Cruise lines typically make itinerary changes as soon as they know they cannot visit their planned ports. This may be due to unexpected weather conditions, damage to the ship, damage to the cruise port, or some other reason.
Climate-related changes tend to occur late. You may not find out about an itinerary change until you are already on the ship.
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This may anger some people who had planned their trip around a specific destination. That is never a good idea because there are many things beyond the cruise line's control that can force changes to the itinerary.
Sometimes something happens at the port that limits its capacity. When that happens, the port will contact the cruise line and inform them of the reopening plan.
As soon as the cruise line knows that a planned visit cannot occur, it will communicate any changes it makes to its passengers. However, problems arise when the cruise port and the authorities involved do not know when the repairs and associated inspections and approvals will be completed.
That forced the cruise line, Royal Caribbean in this case, to change planned itineraries on a voyage-by-voyage basis. That is what is currently happening in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where Pier 3, the pier that can accommodate large cruise ships, has been damaged.
It currently remains closed and Royal Caribbean has no control over that.
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Why is Pier 3 in San Juan closed?
San Juan has been closed to large cruise ships since an incident in April. The United States Coast Guard (USCG) closed Pier 3 to cruise ships after an incident involving the MSC Meriviglia that damaged a dolphin mooring near the main pier.
A tethered dolphin has nothing to do with the cute aquatic mammal that people like to swim with.
“Mooring dolphins are used to help moor and secure a boat to a dock or other secure structure using a rope. They are also sometimes used to provide pedestrian access to the boat via a bridge structure,” according to Creative Composite Group.
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Royal Caribbean has been forced to cancel two scheduled Symphony of the Seas stops in San Juan, as it explained to passengers in a letter.
“Due to technical issues with the dock and the work that must be performed and receiving clearance from the USCG to accept a ship our size, we will have to adjust our itinerary for our sailing,” the cruise line shared.
Here the latest from the San Juan pier
The problem is that the USCG has been vague about when the pier will reopen. The USCG has taken operational control of the pier until the work is completed and all appropriate studies are conducted.
“Once the satisfactory evaluation studies have been presented to the Coast Guard, personnel from the port prevention facilities of the San Juan Sector will carry out an on-site inspection of Pier 3 West to corroborate the findings of the evaluations and determine if operational control can be lifted. “The Coast Guard has not received the requested studies and operational control remains in force,” Seatrade Cruise News reported.
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The San Juan cruise port has been working to make necessary repairs, but issued a statement without giving many details.
“We value and deeply appreciate the unwavering support of these agencies, whose expertise is vital to safeguarding this essential sector of the economy. We also extend our gratitude to the cruise lines for their continued understanding and cooperation as we work toward a rapid and safe reopening of the cruise line. pier,” he shared.
It is not an encouraging choice of words, suggesting that the opening of the port is not imminent.
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