DenaInWyo

Any word on what else they might be doing in dry dock other than the new paint job?  We'll be sailing 1/16/22.  I am so excited for the cruise, but also for the two days in NOLA and the cruise down the Mississippi.

25 minutes ago, evandbob said:

The Points Guy had an opinion article mentioning that if DeSantis wins his case against the CDC, Alaskan cruising will be halted.

 

https://thepointsguy.com/news/florida-cruise-lawsuit-alaska-impact/

 

Right now, the judge has issued a temporary injunction against the CDC in this case, and a final ruling could come mid July.

I've been following this pretty closely.  The judge specified this only applies to the CSO in Florida and so will have no effect on Alaskan cruises.  

Thanks for your reply!  I will definitely be sure to check the things out you mentioned on the ship, and the Skagway train.  I'm hoping that's still going to be going because of the problem with the border.   

There are definitely aspects I am looking forward to with solo, and I will indeed be spending plenty of time on that balcony.  I do like my own company and that is going to be incredible and relaxing.  I'm a nurse, and believe me, I'm over the pandemic, well and truly.  I spent the worst of the quarantine at my grown son's house to keep my mom safe from my cooties, and I was beginning to wonder just HOW bad it could really be for murdering someone in their sleep for leaving the toilet seat up, among other things.  I mean, come on.  He was raised better than that.  

I thought our humor matched up pretty well too, reading your blog!  I'll keep an eye out for you 😉 I love wandering Pike Place, just bumping around without much of a plan.  

Also, I totally stayed up until way too late for the season finale.  O. M. G.  

On 6/16/2021 at 6:45 PM, LoveMySofa said:

Could someone explain how "The airport area is MISERABLE", please?

I don't know if miserable is quite the level, but you're basically going to be staying there and having dinner and that's that because there isn't anything else to do.  I'm with all of the above who say spring for the downtown hotel and enjoy Seattle if you have time.  It's a beautiful city with a lot to offer and in the scheme of things, what's another $100, which is the general price difference between a room down there and one at the airport.  Bottom line is you are not going to find a cheap room in Seattle, no matter where you stay.  My Radisson by the airport room for the night after the cruise is around $200.  My Inn at the Market room for the night before is about $300.  It's worth it to me.  

On 6/10/2021 at 10:36 PM, Heidi13 said:

 

 

 

The primary reason Victoria is not highly regarded, as a port of call, is because it is a brief visit and when encountering heavy weather in the Pacific, it is frequently cut even shorter, to ensure they arrive at TAR port on time.

 

 

I'm glad it means we still get to go, but I'm sad we don't stop in Victoria and that it's considered a poor port.  I spent four days there when working as a travel nurse in Bellingham WA and it's amazing.  I had always looked forward to it as part of the cruise if I ever got to go to Alaska.  It's actually one of the favorite places I've ever visited.  

Sorry to have started this thread then gone poof..I didn't realize there were so many replies.  Thanks so much for everyone's input.  I'm slightly less nervous about it.  And to the one saying "leave politics out"...this is entirely about politics.  I'm feeling pretty confident we're going to pull through, but won't it be great when we can book a cruise again and all we'll have to worry about is missing our flight or a hurricane?

https://www.ktoo.org/2021/06/04/florida-lawsuit-could-end-alaska-cruise-season-cdc-says/

I've been kind of trying to see if there has been any news about how things are going for Alaska cruises, since there hasn't been much else said, and found this.  Thoughts?

I highly recommend an app call City Mapper for navigating public transportation.  I used it to get all over London and had not a single hiccup, and had never even really used much public transportation before.  It guides you step by step.  I was thrilled to find out it was available for Seattle.  Sorry if I sound like an ad ..it's just so helpful if you're trying to figure out buses and such.  The walking directions are even great.  SO much more user friendly than Google.  You get a little fan in front of you that shows you which direction you're facing, so you don't end up walking a ways the wrong direction before you figure out which way to go.  

13 Coins is really good, best eggs benedict ever (they serve it all day, or used to).  Huge menu and just a really neat, different place.  I love getting a seat at the counter in the big captain's chairs, though that might not be the best for visiting.  

7 hours ago, sm3ds said:

I don’t know. Every where I go 90 % of the people are wearing masks even though we have no mask mandate and are vaccination rate is 50%. I think a lot of people can’t give up the mask. I expect a significant percentage of people on cruises to keep wearing them regardless of the policy.

. 

And where I live, hardly anyone is wearing one.  Maybe 1 in 10 at the grocery store.  That's what makes it so hard to gauge this whole thing.  We only have the perspective of where we live, unless we visit elsewhere.  In Wyoming, you'd barely know anything was going on at all.  Yes, I know we're a different case being small/spread out/low pop, but I'm willing to bet nearly every state has a slightly different vibe right now.

9 hours ago, coscab said:

Was at Port Canaveral yesterday eating at Fishlips, there was a royal caribbean ship in, maybe getting crew vaccinated?  The Disney ships have been anchored off shore for a while now, they go in and out alot  but I only saw one out there yesterday.

 

 

Awwww, I love Fishlips!  Can't wait to visit again someday soon.  And fingers crossed we get news like this in the near future about Seattle too.  I don't go until 8/31, but I sure hope it works out.  It's looking pretty promising.  

I don't have any advice, because this will be my first time too, but..

No one can get the time off and I've booked a solo cruise on the Miracle for 8/31.  I've done plenty of solo trips (London, Seattle, Victoria, Vancouver, moved to WA and then to ND as a travel nurse) but never a solo cruise.

I'm honestly thinking it sounds like bliss.  I got a casino deal on an aft balcony.  All.  To.  My.  Self.  

I'm getting relaxed just thinking about it 🙂  

Maybe I do have advice.  You have to get past what other people might be thinking of you.  Want to eat at a fancy restaurant?  Eat there!  It's no one's business.  My sister and I honestly both love traveling solo.  Once you get over the hump of worrying if others are looking at you funny, it's actually really awesome.  Had plans to see something one morning, but you'd rather sleep in?  Hit the snooze button.  I did that on one trip and I was a little sorry for missing out, but man did I need the rest.  Had I been with a group, I'd have had to soldier on.  I love what I call "bumping around without a plan" too.  Hard to do with a group.  I can cut through a crowd in record time.  I eat when I'm hungry.  I don't have to share, or compromise.  Yeah, I run into some lonely times when I wish I could share the "OMG look at THAT!" but sometimes if you wait for someone to go with you, you won't go.  And that's no fun at all.

Annnnd, it's late and my reading comprehension is apparently off.  You HAVE cruised solo.  So my advice goes to someone reading this who hasn't 🙂 Maybe you have some advice for me?

On 5/7/2021 at 6:50 AM, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

I used to get great offers - but I think that Carnival is catching on that (for the last 5 years) the only money I'm playing in the casino is their free play. Last time I turned $500 into over a $1,000.

 

I used to be a regular black chip player - occasionally purple. Now I pay for my cruises (nice cabins) and have less out of pocket!

 

Tom

I'm sure that situation is heading my way as well.  I lost my behind on the last one we went on, which was back in 2018.  I don't intend to repeat that experience, but I'll sure enjoy spending my 1k bank roll from them.  I also think once they get reliably sailing again, it's going to dry up.  I'm planning to grab the offers while they last though.  Dangit, got bit by a third yesterday.  Aft balcony Alaska "Plan now Play Later"?   Yes please!  

The Plan Now, Play Later offer was too much to resist for me.  I had one booked in January already, but added on another for May.  $1000.00 funplay, $400 OBC, and free drinks anywhere on the ship for me. Balcony cabin.  The $400 OBC of course is to cover the $400 deposit required. Will give my sister the OBC for her drinks.  That's a crazy good deal.  I think we'll be sailing for sure by May '22, my only worry now is something will happen with the ship getting moved or some other nonsense.  But worth a gamble!

The January cruise was an Ultra, free balcony cabin, $500 casino.  

3 hours ago, SNJCruisers said:

If you wish to roll the dice and fly in the morning of a cruise that departs FLA at 400 pm, go for it.  Inclement weather during the winter and mechanical issues during the other 3 months can always rear it's ugly head.  For the cost of a hotel room, piece of mind is a great thing by flying in the night before. You can then also get up and get to the port around 1000 am and be in the first group on board.  But if you prefer to get up at an ungodly hour of 300 or 400 am for your 600-700 am flight, by all means have at it.

I guess we must have different interpretations of the phrase "isn't strictly necessary."

Just flew to CA about a month ago and reinforced why I agree with you on this.  Should have arrived to Orange County at 0930, and with one disaster and another, arrived at 1600.  Was thinking the whole time.."Glad I don't have a cruise ship to catch!"

On 4/8/2021 at 9:22 AM, jetsfan58 said:

May not have much difficulty in opening but how safe will they be. These Governors have to get onboard the "Safety Train"  

Oh, no disagreement there at all.  Merely pointing out that safe or unsafe, there won't be any resistance in those states.  Leaving my personal opinion out on whether or not that's a good idea, because in the end, it doesn't matter at all.  

My gut feeling is that this summer, things are going to get pretty close to normal.  This fall, we might see another surge, but it isn't really going to matter because I don't think there will be any success in trying to do another lockdown.  We barely got compliance with any of the other "lockdowns" we've done, and once we have a good amount of people immune through either vaccines or having gotten it, there's basically no way we're stuffing people back into the box.  People are over it, and I don't think there's much chance of a huge surge again by that point that would be enough to frighten people into complying/enough people getting truly sick and needing hospital.  It's eventually just going to become a fact of life that it's out there, people will sometimes catch it, and we'll move on, just like we have with any other plague since 1000s of years.  

And before anyone comes in to berate me..this is just my opinion, worth exactly what all opinions are worth 😉  

It's so awesome seeing so many getting vaccinated!  As a nurse, I got mine back in January.  Got the first dose of Moderna, and proved the science that two doses are needed by getting Covid 10 days later.  I'm just lucky like that!  Doc said to go for it on the second dose, I think mostly just because they weren't very available back then, and whew...that was a doozy.  I was pretty sick for a day.  Definitely would do it again though!  My shot card is tucked safely in my passport book!

Thanks for the help everyone!

I was pretty convinced up until a couple of weeks ago that I would not book until I started seeing them sail again.  Those offers won me over.  I hate to say this, because I'm tempting fate, but I just can't see cruising not being back by January and May of next year.  But..worst case scenario, we'll still party in NOLA for a week for the first one, and figure out something for the other one.  Not putting down more than the deposit, so it's a gamble I'm willing to take.  Honestly I'm more worried about changes in ships/particular ships not going than I am straight no sail.  

I'm even more worried though that those deals won't be around once they get going.  The one I'm asking about is insanely good.  

Thank you for the response!  I'm just having a hard time thinking they'd just give it to one person in the cabin.  Your suggestion is a good one, and I'll do that tomorrow!  Ew...or maybe not.  I bet they're bombarded with all the cancellations.  

And thanks...damn those offers, they're reeling me in just like a juicy little fish lol  

47 minutes ago, SNJCruisers said:

Forgetting Florida, Texas and NJ?

Something tells me they won't have much trouble in FL, TX and probably not LA or SC either.  

I have read the fine print, done some searching (to no avail) and so now hoping someone has booked a similar casino deal to this.  It includes "Free drinks anywhere on the ship" and I'm wondering if this includes both people in the cabin.  It doesn't really specifically say either way.  Well, kind of it does, but it's exactly the same fine print as the regular premier cruises.  It states "Qualifying VIFP member" on those too, and I know for a fact that both people in a cabin of two get free drinks in the casino.

Does anyone have experience with this type of offer?  Not a deal breaker either way, I'm booking it and if the free drinks are only for me, I'll let my travel companion use the $400 OBC for her drinks.  It's one hell of a deal, doesn't sail till May of 22, and SURELY by then (surely?) we'll be sailing.  Sigh..so far away.  I'm just worried these crazy good casino deals are going to be scarce once things get moving again and the mobs are beating down the doors 🙂

Reason #342 I will never use a travel agent.  I know, my loss in some ways and I am sure there are good ones out there, but no thanks.  Not for me.

On 6/14/2020 at 4:53 PM, devinc said:

 

I concur.  There was a lot of rooms available on Vista in Sept and then, *poof* they were gone overnight.  It makes no sense they are still offering that Sept 6 sailing on Freedom if they know they are not sailing. 

 

My final payment for 9/6 is currently due on July 8 so I am hoping to hear something soon.  

I'm on that Sept. 6 sailing.  A guy in our roll call is B2B for the next one on the 13th and that one is gone, but the 9/6 is still there.  It's just anyone's guess what it means 😞 What's worse is I'm on a casino deal.  I still have the same deal showing up to be booked by July 1st..but what if those go poof for me after that?  I'll basically be giving up on the idea of cruising for now.  I currently have 3 people in a balcony for $900ish.  Not going to touch that price without a casino deal and not so sure I want to get that amount of money wrapped up in it..at regular prices.

FWIW:  My cancelled 5/3 cruise stayed in my cruise manager for nearly two weeks after it was cancelled.  Just commenting on those saying their cruise is still showing..I don't think that means much.

We're set to sail on the Freedom on September 6th out of Galveston (my birthday!)  If you like the Glory better than Vista (I agree!) you might take a look at that cruise.  Freedom is the same class of ship.