RunBikeCruiseDC

So annoying, I was looking yesterday and yes, exact same prices as today.  

On 8/23/2021 at 1:44 PM, craig01020 said:

And we don't know if any passengers had fake CDC vaccination cards...just sayin’.

 

It's not rocket surgery to create a handwritten card. 🤓

We don't know how many were US citizens.  Many in the EU are required to have a vaccination passport which will make it harder to fake.

On 8/20/2021 at 5:51 PM, trex-de said:

Looks like NCL will have the Bahamas to themselves. Just wish they would get more ships going. 

Aren't other cruise lines leaving from the Bahamas?  That would mean that those flying in for a cruise would have to be vaccinated to enter the country.

We really enjoyed Sailing on the Sun.  However, I would probably choose one of the later Breakaway + class (Bliss, Encore) due to the observation area for the views that were built for Alaska cruises.  

5 hours ago, sverigecruiser said:

 

But why shall I spend money on something I won't enjoy? I will not enjoy a cruise if I have to wear a mask so why shall I do it?

 

I love to travel but if I have to wear a mask I prefer to stay at home. I like my home so why is that sad?

 

Your new world is obviously not my new world. I can choose to stay at home and only do short trips over the day, which I did last summer and also this summer. No need for me to spend money on trips I won't enjoy. 

I'm with you on this.  I also don't get paid time off so I want to fully enjoy myself on a vacation.   We're doing shorter trips over the summer.    I'd rather save $$$ for when I can enjoy things fully.  Although I don't like being not able to travel carefree like we used to, I can manage for a bit longer.  Our next international trip and cruise is scheduled for 2022 so hopefully things will be more normal.  2024-2025 will be big years for my husband and I (milestone anniversary and birthdays),  we have some huge events to look forward to those years so this needs to blow over by then. 😉

12 hours ago, RunBikeCruiseDC said:

no option that NCL is worse?  

I was not able to edit my comment.  Let me explain.  I'm not sure when Del Rio took over but I do think NCL seems to be trying to attract the Carnival crowd vs Celebrity.  Not sure if that's Del Rio bringing those ideas or if that's left over from Sheehan.  I don't want BBQ or TexMex when I'm on a cruise, I can get that anywhere on land.  CCL has those options on their ships.  I know Margaritaville and 5 O'Clock somewhere was Sheehan - the drinks were great (Included in the beverage package) but we rarely ate there.  Let's see what they do with Prima.

My husband and I really want to try Celebrity but we need to use up our CruiseNext vouchers so that's out short term plan.  Also love the concept of Virgin (adult only)but the ports are dull.

no option that NCL is worse?  

23 hours ago, mking8288 said:

Am I surprised or shocked about "their" response, not at all.  Other countries, especially those in the Asia Pacific regions and Southeast Asia, take drastic measures upon news and reporting of travelers testing positive, until proven & re-tested otherwise. 

Same here, they take things very seriously in Singapore.  Hence the reason chewing gum/spitting is not allowed (they had a major outbreak of some illness).  Quarantine means quarantine, breaking it means jail time and fines. 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2021/07/14/thousands-of-passengers-aboard-a-singapore-cruise-to-nowhere-forced-to-isolate-after-one-tests-positive-for-covid/?sh=70fba5b140ac

On 7/4/2021 at 7:48 PM, Carolina_Girl said:

It is full time with Norwegian.

Good to know.  I "applied" for a job with a contractor and it was a scam.  They wanted you to pay for the training with no guarantee of a job.  Wish I could remember what the scam company name was but glad to know NCL is hiring their own!

Curious if anybody knows if cruises out of ports other than FL and TX will be 100% vaccinated travelers?    Less of a headache for most of us.  

It's been a long time since I cruised on Princess.   They had the traditional dining times , no speciality restaurants.  NCL was so different from that but I'm sure the other lines are catching up with that.   Princess was a more formal vibe, NCL more casual.  

On 6/13/2021 at 12:28 PM, BermudaBound2014 said:

It was mentioned in this thread that the CDC has a data base of vaccine statue and the info can be obtained from the cdc for the purpose of providing an extra layer of security against fake cdc cards. I thought that made sense and didn’t give it too much thought until i ran over this piece of info today. Apparently the cdc does NOT keep record of vaccination status.

 

 Yes, vaccinations are recorded at the state/local level.   Sounds like the EU is getting an Vaccine Passport app ready(that can't be forged).  My friends in the US that were planning on going to Europe this summer may have a change of plans if the US can't get this together...

On 6/13/2021 at 12:47 PM, Sweetnspicy said:

I would cancel. Not out of worry for becoming ill myself (fully vaccinated) but the company I work for has a very strict time and attendance policy and I would most likely be terminated for being on vacation and if I have to quarantine. It’s just too much time away. My husband works for a government contractor and even they have loosened some restrictions, cruising is still a big fat NO. We tried for a late Alaska cruise. 😢

This.  I'm a contractor that does not get leave.  If  I don't work, I don't get paid.  It's one thing to budget for taking time off but if I have to stay longer than expected, we'd take a financial hit we got stuck at sea or had to quarantine at a port location.  We'd cancel.  Plus we cruise so that we can enjoy the ports.   As things are right now, we would cancel (even that Celebrity ship was only 95% vaxed, not 100%).   We might change our minds after sailing starts back up again but we're in no hurry for now...

Sailed on Bliss, Escape, Breakaway and Getaway.  Escape is our favorite (District Brewhouse, Pinxo tapas bar).  Bliss is our least favorite - while the observation lounge was beautiful, there's less outdoor space (also due to go-carts and laser tag).  Don't care much for BBQ or country music so Q BBQ has no appeal to us.  Bliss, Encore and Joy are low on our priority list - we probably would not choose them unless they had a great ports of call.

That being said, I'd book Breakaway or Getaway before I would a Joy/Bliss/Encore.  

56 minutes ago, craig01020 said:

I am booked on my first Norwegian cruise. I recently submitted the Shareholder Request Form (link below) and received a $100 OBC for being an NCL stockholder!

 

http://www.nclhltdinvestor.com/static-files/43324b8a-1e18-43ab-9664-b05fe3b6d9e5

Good to know!  How far in advance did you request it?  

Agree with some of the others here, not excited about paying for diner food while on vacation.  We'll stick with O'Sheehans and the Local for that.   We occasionally went to Margaritaville at Sea for drinks and nachos.  Really not interested in  BBQ and Mexican on board, either.  We can get that at home.  I guess they are trying to appeal to families and recreating what Carnival is doing?  We'll stick with Le Bistro, Cagneys and Ocean Blue...

So, the other cruise lines are NOT requiring vaccines?  Or they just haven't mentioned it yet?  I thought vaccines are required for all selling (non-US ports).

2 hours ago, coffeebean said:

Those folks who cannot take the vaccine for medical issues will just have to wait until this vaccine mandate is dropped. They will have to find another way to vacation. Sorry, but that is the only way the cruise lines can fulfill the CDC mandates involving vaccines. 
 

Regarding people with autoimmune diseases, the CDC encourages people with autoimmune diseases to get vaccinated. Has there been any correlation or concern with the vacccines and autoimmune diseases? I have not heard any discussion from experts that say there could be a problem in the future. I think your concern is unwarranted. 

I asked our epi this the other week due to the popularity of immunosuppressants being used so often today.  No more side effect that those without autoimmune disease but it's still an unknown how long they would be protected.   I would suspect they would need boosters more often the the average population.  

On 5/3/2021 at 5:37 PM, Middleager said:

I'd only go on cruise that require 100% guests/crews to fully vaccinated.  If that means not cruising out of FL, fine with us.  We have to fly to get to a cruise port, so it doesn't matter that much which ports we fly in and out of.  If DeSantis forces cruises away from FL, it's FL's loss of those cruise related businesses.

exactly how we feel, we're  fine sailing out of other ports. hopefully we will have more options besides FL soon.  We like cruising out of New York but closer to home would be even more ideal. C'mon Baltimore or Norfolk, pick up some NCL ships!

On 4/29/2021 at 2:28 AM, casofilia said:

Here is the list from the NCL website:-

 

• Ship - Suspended Through
• Pride of America - July 31, 2021
• Norwegian Bliss - July 31, 2021
• Norwegian Sky - August 30, 2021
• Norwegian Star - September 23, 2021
• Norwegian Spirit - September 24, 2021
• Norwegian Dawn - September 26, 2021
• Norwegian Sun - October 7, 2021
• Norwegian Escape - October 10, 2021
• Norwegian Breakaway - October 17, 2021
• Norwegian Encore - October 28, 2021
• Norwegian Pearl - November 7, 2021
• Norwegian Jewel - November 13, 2021

yes, our New England/Canada cruise is cancelled. Odd how they mention Alaska cruises due to the Canadian restrictions but not the new england/canadian cruises.

On 4/7/2021 at 8:28 AM, DCGuy64 said:

Agreed, this is good news. To those who say this is "nothing new," I beg to differ. Read the article!

It's clear the CDC is on the ropes now, with the last big holdout, Carnival, threatening to follow the lead of Royal, NCL, MSC, P&O, and Princess, who have all announced (or are already doing) cruises in the Caribbean, Europe, the UK, Singapore and Israel (the list keeps growing). It tells you something that the CDC didn't say "we haven't changed anything," instead they're forced to announce that cruising can resume this summer. What happened to "impending doom"? Guess that didn't go over too well. Spin it however you want to, with cruise lines taking their ships elsewhere, the CDC obviously had no choice but to try and play ball, finally. Good, better late than never!

 

I love how people like to mention Singapore and Israel as if the US can do things the same way.  Israel is requiring vaccination passports for EVERYTHING like concerts and large gatherings.   We tend to think that's an "invasion of privacy".  Singapore has very strict entry requirements, 2 weeks mandator quarantine in a hotel.  And they don't play around there - you break quarantine, you go to jail (maybe they should bring back caning for that offense).  US Citizens think we have the "right" to do what we want without any consequences to public health.   Those Caribbean countries that we will be allowed to cruise from?  My guess is an unvaccinated person would be denied entry.

I can't find the post but I saw somebody mention "Singapore is cruising. Israel is cruising."  Yes, Singapore is cruising (to nowhere).  They also have the virus under control very well and plan on keeping it that way. They are very strict with who they let into the country.  My friend that is a Singapore citizen had to quarantine for 2 weeks (citizens don't have to pay to stay in hotel for quarantine when arriving, non-citizens do).  I don't know about most of you but I don't have the money and vacation time to fly to Singapore, stay 2 weeks in quarantine for a cruise.  And remember, they do not play with people breaking their laws - you will be fined and jailed for breaking quarantine.      I'm sure Israel isn't just letting anybody into the country to go for a cruise either.   These are not poor countries like the Bahamas and DR.  The comparison is apples to oranges.

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/singapore-travel-covid-19/index.html

I'm happy that NCL will be doing this.  However, we have no interest.  If we are going to fly to Jamaica or DR, we're going to stay in a all inclusive resort.  The only option that appeals to us is Greece but we've decided against our planned trip to Prague this year.

My husband and I booked our late September cruise with the intention of cancelling in advance if we were not fully vaccinated by August.  Looks like we will be cruising soon!