NateUpNorth

20 hours ago, not-enough-cruising said:

which part?

 

I can point you to the press releases of the "perfect day" and "beach club" candidates that were announced on 2018-2019.

 

Royal isn't spending extra money on anything right now; they would be completing overdue ship amps before they started developing private island destinations.

From a revenue generation standpoint everything points to the opposite of that.... and I think revenue is the #1 concern at RCL right now.....

2 hours ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Was that one of the8 day sailings?  If so then that's the reason it's closed....CDC not allowing sailings more than 7 days. 

Has RCL been turning 8/9 day itineraries into 7 yet? Have you heard if that is under discussion at all? Otherwise I'd assume they will all be cancelled?

Thanks you for the review! 
Especially appreciate the update on how un-vaxxed minors are impacting the experience. We'll be sailing with 2 later in the year so using your trip as the "worst case scenario" for them.

The confusion around the bracelet is RCL 100% in a nutshell! And the tour situation is not ideal but I'm loving the way you're rolling with the punches, good for you guys!

They're gonna charge what the market will bear regardless.

I'd take "very strong bookings" with a grain of salt. Very strong for what? Covid sales? For a 95% vaxx sailing? For a regular booking season?

It's like when I mock book a sailing and it tells me "345 people are looking at this itinerary right now!!!"
uh-huh

12 minutes ago, nelblu said:

Not if you read Bayley's recent announcement (excerpt posted above) which requires 100% vaccination, which means no children unless vaxxed.

 

 

Please let me know how you make out with this? Hit me with an "@" reply?
I have two under 12 kids for a cruise this November and if (yes, the mighty if) protocols remain the same, and the "non-vaxx terms and conditions" still apply for events/activities etc we'd love to cancel for refund. 
The FCC's hold no interest for us whatsoever.

Give it a few sailings and all these new initiatives will be applied differently on ships across the fleet anyway. Tis the RCL way. Now where did I leave my half punched coffee card............

On 6/9/2021 at 8:01 PM, All-ready2cruise said:

You have be misinformed; not unusual. 

 

Our borders have been closed for many months.  Land borders continue to be closed to non-essential travel until the date you suggest, (it gets changed every time it gets close) however, flights into Canada have other policies required for any non residential passengers. 

 

Coming into Canada, you must possess a reservation for a minimum of 3 days, (until you receive a negative Covid 19 test) at an organized stay of an additional 11 days at a residence or other hotel in the area of your choice as your required quarantine, this must be booked before entry into Canada. The gov't was suggesting a fine  of $5000 for anyone who skipped the quarantine; not sure if that will be made into law. 

 

I don't wanna be contentious, but you'd be shocked at how many non-essntial vehicles are coming across. 

- Nate who can practically see a land border Bridge from his window and knows of several non-essential trips that have occurred.

3 minutes ago, Magicat said:

We are learning all this in preparation of our return.  What a great way of deterring Canadians from travelling.  

Allow me to add then:

The person in question was fully vaxxed, had the docs to show times/dates etc etc etc however CBSA is a "no exceptions" situation right now and therefore (and to much amusement of their family) had to do the Qtip brain tickle in front of the online camera. (Twice in one instance as the nurse indicated she didn't see the Qtip all the way from nose to test!! LOL!!!)

So for any returning Snowbirds with both shots......... there's that.

Mock book it beforehand, especially in a family situation with kids.
Last time we tried NextCruise the cost was about 2k higher than what I had printed before we sailed. 
(It was a KSF eligible cruise and I have no idea how/why they couldn't match, we just politely walked away when the rep said she couldn't see the price we had. It was on my vacation time after all)

12 minutes ago, Goodtime Cruizin said:

Just sold a set of front fenders and grill for a 47 Dodge truck to a guy from Montreal. He works for a trucking cmpany and I guess the driver has clearance to come & go as he oicked them up today in Houston and is headed north making a bunch of stopd aong the way. 

I can 100% confirm that there are situations where people that are completely outside the "non-essential worker" categorization are driving across the land border for visits. 
There are rules around quarantining, (and the person must perform their covid tests online in front of a health nurse whilst doing so), but I am not sufficiently invested to know all the details.

- Nate who lives 3 minutes from a land crossing and, whilst not going to visit said persons while they were here, can confirm it happens.

Perhaps that even provides some hope for those planning a crossing at a land border on their way to port later this year.

On 6/12/2021 at 2:08 PM, Hoopster95 said:

On another note....

I think Canadians are beginning to book all kinds of travel at an exponential rate since the announcement, in anticipation by September the 14 day return quarantine will be lifted amongst other things. I believe travel will be much more expensive in the months ahead (2022) with the high increase in demand imho.

 

I also have KensingtonTours arranging a Costa Rica land vacay for Feb, and my TA there said that with the opening up of things they are being swamped this past month, Americans & Canadians alike.

Anecdotally, yes, you are 100% correct.
We have several friends who were in the "as soon as we can" category to book vacations.
They have all either booked something in the last week or so, or are waiting for vacation time approvals having picked their destinations.
And the prices they're telling me they're paying........... yeah, I'd be thinking twice, but people don't care right now! 
 

On 6/12/2021 at 6:27 PM, Russ Lomas said:

Glad for you.  I get my 2nd dose tomorrow as well (Tracy did yesterday).  Our "little" ones got theirs a couple of weeks ago as well.  We are hoping all 6 of us can be vaccinated and do a summer cruise.

 

To all my other fellow Canadians in this thread.  I am just wondering when you next booked cruise is planned for.  No judgement of your opinions.  I am just wondering who here may feel comfortable enough to cruise this summer and has one planned.

Our L&S is coming up this November. (so not summer, but here's our situation)
It's in complete limbo right now as we have two kids "ineligible for the vaxx" so we're riding the roller coaster of ever changing rules etc as to whether we go or postpone AGAIN.
We've held off booking flights so technically we're half planned? Fortunately we can do the drive, I think it's still in my gps from last time. (if the land border is open)
Final payment date will be coming up soon so I'm really hoping the test cruises/initial cruises really get things ironed out.
Also I believe the CSO ends beginning of November so keeping an eye on that situation - extensions/modifications etc.

So many moving parts that I'm gonna need a vacation after this vacation!! 

19 hours ago, coffeebean said:

I wish that all all un-vaxxed passengers would realize this. Stay off the ships until these protocols are dropped. Take land vacations so the rest of the vaxxed community and the cruise lines do not have jump through hoops of fire, especially those lines that plan to home port from Florida.

I wish that the cruise companies would make it an easier decision for us to do exactly that.
Do we want to cruise with our two "ineligible for vaxx" kids having to mask up etc etc. Absolutely not. The statement from the Carnival head honcho was spot on in this regard.

Are we pot committed financially and unwilling to risk a FCC that won't cover a booking when we can all go without restriction in the future? (however that may come to be). Yep.

If RCL (or any others) came out and offered a full refund because of this situation (or others like it) I think you may see un-vaxxed passengers making the decision you're hoping for. 

18 hours ago, squadron said:

I have two cruises booked but I hope Royal  bans ALL who do not have protection against Covid .  Children can get the "shot" in Canada at this time.  Will keep the schools open and end the in and out of online classes  due to outbreaks at school.  Will decide closer to final payment about cancelling.

"Some" children can get the shot in Canada at this time.

Pulling into a port knowing I have an ocean related excursion planned to visit somewhere I've never been/seen.

27 minutes ago, cpa09 said:

That is correct.  Royal claims that the way they do their accounting does not allow them to move cruise planner purchases from Navigator to Freedom.  All the cruise planner items whIch I purchased on sale will be refunded to me and I will need to repurchase them.  

 

I had two reservations that were linked then when they were transferred to Freedom, they became unlinked.  I had 5:30 traditional dining then when the transfer took place, now I have 8 pm traditional dining.  I had to call and change it to the early traditional dining. The only positive is the new cabins on Freedom is very close in location to the cabins I had booked on Navigator.  

 

So it seems there are still snafus with the IT system.  

Those I.T. snafus are probably code that was written into the programming by the revenue department......

1 hour ago, Blauelini said:

So everyone reading this understands, RCCL own Richard Fain has stated Royal will not be able to meet the 95% threshold. The only Royal Caribbean Group line that will is Celebrity. They will require a vaccine for those eligible but due to large amounts of children and families,  they will not meet it. ................................................... Strict mask wearing,  no self serve buffets and social distancing, limited capacities for onboard events will be in full effect for a long time. They are really screwing every vaxxed person that cruises without children. I encourage you to reach out to RCCL to tell them your thoughts. 

Or put another way have decided that their target market to keep their operation solvent is not "vaxxed only" persons.
Having said that, he did say Celebrity would meet the threshold so I'm not sure you're getting "screwed over" when they have made a choice available. It's perhaps just not the choice you like?

1 hour ago, A&L_Ont said:

Just read an article this morning that Trudeau wants 75% of the population fully vaccinated before the opening of border to the US. At our current roll out speed I’m sticking with my previous prediction. 

Fully??? Jeepers. 
Weren't we hoping for 1 shot by end of summer? Before AZ got shelved? I know there's all the 4 month appointments booked..... do you thing we'll actually hit those dates? I'm of the opinion they may get pushed back again.

What changed in 24 hours? 
You can bet some of it had to do with one thing - Politics.

If you think all guidance, coming from all parties and programs, is based 100% ONLY on science/medical info.......... could I also interest you in purchasing a unicorn horn?

Thank you for sharing this interesting "wrinkle" in the process!! Absolute must know for many.
I hope all works out in the end for you and your family.

I wouldn't even try to figure it out... we did a L&S from 2020 to 2021 and port fees stayed same.... that cruise then "experienced some minor changes for our added enjoyment" which changed every single port of call........ and the port fees stayed the exact same.

3 hours ago, loman said:

I had my first Pfizer shot this week and am scheduled to get the second in August .

I have never taken a flu shot so i was a tad reluctant to get this one. As more information became available i decided this one was probably a necessity .

If the science says we need a booster in 12 months i will get it also .

 

As for Pfizer saying you need one , its like asking a barber if you need a haircut.

As a fellow Ontarian about 45 mins south of you....... my demographic isn't even eligible for the first shot yet.... let alone a 4 month apart second..... I figure maybe 2022ish? 
We can only look over the wall jealously of those talking about a third "booster" at this point. *sigh*

 

That's $140 CAD a day for drinks alone. LOL
I wonder what the individual prices will look like when people are back on board? Yikes.

2 hours ago, Djsmrs said:

There are a tonne of things to do in evenings as a family - 

 

- music in Central Park

- the promenade has an event almost every night I think

- pools are open after dinner - and they're super quiet and my kids love swimming at night when everything is lit up from underneath - it's really fun

- movies are shown on the Aquatheatre screen

- the Aquatheatre show (kids LOVE this one)

- live music in Bolero's almost every night

- Jazz on 4 has music most nights

- on every sailing I've done on Oasis class there is a family friendly comedy night

- the Ice show is about 45 minutes - so it might work out

- family karaoke

 

We've travelled on a multitude of cruises with our boys (now 11 and 13) and we've always found something to do at night with them and they aren't fans of kids club so we really spend all of our time together and have never struggled to find something to do.

 

Have fun!!

Sorry to go a bit off topic, but you just hit every single thing we miss about our cruising.
Completely overwhelmed by the desire to get back on a ship right now! 🙂 

3 hours ago, Traveling Library said:

I asked our TA and she said our late August cruise is "suspended" or "on hold" because RCL is still talking to the Canadian gov't. RCL says it isn't a cancelled but I'm not holding my breath that Canada will change their mind.

I'm glad you're not holding your breath, sincerely.
We have a vaxx supply problem.
We're stretching doses out 4 months in between, not 21 days/28 days/whatever manufactured rec'd - and so the 1st doses MAY (please, not a political or medical comment so don't jump on me) need to be taken again.
Our airports still have the quarantine hotels on speed dial.
Ontario just went with another month long "stay at home" order and today closed the schools again.
We may even be mid-election at that point.

It's not very rosy up here to the point I'm not even sure we'll open the border in time for our Nov outta Florida. *sigh*