embarkation75

For example here is an unhappy review of a RCCL ship just prior to the pandemic...

 https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=677553

Essentially, as I said previously if one believes these items are critical for personal happiness on a cruise, then you should stay away from RCCL, Carnival, and NCL by going with a luxary cruise line requiring 3-4 times the amount of money to book a room.

Everybody is entitled to their opinion as the OP obviously sails on some pricier... more elegant cruise lines internationally that 95%+ on a Carnival ship can't afford. Good for her that she has the wealth to afford them as those type of cruises also have enough in fees collected that also helps them hide/maintain these items better (every cruise ship has the same issues no matter how expensive). With that stated, the pictures of rust on the ship or wood rot in the bathroom are things I've seen for years on cruise ships such as the Magic back in 2014 when the ship was only 3 years into service.  It's all about what you're paying and what is really "essential" for sea worthiness. If one believes these items are critical for personal happiness, then I'd stay away from Carnival, RCCL, and NCL by going with a luxury cruise line. It's like shopping for a t-shirt at Target vs Neiman Marcus as expectations depends on where you shop.

12 hours ago, NoName said:

Does Carnival accept 2 doses of Pfizer as fully vaccinated?  My sister is scheduled to get her booster a few days before sailing....that is okay, right?

Just making sure you are using the same language as the medical world and cruise lines here as your question seems to be referencing two different issues yet the way you word it makes it appear you are possibly asking the same thing. Specifically,  when you say "booster" I assume you mean a third dose of Pfizer and not the 2nd primary vaccine shot as being a booster? If it is the former, then she's good to go but if it's the latter, then you've got problems.

This is a copy from a post I made in a similar thread on the protocols extended through March...

Not surprised as I fully expected my cruise in March to be under the covid protocols. It is basically a lock that these protocols will be around all of 2022 and likely beyond that. It might be hard to hear for folks that keep pushing cruising out father into the future in hopes of avoiding these regulations, but you will have to either accept these rules or you aren't going to be cruising for a long time.

Not surprised as I fully expected my cruise in March to be under the covid protocols. It is basically a lock that these protocols will be around all of 2022 and likely beyond that. It might be hard to hear for folks that keep pushing cruising out father into the future in hopes of avoiding these regulations, but you will have to either accept these rules or you aren't going to be cruising for a long time.

22 hours ago, filltx said:

Anyone else dealing with Carnival splitting up immediate family members with exemptions? Booked a cruise months ago for Nov. 18th out of Galveston for our family of 5(all kids under 12). Our son's exemption was approved 2 days after submitting and we received denials for our two daughters yesterday. Can't believe a company would do business this way. We're seasoned Carnival cruisers, 150 points to be exact, and when I called to talk to someone about it all I got was: "we do not have the ability to contact the department doing exemptions and all exemptions are final."

With that, looking for recommendations on what cruise line to take our business to? We cruise several times a year and have only been on Carnival so looking for opinions on which cruise line everyone feels value their customers the most.

Sorry to hear your vacation is lost as I'm sure it stinks. However, to be fair you rolled the dice with the lottery system and lost as that's not Carnival's fault but just how the system works for unvaccinated. Many wouldn't even attempt a cruise until 100% of their party are vaxxed as you made a choice and choices have consequences. That's the reality right now for not only cruising but a significant portion of the entertainment industry as it's time many leave fantasyland and readjust expectations if they aren't vaxxed.

22 hours ago, BoozinCroozin said:

I think you may not understand that the lottery system is just that. There has always been a chance where some would get an exemption and others not. It wouldn't be fair to the family with 1 unvaxxed to have a chance to get on and then you have 3 chances to get 1 and all are approved.

 

This has nothing to do with splitting a family up and everything to do with knowing the risk and accepting it. You are just upset, like many others, that you lost on the lottery. As for other lines, your daughters are unvaxxed so they wouldn't be able to go anyway. Not sure what you are upset about other than you thinking you deserve more than another person.

Exactly! I don't know how many of the five children under 12 are in that 5-11 age range, but they knew it was unlikely even with an approved vaccine by early November that they'd be able to meet the 2 weeks after 2nd shot requirement by Nov 18th. Hence knowing those facts they opted to play the lottery system and lost. It's not Carnival's fault that they threw caution to the wind by trying to cruise this close to the expected vaccine availability for kids under 12 as they made a choice and choices have consequences.  They need to stop shifting blame at Carnival and look in the mirror instead.

On 10/30/2021 at 7:22 PM, sharon&family said:

We are thinking of booking a cruise in February and will have a 1 year old with us.  Do you think they will still only get to get off the ship on a bubble tour by then?  With all the kids having shots over age 4, wouldn't they end that for the younger ones?

Unfortunately, what you see is what will likely persist into the foreseeable future as bubble shore excursions, advanced health screening/testing, etc.. aren't going away. I was reading an article that interviews a well respected Virilogist about where things stand and are headed with the crux of his comments inferring that we are entering a steady state with the virus persistent in society. There is really no "end" but rather therapeutics and vaccines will continue to slowly decrease folks going through a severe course along with hospitalizations over the next DECADE. In other words, get use to this new reality as it won't be changing very fast.

On 10/6/2021 at 9:22 PM, ledges1 said:

Carnival may be willing to sell a few more Fantasy Class ships!

I have no idea what happens with these 3 Fantasy-class ships but the fact these ships have no return to service in sight...is not a good sign. Carnival dumped San Diego like it was nothing as I'd be pretty nervous in Mobile and Jacksonville given proximity to other ports (e.g., Canaveral and New Orleans).

46 minutes ago, Host Carolyn said:

Next time this nut case video shows up entire thread will go, important content that could be posted with it. 

?????

1 minute ago, jsglow said:

Not really.  From each of Miami, Port Canaveral and Galveston they expect to operate 2 ships each, a long (6-8 day) duration and a short (4-5 day) duration.  Now it IS true that in each city the longer duration ship is starting (or already has started) first.  But each of the 3 'restart ports' will have their short boat operating within about 3-4 weeks from now.

Copy from previous post...

First, I didn't say all, but rather most although yes when looking at scheduled sailings by mid September, the Breeze, Magic, and Sunrise are the exception. However, the 6+ days cruises are dominant as just look at what Carnival has open for booking 6+ days by mid September...

Dream

Glory

Horizon

Mardi Gras

Miracle (flips to shorter cruises by Oct)

Panorama 

Pride

Vista

This leaves the following 2-5 day ships not sailing until the fall/winter...

Conquest

Ecstasy

Elation

Liberty 

Paradise

Radiance

Sensation 

Sunshine

Valor

In contrast this is what is left for 6+ days after September...

Freedom

Legend

Essentially Carnival is doing MOST of the 6+ day cruises first while MOST of the 2-5 day cruises will be toward the last.

2 hours ago, firefly333 said:

Breeze is leaving I read their CD say. It only does 4 or 5 days. So there goes that theory. Lol

 

I'm doing a b2b on breeze. I have a friend leaving Thursday on breeze. I think he said a 5 day.

 

There were tons of solo deals from florida and texas for short cruises coming up. Couldnt resist the prices. 

First, I didn't say all, but rather most although yes when looking at scheduled sailings by mid September, the Breeze, Magic, and Sunrise are the exception. However, the 6+ days cruises are dominant as just look at what Carnival has open for booking 6+ days by mid September...

Dream

Glory

Horizon

Mardi Gras

Miracle (flips to shorter cruises by Oct)

Panorama 

Pride

Vista

This leaves the following 2-5 day ships not sailing until the fall/winter...

Conquest

Ecstasy

Elation

Liberty 

Paradise

Radiance

Sensation 

Sunshine

Valor

In contrast this is what is left for 6+ days after September...

Freedom

Legend

Essentially Carnival is doing MOST of the 6+ day cruises first while MOST of the 2-5 day cruises will be toward the last.

8 minutes ago, ceilidh1 said:

Really? Not arguing with you at all, but I always assumed the shorter cruises were more of the "party" type, attracting mainly adults who want to get drunk. I've never thought about them being family-oriented...good to know!

Yeah, there is that aspect of the 2-5 day cruise crowd as well but the vast majority of families I know that have and/or will cruise in the future have directly mentioned they can't afford the more expensive 6+ day cruises. Sure there are some wealthy families that can afford 6+ day cruises but in my experience of sailing both cruise lengths, the number of kids on the 2-5 day cruises is about 2-4 times higher (varies on time of year) than what I see on the 6+ day cruises.

11 minutes ago, ceilidh1 said:

I think you are forgetting the huge chunk of families that sail on Carnival, though. Most of us parents have been vaccinated, but kids not yet eligible! Who knows how soon this might change, but for now that has to be a big chunk of folks that can't sail!

Majority of families also can’t afford 6+ day cruises as they focus toward the 2-5 day cruises...which Carnival will likely start most dead last this winter in order to provide time for the vaccinations to become available for children under 12.

1 hour ago, pogoism9 said:

 

That's where some of the logic comes from, but at the end of the day, could mean nothing 😞 I'm pretty optimistic about Baltimore and NOLA, but nothing is guaranteed

 

Pride has (in the last 4 or 5 weeks) been to Miami, as well as all 3 of her ports (Freeport, Half Moon, and Princess Cays). Seems like a lot of movement for a ship that's not coming back, but then again, it's all circumstantial

It sure looks like Carnival is restarting most of the 6+ day cruises before digging too far into the 2-5 day market at a later date. Money is one reason but I also suspect they know the shorter cruises is where more families with kids under 12 cruise that are ineligible for vaccination until later this fall/winter. I'm sure Carnival figures it is not worth the pain on families to have to rebook as just wait on most of the 2-5 day cruises until this winter.

19 minutes ago, LHARTWICK said:

Sept 4 and Dec 18 bookings for us - both vaccinated and ready for a booster if needed.  Just let me know which arm! Vaccinated cruises are fine with us.  But I'm curious - how long can vaccinated cruises continue?  Are there enough vaccinated cruisers to sustain the industry for a while?  I sure hope so!  NOT playing devil's advocate - just asking the question.  

More than enough vaccinated to last years. Over half the adult population in the country is now fully vaccinated and the cruise crowd is composed of more of those people than unvaccinated since the younger unvaccinated groups tend not to be financially able to afford cruises. At a minimum the current unvaccinated protocols will be around through a large portion of next year as we've already ruined our chance of exiting the pandemic by the fall with the Delta variant spreading like a wildfire among unvaccinated.

32 minutes ago, pogoism9 said:

Also of note:

 

"for the foreseeable future we're going to continue to operate with highly vaccinated sailings."

 

That's BIG news

Maybe big to some, but nobody should be shocked given the reality we are headed toward another big fall/winter covid surge. Cruiselines have to do what keeps them profitable and that means vaccination dominant cruises.

55 minutes ago, Honolulu Blue said:

 

John Heald said that it would be.

 

 

They're copying Royal and their "maximum pain" for the unvaccinated.  Will bans from certain venues be next?  Who knows??  It wouldn't surprise me.

 

Probably the case as I really question why an unvaccinated individual or those with unvaccinated kids would want to cruise into the foreseeable future as the unvaccinated protocols aren't going away and if anything will only get worse in the coming months.

It has gotten to the point with travel insurance, testing fees, reduced onboard/shore excursions, etc.. that I have no idea why an unvaccinated individual or family with unvaccinated kids would want to cruise right now and likely well into next year. 

Given the surge in covid cases this summer BEFORE we have even gotten to the usual fall/winter peak flu season, it is very likely the current protocols are in place through not only the rest of the year, but most of next year. I see no evidence (willingness of public) that enough of society will get vaccinated and/or take precautions if not vaccinated to prevent another massive covid surge this fall/winter...hence get use to the current protocols for unvaccinated as they're going to be around for awhile.

49 minutes ago, groundloop said:

You said that a lot better than I could have.

 

We're at a concerning point right now as infection rates are rising again thanks to the newest mutation of the Coronavirus making its' way through concentrations of mostly unvaccinated people.  And as someone who both enjoys cruising and is a Carnival shareholder I  just don't see how the cruise industry can stray from the path of vaccinated cruises for the foreseeable future.

Concur 100%

17 hours ago, stellarose said:

I am thinking, and wanting,  the rest of the year to be vaccinated. it would be smart. 

Given the surge in covid cases this summer BEFORE we have even gotten to the usual fall/winter peal flu season, it is very likely the current protocols are in place through not only the rest of the year, but we'll into next year. I see no evidence (willingness of public) that enough of society will get vaccinated and/or take precautions if not vaccinated to prevent another massive covid surge this fall/winter...hence get use to the current protocols as they're going to be around for awhile.

Excellent news!

10 minutes ago, WhaleTailFlCruiser said:

Carnival should just follow suit with Royal and segregate and make the un-vaxed pay more ext.  Pay for the testing if you don't want to volunteer your vaccine status, $160 a test and one at embarkation one mid cruise and one at debarkation. And then those Un-vaxed or unwilling to volunteer their vaccine status have to wear masks everywhere and get a special Sail and Sign card noting their status onboard. Discourage those from wanting to sail until we can get better protocols and get to sailing. 

If I had to wager money on future protocols, this is ultimately where Carnival will be in a couple months. It is going to be a modern day leper colony on these ships with unvaccinated walking around with whatever "mark" while segregated dining, entertainment, shore excursions exist. What a weird time to return to cruising. Suspect various destination ports won't even allow ships to dock unless it's a 100% vaccinated cruise. Glad I'm not cruising until March of 2022 as this restart is looking more and more like a complete $61t show.

1 hour ago, BlerkOne said:

and we are back to cruise lines are required to have labs on the ship to process all the tests. Labs the judge thought were too burdensome.

The cruiselines won't spend a dime more than they have too now on testing...hence any testing prior to embarkation will occur off the ship at the passengers expense with it unlikely additional testing will exist even at debarkation. I see many many potential covid cases onboard covered up now by people doping up on Tylenol and/or Ibuprofen. This just reinforces my vaccination status as I am exposed everytime I go to the store with it likely going to exist at a higher level on the ship now with mixed vaccination status. At least my chance of getting even a moderate case is near zero let alone under 0.1% for hospitalization while unvaccinated have a much higher chance of a severe case and might end up spending a few extra days at home or heaven forbid a one way trip to the hospital.  I like my odds as a vaccinated individual, especially with mixed vaccinated cruising.

1 minute ago, sanmarcosman said:

As late as 1991 we would have friends come aboard Carnival Jubilee in San Pedro to see us off. They would tour the ship, see our cabin and then we'd go to Lido for a burger before the all ashore going ashore announcement was made and they would head for the gangway and go ashore.

Good heavens that is horrible security by Carnival! I get not showing the card getting off the ship, but allowing random people on the ship is disturbing even if that was 30 years ago!