Destiny 11/22 Missed Port in Ocho Rios???

[JordanLovesCruisin]

Ocho is not a tender...regular dock...it was strange b/c they came on the loudspeaker and said the ship make rock as we turn into Ocho and the next thing we knew they decided not to make the turn to port...We decided on this cruise based on the itinerary...not to make a sail around Cuba. While I did enjoy the cruise and of course had a great time at Grand Cayman (where we did tender) not making it to Jamaica was a huge dissapointment. I don't know why they didn't wait it out a bit...and just leave a little late...Grand Cayman is not that far from Ocho and all we did was cruise on at a much slower speed so we didn't arrive in GC too early.

 

I know what the policy states about missed ports/alternative ports however additional compensation would have been nice and a future cruise credit would have almost ensured my next cruise on Carnival...I now have no incentive to come back unless it's the perfect itinerary at the perfect price...the competition is really too stiff for them not to make some sort of concession - considering they probably made hundreds of thousands more by not going to port...

 

Honestly you didnt miss much in Ochos Rios. Sure, the falls are nice, but other than that it is a Margaritaville, and people hounding you to let them braid your hair and sell you illegal substances. At least that's what we encountered last summer on the Mariner of the Seas. We were less than thrilled with Ochos Rios. If you went in any deeper than the touristy area, it was rather scary. If you would like me to post my picture of Ochos Rios, I can, so you can see what you really didn't miss

[lesley74]

As Odibluesky said, you were also lucky to make Grand Cayman. We had heard we might not be able to dock there on the same day as you. As has also been said, you didn't miss much with Jamaica either! It would have been a lot worse if you'd missed 2 ports and only had 1! Look on the bright side.

[Sandgnat]

Why does every one believe that the Captain made this decision on his own? Many people are involved in the decision when WEATHER makes a ship miss a port. In all of my cruises I have missed two scheduled ports. On the Victory we missed Grand Cayman and received a OBC. On the Glory we missed St. Maarten, they replaced it with Grand Turk:D. I am glad the ship did not sail into Hurricane Omar.

 

Every cruise line misses ports. This is not their decision to make more money it is for the saftey of the passengers, crew and the vessel.

[Ms Belvedere]

poor dh had to miss his lobster dinner bc he was not feeling well, but once room service brought him some magic pills (can't remember what kind they were- too many drinks lol) he was able to see the shows for the evening- yippy!

Room Service delivers motion sickness pills? WOW, I'd expect that on Cunard but am shocked that Carnival provides them delivered to your room. Go Carnival! :D

 

Thanks for posting your mini-review, I'm glad that you had a great time AND received an OBC! :)

[boozecruise78]

But somehow carnival went beyond their own policy, and gave the OP the $20 OBC and a new port. I'm sure OP wont see it that way, but they went above what they are required according to their own policy

 

the itinerary called for Ocho and Grand Cayman...so it's not a new port just the next scheduled stop.

[aggieastrosfan]

the itinerary called for Ocho and Grand Cayman...so it's not a new port just the next scheduled stop.

 

Read your own thread, this was already established.

[Tapi]

This thread reminded me of an incident aboard the Carnival Destiny in 2000. We sailed on this ship to Canada out of New York and on the day we returned, the currents in the Hudson River were too strong. It was a beautiful, clear day, no winds, water looked calm as a lake, but nonetheless we couldn't dock. Passengers were irate because the captain wasn't even "trying" to dock when the water seemed so "calm". Passengers mobbed the lobby area when it was apparent that many were going to miss their flights and started making demands. It wasn't until noon when we finally attempted to dock. We were looking down from our balcony during the final attempt and we watched as the ship literally smashed against the pier. Everything was in slow motion but it was SCARY. The pier workers ran when they realized that the ship wasn't going to stop. A collective gasp was heard from all the people watching from their balconies as we heard the metal scraping the pier. We were "finally" docked, but we still had to wait two hours to disembark while the damage was checked and it was verified that it was safe to commence debarkation. It was a huge and almost embarrassing scene to watch, customs, NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board), incoming passengers, outgoing passengers. It was not the picture perfect end to a cruise.

 

The reason why I bring this up is so that the OP understand that even though it might not be apparent why the master of the vessel decides to do or don't do something, there's a HUGE reason why. In my situation in 2000, the captain took a chance and ended up with a damaged ship and even longer delay. We were all over the local news that night.

 

Be grateful that your captain decided NOT to dock in Jamaica. Had the captain decided to dock and damaged the ship, your vacation could've been cut short in Jamaica and you would've then had legitimate reasons to ask for compensation!

[boozecruise78]

the itinerary called for Ocho and Grand Cayman...so it's not a new port just the next scheduled stop.

 

Everyone keeps saying the same thing on here...Yes safety is number one. I don't doubt the Captains decision about skipping Ocho...and besides the falls I'm sure the place is a barely worth visiting anyway.

 

That said - all you people bashing me for being upset at getting my port taxes back for a place I didn't go are being ubsurd.

 

If Carnival would have given you back $50 OBC instead - you're telling me you'd give them back the other $30 per person, b/c it was a nice gesture - please...No matter what they give you - you're going to spend it back on-board anyway. I guess I could have gotten off in Grand Cayman and I could have gotten a full refund per the Carnival Guaruntee, is that correct?

 

Anyway the cruise overall was a good time.

 

The ship is not as bad as many have claimed in their reviews. Is the newest, most modern vessel, the answer is no. Is it the cleanest ship, with the best food and most choices, the answer is no. Is it adequate for a 4/5 day carribean cruise the answer is yes. Would I want to sail Destiny transatlantic, the answer is no...Would I want to sail Destiny in Alaska, the answer is no.

 

That said - our balcony room on deck 8 (8159 and 61) were nice. The location front/mid-ship right by the steps and behind elevators was simply the best. The noise wasn't that bad...kids running around late at night but not too loud. The rooms were a good size the bathroom showers were huge compared to our cabin on Royal's Radiance. We were just below the lido and two decks below the spa and gym. The room steward was great. Had ice waiting most days and towel animals everynight.

 

The food in the dinning room at dinner was very good, Lobsters, small but good, crab cakes were excellent and of course the chocolate melting cake was super.

 

The breakfast in the dinning room was nothing special and the one lunch we had in the dinning room was good too.

 

The buffet food was ok, the NY deli was good, didn't try the chinese and the grill food was ok.

 

The comedy show was funny the option of bars was good - the Onyx cigar room had a good band. Jorge the CD was very good...funny guy.

 

The casino had great options...automated poker table...that was non-smoking which was nice.

 

The layout of the ship was a bit odd...had to go up and down decks to get to certain places...but after a while you just remember.

 

The pool decks were large, but of course the prime seats are taken early in the morning...The pools were small...and I wouldn't go in them...very crowded.

 

Overall the cruise was good...Probably wouldn't sail destinly again...but will give Carnival another go...

[boozecruise78]

Thanks Fig!

[G'ma]

the itinerary called for Ocho and Grand Cayman...so it's not a new port just the next scheduled stop.

 

Are you SURE you were on the Destiny? Here's a fellow traveler on your cruise.... Doesn't sound like you guys were in the same universe:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=881421

[boozecruise78]

Are you SURE you were on the Destiny? Here's a fellow traveler on your cruise.... Doesn't sound like you guys were in the same universe:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=881421

 

I didn't say it was bad...I said the cruise was good...maybe we have a differnce of opinion, last I checked we're all entitled. The Destiny as I said is not nearly as bad as some people made it out to be. On deck 8 I found no fowl oders...the few times I walked the cabin halls on decks 1,2,3 I found some terrible oders of human waste...But I booked on Deck 8. So it wasn't a big deal to me...In terms of dining options there's not many other than the dinning room that are worthy of a decent meal...but hey the price was right, I wanted this itinerary...and the bottom line is, you get what you pay for...all in all it was a good experience, but I probably wounldn't re-book this ship...too many better options out there...it's the honest truth.

 

On the service side...the dinning staff and cabin staff are great...really couldn't have asked for more...the purser's desk was quick to send someone to our room to try and fix our safe, but they coundn't...

 

Overall the cruise was good...Destiny is ok...but not rushing to go back on her again...

[sappygirl]

I understand what all of you are saying...of course safety is a priority to the crew and to the passengers. 1. Why could they not have sailed around a bit and waited to see if conditions would improve. 2. Why would the Ship/Carnival not offer some sort of additional compensation, the port taxes arent there's anyway, so you're really getting no concession from them and in the end the cruiseline is making out like bandits...Wouldn't it have shown good faith/customer service if they would have at least offered some free drinks? Instead of spending my money in Jamaica I spent it with Carnival...you'd think they'd acknowledge that and try and make the customer feel better about missing a port of call...it's called good business and has nothing to do with the safety of the passengers, of course I'd rather be safe, however if the original itinerary called for a five day cruise to grand cayman for the price I paid...I'd have never booked the cruise to begin with...I enjoy the ship but that's just a part of the experience...the ports are a major reason many of us cruise...

Welcome to the wonderful world of cruising.:rolleyes:

[valancy1]

the few times I walked the cabin halls on decks 1,2,3 I found some terrible oders of human waste...But I booked on Deck 8.

 

We LIVED on Riviera (Deck 1) and I honestly, truly never ever smelled anything even remotely odiferous. No funk on Riviera.

 

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but whoa... this is exactly what I was fearful of going on the Destiny but we absolutely did not experience this.

 

While we enjoyed our Liberty cruise more, it was far less about the ship (because we didn't notice any problems). I was seasick this time where I wasn't before, the seas were stormy, the first time they weren't, etc.

 

I felt Destiny offered as much as Liberty in activities. The food was equally delicious between the two ships, and the service was impeccable on both. I was impressed with the cleanliness of both ships.

 

I'm so surprised that someone thought they smelled "human waste" on this ship. We did not and we lived down there. We didn't roam around on cabin floors to smell them, but you'd think that smell would go around on the ship. The only place we noticed any sort of smell was the smoke in the casino and in the cigar bar (we just walked in there to look and left it was so stinky and toxic (we are smoke averse)).

[donaldsc]

On deck 8 I found no fowl oders....

 

I guess that they keep the chickens on another deck.

 

DON

[boozecruise78]

We LIVED on Riviera (Deck 1) and I honestly, truly never ever smelled anything even remotely odiferous. No funk on Riviera.

 

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but whoa... this is exactly what I was fearful of going on the Destiny but we absolutely did not experience this.

 

While we enjoyed our Liberty cruise more, it was far less about the ship (because we didn't notice any problems). I was seasick this time where I wasn't before, the seas were stormy, the first time they weren't, etc.

 

I felt Destiny offered as much as Liberty in activities. The food was equally delicious between the two ships, and the service was impeccable on both. I was impressed with the cleanliness of both ships.

 

I'm so surprised that someone thought they smelled "human waste" on this ship. We did not and we lived down there. We didn't roam around on cabin floors to smell them, but you'd think that smell would go around on the ship. The only place we noticed any sort of smell was the smoke in the casino and in the cigar bar (we just walked in there to look and left it was so stinky and toxic (we are smoke averse)).

 

Really the only time I was down there was to catch the tender...and smelled some pretty nasty waste...maybe you just got used to it...Deck 1 portside, smell was bad - while getting off to tender in GC...perhaps it's close to where they store all the waste?

 

Looking at the pics in your post, you can see the sky is gray, but the waves are not all that bad...very surpised we didn't make an attempt at Ocho...but oh well...I thought the ship was clean for the most part, but a bit warn...much of the carpet in public spaces looked heavily used as you'd expect...saw them steam cleaning it in some spots during the cruise.

 

I agree the casino was quite smokey...the Cigar bar was a nice option for those of us who enjoy a cigar and don't want to smoke it outside.

The casino had a smoke free area for poker which was nice.

[Bran8778]

Everyone can flame me for this one but . . .

 

Best way to get a credit for next time is to stay home. Sounds to me like your are just another example of all things wrong with the US. Hold out hand and think you are entitled, just because. Go earn it!

 

WOW!! Was all that needed. You must have been in a bad mood before you logged in.

 

For those of us who have been members on this site for years and years we always seem to read the same things over and over again and that's OK. New members log in everyday that have the same questions we had when we started sailing.

 

If this was my first or second cruise I may have had the same question, but on my honeymoon cruise which was my third cruise, I missed two islands and now I know what to expect.

 

Sorry for going on and on, but as a new cruiser I just think that boozecruise didn't deserve some people jumping down his/her throat!!

[zqvol]

Why does every one believe that the Captain made this decision on his own? Many people are involved in the decision when WEATHER makes a ship miss a port. In all of my cruises I have missed two scheduled ports. On the Victory we missed Grand Cayman and received a OBC. On the Glory we missed St. Maarten, they replaced it with Grand Turk:D. I am glad the ship did not sail into Hurricane Omar.

 

Every cruise line misses ports. This is not their decision to make more money it is for the saftey of the passengers, crew and the vessel.

 

The captain and the captain alone is responsible for deciding to miss a port call based on weather. He has the absolute right to override everyone on the call because he is the Master and the one ultimately responsible for the safety of the passengers, crew and the ship.

[dan40]

Ocho is not a tender...regular dock...it was strange b/c they came on the loudspeaker and said the ship make rock as we turn into Ocho and the next thing we knew they decided not to make the turn to port...We decided on this cruise based on the itinerary...not to make a sail around Cuba. While I did enjoy the cruise and of course had a great time at Grand Cayman (where we did tender) not making it to Jamaica was a huge dissapointment. I don't know why they didn't wait it out a bit...and just leave a little late...Grand Cayman is not that far from Ocho and all we did was cruise on at a much slower speed so we didn't arrive in GC too early.

 

I know what the policy states about missed ports/alternative ports however additional compensation would have been nice and a future cruise credit would have almost ensured my next cruise on Carnival...I now have no incentive to come back unless it's the perfect itinerary at the perfect price...the competition is really too stiff for them not to make some sort of concession - considering they probably made hundreds of thousands more by not going to port...

 

Rather than bitching about the "Captain's Decision," why don't you try RESEARCHING all that goes into a port change. It is NOT up to the Captain except as a last resort. Port safety is a committee decision. The port is involved, the cruiseline HQ is involved, the cruiseline legal dept. is involved as contracts with foreign Governments, port authorities, local vendors, etc. are all involved. As well as the USCG, the local country's CG. And on and on and on. It is not some "Cowboy Captain" saying, "Hang a left, I don't feel like going there today." Within a few hours there would be a helicopter over the ship with the NEW Captain aboard.

 

Dan

[zqvol]

Everyone keeps saying the same thing on here...Yes safety is number one. I don't doubt the Captains decision about skipping Ocho...and besides the falls I'm sure the place is a barely worth visiting anyway.

 

That said - all you people bashing me for being upset at getting my port taxes back for a place I didn't go are being ubsurd.

 

If Carnival would have given you back $50 OBC instead - you're telling me you'd give them back the other $30 per person, b/c it was a nice gesture - please...No matter what they give you - you're going to spend it back on-board anyway. I guess I could have gotten off in Grand Cayman and I could have gotten a full refund per the Carnival Guaruntee, is that correct?

 

Anyway the cruise overall was a good time.

 

The ship is not as bad as many have claimed in their reviews. Is the newest, most modern vessel, the answer is no. Is it the cleanest ship, with the best food and most choices, the answer is no. Is it adequate for a 4/5 day carribean cruise the answer is yes. Would I want to sail Destiny transatlantic, the answer is no...Would I want to sail Destiny in Alaska, the answer is no.

 

That said - our balcony room on deck 8 (8159 and 61) were nice. The location front/mid-ship right by the steps and behind elevators was simply the best. The noise wasn't that bad...kids running around late at night but not too loud. The rooms were a good size the bathroom showers were huge compared to our cabin on Royal's Radiance. We were just below the lido and two decks below the spa and gym. The room steward was great. Had ice waiting most days and towel animals everynight.

 

The food in the dinning room at dinner was very good, Lobsters, small but good, crab cakes were excellent and of course the chocolate melting cake was super.

 

The breakfast in the dinning room was nothing special and the one lunch we had in the dinning room was good too.

 

The buffet food was ok, the NY deli was good, didn't try the chinese and the grill food was ok.

 

The comedy show was funny the option of bars was good - the Onyx cigar room had a good band. Jorge the CD was very good...funny guy.

 

The casino had great options...automated poker table...that was non-smoking which was nice.

 

The layout of the ship was a bit odd...had to go up and down decks to get to certain places...but after a while you just remember.

 

The pool decks were large, but of course the prime seats are taken early in the morning...The pools were small...and I wouldn't go in them...very crowded.

 

Overall the cruise was good...Probably wouldn't sail destinly again...but will give Carnival another go...

 

The $20 more than covered the port taxes, which were about $5 - $7 per person, not any more.

[dan40]

The captain and the captain alone is responsible for deciding to miss a port call based on weather. He has the absolute right to override everyone on the call because he is the Master and the one ultimately responsible for the safety of the passengers, crew and the ship.

 

Your second sentence is correct. Your first sentence is not. If he is told to skip a port for any reason, he WILL skip that port. If told to go into a port in foul weather, he may countermand that order for the safety of ship and souls. But he may lose a very high paying job that took decades to achieve.

It is a similar situation to when a local pilot is aboard, the Captain is always RESPONSIBLE for the ship, but he is not always IN COMMAND.

 

Dan

[zqvol]

Your second sentence is correct. Your first sentence is not. If he is told to skip a port for any reason, he WILL skip that port. If told to go into a port in foul weather, he may countermand that order for the safety of ship and souls. But he may lose a very high paying job that took decades to achieve.

It is a similar situation to when a local pilot is aboard, the Captain is always RESPONSIBLE for the ship, but he is not always IN COMMAND.

 

Dan

 

I agree Dan. As you said he will not go to a port if he is told to skip it, but when safety is concerned he rules.

[G'ma]

I guess that they keep the chickens on another deck.

 

DON

 

BWAHHH!!! This just made me spew my coffee all over the keyboard.....Funny!!!!!!

 

 

 

[G'ma]

Room Service delivers motion sickness pills? WOW, I'd expect that on Cunard but am shocked that Carnival provides them delivered to your room. Go Carnival! :D

 

Thanks for posting your mini-review, I'm glad that you had a great time AND received an OBC! :)

 

Yup, they bring 'em.....and you can also get them from the Purser's Desk.

 

(Don't forget to tip the room service guy----:D)

[vplsh]

I guess that they keep the chickens on another deck.

 

DON

 

 

Don, you took the words right out of my mouth, so to speak!! LOL!

[dan40]

Yup' date=' they bring 'em.....and you can also get them from the Purser's Desk.

 

(Don't forget to tip the room service guy----:D)[/quote']

 

AND there is a box on the wall outside the infirmary filled will seasick pills. Anyone can go grab a handful at any time.

 

Dan