Are you happier with the new overnight on the cruise you had booked?

[janewe]

You keep relying on the poll which is anything but scientific. Anyone, including those who are not booked on a cruise with the changed itinerary can vote. Also trolls who have never booked a Celebrity cruise can also vote.

 

We too have never received any notifications about our 2 altered cruises but I am long over being disappointed and have been doing research for our overnights.

 

If you are so unhappy about the change to your "contracted" cruise, cancel and get your money back. I really don't want to sound mean about this but it's been many weeks since the changes were announced and it's time to move on.

"I am long over being disappointed and have been doing research for our overnights."

 

 

Other than going out for dinner or to a bar for drinks (we are not doing that as already "paid" for both on the Ship) what has your research come up with, so far, to do in the dark in the Caribbean Ports over nights? Thanks

Edited June 25, 2015 by janewe

[jagoffee]

"I am long over being disappointed and have been doing research for our overnights."

 

 

Other than going out for dinner or to a bar for drinks (we are not doing that as already "paid" for both on the Ship) what has your research come up with, so far, to do in the dark in the Caribbean Ports over nights? Thanks

 

Not Oville, but he has some good points.

 

Since you asked:

1. Sunset sailing on a smaller craft.

2. Shore excursion that travels further into an island that does not need to be back by a ridiculous 4 or 5 PM.

3. the opening of excursions early in the morning on the second day instead of when the ship arrives.

4. It is easier to work with standard private excursions.

5. Possibility of a two day overnight excursions to a remote island not visited by a cruise ship.

6. Easy use of ferry services due to the schedule.

7. Evening local entertainment on board or on shore.

8. IMO being on the ship when people are on shore is very nice.

 

These are just some of the benefits of overnights and/or late departures that many of us have been requesting for a long time. We will find out whether this is valued by enough people.

[GottaKnowWhen]

...Other than going out for dinner or to a bar for drinks (we are not doing that as already "paid" for both on the Ship) ...

 

I must say I continue to be puzzled by this attitude. Do you ever leave the ship?

People flock off the ships in the Caribbean to go to a beach and lie in the sand. But I suppose you stay by the pool on board because you have already paid for that spot in the sun? People pay big bucks to take excursions onshore at every port. Sometimes those excursions take all day and include a lunch stop. Do you avoid those because you need to get back aboard to eat the lunch you already paid for? You have paid thousands of dollars to be able to visit, for example, Aruba, and you are willing to pass up the opportunity to try some of the local food and drink because you have paid for yet another shipboard meal?

 

I like cruising and I like sea days and I understand that there may be some who care nothing about where the ship stops during their cruises. But does it really matter to you if you are parked overnight at a port you don't care about vs being parked offshore at the harbor entrance of the next port you don't care about?

[janewe]

Not Oville, but he has some good points.

 

Since you asked:

1. Sunset sailing on a smaller craft.

2. Shore excursion that travels further into an island that does not need to be back by a ridiculous 4 or 5 PM.

3. the opening of excursions early in the morning on the second day instead of when the ship arrives.

4. It is easier to work with standard private excursions.

5. Possibility of a two day overnight excursions to a remote island not visited by a cruise ship.

6. Easy use of ferry services due to the schedule.

7. Evening local entertainment on board or on shore.

8. IMO being on the ship when people are on shore is very nice.

 

These are just some of the benefits of overnights and/or late departures that many of us have been requesting for a long time. We will find out whether this is valued by enough people.

In our case, we were due to be in Curacao until 11 pm and be in Bonaire the next day. All your points with the exception of # 5 could have been done and I am sure there would not be many that would want to over night from a Cruise Ship in a remote Island.

 

We are also in Barbados until late. My opinion is, people can have enough to do up until 11 am and sail to Ports that are close, over night and not give up an Island.

 

Sure, there will be a few who will be happy in the Bars until 2 or 3 am and let's pray they get back to the Ship safely.

 

Hopefully, from our perspective, Celebrity will find out very soon that losing an Island is not valued and they will be reinstated.

[janewe]

I must say I continue to be puzzled by this attitude. Do you ever leave the ship?

People flock off the ships in the Caribbean to go to a beach and lie in the sand. But I suppose you stay by the pool on board because you have already paid for that spot in the sun? People pay big bucks to take excursions onshore at every port. Sometimes those excursions take all day and include a lunch stop. Do you avoid those because you need to get back aboard to eat the lunch you already paid for? You have paid thousands of dollars to be able to visit, for example, Aruba, and you are willing to pass up the opportunity to try some of the local food and drink because you have paid for yet another shipboard meal?

 

I like cruising and I like sea days and I understand that there may be some who care nothing about where the ship stops during their cruises. But does it really matter to you if you are parked overnight at a port you don't care about vs being parked offshore at the harbor entrance of the next port you don't care about?

Thanks for asking, yes we do leave the Ship and get up to something in every Port. After all expenses related to the Cruise such as Air, multiple taxis, Hotels, gratuities,etc we don't see a need to pay for two dinners, so to speak, in one night. We would prefer to put these funds towards our next Island land vacation where we enjoy the local cuisine. We need to get out of our cold winter more than once.

[RJHNorthyorks]

Although Celebrity have changed the itineries of a number of cruises to include overnights they have not changed their website. This means that they are still selling cruises based on itineraries that are now inaccurate.

[GottaKnowWhen]

...We would prefer to put these funds towards our next Island land vacation where we enjoy the local cuisine. We need to get out of our cold winter more than once...

 

Got it - thanks!

[Oville]

"I am long over being disappointed and have been doing research for our overnights."

 

 

Other than going out for dinner or to a bar for drinks (we are not doing that as already "paid" for both on the Ship) what has your research come up with, so far, to do in the dark in the Caribbean Ports over nights? Thanks

 

 

Here are a couple of links that might be helpful.

 

Curaçao: http://www.islands.com/top-5-things-do-curacao

 

Barbados: http://www.barbados.org/nightlf.htm#.VYw1DXD3arW

[Tiggertastic]

Although Celebrity have changed the itineries of a number of cruises to include overnights they have not changed their website. This means that they are still selling cruises based on itineraries that are now inaccurate.

 

 

My DH spotted that too.

[Fouremco]

Here are a couple of links that might be helpful.

 

Curaçao: http://www.islands.com/top-5-things-do-curacao

 

Barbados: http://www.barbados.org/nightlf.htm#.VYw1DXD3arW

 

Too bad that most/all of the suggested activities for Barbados will not be available when we stay overnight on Easter Sunday. Even such major attractions as Harrison Caves will be closed that day.:mad:

[MartinsCruise]

In our case, we were due to be in Curacao until 11 pm and be in Bonaire the next day. All your points with the exception of # 5 could have been done and I am sure there would not be many that would want to over night from a Cruise Ship in a remote Island.

 

We are also in Barbados until late. My opinion is, people can have enough to do up until 11 am and sail to Ports that are close, over night and not give up an Island.

 

Sure, there will be a few who will be happy in the Bars until 2 or 3 am and let's pray they get back to the Ship safely.

 

Hopefully, from our perspective, Celebrity will find out very soon that losing an Island is not valued and they will be reinstated.

For us, this would be the best of both worlds......being able to stay late in some ports without staying overnight and missing other ports. So many islands are close enough that this should be easily accomplished.

 

I'm glad that our cruise later this year which includes Bonaire was not affected.

[Oville]

Too bad that most/all of the suggested activities for Barbados will not be available when we stay overnight on Easter Sunday. Even such major attractions as Harrison Caves will be closed that day.:mad:

 

If you weren't overnighting wouldn't most of the activities be closed anyhow? Will these activities be open the next day?

[Fouremco]

If you weren't overnighting wouldn't most of the activities be closed anyhow? Will these activities be open the next day?

The link you provided was for Barbados nightlife, which will be non-existent during our overnighter. My comment regarding the caves was solely to emphasize the extent to which things close down in Barbados on Easter Sunday.

 

I'm not commenting negatively about things being closed during the day, as we were were of that when we booked. However, we hadn't counted on being there overnight too with everything closed.

 

Your links were useful, just not for our particular cruise.

[Oville]

The link you provided was for Barbados nightlife, which will be non-existent during our overnighter. My comment regarding the caves was solely to emphasize the extent to which things close down in Barbados on Easter Sunday.

 

I'm not commenting negatively about things being closed during the day, as we were were of that when we booked. However, we hadn't counted on being there overnight too with everything closed.

 

Your links were useful, just not for our particular cruise.

 

That's too bad about Easter Sunday, hopefully there will be something's opened on Monday.

[PoppyandNana]

While we were in Bermuda last week we booked a Caribbean for January. Noticed that there was an overnight stay in St. Marteen. Know Venice is a common overnight port but never heard of St. Marteen being one.

 

We have been on 13 Caribbean cruises and no port was an overnight. Anyone have an idea why? Thought it might be a fuel saving ploy? Food savings as people eat ashore? Some kind of incentive by the local government?

 

My vote is a fuel saving thing.

[CHEZMARYLOU]

You must have been away from the boards for a while. This issue has been discussed for the last 6 to 8 weeks. No idea why Celebrity changed to an overnight on many Caribbean cruises but they did. Most who had booked before the change are not happy. We weren't at first but have gotten over our disappointment and will make the best of it.

[PoppyandNana]

So agree

 

 

We just off the Summit to Bermuda. Frankly, we really didn't like the three days in port. We too like the sail away, nights at sea, docking in a new port the next day. We're not one to venture out at night for what, to pay for a meal I've already paid for? To drink overpriced drinks we already have via the bev package? We like St. Marteen and have been there several times, including staying at resorts multiple times. We have rented cars and feel comfortable driving around the island. That said we wouldn't go out there at night.

 

The main question I have is why?

[Karysa]

While we were in Bermuda last week we booked a Caribbean for January. Noticed that there was an overnight stay in St. Marteen. Know Venice is a common overnight port but never heard of St. Marteen being one.

 

We have been on 13 Caribbean cruises and no port was an overnight. Anyone have an idea why? Thought it might be a fuel saving ploy? Food savings as people eat ashore? Some kind of incentive by the local government?

 

My vote is a fuel saving thing.

 

St. Maarten is very close to St. Thomas and San Juan and since they wouldn't likely be able to open the casino they would be losing gambling and drinking revenue. I don't think that most folks would eat on shore.

 

Is Royal doing this as well? The reason I ask is that Royal Caribbean is building a "Village" or something on that line that will include a hotel and zip lining, shops restaurants and the like right by the port. Not sure if a casino will be part of it. Perhaps this has something to do with why St. Maarten was the chosen port in that part of the Caribbean for overnights.

 

I would love to stay until 9 so that I could eat on shore but I would rather be lulled to sleep by the rocking of the ocean and the sounds of the waves than by a nearby night club.:eek:

[Karysa]

Just noticed that this thread was moved. Where can it be found tomorrow if we would like to continue to follow it? thanks:)

 

Got it, it is was combined with another on the same topic. :)

Edited July 2, 2015 by Karysa

[Hapytocruise]

Celebrity hopefully will get the clue that their customers are not stupid and that this strategy creates bad will. Agree that an over nite in Europe is a good thing to expand excursion options NOT so in the Caribbean .

[Karysa]

Celebrity hopefully will get the clue that their customers are not stupid and that this strategy creates bad will. Agree that an over nite in Europe is a good thing to expand excursion options NOT so in the Caribbean .

 

Hawaii as well can be a place which is GOOD for overnights. We just lost our over night in Maui. Now no Maui sunset or sunrise at the crater and it makes the 9 plus hour Road trip to Hana trip next to impossible unless you book a ships excursion that is. Also its a tender port so that cuts into the 8-6 port time as well.

[Cindy]

I was ambivalent about the change at first, but I'm now very enthusiastic and excited. We lost Costa Maya and we'll be overnighting in Cartagena. The hours in Cartagena are generous (10:00 a.m. Sunday - 5:00 p.m. Monday), and I think the way it worked out for our sailing was advantageous. We will be in Panama the day prior to Cartagena, and I welcome the 10:00 a.m. arrival in Colombia instead of having to be up and off the ship at 7:00 a.m. for a tour in Costa Rica. The other advantage to the change on my sailing is fewer ships in every port but one. On the second day we're in Cartagena, we'll be the only ship in port.:)

 

I've arranged an evening tour with the guide we're touring with the next day, and I'm really looking forward to the different experience!

Edited July 2, 2015 by Cindy

[Karysa]

I was ambivalent about the change at first, but I'm now very enthusiastic and excited. We lost Costa Maya and we'll be overnighting in Cartagena. The hours in Cartagena are generous (10:00 a.m. Sunday - 5:00 p.m. Monday), and I think the way it worked out for our sailing was advantageous. We will be in Panama the day prior to Cartagena, and I welcome the 10:00 a.m. arrival in Colombia instead of having to be up and off the ship at 7:00 a.m. for a tour in Costa Rica. The other advantage to the change on my sailing is fewer ships in every port but one. On the second day we're in Cartagena, we'll be the only ship in port.:)

 

I've arranged an evening tour with the guide we're touring with the next day, and I'm really looking forward to the different experience!

 

I did not like Cartagena at all. They kept wanting to split our family of 5 in to two taxis and we had been warned before by staff on the ship to avoid this at all cost. Took us 20 minutes to get a van taxi from the old town.

 

I bet that they got lots of phone calls complaining about this switch.

 

Its good to take lemons and make lemonade though and I do applaud you for that. Enjoy your cruise.

[janewe]

I was ambivalent about the change at first, but I'm now very enthusiastic and excited. We lost Costa Maya and we'll be overnighting in Cartagena. The hours in Cartagena are generous (10:00 a.m. Sunday - 5:00 p.m. Monday), and I think the way it worked out for our sailing was advantageous. We will be in Panama the day prior to Cartagena, and I welcome the 10:00 a.m. arrival in Colombia instead of having to be up and off the ship at 7:00 a.m. for a tour in Costa Rica. The other advantage to the change on my sailing is fewer ships in every port but one. On the second day we're in Cartagena, we'll be the only ship in port.:)

 

I've arranged an evening tour with the guide we're touring with the next day, and I'm really looking forward to the different experience!

The U.S. State Dept. has warnings for their staff who might want to venture out of urban areas after dark in Cartagena.

 

I haven't checked warnings recently for Caribbean Islands but one is wise to check with their respective Foreign Affairs Dept. before travelling anywhere, to ensure loved ones are not put at risk.

[janewe]

While we were in Bermuda last week we booked a Caribbean for January. Noticed that there was an overnight stay in St. Marteen. Know Venice is a common overnight port but never heard of St. Marteen being one.

 

We have been on 13 Caribbean cruises and no port was an overnight. Anyone have an idea why? Thought it might be a fuel saving ploy? Food savings as people eat ashore? Some kind of incentive by the local government?

 

My vote is a fuel saving thing.

Celebrity said they did a survey and asked people if they wanted an over night.

 

I don't know how the question was couched. If it was, "would you be happy to be on a Caribbean Island until 11 pm (like we were before the next day Island was cancelled for an over night after booking) and sail overnight to a close Island?

 

Or, their question could have been, would you prefer to overnight to allow passengers to party in the local bars to the small hours and give up an Island the next day"?.

 

Astute of you to spell out the reasons for removing a previously booked Island. I think it is a combination of the factors you mentioned coupled with the selling of more excursions.