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Hurricane Maria


Bigbluegal
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It seems like some people just don't understand that while the eye of the hurricane is past Puerto Rico, there was still massive wind and rain battering the island all day yesterday. It was literally not safe to come outside and evaluate the damage. Today they can START that process. It is unreasonable to expect answers already!

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It seems like some people just don't understand that while the eye of the hurricane is past Puerto Rico, there was still massive wind and rain battering the island all day yesterday. It was literally not safe to come outside and evaluate the damage. Today they can START that process. It is unreasonable to expect answers already!

 

 

You could not be more wrong.. I just saw a report showing people in Puerto Rico straightening nails to try to fix their own property. The US is delivering 8 million meals and gallons of water. Getting luxury cruise passengers in and out of Puerto Rico is not and should not be a priority for the people and government of PR. It is however the responsibility of Royal Caribbean for the safety of their passengers and bringing them into a disaster area is not safe. I still have not had any communication from them about the status of my cruise Saturday even though it should be clear to anyone with half a brain that we should not even be thinking about travelling to PR now. But until they officially cancel the cruise or move it to another port we are in limbo. It's long past time for them to make their decision and convey it

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I can understand that you may be willing to give them time to work it out if your cruise is one or two weeks or longer away. But what about those of us who are two days out and have heard nothing? Clearly we are not leaving from Puerto Rico on Saturday. If they can change ports that's great, I'm willing to go. But will I be able to get a flight on such short notice? and what will it cost? My heart goes out to those people who have lost everything, I can't imagine what they are going through. A cruise is a luxury, not a necessity, I get it, but zero communication is just wrong. The latest itinierary changes still list the cruise as going to St Kitts and from what I understand St Kitts had significant damage. My travel agent said yesterday that Adventure is still listed as sailing on Saturday. If we choose to rebook now, we would lose the future credit so that is not an option. I've found an alternative option but there are very few cabins left at the level I'm booking and they could go quickly. RC says they will let us know by early this afternoon but in my humble opinion less than 48 hours notice is unacceptable. They dropped the ball on this one. They should just bite the bullet, cancel the cruise leaving this weekend and let us make our plans

 

My money is they are just going to cancel this cruise and refund and add future cruise percentage off.

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My money is they are just going to cancel this cruise and refund and add future cruise percentage off.

 

I agree. I absolutely understand the tension of those traveling this week (less so the frantic pleas of those traveling a month from now) and I do think that the safety of the port facilities is only one factor. There is also the idea of yes, one could technically get to SJU and get on the ship but is being in San Juan when the infrastructure is stressed, locals are suffering and hotels are unable to host as many people as they had been an ethical choice?

 

It is fair to say that all is not yet known. The hurricane only just happened and although people are used to answers arriving in a nano-second in the age of Facebook, these issues are complex. That said, I think that RCL should step up and issue one of its press releases that invariably begin with "out of an abundance of caution..." and cancel this week's cruise. Since AOS is on a one week turnaround, this would give them ample time to make a fair call about next week's cruise, and future ones.

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I agree. I absolutely understand the tension of those traveling this week (less so the frantic pleas of those traveling a month from now) and I do think that the safety of the port facilities is only one factor. There is also the idea of yes, one could technically get to SJU and get on the ship but is being in San Juan when the infrastructure is stressed, locals are suffering and hotels are unable to host as many people as they had been an ethical choice?

 

It is fair to say that all is not yet known. The hurricane only just happened and although people are used to answers arriving in a nano-second in the age of Facebook, these issues are complex. That said, I think that RCL should step up and issue one of its press releases that invariably begin with "out of an abundance of caution..." and cancel this week's cruise. Since AOS is on a one week turnaround, this would give them ample time to make a fair call about next week's cruise, and future ones.

 

 

I absolutely agree, Cancel it and let us make other plans, just don't leave us hanging

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I agree. I absolutely understand the tension of those traveling this week (less so the frantic pleas of those traveling a month from now) and I do think that the safety of the port facilities is only one factor. There is also the idea of yes, one could technically get to SJU and get on the ship but is being in San Juan when the infrastructure is stressed, locals are suffering and hotels are unable to host as many people as they had been an ethical choice?

 

It is fair to say that all is not yet known. The hurricane only just happened and although people are used to answers arriving in a nano-second in the age of Facebook, these issues are complex. That said, I think that RCL should step up and issue one of its press releases that invariably begin with "out of an abundance of caution..." and cancel this week's cruise. Since AOS is on a one week turnaround, this would give them ample time to make a fair call about next week's cruise, and future ones.

 

While I agree totally with what you are saying.....we all know that if they make the decision to cancel and then the ship does arrive back on Sat and airport is open and hotels are able to take guests....then folks will criticize them for cancelling too soon when it was actually "doable". Unfortunately, I think this is a case of "damned if you do and damned if you don't!"

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It won't be cancelled. Delay or change port is your best hope. We made it to SJ after Irma to board last Sat. We didn't know until Thursday and they have promised news today.

 

I wouldn't be so sure - the airport is closed at least until Friday night. If it does re-open, it will most likely be on a reduced schedule. A lot of folks will have planned on flying in on Friday and will have next to no chance of getting re-scheduled to Sat or even Sun.

 

Adventure may or may not be able to get into port - but can RCCL dump thousands of passengers into a disaster area with many flights out canceled and reduced hotel capacity?

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I wouldn't be so sure - the airport is closed at least until Friday night. If it does re-open, it will most likely be on a reduced schedule. A lot of folks will have planned on flying in on Friday and will have next to no chance of getting re-scheduled to Sat or even Sun.

 

 

 

Adventure may or may not be able to get into port - but can RCCL dump thousands of passengers into a disaster area with many flights out canceled and reduced hotel capacity?

 

 

To be fair, they did exactly that in Miami, FTL, and PC when half of Florida was still out of power.

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Well I did just speak to Jet Blue and the Marriott. Jetblue expects the airport to open tonight and the Marriott has power and is open to those with reservations. I'll keep packing I guess

 

Which Marriott are you referring to? Generator power I am assuming?

 

We are booked at La Concha in November, and although still 50 days out, I am in full contingency mode here....

 

Having said that, my first and foremost thoughts are with the people of San Juan as they begin the rebuilding process.

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Which Marriott are you referring to? Generator power I am assuming?

 

 

 

We are booked at La Concha in November, and although still 50 days out, I am in full contingency mode here....

 

 

 

Having said that, my first and foremost thoughts are with the people of San Juan as they begin the rebuilding process.

 

 

 

You should be okay in la Concha

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Which Marriott are you referring to? Generator power I am assuming?

 

We are booked at La Concha in November, and although still 50 days out, I am in full contingency mode here....

 

Having said that, my first and foremost thoughts are with the people of San Juan as they begin the rebuilding process.

 

San Jan Marriott Resort and Stellaris Casino

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What I'm afraid will happen:::

Ship will leave Bonaire today at 5 as scheduled and head straight for Florida. The route will take at least two sea days, probably more. That puts the ship in Florida on Sunday sometime.

 

Royal will allow the passengers for Sept 23 to cancel and receive credit for a future cruise (no money back) or let them fly to Florida and embark for a shorter cruise, probably 5 days at most and be credited with the days missed.

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What I'm afraid will happen:::

Ship will leave Bonaire today at 5 as scheduled and head straight for Florida. The route will take at least two sea days, probably more. That puts the ship in Florida on Sunday sometime.

 

Royal will allow the passengers for Sept 23 to cancel and receive credit for a future cruise (no money back) or let them fly to Florida and embark for a shorter cruise, probably 5 days at most and be credited with the days missed.

 

Nothing would surprise me, but if the actual departure port is hundreds of miles from the original and would require an entirely different airport, they should consider the original cruise cancelled and offer full refunds upon request.

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Nothing would surprise me, but if the actual departure port is hundreds of miles from the original and would require an entirely different airport, they should consider the original cruise cancelled and offer full refunds upon request.

I can get to FL easy enough, but I don't want a shortened cruise. I'd be fine with a refund. No future cruise credit crap!

I'll find a cruise to go on this weekend

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