THE PHOTO ABOVE IS ST. LUCIA AT SUNRISE, ONE OF THE ISLANDS WE WERE TO HAVE VISITED
As we have explained in a previous post, Covid-19 has devastated the cruise industry in many ways. Even now, with the CDC graciously allowing the industry to operate again, the virus rules the waves, so to speak. Nothing we can say better describes the degree to which it impacts both the industry itself and the thousands of people at the ports of call that are dependent on it to make a living than the enormous adjustments that Oceania Cruises has had to make on this cruise alone.
Before we begin, a few introductory comments. First of all, this post is anything but a litany of complaints. Pretty much just the opposite. Cathy and I spent our careers in freight transportation, and have had to deal with constant changes in plans due to factors such as weather, accidents, small mistakes that have enormous unseen consequences, traffic, breakdowns and a myriad of unforeseen events that raise havoc with even the best laid plans.
So our primary reaction to these changes, besides disappointment at missing ports we eagerly anticipated visiting, is compassion for the Oceania employees whose carefully dealt with the thousands of details involved in putting together this cruise, only to see their meticulously crafted plans reduced to ashes due to something utterly beyond their control. And, to make it worse, having to construct new plans on the fly, plans that usually are, by necessity, made months and months in advance.
So, with that introduction, we will describe how our cruise, titled Caribbean Charms, has evolved from visits to ten beautiful Caribbean islands with three Sea Days to … well, you’ll see.
Here is a chart of the original Itinerary and the new itinerary (as of this minute, of course):
DREAM REALITY
Date Location Location
Jan. 14 Miami FL Miami FL
Jan. 15 Cruising Old Bahama Channel Cruising Old Bahama Channel
Jan. 16 Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
Jan. 17 San Juan, Puerto Rico Sea Day
Jan. 18 St. Johns, Antigua Philipsburg, St. Maarten
Jan. 19 Pointe A Pitre, Guadaloupe St. John’s, Antigua
Jan. 20 Bridgetown, Barbados Bridgetown, Barbados
Jan. 21 St. George’s, Grenada Bridgetown, Barbados
Jan. 22 Kingstown, St. Vincent Sea Day
Jan. 23 Basse Terre, St. Kitts Philipsburg, St. Maarten
Jan. 24 Castries, St. Lucia Tortola, British Virgin Islands
Jan. 25 Gustavia, St. Barts Gustavia, St. Barts
Jan. 26 Sea Day Sea Day
Jan. 27 Sea Day Sea Day
Jan. 28 Miami FL Miami FL
From ten different destinations to six; from three days at sea to five.
Cathy and Steve have often mentioned that many people cruise to enjoy shipboard life as much as to visit foreign locales. Our intent, on the other hand, is to use a cruise ship as a comfortable and convenient way to travel to those foreign locales.
Certainly, we understood that the emphasis of a Caribbean cruise is indeed cruising, with the ports of call often being secondary to the experience. There are lots of reasons for that, most particularly the wonderful warm weather in this part of the world. Other than large cities such as San Juan and Santo Domingo, the destinations are small towns. While their history is certainly interesting, and the excursions delightful, these communities are totally tourist-oriented. Beaches and shopping for duty-free stuff and souvenirs are often the primary activities offered.
So, we can hardly say that these abrupt and radical changes in the itinerary are a huge disappointment. We knew what we were going to see, and the four (instead of six as of this date) places we have been to have been wonderful. And the ship staff and shipboard amenities and activities are everything we could have hoped for. “It is what it is,” and we are just happy to be here whatever the circumstances and wherever we are. It’s hard to complain about such a first-world ‘problem.’
Jokingly, we have taken to relabeling this cruise from Oceania’s Caribbean Charms to something else. Some of the larger cruise lines, when a ship is available for a few days between cruises, offer what they call a “Cruise to Nowhere,” where the ship sails from and returns to the same port, never stopping anywhere. Steve suggests that this is what our cruise is largely morphing into.
Cathy, being the Beatles fan that she is, likes “Magical Mystery Tour.” She explains why:
I met a woman on a plane years ago (can’t remember where) who was on one. You can sign up for a Magical Mystery Tour. You are told only what type of clothing (tropical, cold weather, etc.) and for how long, but not what your destination will be. Then you just follow instructions. Every day takes you to some new place and you don’t know from one day to the next where you will be! Sort of like what is happening to us on this cruise!
She also is calling it “The Twilight Zone Cruise.” She explains: Since there are only 602 passengers on board Riviera instead of the 1250 that she can hold, there are many areas that are empty. Especially the nice indoor lounging areas. I think it is because people prefer to be outside because we have to wear masks inside. The Grand Dining Room is practically empty and so the food comes really quickly! Also, staff members keep disappearing. The string quartet has vanished, as well as the “entertainment staff” and one of the “enrichment speakers.” We are not sure about the piano player.
So that’s how the world-wide scourge called COVID has had its impact on something so far from home as a two-week cruise. It follows us all wherever we might be. There’s no escaping it, no matter how hard we try. But for us, it sure could be worse, and we know it.
