Windstar cancels all Star Pride Itineraries through April 9

[ducklite]

Our understanding is that cabin attendants packed items not in the safe, and the security staff opened the safes separately. Certainly, the items from the safes came over to the Breeze separately from the packed suitcases. The items from the safe were in ziplock bags with attached inventories. We had to sign stating we received them. The inventories seemed thoroughly done -- they had even opened my wristlet and included the cell phone that was in it on the inventory. Nothing was missing from our safe contents, but we did witness one lady telling a staff member that all of the cash was missing from her wallet.

 

Still missing items not in the safe though. No update from Windstar. I wish they'd just tell me I'm not getting them back so that I could go ahead and replace things I would rather not be without.

 

 

Good to know. I hope you get your items returned, particularly if they are difficult to replace items.

Edited December 31, 2015 by ducklite

[milepig]

I just found this posted on the Cruise Critic News section:

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=6734

 

It's dated 12/30 and refers to a statement issued by Windstar that I haven't located. It says they've gone ahead and cancelled the 1/2 and 1/9 cruises, and that people booked on all the affected cruises (plural) will receive the 100% refund plus 100% of the fare as a credit toward a future cruise, this is up from the 50% we'd been previously told.

[gymswim]

Milepig.Thanks for posting the latest

[sb44]

Also compensating the Breeze passengers very fairly. At least that's my opinion but I was not there. Comment on bottom of page says 1/16 sailing cancelled as well.

 

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

[Essiesmom]

I have finally spotted Star Pride on AIS, anchored between Isla de Taboga and Isla Taboguilla. Apparently being towed by a tug Tortel. She was scheduled to transit the canal Sunday night on the cancelled cruise. I'm thinking she may keep that appointment, albeit from the opposite direction... EM

[6rugrats]

 

It's dated 12/30 and refers to a statement issued by Windstar that I haven't located. It says they've gone ahead and cancelled the 1/2 and 1/9 cruises, and that people booked on all the affected cruises (plural) will receive the 100% refund plus 100% of the fare as a credit toward a future cruise, this is up from the 50% we'd been previously told.

 

That is really generous. I've had one Windstar cruise chartered, one cancelled and one that had the ship and itinerary changed, and I've received nothing like that.

[milepig]

I have finally spotted Star Pride on AIS, anchored between Isla de Taboga and Isla Taboguilla. Apparently being towed by a tug Tortel. She was scheduled to transit the canal Sunday night on the cancelled cruise. I'm thinking she may keep that appointment, albeit from the opposite direction... EM

 

Thanks. It looks like she's still there. Hopefully waiting her turn to go through the canal into port and to get some giant bandages! Besides the hull, I'm worried about damage from the salt water infiltration.

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

Pride's AIS data has not updated in 24 hours. That of other ships around where she was anchored have updated. And she disappears when you refresh the map.

 

A retired ship captain on another board mentioned that damaged ships have to "jump through a lot of hoops" before being allowed to cross the canal. Authorities don't want the canal to get blocked....

Edited January 4, 2016 by Ragnar Danneskjold

[milepig]

Pride's AIS data has not updated in 24 hours. That of other ships around where she was anchored have updated. And she disappears when you refresh the map.

 

A retired ship captain on another board mentioned that damaged ships have to "jump through a lot of hoops" before being allowed to cross the canal. Authorities don't want the canal to get blocked....

 

I'm increasingly puzzled as to why WS hasn't issued a single substantive update since the original FB posting going on two weeks ago.

[ducklite]

I'm increasingly puzzled as to why WS hasn't issued a single substantive update since the original FB posting going on two weeks ago.

 

 

Just guessing that maybe because the Panamanian authorities detained the Captain and there might be legal issues that they want to be extremely careful before putting anything in writing.

 

It does seem that matters of compensation are what they are, and social media makes certain that everyone knows what is going on, even if the line doesn't say so themselves.

[milepig]

Just guessing that maybe because the Panamanian authorities detained the Captain and there might be legal issues that they want to be extremely careful before putting anything in writing.

 

It does seem that matters of compensation are what they are, and social media makes certain that everyone knows what is going on, even if the line doesn't say so themselves.

 

Do we even know the captain had been detained? Did I miss a report? I guess what I'm saying is they seem to be rolling along canceling week by week with no update on damage or repair plans, much less even where she is! Social media, IMHO is mostly guesswork (me included). People on the 1/2 cruise were saying on 1/1 that they hadn't heard a thing from WS after social media reported it had been canceled. WS just stays silent in terms of any sort of meaningful update.

[ducklite]

Do we even know the captain had been detained? Did I miss a report? I guess what I'm saying is they seem to be rolling along canceling week by week with no update on damage or repair plans, much less even where she is! Social media, IMHO is mostly guesswork (me included). People on the 1/2 cruise were saying on 1/1 that they hadn't heard a thing from WS after social media reported it had been canceled. WS just stays silent in terms of any sort of meaningful update.

 

 

It was reported in a news article (not social media) that he had been detained a day or two after the accident.

[MJC]

From Ranier73 on the 1/30/16 roll call:

 

January 30th sailing is now canceled per my travel agent. Ship still not repaired from 22 December grounding.

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

A retired ship captain, who has cruised on Pride when she was owned by SB, mentioned that with Pride being so old, if there is extensive damage or salt water intrusion in the engine room, that she may not be worth repairing. Time will tell, I guess.

 

If I had any trip planned around Pride, I'd be making back-up plans. And who knows how this could affect WS financially. I've already made back-up plans for our Legend cruise in March....

 

Update: Pride cruises through March are off the website. Could just mean serious juggling going on and they don't want new bookings that close in until all the bumped folks are rebooked.

Edited January 5, 2016 by Ragnar Danneskjold

[milepig]

A retired ship captain, who has cruised on Pride when she was owned by SB, mentioned that with Pride being so old, if there is extensive damage or salt water intrusion in the engine room, that she may not be worth repairing. Time will tell, I guess.

 

If I had any trip planned around Pride, I'd be making back-up plans. And who knows how this could affect WS financially. I've already made back-up plans for our Legend cruise in March....

 

Update: Pride cruises through March are off the website. Could just mean serious juggling going on and they don't want new bookings that close in until all the bumped folks are rebooked.

 

With the first one being back in Europe on 4/17. AIS still shows her in the same spot outside the canal, but the last report is from 2 days ago.

Edited January 5, 2016 by milepig

[dandee2]

And I guess you just don't show up last minute at the closest dry dock facility. Google Earth doesn't shown many area do do this if they need to drydock the ship for repair.

[milepig]

Update: Pride cruises through March are off the website. Could just mean serious juggling going on and they don't want new bookings that close in until all the bumped folks are rebooked.

 

I was thinking that maybe everything had just filled up with all the rebookings from the Pride, but all the Breeze itins are still showing on the schedule, which usually means they're still selling space.

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

There actually is a dry dock/ship repair facility quite close to where Pride was anchored.

 

http://www.mecpanama.com

[dandee2]

I saw it. Just wondering if it was available.

[poman]

Just heard from my TA at Avoya that the 2/6 Star Pride sailing is still on schedule per Windstar.

[twirl711]

Hi. I am scheduled to sail on the Pride on January 30th. Both myself and my TA called Windstar today and we both got the same reply. We were told that as of today the January 30th cruise is still on. If anything changes the Windstar rep said I would receive an email. I wonder if Rainier73 received an email? Anyway, I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed but also making contingency plans as well!

[poman]

MY TA just called back with a different story. Now Windstar says they have decided to complete the refurbish of Star Pride while it is dry-docked and all the Panama/CR sailings are cancelled. I'm going to Plan B.

[twirl711]

Just heard from my TA as well. Your info is spot on...plan B it is! I'm really disappointed but we are going to do a land tour of Costa Rica instead. Also, a little bit bummed that they didn't offer us anything toward a future cruise for the inconvenience. Oh well....

[milepig]

There's a new news report on the cruise critic news site posted yesterday confirming the cancellations. It also says that those on the affected cruise are getting the refund and a free cruise but those on the canceled cruises are getting only a refund or free cruise. As a 12/26 pax who was promised something else in writing I'm going to be most unhappy if they don't come through.

[giscoper]

I too was scheduled for the 12/26 cruise and received an email that I would receive a full refund along with a credit of 50% of the base price of my cruise to be used on a future sailing. My TA got a run-a-round about using the credit on the 1/16 Sea Breeze sailing ("our computers can't handle it yet"). Eventually, on 12/28 he received an email from Ellie White, Voyage Services Specialist at Windstar, stating that the money already paid would be placed on account, the new cruise (priced at $5058) would be deducted, and the $3500 credit would be later added to my account. I would then receive a refund of the price between the 2 trips plus the credit. On the basis of her email, I purchased new non-refundable airline tickets and reserved a non-refundable room at the Bristol Panama. Despite the hassle, we were clearly excited to make the arrangements.

 

Much to my surprise, my TA called on 1/4 to say that Windstar had reneged on the written agreement. Since the money was on account, the 1/16 sailing would represent a "re booking" rather than a new cruise and the credit could not be applied (I would have to use it on yet another cruise!). Furthermore, the price of $5058 would not be honored, since this was a promotional rate (which anyone could get so late) and I would have to pay the regular rate of $6024! Despite multiple calls to the Windstar hierarchy, no one would budge. I cancelled the trip and will be out hundreds of dollars because Windstar did not honor their written agreement. This is not reimbursable with travel insurance.

 

Is anyone familiar with a mechanism to sue this outfit or at least prevent them from doing business in the state of New York? I wish I had read prior Cruise Critic threads before booking this trip. Windstar is not a reputable company.