No compensation for a missed port of call.

[RnB]

We sailed Caribbean Princess from Southampton June 6 2017 on a British Isles cruise. The first scheduled stop was St Peter's Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands on June 7. This port does not have a docking pier and tender is required. At about 3:00 p.m. June 6, an hour before scheduled departure, there was an announcement that due to unfavorable weather conditions we would not sail to St Peter's Port for the safety of all passengers. Understandable - can't run tenders in bad seas. But then the ship did not sail until 2:30 a.m. next day. Ship remained in Southampton port an additional 10.5.hours, resulting in costs to Princess of port charges and loss of a night's casino revenue (they could not open in port). If there were no other issues, they could easily have sailed timely with extended sea day. And the cancellation of the port was 15 hours in advance, not closer to arrival time when weather conditions could be verified I'm not buying their "safety" excuse, as it seems it was fabricated to avoid paying comp for the missed port of call. Anyone have similar experiences?

[capriccio]

All you would have been entitled to is a return of any port charges you paid. I don't know how Princess handles unexpected port charges incurred; whether they eat them, bill passengers or possibly net them out to determine the additional costs or refunds.

[upwarduk]

We missed Genoa on Crown Princess on 22.05.17 due to 'operational reasons.' We were credited with $9.15 ( to the cabin not each)

 

I suspect that extra fees were paid to Southampton.

 

BTW

 

St Peter Port do have docking piers, but they are regularly used by ferries.

 

[jollyjones]

And while you were safely docked in the very protected port of Southampton, were you absolutely certain that sea conditions further south down the Solent and around the Isle of Wight and into the notoriously crowded and dangerous English Channel were safe? I wasn't there so I know that I don't know, but are you sure that you do? Perhaps the Captain stayed in port to keep you safe and comfortable?

[CruiserBruce]

All you would have been entitled to is a return of any port charges you paid. I don't know how Princess handles unexpected port charges incurred; whether they eat them, bill passengers or possibly net them out to determine the additional costs or refunds.

 

This is the correct answer. Maybe you are thinking returned port fees is "compensation"?

[aquilegia]

Ditto to #4. If the weather was bad, you were far better off spending the extra hours in port than sailing around in rough conditions just to waste time.

[Colo Cruiser]

I agree, port charges only.

[Posaune]

This port can be mighty rough in bad weather. This photo was the ride back to the ship when weather kicked up after we were ashore. We were told that if this weather had been expected we never would have gone ashore.

[xlxo]

There is no compensation for flights either when there is a weather situation.

 

There is compensation for mechanical.

[upwarduk]

It's amazing how bumpy the tender ride was into St Peter Port, yet the sea looked calm.

 

Edited June 22, 2017 by upwarduk

[cruzsnooze]

Are there even port fees in a tender port?

 

Several years ago on a Princess cruise we had a tender port at Devil's Island. We were tendered in but after us the sea was so choppy they didn't tender anyone else in. Those few tenders that had gone onto the Island were stuck there for hours until the tenders could sail again to bring us back. No cruise line has control of sea conditions and we need to trust the Captains judgement to keep us out of harms way.

[Pam in CA]

Are there even port fees in a tender port?.

Yes. Any time a ship enters a port area, whether tendering or docking, there are port fees.

[donaldsc]

We sailed Caribbean Princess from Southampton June 6 2017 on a British Isles cruise. The first scheduled stop was St Peter's Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands on June 7. This port does not have a docking pier and tender is required. At about 3:00 p.m. June 6, an hour before scheduled departure, there was an announcement that due to unfavorable weather conditions we would not sail to St Peter's Port for the safety of all passengers. Understandable - can't run tenders in bad seas. But then the ship did not sail until 2:30 a.m. next day. Ship remained in Southampton port an additional 10.5.hours, resulting in costs to Princess of port charges and loss of a night's casino revenue (they could not open in port). If there were no other issues, they could easily have sailed timely with extended sea day. And the cancellation of the port was 15 hours in advance, not closer to arrival time when weather conditions could be verified I'm not buying their "safety" excuse, as it seems it was fabricated to avoid paying comp for the missed port of call. Anyone have similar experiences?

 

What gives you the idea that you should get compensation for missed ports. You are on a ship. Sometimes ships miss ports. Read your cruise contract. You will get your port fees back but no compensation.

 

DON

[Astro Flyer]

And while you were safely docked in the very protected port of Southampton, were you absolutely certain that sea conditions further south down the Solent and around the Isle of Wight and into the notoriously crowded and dangerous English Channel were safe? I wasn't there so I know that I don't know, but are you sure that you do? Perhaps the Captain stayed in port to keep you safe and comfortable?

That could be a reason for the delayed sailing & also conditions at Southampton could be another reason. In Port Chalmers NZ we were docked overnight because strong gusty winds made it unsafe to leave the port. That didn't prevent an irate passenger from yelling at the captain about the delay...wonder is she also wanted compensation.

 

We were delayed in Southampton May 25 due to late arrivals from Heathrow to the port. There were enough passengers stuck in traffic that the ship waited. We were 90 minutes or so late in leaving.

 

The previous sailing had a much shorter delay due to traffic delays from Heathrow & I've also had embarkation day sailings delayed until late evening due to late arriving flights. On those cruises the late departure did not affect the remainder of the itinerary & missing Guernsey there was probably plenty of time to arrive at the next port.

 

Several years ago our BI cruise missed Guersney which apparently isn't unusual & the only compensation we received was a credit for the missed port charges. So no, I disagree that Princess plotted to depart late to avoid any missed port compensation because there is none due to weather conditions.

 

It makes no sense for Princess to incur additional Southampton port fees and losing sales from shopping & casino income when passengers are not entitled to any weather caused missed port compensation.

Edited June 22, 2017 by Astro Flyer

[EightFurryPaws]

If you docked in Southampton at the Mayflower port, Princess owns that port. No additional port fees to them.

 

We stayed at the Mayflower port for three days. Even though the weather in Southampton was beautiful, the

Captain would not take us through the English Channel because of the St. Jude storm. The bridge has radar that

the officers can examine days in advance regarding the weather, were we only see what's happening out our balcony.

 

Pam

[Potstech]

We sailed Caribbean Princess from Southampton June 6 2017 on a British Isles cruise. The first scheduled stop was St Peter's Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands on June 7. This port does not have a docking pier and tender is required. At about 3:00 p.m. June 6, an hour before scheduled departure, there was an announcement that due to unfavorable weather conditions we would not sail to St Peter's Port for the safety of all passengers. Understandable - can't run tenders in bad seas. But then the ship did not sail until 2:30 a.m. next day. Ship remained in Southampton port an additional 10.5.hours, resulting in costs to Princess of port charges and loss of a night's casino revenue (they could not open in port). If there were no other issues, they could easily have sailed timely with extended sea day. And the cancellation of the port was 15 hours in advance, not closer to arrival time when weather conditions could be verified I'm not buying their "safety" excuse, as it seems it was fabricated to avoid paying comp for the missed port of call. Anyone have similar experiences?

 

Does not matter whether you are buying it or not. It is the Captains decission along with the cruise line. Your accusation of fabrication has no basis in fact.

If you have ever ridden on a ship in rough seas you would understand why the Captain made this choice. If you have ever ridden a tender in rough seas you would not be making these kinds of statements.

[DrivesLikeMario]

I just looked back at my onboard account bill from 2012. The ship missed Guernsey due to weather too. I didn't get any port charges refunded for the missed port at all. I don't know why and I double-checked it to make sure. ???

 

The seas were completely flat and there wasn't much wind at all but the captain said a "strong system" was on it's way and it would make tendering too hard at the end of the day.

[Pam in CA]

Several years ago, I was on a trans-Atlantic and we were scheduled to stop in Dublin and the next day, in Belfast. Had a lovely day in Dublin and come sail away time, the ship stayed docked. The Captain announced that there was a major storm system north of us that would make for a rough ride to Belfast. We stayed docked until the next afternoon, skipping Belfast. It was windy (not bad) and rainy but not enough for people not to disembark the ship and enjoy themselves. Turns out that HAL's Prinsendam was just north of Belfast and experienced 70+ ft seas for over twelve hours. Passengers were confined to their cabins for safety. Imagine the complaints if we had sailed and experienced the same.

[upwarduk]

At about 3:00 p.m. June 6, an hour before scheduled departure, there was an announcement that due to unfavorable weather conditions we would not sail to St Peter's Port for the safety of all passengers.

 

I couldn't understand Celebrity Infinity leaving Bilbao late October 2013.

The Captain claimed he was told by the suits in Miami that it would be safer at sea, rather than being bashed against the harbour wall. We endured 40-50 waves and literally slid up and down the bed as the ship pitched and rolled.

The following morning we noticed one of the MDR windows had imploded.

A number of passenger broke bones.

You should be grateful the Captain stayed in the shelter of Southampton.

Edited June 22, 2017 by upwarduk

[Coffeeluvr05]

Don't feel bad. We were on a European Capitals cruise on the CB and found out the day before we arrived in Belgium that we would not be porting in France as previously scheduled due to a worker strike (that apparently ended prior to our port day) and that was going to be the grand finale of our trip...going to Paris. All we were refunded were the port fees and the cost of our excursion.

[RocketMan275]

IIRC, the EU/UK passage contract governs compensation in your case. IIRC, there has to be at least two ports missed for compensation.

[bananavan]

I just looked back at my onboard account bill from 2012. The ship missed Guernsey due to weather too. I didn't get any port charges refunded for the missed port at all. I don't know why and I double-checked it to make sure. ???

 

The seas were completely flat and there wasn't much wind at all but the captain said a "strong system" was on it's way and it would make tendering too hard at the end of the day.

 

Hi there.

We were with you on that trip. I think that Guernsey is a port that cannot be guaranteed.

We were planning on going there again this year but canceled the BI and TA when I read of all the issues. Between the changes to the dining areas and the problems with the mechanics, not worth the expense of a mini suite.

Hope that you are well.

Evana

[cb at sea]

In your cruise contract, you will see that the cruise line reserves the right to rearrange, substitute, or cancel any port, at any time, for ANY reason. They never guarantee that they will go anywhere that they said they would go. Luckily, that's rare, but the safety of the SHIP is their main concern.

[Ask4Jay]

During those 10 extra hours

 

 

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[Ask4Jay]

Oops, got away from me. Sorry

 

 

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