Constellation Alert!! Port Cancellation

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FortyNinerLiz

Guest
Celebrity just cancelled Bar Harbor as a port on the New England cruises!!! This is why we chose this cruise!! The reservation agent said that we will just be sitting at sea (when we could be enjoying Cadillac Mountain, etc.) They said the port was not available. Why was it it the literature if they knew it was unavailable. This sounds like bait and switch. However, we don't even get to switch to another port. We will just be stuck at sea. Everyone on these cruises should call and protest!!!
 
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BSeabob

Guest
I wondered on this phenomenon several yrs. back when the Eastern Itinery of the Zenith as printed in the brochure said it would stop at Nassau. It never did. However I was told to check my ticket (which came just days before the cruise of course) and it did not have the stop on it. All the fine print covers them apparently...but I don't think it's cricket. I guess if you feel really strong about it you could cancel the cruise...
 
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lysolqn

Guest
As bummed out as you are about the cancellation of Bar Harbor, there are many who will be delighted to learn they will have another sea day.
 
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ShipMaven

Guest
On what authority are you basing your statement that Celebrity deliberately is misleading people? Just curious. Itineraries are often changed by all cruise lines, disappointing as it may be to see a favorite port eliminated.
 
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FortyNinerLiz

Guest
To Mary Ann,
The port is still posted on itineraries and yet if you call them they say it has been cancelled because the port is not available. I checked with the Port Authority of Maine and no ship is scheduled for the date that is on the itinerary for Bar Harbor, September 22nd, nor has one been. This can be verified with them and on http://www.cruisemaineusa.com/Schedule.asp. I took the time to investigate what they said and that is what I am basing my opinion on regarding how I feel people have been mislead. If they had just told the truth from the beginning, we would probably have accepted that. Now they have poor itinerary agents having to tell people a story that simply does not match what is in print and on the web. Oh well..........One lives and learns.
 
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ljeanbrown

Guest
The port may not be available due to something on the ports schedule not the ships. Ports also cancel on cruise ships due to problems. There may be something going on at the port that day and no ships may be allowed to dock. Just a thought, because it does happen.
 
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newmexicoNita

Guest
Every cruise line cancels ports from time to time. It is a bummer if your really had your heart set on something, but don't let it spoil your cruise. Sea days can be fun as well and I am beginning to think some of the ships are doing too many ports. Guess we are never happy. I will through in one more thing: I know some of you will blast me for this: it does seem Celebrity does more changing and cancelling of ports than other lines. I wonder why?

Nita
 
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Brahmama

Guest
(Nita - We have been on some of the same ships! LIke the late great Commodore!! )

Actually I always thought that NCL was the worst about cancelling. But we've been on HAL when they cancelled ports too. I think it's just the nature of the beast.

But, Murphy's Law prevails - it will always be the port that you especially were interested in seeing!

I do think that the itinerary should be posted at the website and updated immediately. Truth in advertising is a big issue with me! I will always complain about "bait and switch" and window signs where the special "is just sold out"!

The worst one that happened to us is when we booked an Eastern Med - going to Istanbul and the Black Sea area (too late now I guess). Well, about time for the final payment - I found out - not through my TA - but On THE NEWSGROUPS! - the WHOLE itinerary had been changed to the Holy Land. (too late for that too I guess). We really had our hearts set on Istanbul. We were able to cancel the cruise and eventually (think months) we got our deposit back.

But hopefully the rest of your cruise will be great - and you'll have a reason to cruise again to Bar Harbor!

Happy travels,
Carol
 
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seagarsmoker

Guest
If that was the reason you booked the cruise, then cancel. No use going if your going to be unhappy about it. I have strong doubts they have any reason to do this on purpose.
 
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newmexicoNita

Guest
Carol, you are so right about Commodorem espeacially the Caribe. As for NCL cancelling, yep, they do quite a bit also, but it just seems to me this past 6 months or so Celebrity has been changing itineraries every few months with little notice. I am not one that cruises just for the ports anyway, though they do make a difference; I can't imagine being totally upset if there was a change of one port. Last summer NCL as well as others were totally revamping from Bermuda to New England and Canada. That might bother me even though they changes were due to herricanes conditions. If I was cruising for a particular port and it wasn't too late to cancel that is what I would do. Good luck on your upcoming cruise. I bet you will have a blast. We are thinking of doing Europe next spring. Our daughter and hubby are on a 2 year assignment in Poland so thought we would combine a cruise with a visit to Poland.

Take care,

Nita
 
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glanders

Guest
We've been on 6 cruises with Celebrity since we started cruising in 2000. One reason I was hesitant to book any cruise is because every (I think) cruise line reserves the right to change ships, change ports, etc. So, in theory you could be booked on a trancanal on Infinity and get a Southern Caribbean on Constellation.

In the 6 cruises we've had with Celebrity, one (Europe) got cancelled due to 9/11 (we switched to Alaska), a Southern Carribean on Infinity became a modified eastern due to pod problems in 2002, and when we booked an eastern caribbean on Millenium to eperience the ship, it got switched to Infiinity due to the pod problem/canal itinerary switch this April.

All in all, we've enjoyed every one, but we are starting to look at other lines for different ports (Diamond Princess over this Christmas). I imagine cruise lines are, in general, no different where port substitutions are concerned - Celebrity just has the double whammy of the pod problem.
 
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marvholly

Guest
If you really feel that strongly you are well within the no penalty cancellation time. Cancel, write a letter and book with another cruiseline. At least you found out in plenty of time to do that. Think of all the cruisers who had their hearts set on Grand Cayman (frequently cancelled at the last minute, seems especially in the fall and early winter) who are cancelled and also got just another sea day and no refund on port charges. I have been luckey and made Cayman 2/3 times, both in March. Cartegena is another one. Problems there for years, usually cancelled and still on some itineraries.
 
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