And my luck with the weather continues..

Well, I am off my for my yearly cruise at the weekend. Two years ago I was supposed to cruise to Bermuda and get married but as some of you may remember Fabian came along, the biggest hurricane to hit Bermuda in 35 years and instead of cruising to Bermuda from NYC, we turned left out of the port and ended up in Nova Scotia, folled ny Portland and Boston before returning to NYC. As most of my family where aboard expecting to see a wedding we attempted to get wed in Boston, only we found out that we didn't meet the eligability requirements and altough we had a cermony it was not legal. So on our return we quickly changed our planned blessing into a full blown wedding and finally got legally wed 10 days late (Sept 20th).
Last year we set of for San Juan and run head long into the aftermath of Charlie and right into the middle of Francis and Ivan.
This year we thought we would ease our potential of running into anything significant (as we are aware that it is of course hurricane season) and opted to board the ship at Galveston in Texas and concentrate on the very west of the caribbean. Hey presto and soon as the cases come down ready we hear about RITA. On a collision course with the gulf coast of Texas looking likely to hit on Saturday or Sunday just as we will be arriving and trying to board.

I think I must be jinxed! It goes without saying that obviously my thoughts and hopes are with the residents of this area as I will be out of the area within a week or two, but I just seem to draw these hurricanes exactly to where I am going to be.

Paul[:(]

[HighFlyer]

That is bad luck Paul ... Although some Hurricane Chasers would probably love to have it LOL

I myself spent a glorious few days in Barbados locked in my hotel room with no electricity, a ration pack, bottle of water and a smile while waiting for Hurricane Ivan to pass last year ... following on from the previous year in Orlando where I was dodging Hurricane Isabel. This year I have managed to avoid that part of the world.

Fingers crossed it goes ok for you ... And may I suggest a different region for next years hols?

Galveston is now under mandatory evacuation order with Rita already at cat 3 and expecting reach a cat 4 and maybe a slim chance of reaching 5. Looking pretty bad!

Paul

Well things are now changing for me. My cruise ship will not be in port (No surprise there) so it looks like we'll be cancelling this one. I am desperately trying to get BA to change my flight which I am struggling with. Everybody else seems to know that Houston will be in the middle of a heavy duty hurricane on Sat, but BA don't won't to change my flight voluntarily. If they get some info to cancel the flight they will happily move me to another flight.
Why do they want to make things difficult for themselves. I have already ascertained that there is availability on a flight to MCO a day later, and have offered to pay the standard change fee, but no, they won't have it.

Looks like I am going to have to take this down to the wire and try to book things last minute when BA finally come to their senses and then have to move me at no cost.

Paul

[Scrooge]

This sucks,we went through the same thing last year on our honeymoon cruise,again Ivan was to blame,though not being happy with taking one run at us it did turn around and try for a second time...after 7 days out at sea I can say I got a little ship crazy,plus the ship ran out of Jack Daniels which is never a good thing !

Which ship are you on?

AA did a great job for us,by the time we were able to get ahold of them (the captain figured out after two days at sea that if he got close enough to the coast we could use cell phones rather than Sat phones)they had booked us on new flights already..nice to see an airline taking a pro-active role rather than a re-active.

I was booked on Rhapsody of the Seas.
I just hope BA finally see sense and let me rebook.

Paul

[Scrooge]

Originally posted by p17blo
I was booked on Rhapsody of the Seas.
I just hope BA finally see sense and let me rebook.

Paul

you may want to get ahold of RCCL..the Rhapsody will not be getting in before monday...Royal Caribbean will provide up to $100 per person for airline ticket change fees for the airlines. if you sail on shortened cruise will receive compensation based on your sailing date date and modifications to the itinerary. If cancel the cruise you will receive a credit for the amount you paid for the cruise portion of their sailing.

Hope you get this all solved, even if it means delaying and joining the cruise a few days later.

Wonder how Virgin might react in the same situation? Would they be as BA are, who I supposed are waiting for definites before confirming any change possibilities?

However, I do feel that if you're going to head for the southern US and Caribean etc. in hurricane season you have to take your chance? How about the calmer waters of say Torquay

Yes, I know that we take aour chance with the weather, but normally I would just fly out of its way for a day or two and then carry on as normal, only i saw the devestation that Katrina left behind and Rita is already more intense. Bad weather and hurricanes are one thing, and I kind of live with them, but when they are HUGE & life thretening the carriers have a responsibility NOT to drop you off in the middle of it! Galveston is an island (where I was supposed to meet the ship) and it's highest point above sea level is 17ft. The expected surge is already above 20ft so the island will disappear. Houston is also low lying and expected to flood.
I have been keeping an eye on the RCCL website so was already aware of the delay. I have decided that we will just skip the cruise and head straight for MCO for an extended trip (however I manage the flights)

Paul

I think you should consider a trip to France then:D

After trying and trying (and trying and trying) to change my flight to no avail with BA, i got a text message on my mobile around 3pm today. "Your flight BA2027 from LGW has been cancelled. Please contact BA for further details". So I call them again, 3 and a half hours later someone actually does confirm I can change my flight and at last it has been done. (Still cost me £25 a person!!!)
Also around 3pm today I took a call from RCCL to tell me the cruise has been cancelled and I have been given a full refund plus 25% off my next cruise.
See the difference? I haven't flown BA intercontinetal for a few years but if this is anything to go by it'll be VS all the way for me (to be fair it is generally anyway. Only went BA this time as VS don't fly to IAH)
I have spent all afternoon cancelling hotels, car hire, flights and rebooking.
I will post a TR once back. Wonder if I will have a new softer bed?

Paul

Originally posted by p17blo
...I can change my flight and at last it has been done. (Still cost me £25 a person!!!)

What justification can they have for charging you a fee when it is they that have cancelled the flight - albeit for reasons beyond their control?

The mind boggles[:(]

Phil (Buffy)

It is actually clearly stated on their website. You have 3 options for a canx BA flight.
Re book at a later time, same route
Have a full refund
Re book to a different route and pay any difference in the fare (or receive a refund if cheaper).

I can't really knock them for this as this is their 'policy'

Paul

Paul after all you've been through I'd just like to let you know that the weather for the last couple of days has been quite wet but the the forecast for the weekend is back to clear skies and 90F plus.

So enjoy:D

Jilly

Thanks for the update Jilly, at the moment I am just looking forward to being anywhere where the winds are below 35mph and I can RELAX! I need a holiday.

Paul

Originally posted by p17blo
It is actually clearly stated on their website. You have 3 options for a canx BA flight.
Re book at a later time, same route
Have a full refund
Re book to a different route and pay any difference in the fare (or receive a refund if cheaper).

Yep that sounds more than fair.

So I'm assuming the £25 was a difference in fare, not a fee.

Best of luck with the revised plans.

Phil (Buffy)

[preiffer]

Well, Katrina continues to be downgraded - the winds are now set for 125mph, making it a Category 3 (from the 5 that was predicted earlier).

CNN have a developing story page, and I also found this page on weather.com to be quite interesting - the naming convention of tropical storms.