FLSteve11

Boarding this tomorrow in FLL.    Sad news for the family,   hopefully they do make up time so boarding isn't a problem.    

On 6/17/2023 at 10:33 AM, happy2bee said:

My son and his wife want to do a family cruise to Alaska next summer on Princess.  I've never been on a Princess ship.  Anyone know how they compare?

 

Count me in the Princess for Alaska crowd.    I really enoy Royal,  it's about half the cruises I do on that line.     But Princess just does Alaska better.     It has a lot more Alaska items involved,  whereas on Quantum  I just felt like Alaska was just kinda....there.     There were very few things related to Alaska on board.         Plus, as mentioned,  Glacier Bay is really great to see and Royal doesn't go there.

17 hours ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Azamara was stuck between Celebrity and Silversea and drew from both their clientele. Azamara had 3 older ships compared to Silverseas 10 much newer ships with new builds scheduled.  Silversea is where the growth is.

 

obviously the billion $ was not revenue.

Certainly makes the changes in Celebrity, with the all inclusives,  a lot more sense.    They're looking to grab the Azamara customers.

1 hour ago, nelblu said:

So what is the big problems.  We have card/numbers for social security, Medicare, driver licenses, passports, loyalty cards, etc.

Not to mention almost all school children have to show proof of vaccination before they can enroll in schools   (or proof of an exemption)

1 hour ago, BirdTravels said:

Cruising with a 2 year old (or 4 year old) is fine. As long as you fully understand that other passengers don't want to be cruising with a 2 year old. That is, if the kid starts to fuss, becomes disruptive, or starts to run around, it is incumbent on you to remove the kid from public areas until they settle down. 

Exactly.   And really that shouldn't matter where you are.   As a parent you should be cognizant of what your child is doing when in a public setting.    Whether on a cruise, in a restaurant,  at an event,  if your child is being too disruptive it's time to move them out,  at least until they've calmed down and behave.  

1 hour ago, firefly333 said:

I got seated at dinner with a family like this. I should have just asked to move. My roommate was mad I didnt ask, but didnt tell me until the last night. She could have asked too imo.

 

We were seated with a 3 year old who used his silverware to drum on the table for us nightly. I said something to the parents who proudly told me they bought him a drum set at home 

Nothing wrong with asking to move if you don't like being with a kid,  or anyone for that matter.   Not everyone is compatible with everyone else.     

10 hours ago, ipeeinthepool said:

 

If you need to take games and activities with you on a cruise to occupy the kids, maybe that should tell you something.  As far as danger is concerned, perhaps my perspective is different because I been on a cruise when a young child went un-noticed for a moment and drown in a crowded kiddie pool.

I didn't say anything about taking games and activities with you.   I was saying the cruise itself has plenty of games and activities to keep them occupied.     And yes, you're obviously biased based on a very unlikely incident.    An incident which happens on land vacations as well.   Sadly kids drown in pools regularly on land,  and hotel pools are even larger and give more room for kids to go unnoticed.   Drownings are one of the leading causes of death for kids,  and they happen far more often on land pools then cruise pools.  

3 hours ago, ipeeinthepool said:

 

From my standpoint there are lot more dangerous things on a cruise ship, that require more attention.  Options to entertain the kids are more limited onboard.

I also understand that all kids are different, but I really don't believe the younger kids will really enjoy the cruise.  Stick with a land vacation.

 

I don't know about that.  No cars and roads to worry about,  limited amount of people in a more enclosed area,   activities are basically as safe as on land if not more so.   And it doesn't take a lot to entertain a young kid,  have some games and activities,  some water time and most are good.   I've seen plenty of bored kids on land vacations.   And a lot less kids only activities to give the parents a chance on their own for a bit on those.  

1 hour ago, ipeeinthepool said:

Sure you can do it, but do you really think this is the best family vacation at this time?  It seems to me that a land based vacation could be a better option now.  Exactly what do expect the kids to get out of the vacation?  What are the sleeping arrangements? Each spouse, stays with 2 kids?  I don't think it would be much relaxation for the adults, so would the kids really benefit from the cruise?

 

Enjoy your vacation, no matter which option you choose.

I would like to think by 2022,  when the OP is planning the cruise,  things will be back to normal for the most part.    Outside of that, I expect the kids to get the same thing they would out of a land vacation,  same for the parents as well.  Some fun times, good food, enjoyment and time together.   I'm not sure why it would be so different on a cruise vs a land vacation.

I believe the Carnival umbrella has the issue that they did not keep any ships in US waters  (unlike RCI and NCL),  so they're going to have to deal with the 28-day timetable at the beginning of the CDC's orders

While not ideal by any stretch.   Is there anything in there that would prevent a larger cruise ship from just tendering people in?    If they don't actually dock,  do they break the rule?  

1 hour ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Yup I mentioned this yesterday too.   It is going to take time for them to install labs on the ship to do a PCR test and get all the certifications mentioned on page 28 from the USCG.     From how I read it, once they all that set up all the framework / requirements they can then submit a request to CDC to get permission to do their simulated sailings.    I am unclear on whether they have to pass on the test sailings before they can submit 60 days prior to commencement.         

So let's say it takes them the next 30-days to set up labs, crew arrives and goes thru their testing/quarantine periods and they get all their USCG certifications and they request their test sailings for December.

Let's remember nothing moves quick with government inspections and paperwork so it will probably take a couple of weeks as all the cruise lines are going to be submitting their requests around the same time.    Plus everything will slow down with the December holidays.    

My prediction It will be at earliest February when they can start to sail with "real" passengers, probably more likely March.     So yup the CDC will be getting exactly what they wanted (no sail order in place til February).   

 

 

It will take time.    Though we are assuming that this is all brand new information that the cruise lines are just hearing about.   I would not be surprised if there had been negotiations going on for awhile,  the cruise lines have known about it for a bit, and that the clock for these things has already started in the past.    Crew could already be quarantined,  some paperwork and/or plans already filed.   We just don't know.

6 hours ago, luckyinpa said:

is there a list of countries that would accept USA departures at this time? without assurance i can visit where i want to go, i dont see the point of even fighting about starting cruising again. 

 

gotta go somewhere 🙂

Most of the Caribbean is,  or will soon be,  open to US tourists.   So there is no large limitation there.   This isn't specific to cruising, and there are some guidelines to much of them,   but they're not turning people away for the most part.   

I was on the June 30th sailing (4 weeks ago) and we did indeed go by the volcano at night. The view is awesome. The captain stated that they will continue to go by the volcano so long as conditions are good. The main issue is the winds, so long as they're not blowing from the volcano towards the ship (which is not how it normally blows) then they will remain doing the viewing.

True, but I think the demographic is changing. Younger top tier travelers are not going to find a crowded lounge and well drinks to be a reason to maintain any sort of brand loyalty. I certainly don't feel any brand loyalty for that. I just wonder if it's a missed opportunity.

I think a lot of them are dependent on what people want. You're not going to please everyone with all the perks. For example, I couldn't care about almost any of the ones you suggested, outside of specialty restaurants. Automatic upgrades would have to be before you book a cabin if just moving to a better balcony from another balcony (as I generally pick the cabin I want). Which really just means a discount on a cabin (which for balconies is already done). The drinks are one of the ones I use the most, as I am a moderate drinker, only have 2-3 drinks a day or so on the ship. There are more people like that then you think. I think the drink vouchers have taken care of some of the issues with crowded lounges (if you don't want the lounge, you get your drink elsewhere).

As for younger top tier, assuming you mean people in their 20's and 30's, they're as different between them as older ones.

To me this is much like NCL having Oceania and Regent (with Azamara and Silversea being equivalent products to both of those respectively). I see them as two different products.

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Harmony it is an amusement park in the sea, Equinox is a cruise. You will not find in the Equinox ice rink, zip line, wave simulator, climbing wall, horse carousel, etc. That is why children and adolescents are few. For the itinerary I also chose the Equinox, I do not like Nassau and I prefer Grand Cayman. On both boats there are ample sunbathing areas next to the pool and in the solarium, the food and theater is much better at the Equinox. Bon Voyage

At 30 they probably liked the amusement park aspect of the ship on Oasis (I'm past that and I do as well, I've sailed Oasis and Equinox and enjoyed the Oasis more) There are more things to do, and splits the crowd up nicely. I would say I like the Equinox itinerary better as well. Nassau is a bit of a dud to me, especially after being there a few times. The food on Equinox is definitely better as well. But the theater??? Shows on the Oasis class are light years ahead of anything on Celebrity.

Why is it that these "random" errors are never in favor of the guest?

They probably are. But those people won’t post about them for fear it will get discovered and taken away from them :)

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I was reading another thread and someone posted this comment, " On my last RCI cruise there were over 1000 Diamond and above membersout of just over 3000 passengers. They had to convert a large lounge to the Diamond Lounge."

 

 

It made me think about how family-friendly cruising has become. I would think that some kids could very well be Diamond by their 18th birthday. It seems that there could be way more people hitting this status at earlier ages. I wonder if RC would raise the # of pts needed to hit the next status or just continue to make room for the larger number? Just wondering what some of you professional cruisers think :) I'll probably never make Emerald but it seems like so many young people will do that easily!

You realize that since every child who has a parent that is Diamond or up automatically gains that status, there are a lot of kids with that status before they're 18

I'm confused by your subject line...why would you want us to go to broadway shows on all ships ("Please go to broadway shows on all ships"), yet you are complaining because there aren't broadway shows on all ships? :confused:

I'm thinking it was a plea to RCCL to go to Broadway shows on all their ships (and not just the new ones)

My experience of 1 kid on 1 night out of 110 nights in DL suggests kids,their parents or both do not want to come into the DL.

 

RCI D+. Princess Elite.P&O Atlantic.

I think in the US with Caribbean cruises there are a lot more younger Diamond and up members who are younger with kids that would prefer it though.

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I know who she was but whats in the drink?

Excuse my ignorance I'm from England lol.

 

RCI D+. Princess Elite.P&O Atlantic.

A Shirley Temple is usually Sprite (or some other lemon-lime soda) with Grenadine and s bunch of cherries thrown in

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To repeat again.

We have seen 1 child in the DL in 110 days going into the DL so it has never ever been an issue for us.

Anybody regardless of age,colour,race or religion has my respect and i would happily socialise with them if they are nice people.

 

RCI D+. Princess Elite.P&O Atlantic.

I would think one of the reasons you have only had 1 child in the past is they weren't allowed in during cocktail hour until recently (officially, they did let them in sometimes) so you're more likely to see more in the future. Obviously depends when and where you cruise as well

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Our tea is made in North East England from tea imported from Sri Lanka.

The point is RC make rules that are not implemented so just like the Maitred might not stop people going into the restaurant with shorts and vest tops when they are not allowed,the Diamond Lounge Concierge doesn't have to allow children in if the members don't agree.

 

RCI D+. Princess Elite.P&O Atlantic.

Wouldn't the person with the kids also be a diamond member and agree :).

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I believe that is backwards, Oasis had Hairspray and Allure had Chicago.

Boy my memory is off. But you definitely know RCL better then me :)

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