinkler systems, for washing down outside decks, etc.

[Leo Jay]

It's actually a bit more complicated than that.

 

1. Many ships - especially those smaller ones that go to Bermuda - have limited waste water storage and limited waste water processing capabilities. Even when we do have the option of paying a shore based company to haul away waste water, it can be quite expensive. Usually the cruise line will opt to close down any non-essential systems producing waste water, in order to save money. The first ones to be closed are self service laundries for crew and pax. Next to go is the main laundry. It is more cost effective to purchase additional linen, and keep the main laundry closed for a few days.

 

2. A growing number of countries and ports do not allow any phosphate-based waste water to be dumped in or near their shores. Most phosphates come from detergents. Most dishwashing detergents for ships are now phosphate-free. But laundry detergents are lagging behind in that department. Even if the ship's laundry is phosphate-free, crew and pax usually use phosphate based detergents purchased ashore. The cruise lines don't want to risk a huge fine for this. It is easier to close the self-service laundries.

 

BruceMuzz, very much thanks for the explanation.

 

To others who misunderstood my question, I'm aware that X has no self-serve laundry rooms, I simply mentioned them to explain that I would have assumed that the phosphate-dumping regulations applicable to all cruise lines would apply to laundry service as much as they do to self-serve (on whichever ships have them). But all is clear now.

 

Thanks all.

:)

[BruceMuzz]

When was the last time you were on a ship that left Bermuda at night to dump waste water? Everything I've read says that modern cruise ships have waste water treatment plants that treat grey water (the type of waste water produced from washing machines) sufficiently...to nearly potable water quality...to allow it to be reused on the ship as technical water for uses such as flushing toilets, in fire suppression sprinkler systems, for washing down outside decks, etc.

 

The last time I was on a ship that left Bermuda overnight to dump grey and black water was 4 or 5 years ago. But just a few months ago I was on a much larger and newer ship that had to leave Cabo San Lucas overnight every week to dump grey water tanks.

This past summer our newest ship had to leave Barcelona overnight to do the same thing.

 

You need to read more. CDC will no longer allow technical water for flushing toilets. Only potable water is now allowed in passenger cabins.

[njhorseman]

The last time I was on a ship that left Bermuda overnight to dump grey and black water was 4 or 5 years ago. But just a few months ago I was on a much larger and newer ship that had to leave Cabo San Lucas overnight every week to dump grey water tanks.

This past summer our newest ship had to leave Barcelona overnight to do the same thing.

 

You need to read more. CDC will no longer allow technical water for flushing toilets. Only potable water is now allowed in passenger cabins.

 

Ships don't dock in Cabo San Lucas as I recall...passengers are tendered into port and are expected to be on board by a certain time in order to sleep on board overnight...really not much different than how the ship operates if it were not remaining in a port overnight.

 

If a ship is overnighting there is the primary purpose of going further out to sea really to dump your grey water, or was it just as much or more to allow the ship's casino and shops to open, which also affords you the opportunity to dump your grey water since you're far enough off shore? Sounds like a convenient coincidence that allows it do both.

 

It find it difficult to believe that a new large ship really had to leave Cabo. Why is it that every week of the Bermuda cruise season, 4 to 5 ships can stay in port continuously for anywhere from two to four days without the need to leave port in order to dump their grey water? The Veendam isn't even very big by modern standards...about 57,000 tons, and isn't very new either having been launched in 1996, but for the past several years it has spent four days in Bermuda every week through the cruise season without ever having to leave its berth to dump grey water.

 

If you want to have the last word, feel free. I'll restrain myself from responding.

[1025cruise]

I was on the Veendam last June.

 

The shops and casinos were not only closed, but "sealed" by Bermuda officials when we got there. Though, the shops did open for "browsing" a couple of nights. All food venues, bars, and entertainment were open. I did find that the dining rooms were a bit empty as some people at on shore, but I'm a believer in "I paid for food on the ship, that's where I'm eating".

 

With regards to water, it was specifically asked of us to do what we could to conserve water as we were unable to bring fresh water on in Hamilton due to water shortages. We didn't have to leave to dump grey water, but I'm sure the ship did as soon as it was far enough out.