Live from the glory - just missed roatan!

[SailMeAwayEveryday]

We're going on the Valor on Sunday - I'm wondering if they already know now they aren't gonna stop there, or if it's more of a "game-time decision"?

 

You should call Carnival and ask them what they plan to do. Then come back here and let everyone know what they told you. That would be a big help to a lot of people with reservations.

[Purplehaze21]

I hope things can get settled! Rotan was the 1 port I am so excited about. We also have booked with Victor. We have never been but safety 1st. For the longest time, our cruise changed from Rotan to Costa Maya. Wonder whats going to happen. We still have 3 1/2 weeks to go tho.

[ncboys]

Just found this.... it's a rough translation and doesn't give to many details, but it confirms the report and states that Rortan is without power and "out of control" right now.

 

Roatán in the dark

The demonstrators requested the immediate intervention of president Manuel Zelaya, because the situation already “out of control”.

05.11.08 - Updated: 05.11.08 08:24 p.m. - Writing Web: redaccionweb@laprensa.hn

 

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Roatán, Honduras

 

Settlers of Roatán in Islands of the Bay denounce that the company Roatán Electic Company, Reco, suspended the service of electrical energy from the two of afternoon like measurement of pressure by the protests realised in his against, due to the high collections.

 

The demonstrators requested the immediate intervention of president Manuel Zelaya, because the situation already “out of control”.

 

At night hundreds of consumers protested outside of the company and the security of threatened this one them the arrival of the swarms receives.

According to the settlers, the company acquires 3,99 lempiras by kilowatt hour, but in the last months feel that its consumption has increased in a 500 percent.

[themnms]

I certainly hope that this is all resolved soon. We had a lovely day on this Island and would hate to think it would be dropped in the future

[Georgiagolfer]

Sorry you missed Roatan, as it is a beautiful island, although it is much different than the Honduras mainland. Roatan caters to the tourists, with the greatest attraction being scuba diving. They have the best diving in the Caribbean, according to most travel sites. We were there on the Glory in May, and also used Victor Bodden excursion. Honduras is an impoverished Country with a per capital income less than even Haiti, so any drop off in tourist $$, greatly impacts the local economies.

[CM2J2R2S]

I did call CCL this morning to see if they were keeping Roatan on their itineraries. The woman said, so far, no changes are being made and each trip is gauged by the Captain and it was his call to keep his crew, staff and guests safe, which wasn't really what I was looking for, and well understood by all of us. She also said that Carnival had not taken it off their itineraries and would, likely, wait to see if this all dies down. If not, she could not comment on adding another port or sea day in to the trip. She had no idea what they would do.

[NCTribeFan]

Oh, Froufie! I'm so sorry! I thought you were going to F&F, though.

 

And I was so looking forward to your review of the ruins in Belize, and thought maybe we might all want to do that on our Miracle reunion cruise! Maybe not!

 

I just did my first-ever snorkeling in May when Glory was in Cozumel (at Playa Uvas). I was so proud of myself. Now, with the ziplining death, the cave-tubing death, and yet another swimming death, I'm beginning to think that I need to stick to just "tour the island" or beach excursions.

 

:(

 

Hope you got your Casino Camel pic!

 

When I saw that you guys left late on Saturday, I posted in "our" thread that I hoped you knew about it ahead of time and got to spend that time hanging out in Cocoa Beach rather than stuck waiting for hours at the port.

 

Looking forward to your complete and utterly thorough review when you return. You'll need to book our Miracle cruise when you get back so you'll have that to look forward to. Just think about that aft balcony! ;)

[Kiva]

Well my wife and I are sailing on the Valor on 11/9/08 with a stop in Roatan, so this news was a little upsetting. I just got off the phone with Carnival and they said that this was a one day protest event and the Valor still plans on porting there next week. So as of today everything is a go. Lets hope things stay this way!

[SailMeAwayEveryday]

I just got off the phone with Carnival and they said that this was a one day protest event and the Valor still plans on porting there next week.

 

That is what they said during the riots in October. That lasted for more than one day and more than one ship turned away.

 

Holland America Veendam is scheduled to arrive in Roatan at 8am today. We will see if they stop or not.

 

It does not appear that the power has come back on and there is no news of the hostilities between the COBRA troops and the protesters last night. The last news on that was "blood may have been spilled."

[SailMeAwayEveryday]

News Confirmed

 

The power plant is still offline. No power on Roatan. The situation has not been contained. Power company crews have not been able to move on the roads to fix the problems.

 

It sounds like the protesters tore down the power lines or somehow damaged the power grid.

 

It is doubtful that the Veendam will stop at Roatan today.

[NCTribeFan]

There's a dedictated thread on the Roatan board regarding the civil unrest.

 

Hope the rest of your cruise is a good one, Froufie. What's left of it! And hope that little tropical storm in the western caribbean isn't upsetting things further. I do believe today should be your at-sea day and tomorrow your final day in Freeport.

[tanyanubin]

Oh, how awful. I hope it's over quickly and that no one is hurt. I would be very disappointed to miss Roatan on our June cruise. We booked it specifically to go to Gumbalimba park to play with the monkeys. We actually switched from RCI to Carnival to do that. As nice as Costa Maya is, I really want to get to Gumbalimba. OP, so sorry for your disappointment. Hope the rest of the cruise is wonderful.

[enester]

What a shame. The locals have been unhappy with the people flooding in from the mainland (referred to in the story as "settlers"). The original inhabitants consider themselves Caribbean Islanders descended from slaves and having their own unique culture. They consider the mainlanders "Spaniards" (many times referred to there as "Philistines") and there for economic reasons - and not a love of the island and it's history. They have also been resentful that their emerging economic success has been diluted by the newcomers who will "work for nothing". It's too bad that it has finally bubbled to the surface - it will be interesting how they deal with it. Once violence occurs feelings run deeper - and are much more intractable. :(

 

Good luck Roatan

 

PS: For those of you calling Carnival - good luck to you too. PVP's and any other info folks there that give out information tend to be the last ones to know. Some were still being told after Costa Maya was in Hurricane shambles that it was still on the itinerary.

[dem1958]

You should call Carnival and ask them what they plan to do. Then come back here and let everyone know what they told you. That would be a big help to a lot of people with reservations.

I called Carnival and my TA they acted as though this was the first they heard of this. I e mailed Victor Boden tours because we have a tour booked through them. Here is the response I got back.

 

Hello, Donna!

 

I am the person who keeps Victor's website up-to-date. As you have read, Roatan is having some demonstrations regarding a huge increase in electricity rates (from what I understand, civil demonstrations are common in Honduras and the main way that the public initiates changes.) The electric company has shut off all power to the island, as of 2PM Wednesday afternoon -- meaning no Internet. Land-based phone service has also been interrupted...and cell phone service is on & off.

 

Victor called me this morning and asked that I answer any email that has come in. He informed me that he will be contacting you and filling you in as soon as things are back to normal. Right now, he is spending time at home with his family and hoping that the electricity gets turned back on soon, so he can get back to work. The demonstrations are more disruptive than dangerous, and it has become hard to travel uninterrupted on the one main road that connects the various villages on Roatan due to road blockages.

 

Right now, from what Victor says, the ships are being diverted on a day-to-day basis based on the decisions of the ship's captain. So, as of yet, no future itinerary changes have been announced. All Bodden Tours are a "go" once the protests come to an end.

 

I will let you know if he contacts me with any more information. Victor is anxious for this disruptive period to be put in the past, so he can show off the beautiful aspects of his island home.

 

Robert Montgomery

Bodden Tours

[lakevermillion]

I had a rough day and decided to go to CC message board to read info about my upcoming cruise to lift my spirits. Reading these posts regarding the unrest in Roatan has really put me in my place. I have my freedom and I know that I am safe.

[KenMo]

PS: For those of you calling Carnival - good luck to you too. PVP's and any other info folks there that give out information tend to be the last ones to know. Some were still being told after Costa Maya was in Hurricane shambles that it was still on the itinerary.

 

Ain't that the truth!!

 

I sailed a week or two after Dean destroyed Costa Maya. My PVP said we were still going there. I told her the dock was gone. She said they'd tender us in!!! I said....to what??? It's destroyed!!! She didn't have a clue.

 

I learned of the changed itinerary on these boards.

 

Most people found out when Carnival employees handed out the new itinerary at the pier.

 

PVP's aren't the most reliable sources for itinerary changes.

[California4Me4Ever]

I just took a peek at the thread on the Ports of Call section for Roatan. Apparently the first of this "disturbance" started over 2 weeks ago around the 15th of October! So I'm not betting it's going to be over any time soon. So definitely be prepared for another "Fun Day" at sea.

[SailMeAwayEveryday]

I just took a peek at the thread on the Ports of Call section for Roatan. Apparently the first of this "disturbance" started over 2 weeks ago around the 15th of October! So I'm not betting it's going to be over any time soon. So definitely be prepared for another "Fun Day" at sea.

 

You are likely right. The disturbance has calmed down today but it is not certain if the island will be ready for visitors.

 

The Honduran President brokered a sort of cease fire for the next two weeks for the sides to discuss the situation. That is what happened two weeks ago and it is why the flare up has happened again during the last few days.

 

There is no end in sight.

[dem1958]

We are supposed to be there in 2 weeks.

I'm debating on if we should cancel our tour with Victor or not. I kind of like the saying "safety in numbers" Maybe we could book something through the ship. I feel bad for Victor though. We were so looking forward to it.

[NCTribeFan]

The "disruptions" could be one-day concentrated efforts, or they could be ongoing. How is Carnival supposed to know which? After the first demonstration, other ships ported there and people said they were totally unaware that there had been any "civil unrest" in the area at all.

 

If it were me, I'd prefer to keep my excursion with a local tour group rather than through the ship (who contracts with locals who couldn't care less about the passengers, as they're going to get their money from Carnival, regardless of the product they provide).