TUI to leave Sanford

[JayPR]

They are.From summer 2021 Port Canaveral will be the home port for Marella Discovery







) -- Marella Cruises has revealed that Marella Discovery will spend the summer 2021 season sailing out of Port Canaveral, Florida, offering four brand-new US and Caribbean itineraries.

The season will run from May through October, with highlights including overnight calls to New Orleans, New York and Tampa, plus new ports of call to Charleston, Freeport, Norfolk, Key West, Miami, Nassau and Fort Lauderdale.

The 1,830-passenger ship will reposition to Port Canaveral on a 12-night “Sunshine and Jazz” voyage from Montego Bay, Jamaica, on April 20, calling at Georgetown, Grand Cayman; New Orleans, Louisiana; Tampa, Key West and Miami, Florida.

Marella’s ex-Port Canaveral itineraries in full:

“American Dream” features calls to Charleston, South Carolina; New York and Freeport, Bahamas, with departures on May 2, May 30, June 13, June 27 and July 11.

“Big Apple Adventure” features calls to New York; Norfolk, Virginia and Freeport, Bahamas, with departures on May 16, August 1, August 15, August 29; September 12; September 26 and October.

“Floridian Favourites” features calls to Tampa, Florida; Nassau, Bahamas and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with departures on May 23, July 25, August 8 and August 22.

“Sunshine State and Sands” features calls to Amber Cove, Dominican Republic; Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos; Key West and Miami, Florida, with departures on May 9, June 6, June 20, July 4, July 18, September 5, September 19, October 3 and October 17.
Sailings are available on a seven- or 14-night basis with departures from five UK airports, including Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle and Glasgow.

[Nimbus]

Originally Posted by MariaLynda

Can the flights from Manchester get any worse! it is so bad at the minute. My dates are due out in the next few weeks and i'm dreading it. I always said it was VA as they fly into MCO and I want direct but omg now it really is only VA.

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If we hadn't upgraded to PE (a present from the inlaws) then our flights with Virgin next year would've been cheaper than similar flights with TUI. For me, TUI had already priced themselves out. If they move airports and don't noticeably reduce their prices then I can't see us using them in the future, even though I do like the Dreamliner.

[PPM]

Originally Posted by MariaLynda

Can the flights from Manchester get any worse! it is so bad at the minute. My dates are due out in the next few weeks and i'm dreading it. I always said it was VA as they fly into MCO and I want direct but omg now it really is only VA.

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If your dates are for 2020 or 2021 then TUI will still be going into Sanford.

[Saratoska]

we hire an adapted car needed for our son, TUI have always been brilliant but we wont get the disabled car that far out for the people we use to drop off

never flown into orlando as we never thought we would manage the luggage

this is awful for us :-(

[ManCity]

Originally Posted by thatdavieguy

With the works continuing on the I4, realistically you could spend as much time travelling from Sanford during peak time as you would from Melbourne.

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The current 21 mile section of roadworks (I-4 Ultimate) finishes in 2021, and there'll be 2 extra Express Lanes in each direction, so that problem will disappear before TUI move. The roadworks will then be on the section from Universal to Disney, which will result in chaos for everyone, although they are doing it in shorter 5 mile sections.

VA are now offering lots of (indirect) flights from regional airports (such as Newcastle, Birmingham, Cardiff etc) to MCO, with VS flight numbers, using their tie-up with KLM and Delta, via Amsterdam. When they complete the integration of Flybe into Virgin Connect, those options will increase. Reduces UK journeys to the airport, and (if going to Orlando, rather than the coast), journeys in FL.

[YorkshireT]

independent/travel...-a9185331.html

[bighal]

Originally Posted by MrFish

Can't see this working out, just like BA and Norwegian couldn't make FLL work, which is literally 30 mins from Miami. Coupled with the fact TUI have joke prices (unless you can get a last minute deal being a charter line). People who fly TUI generally pay the premium to fly into Orlando/book package holidays/do not drive therefore I cannot see this working at all.

Just to add I am happy to fly into anywhere within Florida but I cannot see TUI providing decent enough prices.

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BA only flew to FLL to ward off Norwegian and it worked. Norwegian pulled out so BA had no reason to keep flying into FLL.

Most of TUI customers are on package holidays so will still want to go to the Orlando area and Disney and now they will look at alternatives.

This is a case of TUI pulling a Ryanair by calling MLB an Orlando airport, it isn't by any means.

[MFras23]

Although dated we loved sfb. It was easy and quiet and smooth sailing. Like others have said if the price is right it would be considered but I’m not sure that the pros would outweigh the cons for our party on this one. Only time will tell!

[Leggibone]

Originally Posted by novocastrian

this ^^

our dates direct from newcastle was £1000 pp now sold out

we got same date direct from glasgow £600 pp

its nuts but people will use more expensve option for the ease of using local airport

imo £1200 in my pocket for less "ease" is a no brainer... but hey ho

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I think we are in the minority here on the dibb, whilst we book 18 months out and hunt for the right flight combo, I’d say a good proportion of people will say ‘Florida - once in a lifetime mate, gonna cost a bomb’ and will pay just cause that’s what the Website or travel agent says 🤷

I’ve gotta say when I priced tui in the past once you’ve added baggage and the cost of the transfer it’s never been that competitive but for Gatwick as my local I do have many options and unfortunately For them I am part of the research all the options brigade!

[Sitron]

It makes sense that TUI have made this change. Their cruise ships are running out of Cape Canaveral (and increased from 2021) and the transfer time is much better. With Virgin concentrating part of their cruise side via MCO and their new train terminal to Miami I suspect TUI have had favourable terms to the new airport and even given incentives from the other cruise companies competing for business with Miami. Granted the distance is greater but I suspect Melbourne will give them more favourable slots and therefore giving TUI an option of running a winter service? If the price is right and the passenger experience is better than currently offered at Sanford there will still be bookings. It also opens up the Space Coast to more visitors which will be very positve for the area. I watch this with interest I hope it works out well.