silversneakers

8 hours ago, Joe817 said:

Exactly! Time to start enforcing the rules, and maybe bring some order to this chaos everybody is experiencing. I loathe chaos.

Everyone needs to take a deep breath and realize things are not going back to the "way they were" pre pandemic and give the trial process time to sort itself out.  Inconvenience in these times is the least you should expect and you will need to have patience and understanding. Travel will not go back to "normal" right now as there is no "normal" at this point. Enjoy each day with whatever comes your way.

I think part of the problem is that people are expecting cruising/travel to be "as before" and we all know that  it will be trial and error for a while. People's expectations during this transition period need to be adjusted to "what is" and we all need to just take a deep breath and enjoy the day!

31 minutes ago, AKJonesy said:

When I read threads like this, it makes me sad that some people show so little grace.  I was talking to my nephew who is a Delta flight attendant and he talked about unruly passengers.  I have seen some people acting a little rude on cruise ships, but nothing more.  When I read many posts on this site lately, I wonder if behavior on cruise ships will become a problem.  For the most part, I see people coming to CC and asking questions, sharing ideas and their excitement about cruising again.  Lately, the "tone" on these boards has been different.  Perhaps COVID is the reason.  I don't know.  But, it seems to me that some people read into people's comments and make a lot of assumptions.  There has been a lot of debating also, and I am glad the Admin put a stop to all of the ridiculous conspiracies and nasty comments around COVID.  There are boards where debate is the norm; this isn't that board IMO.  I think we all get a little caught up in the moment and get our feathers ruffled; I have.  Maybe I have just been lucky in all of my years of cruising, but I have met the nicest people and made many friends over the years.  I hope that won't change, but when I read many posts, I have to wonder.  Just saying.  

Not to put a damper on the vaccinated/unvaccinated issue, it was recently posted on another board that air passengers from UK are denied from boarding (in UK) for entry to US even though they have been vaccinated. I think the Delta variant is entering into the equation at this point.  Still an unknown in many ways and how/if it will affect cruising. I think we are all in the "wait and see" mode and hoping for the best.  We are also entering the hurricane season so there may be more issues added to an already shaky start from Florida. 

1 hour ago, RuthC said:

Why not just wait and book it on board? It will save you the aggravation of trying to get the website to work, plus the amount will count toward the $300/day spending for another Mariner Day! 

1 hour ago, RuthC said:

Why not just wait and book it on board? It will save you the aggravation of trying to get the website to work, plus the amount will count toward the $300/day spending for another Mariner Day! 

Thank you.  I just booked Seattle Express from hotel to pier/pier to airport. I don't have the patience to be aggravated.....that's just me!

On 6/27/2021 at 9:45 AM, maryandmarge said:

Thanks for this info - I'm going to check into doing this instead of doing the $15 shuttle to pier thru the Hampton and the Holland American transfer from ship to airport after the cruise.    

Maryell

Do the passengers with HA transfers from pier to airport have priority getting off of the ship? Also, does anyone know if check-in times to board the ship will be assigned and, if so, when would they appear?

On 6/25/2021 at 11:53 PM, mrmac said:

Anyone else have trouble navigating the Hal website when you try to edit your account, etc.?

I had to make several tries before the site allowed me to enter my onboard credit card account info. I am still unable to book after cruise ship to airport transporation as it gives me an error. Site is not particularly user friendly.

On 6/26/2021 at 12:21 PM, BevvylynnC said:

Does anyone not take the trip insurance for a cruise. 

I purchase an Annual Travel Policy since i take about 6 trips per year. I purchase mine through Allianz but there use to be a site called Squaremouth that you can compare different insurance companies based on your parameters.

10 hours ago, hurricane0226 said:

I think the way they do boarding's and disembark will change and probably be permanent.  

I agree.  I believe all will be required to complete process online, have appt times and process to the ship at a specific appointment time.  However, non US will more than likely have an added in-person process when they arrive to verify their documents.  Getting off the ship will probably be the same in reverse. Of course, that is all a plan if there are no delays in ship arrival or any of the other possibilities that could delay a ship from arriving/departing.

6 hours ago, AncientWanderer said:

 

I booked online.  First thing is select "Travel Planning," then "Pre and Post-Cruise Travel."

At "Post-Cruise" the option should be there.  I just looked at my booking and it is still available on mine.  If something is amiss when you log-in, I'm sure a quick call will get you the transfer you need.

I can get to where I select passengers but the system won't allow me to put in my cart and pay, only saying there is an error.  Didn't know if it was because I didn't book my flights through HAL. I'll try calling them and see what happens.  Thanks.

17 hours ago, AncientWanderer said:

Ours is at 11:50.  We want the nonstop, so that's what was offered.  Getting to the ship on time is imperative; getting home notsomuch.   If we have to change a flight or stay a night in Seattle, that wouldn't be too terrible.   We are taking a HAL transfer to the airport, so we are first off the ship and on the road.   Usually we do Uber.  Just us.

I haven't been able to book online HAL transfer from ship to airport, I just get an error.  Did you have to call HAL directly to book?

10 hours ago, LocoLoco1 said:

I am confused here: My HAL Rep. specifically told me in Jan. 2021, ‘Your two 2021 ALASKA cruises you paid for are hereby cancelled. Period.’ Therefor, I am now rebooked (by HAL.. not a travel agent) for Sept, 2022 on the Noordam. QUESTION: Exactly who is absolutely, positively cruising to Alaska with HAL in 2021? Not I. 

Niew Amsterdam 8/21 Seattle/Seattle

6 minutes ago, AKJonesy said:

One of the huge issues we are seeing here is the lack of help.  We were in Seward a week ago and the lack of help was obvious everywhere.  The person running the lodge where we stayed said he could not get local help, help in US or foreign labor help.  That was obvious because other than our basic room, everything that used to be open at the lodge was closed.  In fact, we could not even clean our fish in the fish house; we had to go downtown at the harbor.  I got most of my meals from Safeway.  So, I suspect we may see some of this on our cruises and when you consider the vast numbers of people disembarking for a short port day, everyone should exercise patience.  

I keep hearing the "lack of help" and seeing "hiring" signs all over the place.  I keep wondering where all of the previous workers are going? Anyone else asking the same question?  

2 hours ago, regoodwinjr said:

That restriction went away so B2B and cruises longer than 7 days are allowed.

Interesting as poster said two Alaska sailings (7 days each) back to back and they were notified on 6/12 that CDC said no.  Wonder if this has this been changed since 6/12 when posted?  Hope so.

On 6/15/2021 at 2:08 PM, Love being Mimi said:

I'm doing a B2B.  When do they tell you?  I hope this doesn't mean I'm going the same places both times

Better check on B2B as I saw on another board that CDC is not allowing B2B.  Hope that's not true.

15 hours ago, NavArch64 said:

To AKJonesy ... for those of us sailing to Alaska this summer aboard Nieuw Amsterdam, what can we expect in Juneau, Ketchikan and Sitka?

HAL said ship-only excursions not required indicating you can go off on your own. We have friends doing a couple of land tours for 3 weeks (non cruise) and they indicate most of the land tours have been sold out so I would say land based events are wide-open for exploration. I'm sure they will have some COVID protocols in place.  I have heard that Alaska tourism has been very active even without the cruise ships.

12 hours ago, wdw1972 said:

I would prefer to have a ship where everyone's vaccinated, and life is normal like it was pre-covid.  However, if anyone regardless of status can book, then so be it - I'm still going.  I'm not worried about catching it or getting sick if I did catch it.  However, I'd just hope that if the unvaccinated pass it around onboard they get put off the ship at the nearest port, and the cruise goes on for the rest of us.  I'm long past the point of wanting to be inconvenienced to keep the anti-vax people safe.  A person who truly can't get it for medical reasons will most likely either stay home or stay masked up to protect themselves as much as possible.  I don't want to be wearing masks or enduring other restrictions because the ship can't ensure everyone is vaccinated - let the chips fall where they may.  

 

Sue/WDW1972

Holland America (Carnival Corp) does not require COVID testing pre-cruise, does not require masks, does not require ship only shore excursions but does require 100% vaccinated for ALASKA cruises right now. 

On 6/15/2021 at 9:29 PM, TNcruising02 said:

Thanks for the clarification. So, it looks like both Royal and Carnival figured out a way around the law in Texas.  However, I wonder why Royal is doing unvaccinated in Florida and Carnival is doing vaccinated.  It seems like they would both be on the same page with the same information, unless Carnival is bluffing.

I think they are trying to "save" what's left of the " family vacation" season. RCL and CCL are both heavily family oriented whereby Holland/Celebrity, etc. are mostly an older population with less children sailing. Although, I wonder how Disney is handling.....they have been extremely quiet on the news front.  Bottom line is that it is truly still an "unknown" and we probably won't know a true direction until after sailing begins. Remember you can still contract the virus even "if" you are fully vaccinated so there is always the possibility that "someone" may test positive on any cruise. Time will tell.

15 hours ago, JohnMI said:

I am booked on this in August (was on the Elation, now the Magic).  I haven't received an email previously about my new room assignment, but logged in today just to look and it does show the new room on the Magic.

 

My question is this: what is a reasonable deck change?  On the Elation, we were on the Upper deck.  The Elation looks like the bottom four decks are the primary room decks (with just some suites on Verandah and Grand, of course).  So, Upper deck on the Elation is the 3rd deck from the bottom.  I picked this room specifically so that it would be surrounded by other rooms and not right under a show/stage area.  Our reservation is for a "6C Oceanview."

 

On the Magic, we have been assigned to Deck 2 -- right below the Showtime Theater (which is Decks 3-5).  Now, based on the color, it appears to be a "6M Deluxe Ocean View" -- so maybe it is a proper/fair room change?

 

I guess I'm just a little bothered because it is such a low deck and right below the stage -- which I specifically tried to avoid on the Elation.  But, again, if it is the equivalent room and that is where they happen to be on the Magic, then I guess that is what I should have.  On the Magic, are all of the Oceanviews on Deck 6 and higher ones with balconies?  I'm trying to tell from the map, but I have trouble matching up some of the colors to know for sure.  🙂

 

Just thought I'd ask here to see if it was worth trying to make a change.  Or if it isn't even possible if no such room exists on a higher deck and I'd have to move to a balcony to be on a deck higher than 2.

I would try for a cabin not below a public venue with night time activity unless you are a really sound sleeper.  I've been in a cabin below the theater and it was definitely not to my liking as not only are there night time performances but also daytime practice.  Things may have changed but you might research your other alternatives.

18 hours ago, TNcruising02 said:

I'm still not sure why they can't let priority and FTTF passengers do their online check in one day before the rest of the passengers.  That way the priority people would be able to choose earlier appointment times since that benefit is temporarily being taken away.

I would "guess" with the new protocols to come that you will be assigned a check-in, boarding time and move right onto the ship. I don't believe there will be any congregating inside the terminals due to social distancing but then again, I am in the "I'm so confused" world with the rest of cruise passengers!  Wait and see is all we can do.

On 6/11/2021 at 1:24 PM, Scurvy Seadog said:

Magic will be permanently homeported at Port Canaveral. That was already planned, it's just happening a few months earlier. Elation will likely be back in service after 10/07.

You will be very happy with the Magic!

On 6/11/2021 at 11:44 AM, jf606 said:

We have cruised with Royal Caribbean and Holland America but never Carnival. Has anyone sailed on the Sunshine?  Thinking of their 7-day Caribbean cruise and would appreciate any comments, pros and cons regarding Carnival, and the Sunshine, if possible.  Thank you

Older ship that is a refurb. Very narrow passage walk space in public areas. 

3 minutes ago, jetsfan58 said:

Why would we even consider Cruising without Masks or Proof of Vaccination? We are continuing to put innocent lives at high risk. If you don't believe in the vaccines, believe that Covid is real and believe that Covid is starting to infect more young children then you have no right to believe that you should Cruise. 

 

We should be fed up with our Citizens getting sicker because a few "Out of Control" State Governors are power hungry! I am as eager to Cruise as the next Carnival Cruise Nut; however, I am not willing to risk my or my family's life onboarding with a bunch of "False" document holding passengers.     

How about those that have had COVID and now it is being said they have a natural immunity and do not need to be vaccinated.  So much conflicting, confusing information. If if you are vaccinated, you can still contract COVID but being told the vaccine "might" keep you out of the hospital!  So, you can have "proof of vaccination" and still contract COVID while on a cruise. What a mess!

Just now, AKJonesy said:

Gus Antorcha said, what we know right now is that passengers will be able to get off the ships and walk around on their own in Alaska and Greece.  

Hopefully that's the case.

Still waiting to hear if HAL will require ship shore excursions only.  Anyone know anything further?