Oasis Class Ships Cannot Dock At San Juan

[Frank47]

From what I have read the port at San Juan Puerto Rico has been damaged since April of 2024, and Oasis Class ships cannot dock there. RC is still allowing customers to book that cruise and excursions when they are aware that they cannot dock there. After customers have paid in full for their cruise RC alerts them they will have to divert to Labadie Haiti... That is totally wrong.  This is not due to a storm or anything like that. I understand the contract. This is different.  They are well aware of the damaged dock.

[Matt]

I believe the reason why Royal is not cancelling outright all the visits is because it's a fluid situation, and cancelling pre-emptively would mean when the dock does get repaired, they wouldn't be able to "undo" the itinerary change.

It's similar to hurricanes. Royal prefers not to make a change until it's absolutely necessary to make he change. 

Just like a hurricane, if Royal thinks there's still a chance they can make it to a pre-assigned port, they'll stay the course until it's clear a change is needed.

[Frank47]

Here are two articles the show that RC is well aware of this issue since April.  

Cruise Ships Skipping Visits To Puerto Rico | Royal Caribbean Blog

Coast Guard announces San Juan Port’s Pier-3 West remains closed to cruise ships until further notice > United States Coast Guard News > Press Releases

[smokeybandit]

34 minutes ago, Frank47 said:

They are well aware of the damaged dock.

But it sounds like they keep getting assurances from PR that the dock will be ready by X, yet X comes and goes and it's still not ready.

[Frank47]

I guess they need to move along with the repair process.   

By the way.  I just made my final payment for our upcoming Utopia of the Seas Cruise Feb 24th.  We are excited...  Have a great day.

[smokeybandit]

  

32 minutes ago, Frank47 said:

 

Coast Guard announces San Juan Port’s Pier-3 West remains closed to cruise ships until further notice > United States Coast Guard News > Press Releases

That's quite a non-update update from the USCG.

"Hey we've been working on it since April. Eventually we'll get around to fixing it"

 

[Frank47]

4 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

  

That's quite a non-update update from the USCG.

"Hey we've been working on it since April. Eventually we'll get around to fixing it"

 

LOL...   Well...  that's crazy.   Seems like they are not that concerned about RC not docking there.  

[twangster]

1 hour ago, smokeybandit said:

  

That's quite a non-update update from the USCG.

"Hey we've been working on it since April. Eventually we'll get around to fixing it"

 

Ports are regulated at the federal level.  The USCG is the branch of the federal government who implements federal oversight of maritime ports.  However the port, the piers and facilities are not owned by the federal government or the USCG.  The San Juan Cruise Port is a local authority who owns and operates the port.  Recall they contracted a 3rd party to operate and expand the San Juan cruise port which led to an increase in the passenger fees last year.  There was some controversy surrounding that with claims of bribery and kickbacks.  The San Juan cruise port has a history of such controversy.  

The dolphin was struck by another cruise line.  With that damage inflicted the USCG closed that pier to cruise ships until the San Juan port authority who owns the facility can implement repairs or produce an engineering assessment that says the dolphin isn't required, or that the remnants of the dolphin sitting on the bottom are not a hazard.  Until the owner of the pier provides an assessment, the USCG will not allow cruise ships to use that pier.

It's not the Coast Guard responsibility to fix the damage.  They're waiting on the port.  

Since San Juan outsourced the operation and management of the cruise port I imagine there may be some finger pointing going on.   Damages and repairs may not be within the scope of that contract.  Or they may be waiting for insurance companies to pay out.  Or they may be waiting for the cruise line that did the damage to pay.  

For whatever reason, no responsible party has provided the required assessment to the USCG so they can review it and begin the next steps.  

The USCG is simply letting everyone know they are waiting for the assessment. 

Perhaps the port has an assessment and they don't like what it says.  Maybe they are trying to find another engineering firm to provide a favorable assessment.  Maybe the pier is beyond repair or the costs are prohibitive.  We don't know, neither does the USCG.

[smokeybandit]

I wasn't blaming the coast guard for the issues. Just pointing out their press release really offered no light at the end of the tunnel.

[twangster]

1 hour ago, smokeybandit said:

I wasn't blaming the coast guard for the issues. Just pointing out their press release really offered no light at the end of the tunnel.

I imagine the port has been deflecting by alluding to the CG being the source of the closure.  That's sort of true, but the ball is in the port's hand to resolve the closure.  I think the CG just wanted to point that out.

[Baked Alaska]

Soooo... Where are the Oasis class ships going to instead of Puerto Rico?

[Southern Dan]

11 minutes ago, Baked Alaska said:

Soooo... Where are the Oasis class ships going to instead of Puerto Rico?

Labadee mostly I believe and unfortunately they are axing St Maarten too and subbing Nassau for the Symphony sailings currently doing the affected itineraries…

[Baked Alaska]

18 minutes ago, Southern Dan said:

Labadee mostly I believe and unfortunately they are axing St Maarten too and subbing Nassau for the Symphony sailings currently doing the affected itineraries…

That's exactly my itinerary! So, no shade on the suites sun deck, no PR, no St. Maarten. Sheesh!

 

[smokeybandit]

2 hours ago, twangster said:

I imagine the port has been deflecting by alluding to the CG being the source of the closure.  That's sort of true, but the ball is in the port's hand to resolve the closure.  I think the CG just wanted to point that out.

If they're putting out a non-news release, they're probably tired of fielding questions about it.

[Southern Dan]

2 hours ago, Baked Alaska said:

That's exactly my itinerary! So, no shade on the suites sun deck, no PR, no St. Maarten. Sheesh!

 

Labadee is a wonderful beach day and Nassau is…well Nassau.  I’d be super bummed with that switch and I feel for all those affected by it.

[PhillyLady]

Going on a cruise in the Caribbean with ports you did not expect is still better than not going on any cruise at all!

[Southern Dan]

True, but still disappointing.

[Starrynight0154]

I just booked my first Celebrity cruise and I’m looking forward to seeing San Juan. Does this affect the Edge class ships too?

[smokeybandit]

28 minutes ago, Starrynight0154 said:

I just booked my first Celebrity cruise and I’m looking forward to seeing San Juan. Does this affect the Edge class ships too?

The issue only affects the large ships

[bluer101]

We are sailing on Icon again in May 2025, do you think it will be affected? We are already doing Labadie and St. Maarten.

[ScottD]

11 hours ago, bluer101 said:

We are sailing on Icon again in May 2025, do you think it will be affected? We are already doing Labadie and St. Maarten.

I don't think anyone can answer that- it's literally a week by week situation. I would HOPE by then, it would be fixed- but who knows

[Missy P.]

So far it seems that only Symphony of the Seas has been affected. Does anyone know if Adventure of the Seas will be affected as well?

[Southern Dan]

5 hours ago, Missy P. said:

So far it seems that only Symphony of the Seas has been affected. Does anyone know if Adventure of the Seas will be affected as well?

It is only affecting Oasis Class ships, Adventure is okay to use different functioning docks in San Juan.

[Rage Shifty]

The captain on Symphony told us last week that the pier is repaired, but that the work repairing the pier caused silt to deposit next to pier and its not deep enough for Oasis ships. Supposedly they're working on removing the silt.

[WAAAYTOOO]

12 hours ago, Rage Shifty said:

The captain on Symphony told us last week that the pier is repaired, but that the work repairing the pier caused silt to deposit next to pier and its not deep enough for Oasis ships. Supposedly they're working on removing the silt.

Hmmm.  That’s interesting.  We were at SJ last week and it didn’t look like the pier repairs were complete to me.  There are still missing “railing” sections between the dolphins…but maybe I wasn’t looking at what I thought I was looking at !  I’m sure almost anyone knows more about maritime dock rigging than me !

[Pooch]

St Maarten?  I apparently missed this bit of news.  What’s going on there?

[smokeybandit]

57 minutes ago, Pooch said:

St Maarten?  I apparently missed this bit of news.  What’s going on there?

Nothing. Just the geography of the replacement itinerary makes it not practical to go to St Maarten.

[Rage Shifty]

2 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Hmmm.  That’s interesting.  We were at SJ last week and it didn’t look like the pier repairs were complete to me.  There are still missing “railing” sections between the dolphins…but maybe I wasn’t looking at what I thought I was looking at !  I’m sure almost anyone knows more about maritime dock rigging than me !

Captain was answering a question during the meet the staff get together. One guest was very irritated that we missed St. Maarten and during his explanation that is what he stated was the problem. Regardless kind of stunk as I don't care for Labadee or Falmouth.