Winnigirl

48 minutes ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

Could you please provide some more details as to why you "wouldn't be caught on a Carnival cruise"?

After 50+ cruises on RCI, NCL, MSC, Carnival, Celebrity and Princess I would be more than happy to clear up any misconceptions that you may have from reading and regurgitating second and third hand information about Carnival.  The Excel Class ships of Carnival are not the party boats that Kathie Lee Gifford promoted 30 years ago.

We have taken a cruise on Carnival.  Granted it was about 15 years ago now, but it just simply wasn't for us.  I don't think I want to go into specifics;  we just knew that we wouldn't take another one.  We have cruised on all the lines you mention, other than MSC, over the last 30 years as well as Holland-America.   We are trying MSC and I hope we enjoy it too.  Everyone should be able to choose what works best for them.

18 hours ago, ksmommy5 said:

Come and report back to me about your experience. Im watching videos and the ship looks beautiful so Im just going to go with that aspect and enjoy a new experience lol

I will!  And I hope I am pleasantly surprised!

We have booked our first MSC cruise on the Seaside for this August and I, too, am already regretting it.  A little voice in my brain keeps saying "buyer beware"! And I guess I didn't listen.   We normally cruise on Celebrity or Holland-America.  A balcony room, because that is what we prefer.  I knew nothing about MSC, but I was intrigued by their "Island" and recovering from knee surgery, the thought of 3 days sitting on the beach, plus a beach day at Costa Maya, seemed relaxing.  I knew nothing of their "class system", mostly because in everything I read and everything we asked, this didn't come up.  Then I started reading these posts!  No, we are not going to be in the "YC".  God forbid that I am called an "interloper" if I look at an elevator I shouldn't be near!" And on the other end of the stick, I wouldn't be caught on a Carnival cruise.  I am not loud, I am not rude. I have good manners.   Are these my choices?  

Most children in the USA are back in school by the middle of August.  We actually would plan our trips for the end of August.  Our kids didn't go back to school until the 2nd week of Sept., so it was ideal for us.

Pretty sure that was MY lobster.  We were on the Silhouette and 

2 minutes ago, Winnigirl said:

 

Just off the Silhouette and Equinox.  That one lobster tail is bigger than the 2 I had.  And no parsley.  And the baked potato has been change to a 1/2 cup of white rice, no seasoning,  and some frozen vegetables sprinkled through the rice - guess that's the menu's "pilaf" part.  

9 hours ago, JeanieC,Aston said:

Just received an e mail from Celebrity showing what I can look forward to on my upcoming X cruise.

Mmmm! Doesn’t look the same….

22 hours ago, StanleyandGus said:

I don’t think CAA does those any more- I loved those as well! It’s sort of south east through North Dakota, and then south to Galveston. Well, it is going the route I am thinking of.

Yes, they still do them.  I had one done for our trip in August.

We've driven Winnipeg to Orlando many times.  Most recently in August.  Straight south and turn left at Kansas City.  I would think that Regina to Galveston would be just about straight south.  I still rely on the Trip Tiks from CAA.  I guess I'm pretty old school, but I just love maps.

In September we took a cruise on the Allure of the Seas.  The food was amazing!  Our usual cruises are on Celebrity and Hal.  The food has been ok - but nothing compared to the Allure.  My husband literally raved about it.  It was wonderful. Now I have been looking at the menus for our Jan. 30 on the Silhouette.  I think I will be eating a lot of salmon.  I hope they can cook it properly.  We have a reservation at Qusine for one evening.  I hope that is up to standard.  I think I'm going to have to make a few more reservations.  

I wouldn't even consider it.  At the moment I wouldn't even travel to the USA to board a fully vaccinated cruise.  A month ago I was hopeful that we could perhaps do a short cruise in the Fall.  Now, with the Variant raging there and so many against the vaccine,  we're resigned to wait until next year.  

Lord, now I'm more confused than ever.

19 hours ago, MStarzky said:

 can't you just use the email they sent you when you got your final vaccine?

We didn't get an e-mail in MB.  We were given instructions to wait 2 weeks after our second shot, the go online and apply for a card.  We were also able to put it on our phones.  So I have both - a laminated card from the Province, and as well as it on my phone.  I really don't care what they call it - but I would like all the provinces to have the same official Canadian document.

16 minutes ago, KKB said:

Well a lady was removed from an RCCL ship due to a positive COVID test & pitched an immature fit that of course she filmed & posted.

I anticipate we will see more & that ships will not tolerate it either--passenger behavior is part of the cruise contract 

I saw that in the Daily Mail.  Unbelievable.  She kept screaming about her "freedoms".  Ironically, she was on the Freedom of the Seas.  

We did a Panama Cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to Vancouver - but it was Holland-America - so, not really a party boat.  Our favourite line is Celebrity.  A mature adult crowd - but not so old you have to go to bed at 8 p.m.  We're not party animals, but we've always enjoyed our X cruises and always seem to meet nice people and have fun.  I'd agree that RCCL would probably fit into your wants and needs the best.  We did an Oasis cruise when it first sailed.  I read many negative reviews about it - but we absolutely loved it!  So much to do, and because of it's size, people spread out and it never seemed crowded.   The only thing I didn't like was having to be tendered into so many ports, because of it's size.  Saying all this, aside from one Carnival Cruise, I never see very many children at all.  Maybe because we do our cruising during school months.

We have a laminated wallet size card and the QR code on our phones.  It's hard to know what will be accepted because every province is issuing something different.  It would be nice to have them all agree on one specific documentation. 

Guess I'm a little late to the party.  Great to see a forum for Canadians!  (and anyone else).  We're in Winnipeg.  I don't usually come to CC unless we have a cruise planned, but given the craziness of the past year and a half, it's nice just to begin thinking of one again.  We are fully vaccinated and ready to go!

We are just beginning to think about cruising again, but I am just totally confused about the regulations.  Every day I seem to read something different.  We are fully vaccinated and understand that we will not have to endure quarantine when we return to Canada - but there seems to be a lot of tests to go through.  Testing before we leave the country.  Testing in the country we are flying to (depending on the country), testing when we get back.  Are some countries (I'm thinking the UK) still closed to Canadians?  In Manitoba we are issued a card confirming total vaccination and I have it on my phone, as well.  Do we need more documentation than that?  I'm totally confused.  Any advice would be appreciated.

Our first cruise was in 1996 with our two daughters who were in their lovely, sulky teenage years.  It was on the Norwegian Lines Norway and our travel agent - a friend with two lovely, sulky teenage girls of her own, picked it.  My husband was not keen on trying a cruise, and the girls wanted to go to DisneyWorld, like we always did.  I wanted to try something new.  Long story short - we loved it!  And we've all been cruising ever since.

20 hours ago, Travelexpert35 said:

We love it here in St Andrews by the Sea and we have a membership to use the pools and fitness centre at the Algonquin Resort. I hope you get to visit us soon.

 

Our house is right on the water so I’m not missing cruising yet.

So, if the Algonquin's full, you'll be happy to put us up?

I don't think I would want to leave Canada, even if borders are open.  I think we'd fly to Quebec, rent a car and head to New Brunswick.  Specifically the Algonquin Resort in St. Andrews-by-the-Sea.  I'd just sit on a lawn chair and watch the ocean.  Then, maybe, a week in Prince Edward Island.

In our Province (Manitoba), we haven't had any new cases for a week.  In total we had about 325 cases.  7 deaths.  As of now, there are about 7 active cases, but all are in their own homes.  There are no active cases in the hospitals.  So, we are in a good place.  Even so, most still wear masks outside.  Although restaurants are opening, most chose to either eat on patios or order in.  Actually, no one really is quite sure just exactly what we should do or how far we should go.    Mostly, I just go to Safeway for groceries and we go for walks or drives to get out.

They'd probably fall asleep from boredom.  I don't have a problem with it.  Especially if it could get things back to normal sooner.

One of my favourite cruises was on the Oasis.  We heard a lot of negative comments before we sailed but I just wanted to try it.  I loved it.  It never felt crowded because it was so huge - people spread out.  I loved the "New York Neighbourhoods" theme.  Several times I sat in "Central Park" and all I could hear were the birds chirping in the trees.  Loved the choice of restaurants and entertainment - and they had the fastest elevators!  When I'm washing dishes at the sink and I start to cruise-dream - I always dream about another cruise on the Oasis.

We've had cruises and vacations with family and friends in the past, and while none of them could be considered a disaster, we have over the years decided that we prefer to cruise alone.  We go on cruises to relax, and I am the type of person who is constantly worrying if the others are having a good time, or if Friend A seems unhappy with Friend B and how can I fix it.  That's not fun or relaxing.  We always meet many interesting and friendly people on our cruises - and have kept in touch with some after the cruise is done - and that is enough for us.  I won't say that I haven't looked with envy on wonderful (or so it seems) family reunions and sometimes wish we could be part of something like that - but we don't have a large family for one thing; and secondly, looks can be deceiving. 

It's nice to dream about.  For us it would be Australia and New Zealand.