Next 3 Sailings on Empress are Cancelled

Hi Maureen,

I´m sorry to hear that your cruise is affected by the cancellations. We had two cruises booked last year and had to rebook both because of cancellations (a Danube river cruise and the AQ last year).

Carmen

Thanks Carmen.....

Thanks Carmen.....it is a little dissappointing, although we still will get to go. I'm sorry to hear you needed to re-book two trips. That's really something.

Hi Maureen,

Here´s a news article by cruisecritic confirming the cancellations of the next three cruises

http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=2059

Carmen

MAL never mentioned......

This is interesting.......MAL never mentioned the 25% discount toward a future cruise, or the reimbursement of incidental expenses. I actually do have a small incidental expense in cancelling a hotel reservation pre-"cruise". We'll have to see if they include information in our documents for rescheduled cruise. Thanks - Maureen

Looks like Empress mishap was due to human error

See the Juneau Empire......

http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/051707/loc_20070517018.shtml

Maureen,

Here´s the official press release by MAL including the 25% discount and reimbursement for all realated incidental charges

http://www.majesticamericaline.com/cms/Files/Sailings%20Cancelled%205%2016%2007%20(2).pdf

Print it out and ask them again!

Carmen

Has anyone else noticed this? From the Juneau Empire article:

"The crew of the Empress, on their second voyage, were new to the waters of Southeast Alaska, Higgins said."

Are we to understand that two crew members, both unfamiliar with those waters, were on watch together, at night, without someone more experienced in those waters in the pilot house to help guide them during their watch? That would be unthinkable on the river, although the NTSB apparently thinks it is okay in Alaskan waters because both crew members were properly licensed and "that qualifies them". I know they don't have "pilots" up there, but I thought that at least their mates/navigational officers were familiar with the waters they were in.

I hope I am misunderstanding this article or there are errors in it. I loved every minute of our trip on the EMPRESS, and I know from our conversations with the captain that he had extensive experience and that we had experienced navigators with us. I would hate to think that is not always the case.

Lil,

Here´s another article which repeats facts provided in the press conference by the Coast Guard

http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=2063

I remember that the kinyradio website mentioned these facts too and that the CG was investigating how much experience the staff on duty did have. There was an assumption that the staff might not have much experience but they were still investigating.

I haven´t read the article in the Juneau Empire as you need to sign up (and I didn´t want to). But that´s the only publication saying they didn´t have any experience in Alaskan waters.

Carmen