Miracle "Propulsion Problem" & Carnival Question?

[Jackrjc]

Does anyone know who you can call besides the normal Carnival telephone reps (sales) to find out about the stabilizers? I am hoping they are not withholding this info, just like I was hoping they would not withhold the itinerary change information. I would like to get more info on this. For some folks, this could be a deal breaker.

[shipty2]

Jackrjc I was wondering the same thing. I trust my PVP but not his info. I still could cancel until tomorrow morning so I really would like accurate info about this stabilizer issue.

[basill1970f]

I feel for all of you who are having port changes. I am very sorry for your disappointment. My sailing in August of 2007 my daughters 16th birthday present was CANCELLED for the same reason. I found out on a Thursday and I was supposed to sail on Sunday. Talking about short notice, we were literally devastated. Once I regrouped I found another cruise to sail on out of Miami a day later etc etc.. it was a mess redoing reservations and renting a car to get from Upper Florida ( I cannot recall if it was jacksonville or Tampa) to Miami. The drive to Miami wasnt very fun either, however once we got on the ship and i wiped my previous tears we had a great time.

 

I wish all of you happy sailing and try to get the most out of your vacation and the comfy bed and the great ocean view.

[63Corvette]

I don't know what to think - so much conflicting information going on. I actually think that the most accurate info is on this forum. I sent an e-mail to my PVP yesterday as follows:

 

Michael,

 

I was just on Carnival's web site, and viewed "My Documents". It shows a change in our itenerary - Panama and Costa Rica removed, and replace with Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Roatan. Do you have any information on this change? I have purchased excursions through Carnival in both Panama and Costa Rica. How do I cancel them? Any info would be appreciated.

 

Thanks

 

Dave

 

 

Here is the response I received today:

 

Hello Dave,

 

I see that the Itinerary was changed due to port congestion. If you purchased the shore excursions through Carnival they will be cancelled and not charged to your card. Take a look at the new stops, there are many great things to do in Costa Maya and Cozumel. These two ports offer a variety of great excursions and they are a gateway to the Mayan ruins.

 

Thank you and have a great day

I guess I just wait for a formal notification from Carnival - I think my PVP is blowing smoke up my skirt!

[gargoyle999]

I don't know what to think - so much conflicting information going on. I actually think that the most accurate info is on this forum. I sent an e-mail to my PVP yesterday as follows:

 

Michael,

 

I was just on Carnival's web site, and viewed "My Documents". It shows a change in our itenerary - Panama and Costa Rica removed, and replace with Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Roatan. Do you have any information on this change? I have purchased excursions through Carnival in both Panama and Costa Rica. How do I cancel them? Any info would be appreciated.

 

Thanks

 

Dave

 

 

 

Here is the response I received today:

 

 

 

Hello Dave,

 

I see that the Itinerary was changed due to port congestion. If you purchased the shore excursions through Carnival they will be cancelled and not charged to your card. Take a look at the new stops, there are many great things to do in Costa Maya and Cozumel. These two ports offer a variety of great excursions and they are a gateway to the Mayan ruins.

 

Thank you and have a great day

 

I guess I just wait for a formal notification from Carnival - I think my PVP is blowing smoke up my skirt!

 

Port congestion! :rolleyes: Your PVP should join CC! Sure is not port congestion. Our Feb 17th sailing had no other ships in port for Panama, Costa Rica or Belize. Our stop now in Cozumel has 4 other ships and 12,000 people not including the Miracle that will be there now!

 

Here is the letter my TA sent me today:

 

[Ykgorbie]

We're leaving in 3 weeks on the Miracle (Jan.8th) and I haven't rec'd any notification from Carnival....but I can clearly see they have changed our itinerary. It show up on my docs.....

[10splyr]

For all of you who have never been to Roatan and like to snorkel, this is THE place! You can snorkel from the shore and will see many, many beautiful fish and lots of colorful coral. If you go out a little further, there is a 75' wall and more fish and coral that inhabit the deeper waters. This is actually the best snorkeling I have ever had outside of Tahiti.

 

I just came off the Miracle on Monday, and while the ship did rock and roll a little, it wasn't too bad - although I do not get seasick ever. The wind was blowing a couple of nights and that does cause the seas to be a little rougher, but you shouldn't encounter any rough seas on the changed itinerary as the Caribbean Sea is usually very calm.

 

Just enjoy.

[kpt2008]

We are sailing on December 31st '08, and I just received an email yesterday from CCL about the itinerary change. We booked this cruise to be on the boat NYE and to go to Panama, so we are really disappointed that we aren't going to make that port.

 

They are now sending us on the same itinerary as the December 15th sailing.

All future bookings can most likely look forward to the change in itinerary as well, because the problem isn't going to be repaired until dry dock in February. :(

[Jackrjc]

I spoke to a Carnival representative. She was very tuned into this forum and had this thread in front of her when I called. (Coincidence, I guess.) BTW, she was very straightforward, pleasant, and easy to talk to. Anyway, she said they did not have any information or hear anything about a stabilizer problem, only the propulsion problem. She believed that Carnival would inform them if there was a stabilizer problem.

Ref changing from one Carnival ship to another. She said I could cancel this cruise with no penalty. However, the price does not transfer over and, of course, your free to book another ship at the current price.

At the end of the day, we have decided to stick with our 16 Jan cruise. I am over the initial disappointment of not going to Panama and Costa Rica and four sea days. The fact is we will be on the same ship as planned having a great time and we will do some reseach and find some great excursions/things to do at the new ports. Just waiting for the vacation to start and warm up a bit.

[mstea]

:) Hello,

We are on the 2/9 sailing...ours has also changed...

WE were to go to St. Lucia, but now it has been changed to Grand Turks..

While I am disappointed, I haven't been to Grand Truks either... so as long as the Ship Sails.. with me on it and my extra 5o.00 OBC... I will smile..:D

Good luck to all.

[bee-bee]

Just for curiosity, do you know how many knots the ship was moving?

I don't especially like reading into this or assuming anything with a lack of information and facts, but if there are no problems with propulsion on 14 Dec, how can they know there will be propulsion problems on 15 Dec?

It would be nice if Carnival would post clearly and fully what is going on with the Miracle on their website and how they anticipate it will affect or not affect future cruises. As I said before, I would appreciate the opportunity to change plans if they know there is a problem they cannot fix.

 

We were traveling at 20-21 knots at times. DH said that he could tell that one of the props was not operating fully by looking at the wake.

[Deefar]

I am quite bummed about not going to St. Lucia. We were at the Grand Turks in January and didn't care for it. Having to go back makes me a bit upset. I'm just glad we still have 4 sea days to relax in the sun with. Do you think there is a chance that the itinerary could change again?

[FlaMilkman]

I got my official call from my TA last evening. Standard explanation of "propulsion issues" and a $50 per cabin OBC "inconvenience fee."

I hope that this is as serious as the "propulsion issues" are going to be ahead of the ship's dry dock and that they do not worsen over time.

[shipty2]

I have looked over carnival's vacation guarantee and am now satisfied that if the stabilizers are indeed not working and it is causing me a problem with motion sickness I will be debarking the ship in St Marten. Of course that is the last thing I want to do .

An interesting side note: the vacation guarantee is not applicable for all sailings for example the panama canal cruises are not covered by it and also the guarantee only applies to American and Canadian passengers.

[azflash]

Was on the ship and left on the 18th due to the port of call change. Maximum cruise speed noted while on board was between 13-17 knotts. Very disappointed when not notified of the change, found out at Fr. Lauderdale port. Since there thought I'd give it a try, however Mexico is not the Canal nor Costa Rica. Lots of folks were not informed, my Carnival Cruise coordinator did not even know when I contacted him on Decempt 15th while preparing to board.

 

December 2006-- Inspiration:p

December 2007 - Glory:):)

December 2008 - Miracle:confused:

[gargoyle999]

Was on the ship and left on the 18th due to the port of call change. Maximum cruise speed noted while on board was between 13-17 knotts. Very disappointed when not notified of the change, found out at Fr. Lauderdale port. Since there thought I'd give it a try, however Mexico is not the Canal nor Costa Rica. Lots of folks were not informed, my Carnival Cruise coordinator did not even know when I contacted him on Decempt 15th while preparing to board.

 

December 2006-- Inspiration:p

December 2007 - Glory:):)

December 2008 - Miracle:confused:

 

You just stayed in Cozumel? Are you getting any money back? I thought you had to leave in the first port if you are not happy and want to take Carnival up on their guarantee.

[jspirit]

Please tll us how that worked with you getting off the ship at that point. What do you do about hotel and flights?

[MuncieCruisers]

I just saw that the Feb 1st sailing has drastically reduced prices. I qualify for Military rates and it is $254 for an inside room for an 8 day cruise. they must have a lot of problems or people changing their bookings. that is cheap.

[katspau]

We found out about the itinerary change when we arrived at the cruise terminal. We checked our email later on and nothing from Carnival.

Our problem was that we prepaid the Panama Excursion. The pursers Desk charged us a second time for the excusion but reimbused for only their charge and could not comprehend the idea of prepaid.

 

After heated discussions with the Steward, the Assistant Purser, and finally Pierre (Manager) did they finally comprehend that they owed us another refund. (It is a wonder that I wasn't escorted to the brig.)

 

So if you were on that cruise and prepaid any excursions, make sure they reimbused you fully.

[NCTribeFan]

Your prepaid excursions ALWAYS show up as a charge on your S&S, even though they're prepaid. At the end of the cruise, the payment shows up as a credit.

 

As I posted in one of the OTHER Miracle propulsion threads, is it possible that some of the sailings that managed to make the original Panama itinerary did so because of weather and sea conditions?

 

Isn't it possible that they don't KNOW what those conditions will be until a few days before sailing?

 

Just because some sailings made the original itinerary after the problems surfaced doesn't mean that all sailings could do so. And maybe the problem has worsened.

 

I understand that it's upsetting! I've booked this cruise for next December. Hopefully, they'll get it all sorted out by then.

 

I absolutely loved Roatan when we were there in May and had a wonderful time in Cozumel at Playa Uvas. Would I be disappointed if that's where I ended up rather than Panama and Costa Rica? Sure. But I have to plan very far in advance, and I'd still take the cruise.

 

I just don't know why people want to convince themselves that Carnival is lying to them and somehow trying to cheat them out of their vacation. Does anyone here honestly believe Carnival could possibly believe that would be in their best interests?

[Upandadam]

Your prepaid excursions ALWAYS show up as a charge on your S&S, even though they're prepaid. At the end of the cruise, the payment shows up as a credit.

 

As I posted in one of the OTHER Miracle propulsion threads, is it possible that some of the sailings that managed to make the original Panama itinerary did so because of weather and sea conditions?

 

Isn't it possible that they don't KNOW what those conditions will be until a few days before sailing?

 

Just because some sailings made the original itinerary after the problems surfaced doesn't mean that all sailings could do so. And maybe the problem has worsened.

 

I understand that it's upsetting! I've booked this cruise for next December. Hopefully, they'll get it all sorted out by then.

 

I absolutely loved Roatan when we were there in May and had a wonderful time in Cozumel at Playa Uvas. Would I be disappointed if that's where I ended up rather than Panama and Costa Rica? Sure. But I have to plan very far in advance, and I'd still take the cruise.

 

I just don't know why people want to convince themselves that Carnival is lying to them and somehow trying to cheat them out of their vacation. Does anyone here honestly believe Carnival could possibly believe that would be in their best interests?

 

The automated call we received from Carnival stated in no uncertain terms that the itinerary change was due to the propulsion problem, NOT the weather. So to answer your questioin, in this case, no, it's not possible that it was due to weather and sea conditions. And nowhere were we given any option of rescheduling or any thing of that nature. This is not a case of people trying to convince themselves of anything. As I've stated in other posts, we'll still have a blast with the new itinerary, we just would have preferred the one we paid for, and a $50 OBC per stateroom is an insult. One which we won't let ruin out cruise, but an insult nonetheless.

 

What don't people get about this? Sure, the contract says they can change for any reason, but that's not the point. It's the way everything was handled.

[Stickem]

I was on the 12/15 sailing of the Miracle and recieved a basic email notification two days beforehand. The email almost blended into the rest of the junk mail. The port Azipod was indeed running at considerably lower power throughout the trip which also caused a good deal of excess vibration. Cruise speeds were in the 12-17 knot range most of the time. A lot of angry passengers on board, especially as word spread that they knew of the issue in advance and she had already been scheduled for dry dock.

 

Now here is the interesting part, the last day at sea the Captain announced that there was a medical emergency with a passenger and we needed to get back to Lauderdale early. The new plan was to arrive at midnight as opposed to 7am the next morning. It was windy that afternoon / evening with gusts over 40 knots (headwind by the way). In spite of that wind we were making 24-25 knots dead into it. Hence they had all deck access closed that night and I'm sure you can imagine the sea conditions in a 40 knot head wind. We did arrive early and a passenger was taken away in an ambulance. However the ships new found "speed" really had people upset considering the itinerary change was based on speed.

[NCTribeFan]

I'm referring to the argument that SOME of the cruises did actually make it to Panama & Costa Rica AFTER the propulsion problems first surfaced.

 

I'm not talking about NOW.

 

People have questioned why SOME of them were able to get there, but NOW they can't. It was just a possible explanation. Sheesh.

 

I'm trying to be reasonable. What is it about being reasonable that some people don't get? :rolleyes:

[Upandadam]

I'm referring to the argument that SOME of the cruises did actually make it to Panama & Costa Rica AFTER the propulsion problems first surfaced.

 

I'm not talking about NOW.

 

People have questioned why SOME of them were able to get there, but NOW they can't. It was just a possible explanation. Sheesh.

 

I'm trying to be reasonable. What is it about being reasonable that some people don't get? :rolleyes:

 

It might help if you quoted the post you're explaining. The propulsion problem has been around for months. They changed the itinerary after it kept getting worse. That's what explains it.