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Another Cruise Ship Flees the Port of San Diego. Due to Violence in Mexico?

Written by T.I. Cruiser on May 11, 2011 · 2 Comments

Just months after it was announced that Carnival Cruise Line was re-positioning the Carnival Spirit from San Diego to Australia for year round operations; another ship has left San Diego. This time the company doing the moving is Holland America another one of the big 5 cruise lines.

Earlier this week Holland America announced the M.S. Oosterdam will stop sailing out of San Diego in favor of Australia. This change will take place starting in April of 2012 and will remain in place for the foreseeable future. The Oosterdam had been sailing seven-day cruises along the Mexican Riviera a market which is diminishing, thanks in large part to the escalation in violence in Mexico.

Cruise ships are an integral part of the San Diego tourism industry and losing yet another ship that holds nearly 2,000 passengers will be especially painful. This all comes after the city of San Diego just opened a new 28 million dollar overflow cruise terminal, which only adds to the pain. With violence in Mexico continuing to be on the upswing I don’t foresee a whole lot of overflow business heading San Diego’s way.

When the Port of San Diego was at its peak back in 2008, 255 ships called there. This year that number is expected to fall to a number just over 100. By 2013 the number of ships calling in San Diego was expected to fall into the mid-70′s, before Holland America made its announcement. Now that the M.S. Oosterdam is leaving for Australia that number is sure to drop unless San Diego is able to lure a replacement ship to its port.

TIC Examines: Holland America Alcohol Policy

Written by T.I. Cruiser on December 17, 2008 · 6 Comments

I do not know if it is by design but Holland America really needs to rewrite their alcohol policy. While it does state what can or cannot be brought onboard the presentation of the policy is among the most cryptic of any cruise line I have come across. If you want to take a second to read what it says, here you go:

Bringing Alcoholic Beverages Onboard

Except for wine and champagne, alcoholic beverages purchased in the vessel’s shops or otherwise brought on the ship cannot be consumed on the ship. Bottles and other containers will be collected for safekeeping and delivered to your stateroom on the last day of the voyage.

A corkage fee of US$15.00 applies to wine and champagne brought to the restaurants or bars for consumption.

Room Service offers reduced-price stateroom beverage packages for in-stateroom consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Maybe I am a bit strange but I like official policies to be explicit and inclusive. Holland America’s Alcohol Policy is neither of those things. After reading the policy I am left with a feeling of wonder that makes ask, “what did they leave out”. My suggestion would be if you have any questions on what you can or cannot do, call someone. In any case, here is my take on HAL’s alcohol policy.

Onboard all HAL ships the drinking age is 21 years old, no matter the ship nor destination. Liquor is not allowed to be brought onboard at either embarkation or in port. Any liquor brought onboard the ship will be taken and stored until the final day of your cruise; this includes any bought in the ships duty-free shops. Wine is allowed but is subject to a 15-dollar corkage fee.

Cruise Lines Eliminate Fuel Surcharges

Written by T.I. Cruiser on December 7, 2008 · Leave a Comment

Cruise ship passengers (like me) who despise the idea of footing the bill to fill the ship’s fuel tank can now breathe easy. With the price of oil barrels falling everyone sensed that it was only a matter of time before the cruise lines yielded to the pressure from consumers and travel agents. This week the moment has finally arrived, the fuel surcharge most cruise lines had been charging has been eliminated.

In fall of 2007 surcharges on fuel started to appear. Over time, the price of oil increased and the cost of the fuel supplement followed suit. When the price of oil fell back to levels that are more acceptable, most (if not all) cruise lines begun adjusting the fuel surcharge. The cruise lines began using an overly complex formula based on the price of West Texas Intermediate Crude on particular dates and the quarter of the year in which you were sailing. If the price of crude were below a certain price, you would be issued a refund in the form of an onboard credit. This formula is no longer relevant because the fuel surcharge has been eliminated.

This week the announcement came that Carnival Corp., Royal Caribbean Cruises and Norwegian Cruise will no longer be passing on the costs of fuel to their passengers. Here is a breakdown on how each of the cruise lines will be handling the elimination and what it means to you.

Carnival Corporation

Which cruises are affected? Carnival, Costa, Cunard, Holland America, Princess and Seabourn

What it means to you:

If you are sailing prior to December 17^th 2008, you will not be issued a refund
If you are within the final payment period on a cruise that departs on or after December 17^th 2008, you will be issued a refund in the form on an onboard credit.
If you are outside of the final payment date the amount of the fuel surcharge will be deducted from your final payment total.
If you have not yet booked, the fuel surcharge no longer exists

Norwegian Cruise Line

Which cruises are affected? NCL America

What it means to you:

If you are sailing prior to January 1^st 2009, you will not be issued a refund
If you are within the final payment period on a cruise that departs on or after January 1^st 2009, you will be issued a refund in the form on an onboard credit.
If you are outside of the final payment date the amount of the fuel surcharge will be deducted from your final payment total.
If you have not yet booked, the fuel surcharge no longer exists

Royal Caribbean Cruises

Which cruises are affected? Azamara, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean

What it means to you:

If you are sailing prior to January 1^st 2009, you will not be issued a refund
If you are within the final payment period on a cruise that departs on or after January 1^st 2009, you will be issued a refund in the form on an onboard credit.
If you are outside of the final payment date the amount of the fuel surcharge will be deducted from your final payment total.
If you have not yet booked, the fuel surcharge no longer exists

While the fuel surcharges have been eliminated that does not mean they will not return. In fact, it is my position that if the price of oil were to climb again the implementation of the fuel surcharge would happen even more rapidly. We have dealt with the fuel supplement for a year and now have gotten a reprieve. In the minds of the cruise lines we are already conditioned to accept a temporary fuel surcharge, making any reinstatement that much easier.