Jump to content
Cruise Critic Community

Propulsion problems on Grandeur?

cruisegirl1
 Share

Recommended Posts

JandRtravel

JandRtravel

Posted
Posted

I am currently on Grandeur, this is what I posted to Facebook, I am in a special bind because I was returning to my Orlando home on Friday, and now I am flying into it just in time for the hurricane. I have shared the letter we received for those curious. We have also received complimentary bottle of wine in the room. They are treating us very well. 

 

Dinner will go on tonight and they will stagger us off the ship so we may retrieve our bags. Please keep all of us flying out in your thoughts. It is a different turn of events, but was handled best possible way by RCI. I am curious what this means for the next sailing and for the ships future. We typically sail Celebrity, so I guess with the credits we will be looking at Royal again. 

—————

We set sail out of the Port of Baltimore on the Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas. We were headed towards Bermuda. 

 

30 minutes into the trip I noticed we were turning around and heading back into dock. We docked at 4:45p. There was not any announcements so we were unsure what was going on. We did not know if it was medical, police, weather issue. 

 

At 4:52 the captain announced that there was a propulsion issue and they were working to remedy. He stated that we would not be underway until it was fixed. 

We went about business as usual, dinner at 7 was great. 

 

8:08 the Captain announced that unfortunately they were unable to remedy the issue and the cruise would be cancelled. They opened the gangways and let everyone know they could disembark until 11pm, but would have to carry their own bags. Everyone else who did not disembark would be able to Sunday evening (today) between 6pm-9pm. 

 

We were able to rebook our flights, Delta even waived the charge (they are the best). We will be flying into Orlando Monday, just in time for the hurricane. It looks like we will start our time at our Disney house a week early.

 

Royal Caribbean has been very accommodating. They refunded the entire cruise, gave the same amount refunded as cruise credit for next cruise. Offered to refund cost of hotel tonight and airline rebooking fees. 

 

It is an unfortunate incident, but I commend Royal Caribbean International for choosing safety over revenue. This doesn’t tarnish my love of cruising nor my loyalty to RCI branded lines.

C9923DFB-6244-4AF0-A7B9-CF7EBF7D434D.jpeg

  • Like 5
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
molsonschooner

molsonschooner

Posted
Posted
10 minutes ago, JandRtravel said:

I am currently on Grandeur, this is what I posted to Facebook, I am in a special bind because I was returning to my Orlando home on Friday, and now I am flying into it just in time for the hurricane. I have shared the letter we received for those curious. We have also received complimentary bottle of wine in the room. They are treating us very well. 

 

Dinner will go on tonight and they will stagger us off the ship so we may retrieve our bags. Please keep all of us flying out in your thoughts. It is a different turn of events, but was handled best possible way by RCI. I am curious what this means for the next sailing and for the ships future. We typically sail Celebrity, so I guess with the credits we will be looking at Royal again. 

—————

We set sail out of the Port of Baltimore on the Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas. We were headed towards Bermuda. 

 

30 minutes into the trip I noticed we were turning around and heading back into dock. We docked at 4:45p. There was not any announcements so we were unsure what was going on. We did not know if it was medical, police, weather issue. 

 

At 4:52 the captain announced that there was a propulsion issue and they were working to remedy. He stated that we would not be underway until it was fixed. 

We went about business as usual, dinner at 7 was great. 

 

8:08 the Captain announced that unfortunately they were unable to remedy the issue and the cruise would be cancelled. They opened the gangways and let everyone know they could disembark until 11pm, but would have to carry their own bags. Everyone else who did not disembark would be able to Sunday evening (today) between 6pm-9pm. 

 

We were able to rebook our flights, Delta even waived the charge (they are the best). We will be flying into Orlando Monday, just in time for the hurricane. It looks like we will start our time at our Disney house a week early.

 

Royal Caribbean has been very accommodating. They refunded the entire cruise, gave the same amount refunded as cruise credit for next cruise. Offered to refund cost of hotel tonight and airline rebooking fees. 

 

It is an unfortunate incident, but I commend Royal Caribbean International for choosing safety over revenue. This doesn’t tarnish my love of cruising nor my loyalty to RCI branded lines.

C9923DFB-6244-4AF0-A7B9-CF7EBF7D434D.jpeg

I don't think they chose safety over revenue. The cruise is cancelled because of a mechanical problem.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
cruisegirl1

cruisegirl1

Posted
  • Author
Posted

 I thought there could be slightly better communication. I thought the timing that we had to get off today was a little misleading, and we only found out by accident that if we didn’t get off  Saturday evening we couldn’t get off at our leisure during the day.    By the way, we got off 9:00 Saturday night. 

 

 Further, because of the type of air ticket I had, I am out my original return ticket and I am having to spend about $600 for the two us to fly one way back home.    I am flying into a potential hurricane area (North Carolina)  but it is not on American Airlines critical list so I receive no waiver of fees.    The cruise line is only providing me $200 per person to cover our $300 per person airline fee.   

 

 They knew about the mechanical problem before we even arrived at the port.   

 

  Of course they have to refund us 100% of our cruise fare, fees, excursions, etc. as the cruise only spent 40 minutes on the water  and most of that was turning around to return to the pier.    It seems generous regarding the future cruise credit, but that will remain to be seen when we go to use it.    There is some language in the email regarding limitations.  We cruise often on Royal Caribbean so I’m sure we will use it within the timeframe. I’m sure that others will not have an opportunity to use it and it will be lost 

 

 Then, there were some comments today on the cruise Facebook page about miscommunication regarding beverage packages.   

 

 I still think we could’ve had better communication. After all, pre-cruise we received daily emails from Royal  Caribbean trying to sell me excursions, drink packages, Internet, dining packages etc. 

 

m

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
cruisegirl1

cruisegirl1

Posted
  • Author
Posted
4 minutes ago, Lady Hudson said:

Revising. B2Bers being put up for one night in Baltimore.  Heard this issue is a serious one.  No news on repairs.

 Thanks for that information.   I spoke to someone at lunch who was a B3B. 

 

It makes me wonder though if the issue was so serious, why did they have us board on Saturday?   For many they could’ve made the call the day of the cruise and that would’ve saved many people the hassle of getting on and off the ship. Or if they knew how serious it was even the day before would’ve helped many avoid additional expensive travel arrangements. 

 

m

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Lady Hudson

Lady Hudson

Posted
Posted

I don’t know what was known ahead of time.  Obviously it was thought that the Baltimore repairs solved the problem.  

 

I cannot complain financially because this was a free casino cruise.  So I am really not out any $s.  I am now sitting at the open seating dining and all is going well.  Feel sorry for those with airfare issues.  That can leave a bad taste in one’s mouth.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Merion_Mom

Merion_Mom

Posted
Posted
21 minutes ago, biomedbob said:

Can ffc be found and/or sold on eBay?

 

They are COMPLETELY nontransferable.  If, for example, a husband and wife are traveling together and they receive FCCs for a cancelled or altered or problem cruise, each one receives his/her own FCC and the other one can't use it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
cruisegirl1

cruisegirl1

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)
44 minutes ago, Merion_Mom said:

 

They are COMPLETELY nontransferable.  If, for example, a husband and wife are traveling together and they receive FCCs for a cancelled or altered or problem cruise, each one receives his/her own FCC and the other one can't use it.

Can we  use both FCC’s for a cruise we are taking together?  Thx

 

m

Edited by cruisegirl1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
SRF

SRF

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, cruisegirl1 said:

 I thought there could be slightly better communication. I thought the timing that we had to get off today was a little misleading, and we only found out by accident that if we didn’t get off  Saturday evening we couldn’t get off at our leisure during the day.    By the way, we got off 9:00 Saturday night. 

 

 Further, because of the type of air ticket I had, I am out my original return ticket and I am having to spend about $600 for the two us to fly one way back home.    I am flying into a potential hurricane area (North Carolina)  but it is not on American Airlines critical list so I receive no waiver of fees.    The cruise line is only providing me $200 per person to cover our $300 per person airline fee.   

 

 They knew about the mechanical problem before we even arrived at the port.   

 

  Of course they have to refund us 100% of our cruise fare, fees, excursions, etc. as the cruise only spent 40 minutes on the water  and most of that was turning around to return to the pier.    It seems generous regarding the future cruise credit, but that will remain to be seen when we go to use it.    There is some language in the email regarding limitations.  We cruise often on Royal Caribbean so I’m sure we will use it within the timeframe. I’m sure that others will not have an opportunity to use it and it will be lost 

 

 Then, there were some comments today on the cruise Facebook page about miscommunication regarding beverage packages.   

 

 I still think we could’ve had better communication. After all, pre-cruise we received daily emails from Royal  Caribbean trying to sell me excursions, drink packages, Internet, dining packages etc. 

 

m

 

Let's see.

 

Maybe they thought they had the problem fixed.  Likely, as the captain is not likely to sail with major mechanical issues.

 

Maybe it could be repaired in a day or two, but for a Bermuda only cruise, they would not have time to make it to Bermuda.  Possibly, due to the short duration, the USG will waive PVSA penalties.

 

Maybe the captain decided that with ANY issues, it would not be wise to sail into the possibly path of a hurricane.

 

Maybe, RCI is not sending emails, as there personnel are getting ready to be hit by a hurricane and have things to take care of in their lives.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites
hallux

hallux

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, cruisegirl1 said:

I still think we could’ve had better communication. After all, pre-cruise we received daily emails from Royal  Caribbean trying to sell me excursions, drink packages, Internet, dining packages etc. 

Those emails are automated emails with a mail-merge script linked to the customer database, nobody has to compose them and click the send button.  Emails regarding changes to sailings require careful wording (regarding what they offer) and someone to actually trigger them to be sent.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites
JMG

JMG

Posted
Posted
53 minutes ago, SRF said:

 

Let's see.

 

Maybe they thought they had the problem fixed.  Likely, as the captain is not likely to sail with major mechanical issues.

 

Maybe it could be repaired in a day or two, but for a Bermuda only cruise, they would not have time to make it to Bermuda.  Possibly, due to the short duration, the USG will waive PVSA penalties.

 

Maybe the captain decided that with ANY issues, it would not be wise to sail into the possibly path of a hurricane.

 

Maybe, RCI is not sending emails, as there personnel are getting ready to be hit by a hurricane and have things to take care of in their lives.

As noted previously, we were on the 8/22 cruise that docked early in Baltimore on Friday 8/30 due to the propulsion problem. 

Totally agree...I seriously doubt that the Captain would have left the Balt dock if they had any idea that the problem was not fixed.

Agree...the possibility of heading into a hurricane path with potential engine problems would be a concern for the Captain.

Agree...People in Florida are being advised to evacuate and RCI personnel are not only dealing with GOTS mechanical problems but also Passengers, crew, employees, and ships that could be at risk due to the Hurricane.

 

 

I realize that being on a 30 minute cruise is a disappointment that none of us want to consider. It is difficult to sort out emotions of what is/has happened to you versus what is going on in the rest of the cruising world. 

 

Many purchase travel insurance for the additional costs that might crop up as a result of a situation of this nature. 

 

The pre cruise emails are basically computer driven...we got them as well even though we had already made the purchase. Emails concerning specific problems have to be addressed at a different level. Yes, they have your email...but...it will take time for RCI to recover from not only this mechanical problem but also, the impact of this hurricane. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
zepp914

zepp914

Posted
Posted

CSB

 

I love the Grandeur and have been on it 4 times.  On a cruise 3 years ago she suffered a propulsion problem on the way back from Bermuda.  I happened to run into one of the crew on a break and he said the ship could only do 8 knots with the starboard engine down.   The captain told us it may take an extra day at that speed to make it back.  That didn't bother me as I live close to port, but you could see the faces of the people who had booked flights.   I imagine the engineers' faces look worse.  It is an unbelievably stressful situation for them.  Luckily they got the other engine started after a few hours.   

 

Last year my coworker was on her when the same thing happened near the Bahamas.  I think her cruise was extended a day or 2.  

 

/CSB

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • ANNOUNCEMENT: Set Sail Beyond the Ordinary with Oceania Cruises
      • ANNOUNCEMENT: The Widest View in the Whole Wide World
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...