Last week, I asked for firsthand accounts from readers of the newsletter who were at sea during Hurricane Frances, and I heard from more than 300 people. Here's a sampling of what I received. (If you are not already registered to receive our weekly cruise newsletter, please click here. It's fast and it's free!)

We were two of the 651 passengers aboard the Holland America Zuiderdam (capacity 2000) for the shortened week cruise between hurricanes Frances and Ivan. We were happy to board, as our south Florida home was without power for 4 days, and no hope was in sight. We had spent a wild week putting up hurricane shutters and bringing in all objects that would sail away in high winds for ourselves and all our neighbors. With temps in the high and humid 80's, we had no power for lights or computer; no Air Conditioning, no phone (cell or land lines) and diminishing water pressure. Curfews and no traffic lights combined with hundreds of trees across the roads and highways made driving difficult, but we made it to the port and were so relieved to have our old comforts back! We had to pick up a few things at the gift shop as we packed in the dark, holding flashlights between our teeth. Both Vacations To Go and Holland America were prompt with updates during the storm and the ever-changing arrival and sailing schedules. We felt the Shipboard credits were fair, and although we only made it to 2 ports in our 5 days, we had a WONDERFUL time (as always). I understand we will receive a discount coupon on a future cruise, and we will take a longer vacation then. We sailed with many passengers who were still on the ship from the week before. When faced with the prospect of going home to no power or water, many passengers took advantage of VERY inexpensive add-on rates to stay on the ship for the additional 5 days! The ship sailed 1800 nautical miles in circles to avoid Hurricane Frances the previous week, giving passengers 2 free days at sea on their 9-day bonus cruise. Holland America did not even bill the $10 per-day tip assessment to their account, so a collection was taken up to tip the waiters and cabin attendants. All-in-all I can't think of any way the difficult situation could have been handled any better by either Holland America or Vacations To Go. Good job all! We will be booking again soon.

Katie and Richard F.
Boca Raton, Florida

We were on the Carnival Fascination out of Miami during Hurricane Frances. We were supposed to be on a 4-night cruise from August 30-Sept 3. Since we are Floridians we had been watching Frances closely prior to embarking. We let our parents, especially mine since they were baby-sitting our children while we cruised, know that they needed to keep tuned to the Weather Channel and that we may be out to sea longer than planned. The cruise was going great, though many on board did not know ahead of time about the fact that we would not be stopping at Key West due to dock repairs. I told them they should take that up with their travel agent, as we were informed (by Vacations To Go) weeks ago. On Wednesday, Sept 1, we received a letter from our ship's captain, Andrea Viacava, telling us the port of Miami was being closed at 8am Friday morning due to the hurricane and we would not return to port until the storm passed and the Coast Guard had inspected it for damage. At the time he thought we would port on Saturday. Then...the storm slowed down. On Thursday we had a meeting with the ship's senior staff about the storm and what Carnival was doing to help its travelers. They informed us they would not be charging us for the extra days at sea, or for the automatically charged tips. Those of us who had already purchased the fountain fun cards were also not charged for the extra days they were used. The staff downloaded airline information and placed it in a notebook in the atrium lobby as well as a large map that was updated daily as to our current location and the location of the hurricane. We were updated at least twice a day as to the track of the storm and when we may be porting. The Senior staff of the Fascination did a wonderful job at keeping us informed and at a safe distance from the storm. Cruise Director Greg Hutson and his staff planned additional activities to keep us occupied. Since the Fascination is a 3-4 day ship they do not have extra activities planned so they really had to dig deep. They all did a great job as did the entire staff of the Fascination. We finally arrived in Miami on Monday, September 6, 2004. Our 4-night cruise became a 7-night cruise full of wonderful memories. I was very impressed with the professionalism and compassion which the staff of the Fascination showed during this trying time on ship. Thank you Vacations To Go for helping make our vacation dreams of cruising come true.

Cindy S.
Bradenton, Florida

Yes, my husband, his son and daughter-in-law and I were all passengers on the ZUIDERDAM during the hurricane and, as you said, were not the least bit concerned for our safety. The Captain kept us apprised of the situation as he had information made available to him. Instead of simply "hanging out" in the area, he led us safely to the Gulf side and we enjoyed calm, lake waters, Champagne was provided, they even did away with the gratuities for the remaining days on board, took us on tours of the Crew area, food storage, various innovative entertainment and maintained order and assurance for all of us. Since the crew worked extra hard with this situation, we, along with MANY of the other passengers went to the Front Desk to tell them we would like to keep paying for the gratuities for as many days as we had to remain afloat. They made a potentially "scary" situation not only tolerable, but enjoyable. Many thanks and praise to Holland America and the crew on the ZUIDERDAM. You may contact me for any further questions you may have and be very proud of Mark Collado (Vacations To Go agent) for taking care of our travel needs each and every time.

Mary Ann M.
Pawleys Island, South Carolina

I was a passenger on the Zuiderdam that left Fort Lauderdale on August 28. May I say that it was a cruise I shall never forget as it was filled with humour, anxiety and enjoyment. Rumblings of Hurricane Frances were starting to spread throughout the ship on Wednesday, the day we were in St. Thomas. On Thursday the captain made his first significant announcement - we would not be going to Nassau because of the storm, we were being re-routed, and all would be safe. Champagne was served at dinner that night - a lovely touch from a gracious captain. The passengers all relaxed - I think- and life aboard ship carried on without fear and with fun and lots of creativity being provided by the entertainment staff. As the trip progressed, we realized that there was more to Frances than we thought and although still strong she would not visit Florida until Sunday. Again the captain made an announcement explaining the situation clearly and calmly. It was wonderful to be in the hands of a cruise company that put safety before revenue. Now people began to get anxious about airline tickets, but HAL lowered the cost of calling ship to shore and many of us were able to call home and get our families to rebook our return tickets. I praise HAL and the captain of the Zuiderdam for their heroic and kind efforts. I honestly never felt fear or uncertainty during the whole Frances episode. I met wonderful people on board ship, and it certainly will remain in my mind as a holiday adventure never to be forgotten. My husband and I can hardly wait to book through Vacations To Go for a winter cruise, and perhaps may be disappointed if there isn't some excitement provided! Thanks to HAL and VTG, a company which I have never before dealt with or heard of before this trip. You will be hearing from me again soon.

Nancy M.
St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada

We were onboard the Royal Caribbean "Enchantment of The Seas" during hurricane Frances and were among the lucky cruisers to take advantage of two extra days at sea! Let me say that we had the vacation of our lives! It was our first cruise, but certainly won't be our last. The ship was beautiful, the crew was wonderful, and we met so many great people. The ship's captain, Captain Pere (sp?), was very professional and gave everyone a sense of safety and well being, during the last day of the cruise, when the seas got rather rough and gave us a good test of our "sea legs". He brought the ship in close enough to shore, so that we could all use our cell phones, in order to call friends and family to let them know of our change of plans. The cruise port in Ft. Lauderdale was a madhouse on Monday, but everything worked out great, and we all made it to the airport, where the airlines did an amazing job of getting folks rerouted, rebooked, and on their way home. What a great adventure to tell folks about when we finally got home! Thanks so much for your help in arranging such a great vacation for us!

Gary & Dorothy S.
Huntsville, AL

We were on the Caribbean Princess last week when our 7-day cruise became a 9-day vacation. Princess was outstanding. We had no plane or hotel reservations but those that did were taken care of. Even before the arrival to Port Everglades was postponed to Monday, Princess offered passengers a free Sunday night stay on the ship. Turned out we all stayed. A++ to Princess. And Thanks to VTG for a great cruise.

Tom R.
Boca Raton, Florida

My husband and I just returned from the Mariner this morning. It was a very frustrating few days last week as we awaited news of our cruise. When we finally got the news that we now had to drive to Miami we could hardly believe it. We had booked many months in advance and it was to celebrate our 35th Anniversary and both our birthdays. This was our first cruise. We decided that we were probably crazy but got in the car and headed to Miami at 3:00 am Tues. morning. After the fourth try we were able to get gas and continue to Miami. By 2:00 pm we were aboard the Mariner. We still questioned our sanity. Thank you for your efforts to keep us informed, both Vacations To Go and Royal Caribbean were wonderful in spite of everything. The young man that called us invited us to go ahead and "vent", it would be ok. Of course we did not as it was not his fault. The Mariner of course is a fantastic ship and the last five days were absolutely incredible. The service aboard was without question the best. Everyone made adjustments quickly to make sure our sailing would be great. What a staff and crew! Not only would I go again with Royal Caribbean but I already booked my next cruise with the 50% off that they offered for next year the same time. Thanks for all you did to make a disaster into the best vacation we ever had.

Luanne M.
Jacksonville, Florida

My family and I were on the Disney Magic with a Western Caribbean itinerary during hurricane Frances. This cruise was booked by Frank Alvarez with VacationsToGo.com and was our 6th cruise as a family. From the first day Disney was up front in the fact that they had decided to make changes in our itinerary by dropping the first stop at Key West and replacing it with a stop at Costa Maya, Mexico. Also with the storm heading straight for Castaway Cay later on that week they made Castaway Cay the first stop instead of the last. (midway in the cruise the Captain indicated the storm had badly pounded Castaway Cay). As the week progressed the cruise was extended to three additional nights with an additional stop at Galveston, Texas on Saturday while the ship picked up supplies and fuel. We were also given the option to get off and see Galveston for a few hours, which was very nice. On Monday we finally made it about 50 miles from Port Canaveral when we learned the Coast Guard would not be opening Port Canaveral back up. We then turned around and headed back to Ft. Lauderdale to spend the last night docked with quite a few other cruise ships including the Disney Wonder which had tied up right behind us sometime during the night. I really have to say that the "Disney Magic" staff and "Captain Tom" did a excellent job at keeping us informed and taking care of everything including transportation and airfare arrangements. It was an excellent 10 day cruise with virtually no bad weather. We have cruised other cruise lines but so far Disney is at the top for service, attention to detail, and very beautiful ships inside and out. We hope to book another cruise soon with Disney & VacationsToGo.com. Thank You.

John L.
Berlin, New Jersey

I was on the MS Zuiderdam and my seven-day cruise turned into a nine-day cruise. That made me sooooo sad (ha ha ha). I had the greatest time. That Captain had to be the top of the line. He kept us informed of all news he received, soon after he received it. He let us know where Frances was in relation to where we were and how he was making sure to keep us safely out of its path. I had so much confidence in the Captain that I was never worried about anything. Of course I had to calm my family (at home) and refer them to the web site but I wished the Captain could speak with them -- that would have put them at ease immediately. The entertainers gave us additional evening variety shows; and the outside entertainment put on additional shows also. It was as though nothing changed. I would not have known there was a storm except for the fact that I was on the ship longer than expected. We missed our last port of call (Bahamas) but I stopped at Half Moon Cay, Tortola, BVI, and St. Thomas, USVI; the three days at sea was a gift as far as I'm concerned and I appreciate all that was done with my safety in mind. I had such a great time that I'm definitely making plans to do this again next year (with or without the hurricane). Keep up the good work.

Kathy P.
Hampton, Virginia

Yes, we were out at sea when Frances hit. Although we knew it was hurricane season, we booked the cruise to celebrate my husband's 60th birthday. We were aboard Holland America's Zuiderdam and they couldn't have taken better care of us. They kept us in sheltered waters and we actually had a 9 day cruise instead of a 7 day cruise! We did not get to stop in the Bahamas, the last time we saw land was on Wed in St. Thomas, which was a lovely sunny day. Then the next 4 days we were out at sea. We disembarked Monday. It was quite an experience and 60th birthday my husband will not soon forget. One point I'd like to make though is that although we couldn't have been stuck in a better place than on a cruise ship, when you don't plan those extra days, it does fray on your nerves a bit, not knowing when you'll see land again! People were a bit edgy, not much, just a bit, because everyday we'd get a new report. However, I don't think I could take anymore ice cream, great food, and sunshine. I know that sounds ridiculous, because we do take much longer cruises, but this is the first time this has happened to us, and again, when you don't plan for it -- it can be unsettling. Just thought I'd share this experience with you, and again, thanks to Holland America.

P.S. I read your newsletters religiously, they're the best!

Linda P.
Bloomingdale, IL

We were on the Mariner of the Seas this past week. It was the best 7-changed-to-9 day cruise ever. We live in Melbourne, FL and would have evacuated to somewhere, or stayed at home with no power or food for 4 days. RCCL bused us back to Port Canaveral and by the time we got home the power and phone service were both on. How is that for timing? The Captain kept us away from any rough seas but close enough that we could use our cell phone to call home. RCCL deserves an "Outstanding".

Bob J.
Melbourne, Florida

My husband and myself and our two sons were on the Mariner of the Seas during the past week. We stayed out two extra days and finally came into port in Miami. Royal Caribbean and especially the Captain and crew of the Mariner did their best to keep us up to date on the situation. It was a stressful time for us all because of the uncertainty of where and when we would port. The captain did updates on the ship TV station with maps when he had new information and he also made announcements during the day. This was greatly appreciated by all aboard. This is a reminder of how important it is to be flexible when you vacation and to appreciate the kindness of those around you. People were borrowing cell phones and computers and trying to be as helpful as possible for their fellow passengers. We were lucky as we had my husband's laptop with us and had purchased the 100 dollar cabin internet option. This afforded us the ability to change our travel plans and communicate with our family in Florida and elsewhere. The Mariner of the Seas set up a phone bank in the conference room so people could call home for 5 minutes free and I know they tried in whatever way they could to keep everyone calm. All in all we were in much better shape than the poor people weathering the hurricane on the ground in Florida. Good job, Mariner of the Seas!!!!!

Susan D.
Alexandria, Virginia

We sailed aboard the Mariner of the Seas during Frances and it was amazing how problems were handled by the Captain and the crew. We were constantly updated on the situation and prevailing conditions. The Captain provided Public Service announcements via the PA system as well as videos which were continuously shown on television. Once it was determined that the ship would not be permitted to return to any Florida port and realizing the problems that that was going to create for his passengers, the Captain provided free internet time and phone calls so that we could contact friends and make necessary arrangements. This was particularly nice for those passengers that needed to change airline reservations. I realize that Royal Caribbean, along with many other lines, suffered a huge financial loss, but it was always apparent that the Line and the Captain's main concern was the comfort and welfare of the passengers. Unfortunately we were unable to return to Port Canaveral, our original embarkation point, and found ourselves in Miami on Tuesday morning. My wife and I were able to disembark before 9:00am and after approximately an hour of waiting, were able to retrieve our luggage and board the provided bus for the ride back to Canaveral. All in all, the experience was very pleasant considering the situation. Kudos to the Captain and his crew for making it so.

Jack & Charlotte R.
Florida

Thanks for the opportunity to share our excellent experience aboard Carnival Fascination during Hurricane Frances. We were scheduled for a Monday-Friday cruise with one stop in Cozumel. We did not actually return to the Port of Miami until the following Monday. This was my third Carnival cruise and my mother's first. We were both incredibly impressed by the professionalism, communication and service of all the staff aboard Fascination during this uncertain time. Everyone remained positive and treated the remainder of the cruise as if it had been planned to continue -- indefinitely, it seemed for a while! Each extra day all services and amenities were continued, and it seemed as if the service level was even stepped up a notch. Even though the employees on the ship were not getting the time off they had expected, they consistently delivered a friendly smile. Carnival Capers, the onboard activities newsletter, announced another day at sea each day, with new activities posted to keep everyone busy. Some of the food ran short (such as bagels) and the menu got a little creative on the last day, but otherwise it was business -- and pleasure -- as usual. The ship did run out of Bud Light (oh! the horror!)! We spent a little more on drinks and shopping on board than we planned, but from our point of view it was all a blessing in disguise. Hats off to Carnival for keeping us safe and for making sure the "Fun Ship" brand was a reality even during uncertain times!

Rachel B.
Atlanta, Georgia

I was aboard Holland-America Zuiderdam to the Bahamas. I would like to commend the Captain and Crew for a superb job in the handling of the cruise. At no time were we ever in danger due to Hurricane Frances. This was my first experience on a cruise ship and loved every minute. I was disappointed about the cancellation of Nassau, Bahamas (being the main reason for booking this trip). Trying to keep in mind our safety first.... Where else would you have wanted to be...sunshine, entertainment, extra days at no cost, 4-star dining, casino, great crew! Made lots of new friends! Now back in NC reaping all the rain from Hurricane Frances…wishing I was back on the ship. Will definitely book on this ship again!!

Brenda
Wilkesboro, North Carolina

My husband and I were on board HAL's Zuiderdam in the Eastern Caribbean when Frances descended on the Bahamas. We made three of our four scheduled ports, but our captain wisely decided to leave Nassau to Frances. This was our 7th cruise and the first with Holland America. We were scheduled for a 7-day cruise that turned into 9 days. There are worse ways to spend a couple of extra days. As one of our fellow cruisers noted, "This beats a storm shelter." I cannot praise the ship staff highly enough. Passengers were kept informed of the situation in a manner that instilled confidence and alleviated fears. Perhaps the most remarkable thing was the extraordinary effort made to keep us entertained. The cruise director, Dane, is the best I've ever seen. The entertainers developed new material to cover the two extra days, and they provided a morning, afternoon and evening schedule that was spontaneous yet professional. The whole experience was reminiscent of summer camp...we bonded. Disembarkation was the smoothest I've ever encountered. HAL has it down to a science. The airport was a nightmare, but people seemed fairly good natured about waiting in line, and I witnessed only one passenger meltdown. Life presents interesting challenges, and the hurricane season is going to come around every year. Would I schedule another Caribbean cruise in August? Sure...it's a great way to get two extra days of pampering at no additional cost.

Sharon B.
Fort Worth, Texas

I and my husband were onboard the Explorer of the Seas last week. Our cruise was extended an additional day due to the hurricane. They did an excellent job of trying to keep passengers well informed as to what was happening. Normally on the ship, they carry CNN World which was not giving very detailed information about the hurricane. They added regular CNN to the television so that we could keep up with what was happening. They allowed free internet use and phone lines so that passengers could get in touch with their families, as well as try to change plane reservations. We felt this was very thoughtful and it was appreciated by those who used the services. As we watched the news about people in Florida staying in shelters, sleeping on the floor, without power, we felt we were very fortunate to be enjoying the luxury of the cruise ship, knowing they were keeping us in safe water all the time. Since we were sailing the Western Caribbean, we were able to keep to our original itinerary, and didn't miss a port. The people of Royal Caribbean deserve much credit for handling the situation in such an efficient manner. My hat is off to them! Even what could have been utter chaos with six ships unloading at the same time, problems were kept to a minimum.

Maureen B.
Gallipolis, Ohio

Robert and I sailed the Golden Princess out of San Juan on Sunday August 29th for a 7-day cruise of the Lesser Antilles, better known as the "Southern Caribbean" cruise. We were concerned that our cruise would be fraught with poor seas and bad weather due to Frances. However, much to our pleasure, Princess had decided to reverse the itinerary of our cruise, so we sailed south for Aruba first, then began the journey to Isla Margarita, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Thomas and returned to San Juan on Sunday, September 5th. The seas were calm, and the weather great! Since we were returning to Texas, we had no problem with our return flight. However, we are grateful that we traveled the Southern Caribbean when we did. Hurricane Ivan has destroyed many of the beautiful places we visited during our cruise. We were grateful for the care that Princess took in providing us with the most enjoyable cruise we have experienced to date. We have extreme confidence in the Princess organization in keeping passengers as safe as possible while extending a comfortable and enjoyable cruise.

Robert and Sally W.
Arlington, Texas

Our group sailed the Eastern Caribbean on the Carnival Triumph, August 28th. On Sunday morning, we were waiting for the Cruise Director, Mark Price, to hold his Ports of Call - Shore Excursions talk but no one showed up. I was one of 6 people to finally go to the Pursers Office and say, "hey, what's going on???" Almost immediately we heard an announcement saying that Mark was with the Captain "evaluating" the hurricane situation. About a half hour later it was announced that we would be heading to the Western Caribbean ports of Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel due to Hurricane Frances. We had a great time in those ports of call. But on Thursday evening, we started to hear about the Port of Miami closing and that we would be unable to dock on schedule. It was chaos when it was announced as masses of people were trying to contact loved ones and to make other arrangements. The only sad part about the trip was the fact that I had to wait in line for 3 1/2 hours to use the internet... then it took me almost $100 in internet time (.75 a minute) to complete all my reservations and contact everyone I needed to over a 48 hour period of time... We finally docked on Monday, the 6th. I'm still getting my land legs today but I had a great time. The cruise lines did what they could to make the best of the situation. We were happy that we were kept informed and kept up to date on the hurricane. It is a shame to think that Hurricane Ivan is on its way to beautiful Jamaica as there we already saw the damage from Hurricane Charley. My hats off to the crew and staff aboard the Carnival Triumph. I will pray for their safe journeys through Hurricane Ivan!

Shary Mc
Anaheim, CA

We were on Carnival Fascination. Carnival was great. I definitely will sail with them again. They made our extension from Friday until Monday a pleasure. We paid for four days and got seven. We were always safe and in the sun. Our captain was a hoot. He said he would "find the sunshine, drop the anchor and go fishing while he had some extra time." Another port would have been fun, but we just stayed at Sea. Overall, I am pleased with the way Carnival handled the situation.

Lana E.
Georgia

Our party was cruising on Carnival's Fascination, departing 8/30 with a return date of 9/3. As the hurricane approached, we were given daily information as to our situation. With information concerning the Port of Miami closing, the Captain announced we would be delayed in our arrival. The staff immediately set up a question and answer session to calm the nerves of the passengers. They made sure our cruise comfort was not interrupted in any way. We were hunkered down south of Cuba on a holding pattern, enjoying smooth seas. The menu did not repeat, and they kept us well fed with no additional charges, including gratuity. As the length continued, we were inconvenienced by the limiting of laundry, and towels became sparse. The only tragedy was, they ran out of Bud Light!!

Wm. H.
Hemlock, Michigan

We were on the Carnival Fascination 4 day cruise on 8/30. Carnival was fantastic. They kept us out at sea an extra 3 days. They even made a return to Cozumel to transport an ill passenger to the hospital. Their service was remarkable. Everyone was in great spirits, and they did not run out of wonderful food or activities or water. They gave everyone 2 days of free phone calls to make new flight and/or hotel arrangements and be in touch with people back home. They kept everyone extremely well informed. We were all very happy to be on the ship instead of in Florida. In addition, Southwest Airlines also went above and beyond. Their management arranged for 10 unscheduled flights out of Ft. Lauderdale to help cruise passengers get home on Monday. I understand that management ran the desks and gates themselves as their regular agents couldn't get to work due to power failures and other storm damage. Unfortunately, our ship came in to Miami too late to make any of those flights, but Southwest got us out first thing Tuesday morning.

Margot U.
Nashua, New Hampshire

Just wanted to let you know that I was on the RCCL Mariner of the Seas and due back to Port Canaveral on Sun. 9/5. Because of the hurricane, we sailed around Cuba and then headed west towards the Gulf and then sailed back towards Miami, hitting very little rough sailing, had permission to sail back to Port Canaveral, then told that the US Coast Guard could not okay our safety. We headed back to Miami where we were given transportation to Miami airport, or Ft. Lauderdale, or to Orlando. If you had not bought transfers, then you were given complimentary transportation to the ports. There was plenty of food. Entertainment and scheduling went right on as if it was the natural order of the day. Gratuities for 8 days were added on to our charges, if we charged, but I felt that everyone should have given 9 days' worth of gratuities, if not more, as the whole crew was so accommodating. We were given complimentary time (10 min.) to use the internet, and 5 min. to use the telephone in communications rooms set aside on all the days of the hurricane threat, to get in touch with family, or travel rearrangements...some had to make changes every day. Some onboard travel agents were very helpful in rescheduling airline flights for the passengers. We docked at Miami early Tues. (around 1 a.m.) and we were able to disembark by 6:45 a.m. It all worked out just fine. We never worried about our safety as Capt. Olsen kept us abreast of all the news, as well as CNN on the TV. As soon as we were within Florida's waters, mostly everyone could use their own cell phones. Now that I know hurricane season can be any time from summer till end of fall, and the way the ships sailed out of harm's way, I won't hesitate to book a cruise during these months in the future.

Lee W
Malden, Massachusetts

My girlfriends and I were on Carnival's Sensation during the hurricane. We ended up with an 8-day cruise for a 5-day price. Carnival handled everything very well, always concerned for the safety of their passengers. They added new activities every day and even offered everyone a 2 minute telephone call for FREE. The cruise was wonderful and the cruise staff were "sensational"!!! Thank You Carnival!

Laurie R, Tierra Verde, Florida
MaryEllen B, Glendale, New York
Geraldine C, Greenpoint, Brooklyn, New York

I was on the Sensation out of Tampa, I sailed on Mon Aug 30th, and was due to arrive back in Tampa on Sat. 9/4. Due to the hurricane, our cruise was extended to Tuesday, when the Port of Tampa re-opened. Carnival did a great job keeping us updated on the ship, and we never felt that we were in danger. The service remained excellent and the staff went out of their way to keep everyone happy. Carnival did not charge anyone for the extra daily gratuities, but I think most of the travelers did tip their waiters, busboys, and stewards for the extra days. Food and beverage was never a problem, but they were trying to conserve water, so we were asked to re-use towels for a day or so. All in all, we were never inconvenienced and a 5-day cruise turned into a fun 8-day cruise. The last 4 days were spent at sea, and we really only had 1 day of rough seas. I think Carnival should be applauded for the service they provided to all during this time. I always enjoy your newsletters, and look forward to future information from you. Keep up the good work.

Kathi
Ft Myers, Florida

My 11 year old daughter and I sailed from Port Canaveral on the Disney Magic on Saturday, 8/28. We had scarcely embarked when the Captain first addressed the issue of hurricane Frances. He reassured his passengers that his #1 priority was passenger safety. Looking ahead (quite prophetically, as it turned out) to the following Friday, he felt our visit to Castaway Cay, Disney's private island in the Bahamas, would most likely be imperiled by Frances. Recognizing how much passengers enjoyed the private island experience, he announced that Castaway Cay would be our first port of call. Key West was dropped from our itinerary to accommodate this routing. After a sunny day on Castaway Cay, we sailed on to our next scheduled port. We visited Grand Cayman and Cozumel as scheduled. Everywhere we visited, we had sunshine and cloudless skies. As Frances strengthened and moved towards Florida, the Captain provided regular, scheduled, weather and navigational updates. On Wednesday, passengers were asked to submit forms with their original plans for ongoing travel; this was to help determine what alternative might be best for most passengers, and would also allow the Disney folks to help passengers re-book post-cruise transportation, when the appropriate time came. The Captain shared with us that he was looking at all alternatives (an extra day at sea, an alternate port for disembarkation, etc.) and reassured passengers of his commitment to their safety. On Thursday, we called at Costa Maya, south of Cancun, on the Mexican mainland. This port was an exotic bonus, added to our original itinerary. As we left port, the Captain announced that our cruise would be extended by two nights, and we would then return to Port Canaveral on Monday, after the hurricane had passed through. The applause that followed, was the only thunderous noise heard on our journey. A brief stop for refueling and reprovisioning was scheduled for Galveston on Saturday morning. While every passenger we saw or spoke to was happy with the Captain's decision, my daughter was distraught at the idea of missing her first day of school. Expecting resistance, I went to Guest Services and nicely but assertively asked whom I could speak to about getting permission to disembark when we stopped in Galveston. Without hesitation, the employee handed me a customs declaration form, and told me that if I would return with our passports and a documented plan for ongoing travel, she would discuss our request with the Purser. Her response seemed quite supportive. Late that evening, I utilized a computer in the Intranet Café to rebook our flights, and to make transfer arrangements for the trip from Galveston to Hobby Airport in Houston. I recognized that I was taking responsibility for the increased expenses (a full fare one-way flight, and port to airport transfers), but for our needs, it was worth it. Friday morning, I returned to Guest Services where my efforts were reviewed and graciously accepted. As the day went on, the Captain announced that he would allow any passenger who wanted to disembark in Galveston to do so. By late afternoon, he had even offered to provide complimentary transfers from the port to either of the airports in Houston! On Saturday morning, the entire ship went through US immigration procedures (very efficiently), and about 600 passengers disembarked. I have never experienced such a smooth disembarkation - and this was a port that Disney doesn't even utilize! All of the passengers were rapidly transported to the Houston airport of their choice. While I can't share information as to how this cruise concluded, I can unequivocally state that our experience in terms of Disney's response to the hurricane was A++!

Karen P.
University Place, Washington

We were indeed afloat during hurricane Frances on the Disney Magic! We boarded in Port Canaveral on Sat 28th to be told during lifeboat drill that the itinerary had been changed due to the predicted path and timing of Hurricane Frances. Key West - the ONE PLACE I really wanted to see - had been dropped and our first port of call was to be Castaway Cay (Disney's own island in the Bahamas) and an alternative port of call on the following Thursday was to be Costa Maya on the Mexican mainland. Grand Cayman and Cozumel were unaffected. That was okay, and the weather on the first part of the cruise was great - calm seas, warm weather etc - but you could see lightening and thunderstorms on all horizons during the evenings. By the Thursday, when we had been to Costa Maya (and an EXCELLENT stop it was!) we were told that Frances was now expected to make landfall in Florida in the area of Port Canaveral and at about the time we should have been docking on Saturday 4th Sept. So 'Captain Tom' told us all that instead we would be going to Galveston, Texas to re-provision and refuel. We were also given the option to disembark there if we wanted and make our own arrangements to change return flights etc. We stayed on and spent the next two days crossing the Gulf of Mexico (didn't realize it is so big!) and finally made port at Fort Lauderdale late on Monday 6th. Disney had rearranged all our flights back to the UK via Delta and the connections could not have been better. You really have to give credit where it's due - as the whole crew managed to keep us all happy and fed and watered for an additional few days - all at NO EXTRA COST! This was our first ever cruise and an experience we'll never forget!

Shane W
Gravesend, UK

We booked our cruise on the Majesty of the Seas, departing on Monday (8/30) and returning the following Friday (9/3). On Wednesday, our captain told us that due to hurricane Frances we had to cut our itinerary short and return to The Port of Miami on Thursday instead of Friday. At first we worried for the following reasons:

1. Our flight wasn't scheduled to leave until Friday.
2. Calls made from the ship were $7.95 per minute (Majesty later waived this fee).
3. If we got off and found a hotel, we ran the risk of being evacuated and not having anywhere to go.
4. Flights were being booked fast, and we had no idea as to what to do.

I will be the first to say that Royal Caribbean did an awesome job in providing excellent customer service and did their best to see that everyone would be taken care of and not left without a few options. Guests of Majesty of the Seas were offered 2 options:

1. You could get off on Thursday, and receive a $300 credit.
2. Get off and go through customs, and get right back on and sail with no additional cost until Monday (9/6).

My husband and I opted for option 2. After returning to the ship, we set out on a course close to Cuba to miss the path of Frances. Everything on the ship from, our meals, entertainment, spa, and more went on as business usual. We know that this was at a huge expense to Royal and we will always appreciate the extra effort and assistance. Also, we were able to switch our flights (Delta) with no additional charge, and we were able to fly out at our original scheduled time. I will forever sing the praises of Royal Caribbean and Delta Airlines because in our hour of need they came through for us, and we will never forget it. What started out as a 4-day honeymoon, ended as a 7-day fun filled week of unforgettable memories.

Ronnie and Anika E.

My husband & I were out on the RCCL Explorer of the Seas when Frances hit. We were supposed to arrive in Miami on Sunday, but were delayed until Monday morning. The cruise line did as much as it could to help us reschedule our flights and answer our questions. Our commendations to the desk personnel of the Explorer for their assistance and patience. It was great getting an extra day at sea and we thank RCCL even though they are taking the loss on this one. Also, kudos to the people of Delta and all the other airlines in helping thousands of people to get home! This was our second time on Royal (my eleventh cruise) and they have become our favorite all around cruise line with Princess coming in a close second. Keep up the good work.

Theresa & David C.
Derby, Connecticut

We were out to sea on the Caribbean Princess during Hurricane Francis. Although our arrival into Port Everglades was delayed, the ship's Captain's kept us well informed of the situation. I commend Princess Cruise lines for not only keeping the safety of their passengers at the forefront but to also the professionalism in which they handled operations from day one. The cruise line was extremely accommodating -- going above and beyond -- turning a bad situation into a wonderful experience for those traveling on an extended cruise. Although food supplies and such were running on short supply towards the end of our voyage, the Chef's/Food and Beverage Depts were extremely creative each and every day. In addition, I believe the cruise line was "top notch" in their decision to not charge passengers any additional fees. For this I would highly recommend and will cruise again with Princess Cruises!

Lori H.
Oneida, New York