TooManyWakeUpsTilWeSail

Your first need is what to do with your luggage.  Maybe check with the hotel you spend the night before the cruise to see if they will hold post-cruise.  If not, I would find a Carnival post-cruise excursion that includes airport transfer.

43 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

I lived not loved ...lived there 10 years. Been to all the islands. 

 

...though I never one time saw hilo when it wasnt pouring rain. Rainy side.

10 years is amazing.  I’m sure so much has changed since we were there.  Did not have rain in our brief stop in Hilo.  Rainbow Falls and what we saw of the East Coast was forgettable.  North side cliffs, South/Central volcano & black sand beach mentioned bykwokpot all great.  Also loved Captain Cook and activities in Kona.

5 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

Here's a photo from my Sept. 26, 2019 Carnival Legends Hawaii cruise Hilo port stop. Blacksand beach with Giant turtles. It was so amazing!

 

Punalu‘u Beach?  Loved it from our 1999 honeymoon.  We drove around the island for about 12 hours.  Find a way to view Waipio Valley on the north side if you haven’t already.  Only place in my life I almost simultaneously fainted and cried at the same time.

https://images.app.goo.gl/Tjzig6GL9yvotCM86

I personally love alligator.  Tried it a few times from Papadeaux in Houston.  All other reptilian stuff (frog, snake) is not my favorites.  I’d definitely try on Carnival.

1 hour ago, BrotherCraig said:

 

Didn't give my insurance.  I made the appointment and went - along with my wife and father-in-law.  It was for a trip to Honduras.  Zero symptoms.  

 

 

Glad RAPID testing is free and available to all.

 Not being skeptical, just was quoting rack rates link as a comparison to what Carnival is quoting for the unvaccinated.  
 

I’ll  admit error when wrong; I just know based on my 2x testing & waiting thru insurance experience  & the link I provided that my personal experience was different.

48 minutes ago, BrotherCraig said:

 

We have done CVS rapid tests for our recent Honduras trip twice in two days -- didn't cost us a dime.  It was $0 cost.

That would be thru insurance which usually requires symptoms to cover testing  (mine does as I’ve been tested post-covid/pre-vaccine. Sigh-for allergies).  
 

The price I am comparing is w/o insurance since I have no idea if Carnival’s rack rate would be covered as such.  Maybe flex spending if they’ve updated the laws?  
 

I was just saying that $150 is not an unreasonable rate for rapid and where insurance does not cover (non-symptoms or travel).

12 minutes ago, Indytraveler83 said:

My better half would be disappointed if we totally reroute east and don't stop in Cozumel, but we will roll with it no matter what

One thing that comes to mind on these 6 day Horizon cruises that get limited to Bahamas and (maybe) Dominican Republic…what will the alternative ports be when hurricane season ramps up?  It’s a much smaller geographic area than a normal 6 day Caribbean cruise.

31 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

I'm booked sept 11 and had my travel agent ask for a extension as I wanted to wait for protocols. He said he was told no. Answers here said they got it. So even carnival is inconsistent. 

 

Call back if you dont like first answer. 

Responding since my cruise date (9/12) is almost the same as yours.  Texted my TA to ask for an extension nearing my 6/14 due.  She responded “I was able to extend your due date to 7/14 with no further grace periods.”

Just like you, I wanted to see Carnival sail again before I fully committed.  Funny thing is-she later asked me to pay earlier than that because she realized that my extended due date conflicted with one of her monthly vacations (sigh).

1 hour ago, Aplmac said:

Yes, very nice so far..

but I'm still aways off from committing a bunch of $$$$.

 

I need to give it another month or two of Relative Stability.

Don't rush it!

I’ll trade you my easier access to paradise 7 days at a time for your 24/7 access.

@BlerkOne

we really need a selfie of you with your mask up.  

14 minutes ago, mollygirl said:

Well I hope you’re right.  I will be in a Havana cabin in Aug on the Horizon and will find out then.  I was going on some of the YouTube videos that mentioned it opening at 7.

Yeah.  I booked a Havana interior for Oct-2020 & rebooked to Sep-2021 when the first was canceled.  Even before the recent rate hikes, the cost of a Havana interior was about the same as a standard balcony.  I would not have splurged without the exclusivity.  I prefer smaller ships anyway but everyone raves about the Havana area.

33 minutes ago, mollygirl said:

It is open at 7 to all guests.

You are wrong unless the just changed it back again.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/cruiseradio.net/why-carnival-is-changing-havana-rules-on-vista-class-ships/amp/

I’m on this route (Jamaica, GC and Coz) for mid-September.  What I do is check/refresh daily a mock booking for the same date.  So far no changes.  In my opinion, Carnival not notifying in advance at least the GC cancellation (no cruise ships for 2021) is bad business & will result in less excursion purchases.

3 hours ago, Saint Greg said:

 

That's crazy. I've had three of them in Mexico the past three months. My costs were $0, $35, $17.55.

Your probably not going to get a domestic rapid test under $100.  Here is the CVS link which is $139

Self-pay is not available for rapid-result testing at this time. No screening required. The cost is $139, which includes $100 for the independent laboratory that processes your test and $39 for your MinuteClinic 

https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing

Why do people hero worship politicians in general?  Heck I don’t hero worship the oft maligned (here)  Dr Fauci who is going against his normal stance by saying a vaccine booster is not the most pressing concern.

I remember someone posting about the before/after rapid test requirement in a prior post; don’t remember if cost was mentioned.  
 

The cost charged should reflect actual cost to Carnival or normal cost charged by agency.  Just a quick Google search makes it appear that $150 is reasonable for a rapid test.

6 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

At least 2 out of 3 of my ports require masks in public and idk about the 3rd. Not thrilled with masks at mahogany bay to shop around the port area. Very few shop keepers, and if I dont have covid there is no sense me wearing one.

Remember that a lot of these ports are “developing countries” where covid vaccination rates and availability are much lower.  I definitely will get off the ship where allowed & buy the usual junk we don’t need.  Would wear a mask if required.

3 minutes ago, TNcruising02 said:

  It's was just hypocritical of the CDC to allow high risk travel while shutting down an industry that could have required testing before boarding.

This has been said a million times already-the CDC has no jurisdiction over any of the various forms of travel you mentioned except international flights.  You seem the type who prefers LESS regulation but only propose a solution of all (in the name of fairness) or none.  The cruise lines are on life support no matter how/when cruising resumed.  

Add to the above that most other forms of travel can be either for business or pleasure.  Cruising is strictly for pleasure.  Yes it is a form of livelihood for a large service industry.  So option (a) in fairness, shut down all close-contact forms of travel & see where the economy goes, (b) open everything post-haste and let the chips fall where they may or (c) proceed some things slowly after vaccinations are readily available.  Some form of option (c) sounds reasonable to most cruisers.

54 minutes ago, Clemson Cruiser said:

Dang HMC is gorgeous.  Looks every bit the giant swimming pool I remember Barbados to be.  Hope they keep that route for the 6-day Horizon route.

Since you are still aways off from your travel date, I would start by taking to who you booked thru (TA, Carnival PVP, or other).  They should be able to determine if there is any fee for canceling or rescheduling your kid’s room.  

I did exactly as you did last year and MOVED an existing booking to a future date BEFORE Carnival pulled successive plugs; no regrets on the lost OBC.  But also no additional fees involved at that time.  Carnival is generally flexible right now in terms or rescheduling.  True cancellation puts you on a time limit to get your $$ back.  Good luck.

https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3401/~/i-need-to-cancel-my-booking%2C-is-there-a-penalty%3F

28 minutes ago, alexmom said:

I am 110% behind you !!  I have the unusual situation where I married a man 15 years younger than me, so HIS parents are only 6-7 years older than me.  They are worse than tech illiterate, they are tech PHOBIC.  I don't know how they survive day to day, I just know that they frustrate me because they are not teachable. And all they do is complain if they are forced by us to deal with FaceTime, or texting, or digital photos, or even opening an E-card !  I was born in 1953, when dinosaurs ruled the Earth, but if I ever get as inflexible and obstreperous as they are, I hope my husband gives me a swift kick in the butt to get me back into the present, because it's not 1960 anymore.  And aging gracefully should still be FUN and EXCITING, and in my case occasionally result in unusual hair colors.  Just saying.

Warm regards,

Kristine (NOT a cougar)

Thanks for all you confirmed; that is my life.  My mother-in-law LIVES with us so just another hurdle to our FUN.  
 

I personally welcome Carnival changing much to app based (as long as app actually works….).  

Keep posting naturally as you do.  It’s a refreshing change from political/canned/vindictive responses we see too much here.  Have a great time on your next cruise!

Mine for 9/12 says check back 7/29.  I’m patient as heck but all these CC notifications are driving me nuts.  
 

I need a vacation before my vacation now.

51 minutes ago, richstowe said:

What's a flip phone ? Never mind , I just saw a Consumer Cellular ad . 😁

Frankly this was never a great idea . Noro virus anyone ?

Man I was the last of my family to get a cell phone (and that was circa 2008).  Would only agree if we gave up the landline in return.  
 

Never looked back & I am getting grayer by the day.  You basically HAVE to have some form of cell (hopefully smart) phone at this point to communicate (text, pics, directions).  Hopefully if you can afford a cruise, you can afford a cell phone (even a Tracfone).

Just a point of reference on the directions.  I was in a local pharmacy the other day.  An elderly couple could not find a local attraction & I was telling the gentleman turn-by-turn instructions (all of 2 turns but about 4 miles). I did ask if they had a smartphone & the answer was “no”.  I almost had them follow me there but was on lunch from work. I worried about their safety at that point but saw they made the first turn safely.  
 

To me, Google Maps alone are worth the cost of cell phone + amortized purchase service.

1 hour ago, Clemson Cruiser said:

They are wearing buttons with their picture, so you can see their face.

That’s a great idea.  I have a hard enough time recognizing folks. I always remembered by room steward and greeted them in passing as they always greeted us by name.  Would be so much harder with a mask.

Some brutal comments above.  I’m sure as long as the card LOOKS legit (maybe shot type & lot #), they won’t deny boarding.  
 

I got my shot in the same location both times.  Of course that location is now shut down but since I work for the same county that administered the vaccine and know how to Google phone numbers, I feel I’ve got enough info to provide to board.  If not, I also have my Red Cross blood donor card and they can verify I’ve been a faithful donor.