pixie411 Posted September 10, 2013 #1 Share Posted September 10, 2013 This is my third cruise coming up that has Half Moon Cat as a port. On my last 2 cruises on Holland America the ship bypassed the island. They claimed it was too rough to tender. I was very disappointed and now feel like I will never get there. Someone on the cruise said if they didn't make their mark financially they would pass up the island to make up some revenue with a sea day. So my question is how many cruises don't make it there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moesyk4 Posted September 10, 2013 #2 Share Posted September 10, 2013 We've had it scheduled on two cruises and made it both times. Beautiful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovefuninthesun Posted September 10, 2013 #3 Share Posted September 10, 2013 We've managed to get there whenever scheduled! Love it! Sent from my iPhone 5 using Cruise Critic App Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riclop Posted September 10, 2013 #4 Share Posted September 10, 2013 Its all up to mother nature. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bills blasters Posted September 10, 2013 #5 Share Posted September 10, 2013 Made it two times with Carnival. Claudia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travrn Posted September 10, 2013 #6 Share Posted September 10, 2013 The most beautiful island I've been to in the Caribbean! Going back at Thanksgiving! I hope you make it there because it will be memorable! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrislynn55 Posted September 10, 2013 #7 Share Posted September 10, 2013 We got there last October on the Miracle....what a fantastic place! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Essiesmom Posted September 10, 2013 #8 Share Posted September 10, 2013 Missed once on HAL, but I think we made it another 5 or 6 times. EM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldrailfan Posted September 10, 2013 #9 Share Posted September 10, 2013 4 out of 5 times, and the weather was genuinely too rough to get in the fifth time... Can't speak for HAL, but Carnival goes to the island and tries to get people ashore before cancelling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruise pup Posted September 10, 2013 #10 Share Posted September 10, 2013 I've been there 2 or 3 times. Never missed it. Coco Cay on RCCL and Great Stirrup Cay on NCL are another story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gck1249 Posted September 10, 2013 #11 Share Posted September 10, 2013 Was just there Saturday on Carnival and it was the most beautiful island I have ever been to. We stayed there as long as we could and hated to leave. It was a little windy so we weren't sure what would happen but got off ship by 9:30 AM no problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pellaz Posted September 10, 2013 #12 Share Posted September 10, 2013 When this question has come up before here on CC, it seemed like an average of 1 out of every 5 visits to HMC is cancelled due to wind, weather or wave. The odds of missing HMC are a bit higher in winter than summer. So far I'm 0-for-1. Ask me again after mid-October. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winddawn Posted September 10, 2013 #13 Share Posted September 10, 2013 This is my third cruise coming up that has Half Moon Cat as a port. On my last 2 cruises on Holland America the ship bypassed the island. They claimed it was too rough to tender. I was very disappointed and now feel like I will never get there. Someone on the cruise said if they didn't make their mark financially they would pass up the island to make up some revenue with a sea day. So my question is how many cruises don't make it there? This happened to me a couple of times too, both in the winter. Once was on my 50th birthday cruise and I was very disappointed. Luckily I have made it several times though. It is my favorite beach. Wind can make it difficult and dangerous to tender. Keep trying. It is worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fun, Fun 44 Posted September 10, 2013 #14 Share Posted September 10, 2013 Guess we have been lucky. Been to HMC 4 times in 5 years on CCL and it was always fall/winter. We did miss Grand Cayman once. But have been there MANY times, so guess that doesn't happen as often. Think positive! Good luck and enjoy!! Kat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vacruizer Posted September 10, 2013 #15 Share Posted September 10, 2013 I've made it 2 out of 2. The whole passing it up on purpose thing is just a rumor angry cruisers start when they do miss port. Carnival owns the place. They get the revenue from drinks sold onshore, chair rentals, excursions like snorkeling and horseback riding, cabana rentals, etc. Plus they aren't consuming all that fuel they would be at sea (although casino isn't open so there are things to offset each other.) I always chuckle at the missed port conspiracy theories. I've yet to miss a port in 13 cruises. You'd think if it happened regularly and Carnival had a big plot to make more revenue that way I'd have missed one by now.:p Sailed all different times of year, too. I've been told (by someone at Carnival) that Carnival gets about the same profit from a port day vs a sea day. Sea days they bring in more in drink and casino sales, but are using more fuel and food. Port days they are getting the excursion revenue and saving on food and fuel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCTribeFan Posted September 10, 2013 #16 Share Posted September 10, 2013 Past experience is absolutely no indication of whether you'll get to tender over or not. Pretty sure there are no statistics (publically available, at least) that shows how often the port is missed, so whatever responses you get here aren't going to necessarily be a representative sample. And bear in mind that it is HAL's island, and they sail there much more frequently than Carnival, so asking here simply won't get any information that will be of any use to you. FWIW, we made it the first five times but missed last October not because the weather or seas were bad that time but because Hurricane Sandy had come through a few days earlier and there was damage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JerseyshoreBruce Posted September 10, 2013 #17 Share Posted September 10, 2013 I never missed Half Moon Cay in 3 cruises! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruise_girl2002 Posted September 10, 2013 #18 Share Posted September 10, 2013 been there 3 times. 2 times we were actually able to tender there and enjoy the island. the other time, it took them just about 2 hours to get anchored, they let 1 group off, and determined it was to rocky and dangerous, they brought everybody back. It was WAY to rocky. so we anchored there for the day. the ended up opening the casino and stores early and planned activities. they did a great job. Its been the one and only time we couldn't port on all my 17 cruises Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
golfadj Posted September 10, 2013 #19 Share Posted September 10, 2013 I've made it 2 out of 2. The whole passing it up on purpose thing is just a rumor angry cruisers start when they do miss port. Carnival owns the place. They get the revenue from drinks sold onshore, chair rentals, excursions like snorkeling and horseback riding, cabana rentals, etc. Plus they aren't consuming all that fuel they would be at sea (although casino isn't open so there are things to offset each other.) I always chuckle at the missed port conspiracy theories. I've yet to miss a port in 13 cruises. You'd think if it happened regularly and Carnival had a big plot to make more revenue that way I'd have missed one by now.:p Sailed all different times of year, too. I've been told (by someone at Carnival) that Carnival gets about the same profit from a port day vs a sea day. Sea days they bring in more in drink and casino sales, but are using more fuel and food. Port days they are getting the excursion revenue and saving on food and fuel. Agreed Only time we were there bad storm was coming and they closed it early so guess we had half a day. Going again later this month and expect to get there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcearth Posted September 10, 2013 #20 Share Posted September 10, 2013 Made it 100% of the time (1 for 1) -- would hate to book a cruise now and miss it. Consequently, I am 0 for 1 going to Coco Cay on Royal (50+ mph winds that day). However, anecdotal evidence is inconsequential. I would disagree with the statement about missing it due to revenue concerns, however, seeing as how all the alcohol purchased (and excursion revenue) on the island goes back to the cruise line (and at an a higher price - $5.75 beers were $6.25 on the island). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gusandgidgetsmom Posted September 10, 2013 #21 Share Posted September 10, 2013 We have made it 8 out of 8 times. Someone with us last cruise to HMC said they had missed it 3 times and it was their 4th try. Boy were they excited to get in. Statistics are only that to me. All that matters is if the conditions are right you'll get in if not you won't. We have been in several hurricanes and have had to go different places so not so lucky on every port! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tncap Posted September 10, 2013 #22 Share Posted September 10, 2013 We missed it due to tendering being unsafe on a November cruise a couple of years ago. Replaced by Freeport (:() but made the best of it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgiagolfer Posted September 10, 2013 #23 Share Posted September 10, 2013 This is my third cruise coming up that has Half Moon Cat as a port. On my last 2 cruises on Holland America the ship bypassed the island. They claimed it was too rough to tender. I was very disappointed and now feel like I will never get there. Someone on the cruise said if they didn't make their mark financially they would pass up the island to make up some revenue with a sea day. So my question is how many cruises don't make it there? DW and I have made it to HMC on 2 of 4 cruises scheduled for the stop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibcruiseing Posted September 11, 2013 #24 Share Posted September 11, 2013 The most beautiful island I've been to in the Caribbean! Going back at Thanksgiving! I hope you make it there because it will be memorable! Traven we are the same cruise and I 2nd that, the best island ever! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rushwater7710 Posted September 11, 2013 #25 Share Posted September 11, 2013 We usually go there in June, missed it this last cruise. High winds was the reason. It was the first time we missed HMC. So our odds have been good, lucky I guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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