Arizona Wildcat

19 minutes ago, peanut head said:

I am planning a cruise (1st time) on Royal instead of my usual Celebrity cruises.  Would the points that I would get from RCC transfer to my Captain's Club number on Celebrity?  I already registered in Crown & Anchor (Celebrity Elite and RCC Diamond).

No.   

2 hours ago, HaveWeMetYet said:

I am fine with Canada closing ports to cruise ships.

When the announcement was made it was already a done deal none were coming anyway.

You can go on the cruise web sites and book all sorts of cruises that are never going to happen.

You can go to various web sites and start but not complete a booking for dozens of cruises.  Celebrity and others have as one poster said "hoped for a miracle".

All cruiselines still need an approved CDC plan to sail from a US port, as well as, ports that are open.  Fouremco stated long ago that will likely not resume for some months but cruiselines have always and continue to hope to resume sooner.  Many here agree.  Is it possible to cruise with a viable COVID plan?  Most ports are closed and will probably open to other tourism before cruises.  Cruises demonstrated in March the problematic nature of COVID until there is a vaccine.

9 minutes ago, WrittenOnYourHeart said:

 

Are those diseases as prone to mutations as this one is though? Much easier to get near 100% reliability if the virus is relatively stable I would think. So far this one doesn't seem to be all that stable.

Would you share where you learned there is significant mutation of COVID? While small mutations in the RNA occur often;  the virus is mostly the same as when this mess began.  Sandi and others feel confident of an effective vaccine.

If COVID does begin to become like influenza the World is in for a very difficult future and cruising would likely mostly disappear.  I will not cruise if required to wear a mask - I have no underlying conditions.  My DW will not cruise without a vaccine with her asthma.

18 minutes ago, Fouremco said:

You might want to do a little bit of research before making such erroneous comments. The cruise lines were still sailing when Canada placed the ban on cruise ships on March 13, the same date that restrictions were placed on international air travel and Canadians were advised to not travel abroad. All of the measures, including the closure of the ports, were specifically introduced to protect the health of Canadians.

 

Last week the ban was extended as there has not been any significant reduction in the threat posed by COVID-19. While you claim that the cruise lines were never going to sail anyway, the Canadian government will continue to govern who enters our country, not leave it to the cruise lines to decide. You might also want to note that as soon as the extension was announced, Celebrity removed a number of Alaskan and New England - Canada itineraries from its website.

Correct.  Canada has taken COVID very seriously.  Canada has even restricted travel to PEI, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador for example.  Until the risks of COVID are reduced why would Canada open itself to infection?

Seems that letting the stay at home order here in Arizona has resulted in increasing caseload and ICU bed occupancy rising from about 55% to the 80% area according to the Arizona Department of Health website.  

Tourism is important to Canada.  Tourism is more important to say Victoria BC.  Lives are more important.

Guessing we will not be allowed into BC this summer.  Not happy, but understand.

12 minutes ago, canderson said:

I'm looking out at cabin availability for our 31 October 20 cruise.  This assumes that it sails at all.

There are only 10 Sky Suites left to rent, and prices have gone up.

 

Lots of cabins on cruises in 2020 have simply been removed from inventory.  Several cruises that have not been cancelled cannot be booked.  All cruiselines are hoping for a miracle.  Until there is a vaccine how many ports will remain closed to cruise ships.

We had 2 cruises cancelled by Celebrity.  Move other cruises to mid 2021. The situation is unprecedented and there is little Celebrity can do.  If they cancelled the remainder of the 2020 cruises that cannot happen then refunds would move to several months to process.  Sad but true.

And yes, things are little different elsewhere.

Travel insurance policies almost all exclude travel to areas with travel advisories.  They also exclude known risks like Covid.

Excellent article.  The problem for cruising is if you cannot eliminate COVID, then what happens next?  A repeat of last spring with sailing about the World looking for a port that would accept passengers is not acceptable.  The CDC requirement of private transport is cost prohibitive if COVID breaks out.

The Arizona Department of Health noted yesterday COVID cases continue to rise since stay at home ended.  The concerning number was ICU beds were at 60% occupancy last week.  Up to 80% now.  Hot and dry and COVID is not disappearing.

Next cruise for me now summer of 2021.

Looking at reduced passenger count when cruising begins, the question would be which cabins are the most profitable.  Since inside to Aqua are pretty much the same one needs to ask the cost to Celebrity of the Aqua and Concierge amenities vs Veranda?

1 minute ago, wrk2cruise said:

I've been trying to understand what will be available for travel medical insurance.   I've recently been using GeoBlue Trekker annual plan.  They will no longer cover medical payments for covid-19 treatments from what I read.  I don't know if that will change when the CDC lowers travel advisory.   I've heard most companies are no longer selling cancel for any reason policies etc.   I have been asking questions on the travel insurance board but I'm wondering what my fellow Celebrity cruisers are thinking.   Or have you not been thinking about this?

Travel insurance policies generally have specific exclusions.  The two that appear most often are acts of war and areas with travel health advisories such as COVID.  Cannot see that changing.

Agree with you that until COVID vaccine available it will be excluded from coverage.

Instead of speculation how about what is needed for cruises to resume?

Obviously a plan approved by the CDC for cruises using US ports.

There need to be open ports. Definately open and receptive of cruise ships?

Norwegian seemed to ignore the CDC requirement in its plan to resume.  Many others have apparently determined the no sail order will simply go away on July 24th.

As to ports, many are closed through November/December 2020.  Others mentioned a vaccine.  Still others closed as long as till 2022.

Several statements about resuming with reduced passenger count.  Lots of good plans to improve onboard issues.  

A requirement for a fit to sail midst a declared pandemic for passengers over 70 appears to have gone away.  It was put forth very early and would many doctors sign it?

The complete wildcards are - 

#1 will people return with a mask requirement?

#2 will people return without a vaccine?

4 hours ago, hobgoblin said:

Hello

Has anyone been on this trip that will be sailing on the solstice ship?

Would be happy for any information re flights and carriers from UK ,value for money of excursions,and details of hotels in India .

This is for the  cruise going in November 2021 .

Thanks !

Suggest looking at the ports for details there.  Since airlines are flying with limited schedules and do not book more than about 300+/- days ahead think taking a look this year in November might be helpful.  Probably book in 2021

1 minute ago, poffles said:

 

LOL ... yes definitely.  They are what we refer to as snowbirds and many (at least from Eastern Canada) go there for the 'at most' 6 months we are allowed to be in the US (think it's related to taxes and such).  A true Caribbean warm Canadian province would be better as I would love to live there year round and would have moved there many years ago!

Arizona in general and specifically Yuma becomes crowded.  More BC and Alberta plates than Arizona.  One of the large RV resorts has about 2/3 Canadian owners.

1 hour ago, pumpkin 11 said:

Why stop at April 11th? Everyone knows Covid deaths are being reported at a far higher number than there are actual Covid deaths. Dr. Burkes said it was about 25% over representation and that's what they're telling us. Probably closer to 40% or 50%. 

 

Italy said 99% of the people who died had other comorbidities. The virus is real, the statistics and the models never we're.

Underlying conditions are certainly present in most - at least 90% - of people dying after being infected with COVID.  You can make statistics say almost anything.  It sure seems that COVID is both different - not going away with hot weather - and deadly.

Very elderly friends got sick and tested.  Tests came back positive.  They stayed home and both passed.  Death certificate stated heart failure.

5 hours ago, TeeRick said:

I guess not a real surprise it was extended but Oct 31 seems like a bit far out to make this decision now.

With the BC Minister of Health talking about delaying International tourism until winter not surprising.