spyro1952

On 10/7/2021 at 5:57 PM, wowzz said:

Seems amazingly risky, just to avoid paying $60 or so for a Day 2 test.

There have been horrendous delays at Heathrow recently,  for an assortment of reasons,  and four hour waits to pass through Border Control have been common.  

If you have a chip passport you can use the automated border control gates.  You scan your passport, get your photo taken,  and you’re done.  Make sure you fill out your PLF stating you’re in transit.

I’ve have no problems with the medallion app and has used it on several cruises prior to the shut down.  I am booked on the Nov 3 cruise from the UK and have completed everything except for the final health check form. 

9 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

This was not unexpected.  CDC tonight just recommended that those who are at high risk not to cruise.

 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2021/08/20/cruises-and-covid-19-cdc-updates-guidance-high-risk-travelers/8218346002/

 

I did open the first link and it doesn't specify that back to backs have to be in the same cabin.  Poor wording.

 

 

There was a death of a 77 y/o woman on the Carnival Vista out of Galveston.  She was vaccinated and by the time the shipped docked in Belize they had to take her off the ship to a hospital in Belize.  Was airlifted back to OK where she was from and died a few days later.  And btw she did not have insurance.

16 hours ago, wowzz said:

Will the TA cruuse go ahead, given the CDC ruling that 14 days has to elapse between cruises in international waters and allowing US passengers on board?  I can see Regal ( and Sky) re-positioning empty. 

I doubt if they will cancel Regal TA but Regal has some 3 & 4 day cruises on return to Ft Lauderdale that could be canceled.  Remember that the CDC CSO is actually voluntary for cruise lines in Fl as the governor won in court.

3 hours ago, RJAM3 said:

drive through is not an option..physician must be prsent.

In what Walgreens, CVS, or any other testing site is a physician present???

9 hours ago, rabin1 said:

Are you aware LA County is going back to mask mandate??

 

But neither of you answered my question which is again if it is for Carnival do you think it will be for Princess?

 

Kathy

As far as I know right now Princess is doing fully vaccinated cruises only. You have to show proof of vaccination.  They won’t be leaving from Port Everglades until mid November.  What will happen for the Caribbean cruise season is anybody’s guess.  Certainly Princess can not afford any negative publicity.

NCL has filed suit against the state for not allowing all pax to show proof of vaccination.  Unfortunately the state was successful in their suit regarding the CSO.  
I will not get on a cruise ship of any brand that doesn’t require proof of vaccination and most Princess customers feel the same way.  

19 minutes ago, Wishing on a star said:

Other cruise lines are sailing with kids and unvaxed passengers.

Right now it seems to be each line doing their own policies and protocols.

This is specifically 'PRINCESS' with their own policy regarding younger and therefore unvaccinated children.

 

At some point, final legal decisions and law will prevail.

There is no law that I am aware of that states a cruise line must allow children on their ships.  In fact Virgin Cruises are adults only cruise line.  People with kids have many other options besides PCL.

1 hour ago, ceilidh1 said:

Maybe Canada and US will move to green list at some point, too...

We are all UK citizens (living in Canada) but not residents - I wonder if that would make a difference as to whether we would need to quarantine on entering UK? Also, my 10 year old is obviously not vaccinated as too young so that throws another curve ball. Sigh. Baby steps.

It is very confusing for everyone.  I am also on the Nov 3 Regal cruise and fully vaccinated.  Final payment is Jul 25.  As of today, the US and UK do not have any agreements in place regard the return of normal travel between the two countries. I am hoping they make changes for fully vaccinated US citizens and UK citizens coming here, especially in light of the 99% of new cases in the US are among the unvaccinated.

12 hours ago, san diego sue said:

We  just got the Elite letter.In it it says "We no longer will offer on board credit for cruises taken".

Next sentence. We appreciate your loyalty---------etc.

For us with over 75 cruises taken we were getting $100 on board credit. To refresh peoples memory it started at 21 st cruise with $25.00 and went up as you cruised more till the max of $100.

This was very significant loss especially when we did B2B

So talk about losing benefits. No longer free internet and losing OBC. Nice Princess.

With 77 cruises and usually cruise solo paying double, that is a significant loss for me.  I don’t really care about the internet or free laundry but taking actual cash sucks big time.

2 minutes ago, srpilo said:

Right now, it looks like only

The Regal

The Sky

The Majestic

Maybe - Diamond & Sapphire  both late 2021

Pete, I am on the fence.  Booked on the Regal TA but thinking of just staying within US and doing Grand or Ruby to Hawaii.  I was booked on the Island northern lights that just got cancelled.  Worried Regal will get cancelled although the ship is already in Southampton.  Maybe easier to just stay local.

16 hours ago, 1965 said:

What reason was given? I wonder if our TA, London to Ft. Lauderdale, will be on the chopping block.

Also problems in Fl with the new law where cruise companies are not allowed to ask for vaccine status of pax.  So if this isn’t resolved I don’t see the Regal going back to FLL but another state or somewhere in the Caribbean for the next cruise.  I am booked on this TA but live in Fl so I am not flying anywhere to get home.  
Situations are crazy and likely to put many cruise lines into bankruptcy 

I am not concerned about testing but would like Princess to be more transparent about what there cruising plans really are.  I have a cruise booked for 10/5 out of Southampton with final payment due 7/7.  UK still has US citizens red listed.  
 

On 3/5/2021 at 6:56 PM, adam7392 said:

 

Totally relevant - 10-20% of people who get the vaccine won't gain immunity from it, 10-20% of people will refuse the vaccine.  Under 18's will not be vaccinated by July.   In addition new strains will arise which may cause minor illness so it will be vital that vaccines can at least reduce transmission of these variant strains even if they still cause some illness.

Where are you getting that data from?

3 hours ago, windsurferfirst said:

Booked the Regal for September 30th UK residents only from Southampton. I am feeling so confident that this sailing is going to happen. Somewhere in the back of my mind I am aware that I may be living in a fools paradise but for now I am keeping the faith that this will happen. I understand from posts on facebook that US cruisers have been canceled off the Southampton sailings so this may also be an indication that they are serious about UK residents only as our vaccination programs is running ahead at full steam.

 

Let's hope we all get on a ship some day soon.

 

Stay safe everyone

Our vaccines in the US are progressing very well.  The average is 2.5 million shots given/day.  I truly believe that Princess acted hastily in making these cruises for UK residents only.

On 3/3/2021 at 4:09 PM, Ken the cruiser said:

We're booked on the Island's Northern Lights itinerary which is a R/T Southampton departing Oct 5th. We made this cut and are hoping for the best, but I guess time will tell. Hopefully by then, vaccines will be widely available throughout Europe and the curve will have flattened considerably.

I am also on the Island cruise October 5th.  I had to cancel 5 cruises last year so I am hoping this one goes.  I am fully vaccinated and don’t understand the restrictions allowing only UK residents.  Also booked on Regal TA on November 3rd.  Fingers crossed 🤞 

19 hours ago, Scotmay said:

To those who have already been vaccinated, are you given some written proof of this vaccination!  I would imagine we will need to prove this in the future, ie., to board a cruise ship!

Yes I was given a card produced by CDC with my name, dates, vaccine type & batch #.  When they fill in the info for my 2nd dose, I’ll laminate it and put it with my passport 

I got my 1st vaccine shot yesterday.  The 2nd is scheduled for 2/20.  I do hope that initially Princess require px and crew to be vaccinated.  If someone does get Covid, everyone’s cruise is essentially ruined.  Why have all that negative publicity when you can just make sure that everyone is vaccinated?
I have 2 cruises booked for Oct ‘ ‘21 both leaving from Southampton.  If they don’t go I will be disappointed but there is little I can do about it.  

Thanks Bob.   I think we may be looking at mid 2021 if we’re lucky for cruising to resume.

4 hours ago, mcrcruiser said:

Wondering how the cruise lines will deal with the elevator's  ?  Perhaps they found a way to have a light or mist that kills any virus  particles  on contact 

 

Reports from MSC pax have stated elevators and stairways are nightmares.  Only 4 people per elevator with waits up to 1 hr.  Stairways are just as bad as only 1 person allowed at a time with crew monitors on each landing.  These cruises were reported as reduced capacity.  Also MDR dinner;  you had to order before you even entered, service was extremely rushed.  No self serve at buffet only 2 pax per table who were traveling together.  This pax reported waiting over 90 mins to get a table for breakfast at buffet.

Doesn’t look like Princess or Carnival cruising will start anytime soon due to judge’s order for 60 day halt from US ports for continued environmental violations.

12 hours ago, Thrak said:

I understand the environmental issues and why many folks are upset about those issues. However, I'm sick of judges who think the word "judge" is the same as the word "god". It amazes me how some judge in Florida or some judge in California can decide what is "right and correct" for the whole dang country.

Since no one else looks after our climate challenges or environmental challenges it’s left up to judges.  Corporate knew about this for years and has continued to pollute the oceans.  Without clean oceans the Florida economy will tank.  I live in Florida very near the beach and know how dire the situation of our seas is.

6 hours ago, chengkp75 said:

I suspect that as of 1 Nov, the CDC will have made new federal regulations (that is what the "request for information" was all about, it is a necessary step in making new or changing regulations) that make the requirements of the no sail order permanent, and since the "Healthy Sail" plan is not a plan, but an advisory board recommendation, and nowhere near what is required as an action/response plan as required by the no sail order, the lines can start recalling crew all they want, but I doubt that cruising will restart in November, or even December.

I agree.  Covid cases will increase during winter months making it impossible to put people  together in confined spaces especially a cruise ship.

CDC extended no sail order for 30 days.  Dr  Redfield requested the ban remain in place until February but was overruled by Trump administration and Florida officials.  
So much for the safety of passengers and crew.  

6 hours ago, jondfk said:

I'm happy to see Princess (more likely CCL Corporation) submit their proposed plans.

 

At this stage they have no choice but to start with what RCL & NCL have already submitted and proposed something additional.   

The problem with being last (to submit) is that you've let someone else define the minimum expectations, there's no point arguing you're going to do less than the competition have already signed up for.

 

Still, nothing will happen until the plan is approved, and that can't happen until there is a 'plan'.

 

I would bet that all the protocols will look the same so anyone would know one cruise lines should be as safe as the other

1 minute ago, Desert Cruisers said:

Based on what's happening with cruises starting up in Europe, the cruise lines looking to sail out of USA ports may require passengers to take ship-sponsored shore excursions in order to get off the ship in port. This requirement would likely make us rethink whether we would cruise.  We aren't interested in having to take a shore excursion in a place like Honolulu in order to get off the ship. We have been there many times and like to do certain things that aren't offered as a ship tour.  

 

How do people feel about having to take ship-sponsored shore excursions?  Would it change your likelihood of taking a cruise?

Limits my shopping 😢