jacksonx

1 minute ago, BirdTravels said:

The ship will begin Haven boarding around 11:00. Priority boarding around 11:15. General boarding around 11:30. 
 

If you show up at 9:00, you’ll be through security and checkin around 10ish and hang in the waiting area until 11:30. 
 

Just like an airplane. “show up 2 hours early”. Boarding starts 30 mins before flight. 

Thanks.

If we show up at, say, 10-1030, would there be an issue?

We are sailing the NCL Breakaway this Sunday. When I did check-in, I chose a terminal time of 9 AM. Now that I'm checking my e-docs, they say that boarding time isn't until noon.

Why would they have us come at 9 if only to sit around until at least noon?

Can we show up at, say, 11 AM without penalty if they truly won't board until noon?

We are confused by the time given.

1 minute ago, cruiseny4life said:

Here's the menu: https://www.ncl.com/sites/default/files/15258 NoodleBar.pdf

 

My experience in April is that the hours were awful - only open from 5 - 9:30 PM with a two hour line every night. We did not partake due to the line. 

 

The food looked great and I definitely want to try it on a future cruise!

Interesting, thanks!

I was under the impression it was "included", but it looks like there is an uncharge.

Thanks again!

I see that there is a Noodle restaurant that is included- I can't find much info about it (but my 9 year old LOOOOOOVES noodles!) 

Does anyone know what they serve, when it's open, and how it is?

Trying to figure out the timing of this;

I have a cruise that leaves Sunday; I am vaccinated and boosted, and understand that I can test as early as Thursday.

My kids are young; they are vaccinated- there is no booster for them. It was my understanding that they could also test on Thursday as they are "up to date", but when I called Carnival, they said they can't test until Friday, which doesn't seem correct?

What is the best source for home proctored tests for vaccinated passengers? We have 5 people traveling.

This page says that only PCR test is acceptable; 

https://www.carnival.com/legal/covid-19-legal-notices/covid-19-guest-protocols

It says it was updated March 23rd.

Yet this page (which is just a different tab on the first page) says that many antigen tests are acceptable;

https://www.carnival.com/Legal/covid-19-legal-notices/return-to-service-faqs

Why do they have conflicting information on essentially the same page?

Anyone know what they actually accept? I'd hate to get the antigen test and then get turned away.

I'm going on the Mariner of the seas in a few days for a 4 day cruise.

It sounds like the buffet is NOT an option for dinner.

What can we eat if we only bring shorts and sandals? Will they still let us in the main dining room for dinner?

Just got this email.

PCR test must be done no later than 3 days prior to sailing.

however, in my experience, PCR results can take 4-7 days if things are busy.

Anyone have any advice on this?

1 hour ago, forgotmyCCname said:

Incorrect;

Moderna:28-32 days

Pfizer :14-17 days

 

J&J: 2 weeks after injection

Moderna: 42 days after 1st injection (2 weeks after 2nd)

Pfizer: 35 days after 1st injection (2 weeks after 2nd)

On 5/25/2021 at 7:37 PM, SNJCruisers said:

And they would have to be considered part of the 5% that is allowed by the CDC.  And of course your family would have to be part of the 50% or 60% capacity allowed.  Two possible difficult hoops for you to jump through.

Those guidelines are only for fully unmasked cruises.

As this labor day cruise caters to families that have children unable to receive vaccinations, I'd be surprised if RCL would go this route.

14 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Did you book a balcony🤔

I did; booked a balcony that overlooks a boardwalk. We'll see if it makes a difference

12 hours ago, SNJCruisers said:

Are your kids vaccinated?

My kids are 8 and 10; not able to be vaccinated, unfortunately. My understanding from the website is that they will need a PCR covid test prior to embarkation.

I booked the August 29th Oasis just a few days ago.

My kids will be very upset if they cancel it!

28 minutes ago, LifeonMars said:

 

There is another thread on it here

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2759234-special-discounted-fares-through-2021-for-healthcare-workers/

 

For the UK they state

 

To you on the frontline during this COVID-19 crisis. 
You, who have risked your own lives to save ours, worked overtime and made sacrifices for others, you, more than anyone else, deserve a gift.

As we have now begun sailing once again, MSC Cruises is honoured to offer up to 50% discount on the cruise fare to all healthcare workers and their families, as soon as they are ready for a well-deserved holiday. 

Our special ‘thank you’ discounted cruise fares for healthcare professionals and their families will be available for all MSC Cruises’ sailings of any duration for all new bookings made till the 30th of June 2021 on all cruises departing up to 30th April 2022  (WORLD CRUISES excluded). This includes our cruises around the British Isles onboard the newest MSC Virtuosa.

 

To book just call your local MSC Call Centre or visit your travel agent.

 

ELIGIBLE for the promo

- All NHS Doctors/Nurses/Front line and back office workers employed in the Hospital facilities (eg. Hospital/clinics/Covid-19 centers), who have been directly or indirectly impacted by the Covid Emergency
- Other related jobs to Hospital services (e.g. Cleaning service staff) only if directly hired by the Hospitals, not from private companies
- Family Doctors
- Firefighters
- Pharmacists operating during the pandemic
- Private Doctors and medical figures not employed in hospital facilities ONLY IF their specialization is directly related to COVID-19 diseases (eg. Doctors specialized in pneumology, virologists)
- Healthcare Volunteers (Ambulance, Social services) who offered their support during the Covid-19 emergency
- Retired doctors who were called back to service to give support during the pandemic
- Research Laboratories employees only if they specifically perform COVID-19 tests

It is mandatory to provide a certification which can prove to be eligible for the promo.

Valid proof of service has to be sent at the moment of the booking: copy of the ID card of the company/hospital where the passenger is employed, certificate or other official identification. Proof of service has to be brought also at embarkation.
 

 

Promo details:

- Booking validity: the offer is valid for all new bookings made from 31/08/2020 till 30/06/2021; the offer is not retroactive;
- The offer is valid for all cruises departing up to 30th April 2022 (World Cruises excluded) and it is subject to availability at the moment of the reservation;
- The offer is available for all markets (Important note for NO SCHENGEN countries: They are not allowed to travel until the end of May 2021, until further notice)
- Discount is per cabin and applicable to the cruise portion only;
- Discount can be cumulated to the promo rates and MSC Club discount, it cannot be combined with brochure promo targets, group rates and Voyages Selection discount;
- The discount is valid also for Future Cruise Credit Voucher holders only in case the new booking is made within 31/08/2020 - 30/06/2021; for bookings already made it is not applicable;
- The Health worker has to be part of the reservation, otherwise the discount may not be applied (example: we don’t grant discount to a doctor’s son if the doctor himself is not travelling);
- If two or more cabins are booked, the discount will be applied only to the cabin the Health worker occupies;
- the same Health worker may book even more that one cruise, but he/she needs to be personally travelling;
- In case of single cabins, standard single supplement will apply;
- Standard terms and conditions will apply unless special conditions are granted at the moment of the reservation (i.e. flexible booking conditions);

 

https://www.msccruises.co.uk/cruise-deals/health-workers

 

 

Thanks; I did see this. This is fairly non-descript- there is absolutely no way to figure out what the discount is until 2 days AFTER you've already paid the full price.

I'd like to know what days would be the least expensive to go, but there's no way to do that other than book multiple trips and then cancel 2 days later once you hear.

MSC offers a "discount" off of a cruise if you are a front-line healthcare worker. 

The website states that it is up to 50%, and to call them to discuss.

When I called, they were almost as confused as I was; the discount varies from 0 up to about 50%, but there is no way to tell which cruises get which discount.

The only way to find out which cruises qualify is to literally book the cruise (and in many cases pay in full), then email an account with proof, then wait 24-48 hours to hear back whether you qualify and how much of a discount you are entitled to, and then they refund you.

This is the strangest discount I've ever heard of. It's basically paying for a vacation, with no idea what it costs until after you've already paid a higher price.

Has anyone figured out which dates have the discount, so I don't have to guess?

(Dean Wormer voice)

Zero-point-zero

19 minutes ago, complawyer said:

basically you are correct, but its hard to beat (1) freestyle dining,(2) 24 hour on call butler (3) priority boarding (4) concierge service.

 

while there is not much a concierge can do for me on board,  (its not like i need him to get me tickets to a broadway show), the ability of the concierge to get me disembarked and to my luggage within 10-15 minutes while everyone else is clogging the halls and stairways waiting to get off the ship is to me well worth the price of admission

Try MSC Yacht Club.

Usually much less expensive than Haven, MUCH better service and amenities.

Maybe it's just me, but I don't think I'd miss the buffet (other than a crepe station.)

I don't go on vacation to serve myself out of a food trough, a la Old Country Buffet.

Make all food a sit-down service other than maybe a pizza stand.

3 minutes ago, bouhunter said:

I didn't say I'm optimistic about a vaccine anytime soon or assuming there will be, just that the HIV reference isn't a valid comparison.

They're both RNA viruses, and both are challenging to create effective vaccines.

We can't assume we're getting one for Covid-19.

12 minutes ago, Milwaukee Eight said:

Different type of virus. Apples to Oranges. 

They are different types of viruses. While it's nice to be optimistic, there is certainly a good chance that no effective vaccine will be found.

We need to plan for that possibility.

2 minutes ago, bouhunter said:

They are COMPLETELY different types of virus.  Do some research online if you want, HIV is one that's constantly mutating among other things.

They are different types of viruses, but there's no reason to assume that a vaccine will be effective against this type of Coronavirus.

47 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

I can see the social distancing happening on the first few months of cruises once they start sailing again.  Who knows what the future brings but once a vaccine is available I would bet money that social distancing is a thing if the past. 
 

Ive got cruises booked November, December and March.  I’ll decide 3 months out .  The good thing is that none involve air. 

I wouldn't count on a vaccine. It's been 30 + years and we still don't have one for HIV.

Are people booking with new money (not FCC) on Royal Caribbean? It seems foolish unless you're 100% convinced they're going to still be in business. 

I’ve done the haven on the getaway and the yacht club on the MSC divina.

the yacht club blew the haven out of the water, no competition. (And the other folks we met who had previously sailed haven agreed.)

the facilities, perks, all-inclusive nature, service, and value were far, far superior on MSC’s product vs NCL.