Jonas Delays Cruises

Anthem of the Seas 

Grandeur of the Seas 

Under Snow Dome 

According to the National Weather Service...
 
Major to Historic Winter Storm Jonas Will Impact the Middle Atlantic to Southern New England into Sunday

Snow fall so far has amounted to more than two feet in some areas.  Heavy winds will accompany the snow, making for very dangerous conditions.  Many states have activated the National Guard to help combat the snow and rescue people who were trapped by the storm.

Royal Caribbean International has announced two delays caused by Jonas (click link for current statement):


Anthem of the Seas

Anthem of the Seas will be delayed a day, arriving back into Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey, on Tuesday, January 26 instead of Monday, January 25. Passengers on the current voyage will get an extra day, while passengers on the January 25th voyage will have an altered itinerary, yet to be announced. 

Your local forecast office is

New York, NY

News Headlines

•  Snow Accumulation Forecast
•  Major Winter Storm Expected to Impact the Region into Sunday Morning
•  Significant Coastal Impacts Expected for Portions of the Region Saturday into Sunday
•  Latest Snowfall Amounts

Grandeur of the Seas

Grandeur of the Seas will now return to Baltimore a day late. Grandeur will now depart Baltimore on Monday, January 25th. Passengers on the current voyage will get an extra day, while passengers on the January 24th voyage will have an altered itinerary, yet to be announced.

Your local forecast office is

Baltimore, MD/Washington, D.C.

News Headlines

•  BLIZZARD / WINTER STORM - More info HERE
•  Latest Snowfall Map/Listing
•  Top snowfall statistics for DCA, BWI, and IAD
•  NOW AVAILABLE - Experimental Days 4-7 Winter Storm Threat graphics!

Travel Insurance 

Winter Storm Jonas is the perfect example of why you need to purchase travel insurance.

You had every intention of traveling to New York or Baltimore for your cruise, but Mother Nature had other plans. Your flight was probably cancelled. With a little luck, the airline will be able to reschedule you for a flight that will arrive in time for the revised cruise departure. But what if they can't?

Perhaps you already departed when the storm grounded you at a connection. Now you had an unexpected hotel stay. These are just a few of the possible situations the Travel Insurance Companies' Assistance Desks will be dealing with this weekend.

The intangible benefit of travel insurance is just having someone to turn to when things go wrong during your vacation. The assistance you are given is a bonus benefit. If you've ever experienced a problem during a vacation, you know what I mean. You just can't think on your own - what do I do next - you start to panic.

Make sure you have your Travel Insurance Policy Number & Phone Contact with you. Contact your Cruise Specialist for assistance in obtaining this information (another reason for using a professional for your booking as well).

Stay Safe

For those that are traveling to / from their cruise vacation this weekend - stay safe. To everyone else in the effected areas - stay inside warm & safe.

From Cruise to Winter in One Day

Norwegian Escape Back in Homeport

Cruises Inc., and CruiseOne held their 2015 National Conference onboard the brand new Norwegian Escape from November 14-21, 2015.    We were among the more than 800 people in that group that were lucky to be sailing this new ship for the first 7 Night Caribbean voyage from Miami. 

It was a gorgeous day in Miami as we awoke to the view above, as seen from our mini-suite balcony. Checking the weather forecast back home in Chicago, we learned about a major Winter Storm that was already in progress.    It would make for a very long day, but for now, we enjoyed the view.

 Settling in at MIA Airport

We selected one of the last disembarkation groups from the Escape, which still meant we were off the ship before 10 AM and at the airport about 15 minutes later.   We had a 3:20 PM flight so we had decided to camp out at American Airlines Admirals Club.   That would be the best decision we made that morning.

We kept monitoring our flight and it was still on time, which surprised us since the snow was falling at the rate of an inch an hour back home.  Eventually the flight would be cancelled and we'd need to be re-booked.   Four agents in the Admirals Club worked on getting us re-booked.   Finally, they were able to reroute us via Orlando.  The only problem was that we had to leave right away and race to the gate.  They called for a ride to the gate and we made it in time.    There were many more delays before we'd ultimately get off the flight in Chicago, including just short of 3 hours on the tarmac waiting for a gate.

click images to enlarge

Winter Accommodations ORD

This was the scene at O'Hare International Airport at about 12:30 AM.   We considered ourselves lucky to be at our final destination and not having to spend time at the airport.

We still had another long line to go through - since our flight was cancelled, our luggage wasn't on our re-booked flights.   It took about 30 minutes or so to get an agent to track down our bag, but after that it was off to get our car from off-airport parking and then finally drive home.

The Morning After

We dug our way into the driveway at 2:30 AM - not exactly the way we wanted to end our fantastic cruise.   Finally, 12 hours after getting on a plane in Miami, we were in our house and ready for bed.

The next morning the sun was out and shining brightly on the 12 inches of snow that had fallen the day before.  You can see that it had been a chore digging our way into the driveway, especially in the dark of the night.

We were happy that this winter storm was after our cruise and not when we were flying to Florida.   This was a significant amount of snow this early in the season.   You never know, which is why we build in buffer time for flights to the cruise port and always travel with travel insurance.   There were several potential insurance claims that fortunately we didn't have to make.   Insurance would have covered trip delay, lost luggage, and even a hotel room if we had gotten stranded.   

Watch for more posts about our cruise as well as photos on our Norwegian Escape Shutterfly Page.

#FriFotos is Back !! this Friday

This Friday #FriFotos returns to Twitter hosted by @_frifotos .  A new theme is featured each week plus #PhotoHour Friday 7pm GMT for photographers to discuss & connect. The theme for the first week is #Winter so we thought this would be a fitting story to share about the theme.

#Winter travel can be challenging, but getting away to somewhere warm is worth it. Just be sure to plan for delays and insure your trip so that it can be worry free.

 
If you like Travel & Photography join us online:

Follow us on Twitter: @ChrisPappinMCC  Pinterest: CruiseWithChris Pappin and Facebook: CruiseWithChris Pappin Cruises Inc 

Cruise Season to New Zealand Beginning

As National Cruise Vacation Month continues, we are focusing on some of the popular destinations for cruising.   Here in the States most parts of the country are experiencing Autumn weather with Winter just around the corner.    Thoughts of warm destinations come to mind when planning a getaway cruise.   Usually people think about the Caribbean for Fall / Winter cruises, but we'd like to suggest something different - which could be a trip of a lifetime.

Bob McCree (bobandjenni@xtra.co.nz)

Cruise

New Zealand

October - April

It's Summertime in the South Pacific with temperatures averaging between 20-30ºC (70-90°F) in New Zealand.  January and February are the warmest months, while back home they are typically the coldest, especially in the midwest where we live.

Photographer: Rob Suisted (www.naturespic.com)

Photographer: Rob Suisted (www.naturespic.com)

Milford Sound

One of the most photographed and popular attractions in New Zealand is Milford Sound. This natural fjord has some of the most amazing scenery you can imagine including two permanent waterfalls. You'll have a front row seat for the view from your balcony cabin or one of the open decks of your cruise ship. 

 
Weather Impacting This Year's Schedule

According to New Zealand Herald, the bad weather that is bashing the region, delaying flights, is also impacting the start of the cruise season.   Sea Princess, which was scheduled to arrive on Tuesday won't arrive until 6 AM on Wednesday.

Captain Schettino Gets Day in Court or Not

Costa Concordia Trial

Scheduled to Begin

July 9, 2013

It has been 18 months since the Costa Concordia accident which claimed the lives of 32 people off the coast of Giglio, Italy.  After pre-trial activities completed, including plea bargains for Costa Cruise Line, Captain Francesco Schettino arrived at the temporary "court house" in Grosseto, Tuscany ready for his day in court.

But Wait ...

As is customary in Europe, approaching labor strikes are pre-announced. As anticipated a nationwide Lawyers Strike, scheduled to start today, caused a delay in the Costa Concordia trial.   The judge had no choice but to delay the trial until July 17th.


Upset lawyers had called for a strike after the Prime Minister passed a decree attempting to streamline jury trials.  The PM accused the lawyers of blocking reforms. 

We have been covering the entire Costa Concordia accident, including the cleanup and legal proceedings.   For complete details, see our anchor article:  Costa Concordia Listing after Deadly Accident

Meanwhile, salvage operations continue.  It is now expected that the parbuckling project can be completed by early September, 2013.   See our article:  Costa Concordia Salvage Begins
 

Carnival Triumph Retun Delayed Again

Carnival introduced a dedicated space where all your questions,
concerns and feedback can be addressed.  (click image)

CARNIVAL TRIUMPH

Carnival Cruise Lines canceled two additional five-day sailings of Carnival Triumph to make repairs caused when the ship was torn away from a shipyard in Mobile earlier this month. The ship will return to service June 13 rather than June 3.

The additional cancellations are the result of damage to the ship when it broke away from the pier earlier this month.  This has delayed the overall repair schedule by 10 days. Attempts to return the ship to the shipyard failed and repairs are being done at the Mobile cruise terminal. Final repairs will be completed in The Bahamas.

Passengers on the latest canceled sailings will receive full refunds, reimbursement for travel expenses and future cruise discounts of 25 percent. 

If you missed what happened earlier this month, we have included Carnival's update from their Facebook page.

Update on Carnival Triumph in Mobile, AL April 3, 2013, 7PM ET  Earlier this afternoon, due to strong winds that reached speeds exceeding 70 miles per hour during a severe storm in Mobile, Ala., Carnival Triumph, which was in wet dock at a Mobile shipyard, broke away from its moorings. The ship drifted, and was secured. With the assistance of tugboats on site, the ship has been moved to the Mobile Cruise Terminal. Lines have moored the ship, and, as a precaution, tugboats will remain alongside the vessel as well. All of the approximately 600 crew and 200 contractors who were onboard the vessel are safe and have been accounted for through a roll call. There are no reports of injuries. While assessment of damage to the ship is ongoing, initial indications suggest the damage is limited. According to reports, two shipyard employees on an adjacent pier fell into the water. One has reportedly been rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard and the search continues for the second. Our thoughts and prayers are with the missing shipyard employee and the family.

In Other News....

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES ANNOUNCES FLEETWIDE $300 MILLION PROGRAM TO ENHANCE OPERATING RELIABILITY AND GUEST COMFORT        

[ Read more ] Carnival Fleetwide Reliability Program

Celebrity Cruises Delays Mercury March 19 Sailing

Celebrity Mercury Itinerary Change

March 19th Departure Delayed

Due to an outbreak of a a gastrointestinal illness, thought to be a Norovirus, during the last sailing of Celebrity Mercury, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has advised Celebrity Cruises to perform extensive and thorough sanitizing onboard the ship and within the cruise terminal at the Port of Charleston.  These measures are being taken to help prevent any illness from affecting the next sailing.

More information about Norovirus and its prevention is contained in the International Travel tab above which discusses travel documents, health and safety.  The CDC operates a Vessel Sanitation Program  for the prevention and control of the spread of gastrointestinal (GI) illnesses on cruise ships.   While Noroviruses are most often reported in a cruise ship setting, they can occur in nursing homes, restaurants, catered events, hotels, as well as any small area where a number of people are gathered - not just on cruise ships.

The sad thing is, this illness CAN BE PREVENTED.  Cruise ships have taken extensive measures, especially since the start of the H1N1 outbreak last year, to increase the number of sanitizer containers throughout the ship.   I'm always amazed at how many people walk past the sanitizers without using them, or how many people don't WASH THEIR HANDS after going to the restroom.    This is how the disease is spread.

So, because of some careless people, the passengers on the next sailing of Celebrity Mercury are now impacted.    Regrettably, due to the extensive sanitation,  the itinerary for the March 19th sailing has been delayed two days.   The new itinerary is as follows:

Sunday, March 21 - Embarkation between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m

Monday; March 22 - sea day

Tuesday, March 23 -  Key West, Florida

Wednesday, March 24 - Cozumel, Mexico

Thursday, March 25 - Costa Maya, Mexico

Friday, March 26 - sea day

Saturday, March 27 - Nassau, Bahamas

Sunday, March 28 - sea day

Seating in the cruise terminal at the Port of Charleston is very limited. Therefore, Celebrity Cruises is asking that guests scheduled to depart on this sailing not arrive at the pier on Sunday before 4:00 p.m..   Celebrity apologizes for the inconvenience.

Cruise Vacations - Plan for Unexpected

We've just returned from our 7 Night Bermuda cruise (round-trip New York) on NCL Dawn. We had a marvelous time which I can't wait to share with all of you. The next several posts will detail the various attractions we visited and provide a review of the NCL Dawn.

Before doing so, however, I'd like to make a few suggestions to anyone planning a cruise vacation. As the post title suggests, one should plan for the unexpected in advance so that the situations I describe, should they occur to you, would not ruin your vacation or at the very least you would have assistance before, during, and after the vacation.

Situation 1 - Weather Impacting Departure for Cruise

If you've been watching the news lately, I'm sure you've watched in horror as flood waters washed homes away, houses were destroyed in minutes by tornados, and various other disasters that are going on across the world. We always like to think that this can't happen to us and hopefully that is the case. Unfortunately situations like these do occur and no one is exempt from the possibility.

What does this have to do with cruising you might ask? Well, if that were your home, or if you lived in that neighborhood, odds are that you wouldn't be able to depart on schedule for your cruise. Several possibile situations come to mind from roads being blocked, airports being closed, flights delayed, family members injured during the storms. All of these would most likely prevent you from arriving in the cruise departure city prior to the ship sailing.

Suggestion 1 - Leave Early

I've said this many times before, but it bears repeating: Plan to arrive in the embarkation port the day before your cruise (domestic cruises) and at least the day before your cruise (overseas cruises).

Assuming that you are flying to the embarkation city, you can either book airfare with the cruise line or on your own. In most cases, I suggest that my clients book on their own since they have full flexibility and can often save money (perhaps using frequent flier miles, or finding special pricing). I'm more than happy to assist them either way.

That's not to say that you can't use frequent flier miles or get good prices through the cruise line, but you will have to make arrangements through the cruise line's "custom air" department. In some cases, there may be extra fees to tailor your flights to your schedule. The "non-custom" air arrangements typically arrive the day of the cruise which doesn't provide any room for delays.

In our case, we arrived in New York the day before the cruise, so we didn't have any issues. However, our return trip was delayed 4 hours due to weather. Had that been the day of the cruise, we could have missed the ship (assuming it was on the same day as ship departure).

Suggestion 2 - Purchase Trip Insurance

In the above example, depending on the length of the delay and other factors, had you missed the ship your insurance may have provided assistance in rejoining the cruise or reimbursement for unused portion of the trip.

If your house had been damaged or if a family member had ended up in the hospital, due to the storm as described above, the trip cancellation clause of the insurance policy may have come into play providing some financial relief.

Insurance policies vary, so you need to read the policy and compare them to your needs.

Situation 2 - Injury During Cruise

The following situation DID occur to one of the passengers on our cruise and we have been on many cruises where similar situations occured.

The ship sailed on time, we had dinner and had gone to the welcome aboard show. The captain came on the loud speaker system and made an announcement. The ship was turning around and returning to New York because there was a medical emergency onboard. It was necessary to get closer to New York so that the passenger could be transferred to a hospital onshore.

From what we can gather, the injury wasn't life threatening but it required medical attention that could best be provided in a hospital. The passenger was transferred from the ship to a hospital by the U.S. Coast Guard.

A medical evacuation is a very expensive procedure - often costing tens of thousands of dollars. These costs are typically not covered by your personal health insurance policies and could have a very negative impact if you had to bear the cost yourself.

I'm not trying to scare you out of booking a cruise. In fact, these situations I describe could happen any day and on any vacation. I hope that the cruise specialist, or other travel consultant that you work with, recommends insurance to you and that you seriously consider purchasing a policy. Besides the financial protection, there is the intangible benefit of having someone to turn to in the time of crisis. The majority of the policies available offer a 24 hour assistance line.

Plan for Unexpected - Leave Early, Purchase Travel Insurance, Enjoy Your Cruise