Just Arrived - Important notice from Carnival

[lazydayz]

2 hours ago, sparks1093 said:

We're scheduled for mid-November so that works for us. We'll have the vaccine by then so I hope the cruise does go off as scheduled.

 

Fingers crossed for you!   After September, our next one is set for December.  

[Aplmac]

2 hours ago, FiremedicMike151 said:

That's not entirely fair, medicine is completely different

from what it was even when compared to the last pandemic (1920)

 

Population levels were also not like they are today

(cheek by jowl overpopulated) - 8 billion now, versus 1.5 billion then?

Travel wasn't the same either.

Back then, people travelled FAR less than they do now!!

 

One factor balances out the other?

 

Even with our way-increased knowledge and technology

we're not winning this one either!

[Banditswife]

We are on the fence here.  We have a 14 day booked for Oct 31,2021.  We've paid for almost all of it using funds from previous canceled cruises.  I would probably just ride it out, but the uncertainty is not fun.  Do we book flights, hotels, etc & then have it canceled last minute?  My question is:  how far ahead of the cruise would we know if it is/isn't going to sail.

[phoneman69]

On 2/16/2021 at 3:22 AM, MsOne said:

When I read the letter/email, it seems as if you don't get the onboard credit until they officially cancel the cruise. So when you moved your cruise from May to September, did that just transfer your funds without the additional $300 or $600 OBC?

This was the 2nd cancelling of a cruise so the 600 OBC i had was carried forward to this new booking. Not sure if an OBC would be added if i did not already have it. Bonus was i also got a 50 OBC for the new booking that came with the OTM casino offer.

[phoneman69]

3 minutes ago, phoneman69 said:

This was the 2nd cancelling of a cruise so the 600 OBC i had was carried forward to this new booking. Not sure if an OBC would be added if i did not already have it. Bonus was i also got a 50 OBC for the new booking that came with the OTM casino offer.

Just moved all our flights on American Airlines to Miami. I really thought this was going to be the tough part but it went really smooth as well. So now i just need to find a hotel to stay in the night before we leave in Sept. Getting to be to much trying to fly out the day of the cruise from the Northeast.

[Aplmac]

13 hours ago, phoneman69 said:

So now i just need to find a hotel

to stay in the night before we leave in Sept.

Getting to be to much trying to fly out the day of the cruise from the Northeast.

 

The golden rule of flying in to meet a cruise is...

always fly in the day before!

 

"Murphy" is your constant companion while travelling!!

[CJinFLA00]

We're scheduled for 9/25/2021, I give that  40/60 chance. That would be 40% sailing and 60% not. Maybe it's just me but having a cruise booked just gives me a warm feeling. 

[chocolate melting cake]

21 hours ago, Banditswife said:

We are on the fence here.  We have a 14 day booked for Oct 31,2021.  We've paid for almost all of it using funds from previous canceled cruises.  I would probably just ride it out, but the uncertainty is not fun.  Do we book flights, hotels, etc & then have it canceled last minute?  My question is:  how far ahead of the cruise would we know if it is/isn't going to sail.

We're on that cruise also in a similar situation (our room is fully paid due to other cancelled cruises). We're driving in the night before and only need the flight from Tampa back to Baltimore. We are choosing hotels with free cancellation policies. We've written to Carnival and John Heald requesting that passengers board on Oct. 31, have a swinging Halloween party after dinner (as they normally do) but don't leave the dock until after midnight. At this point that would satisfy the CDC ruling of no cruises longer than 7 days until after Nov. 1! In any case, we'll wait and see about the cruise (I give it a 33% chance of sailing)-----if it does go we'll all receive a $100 OBC per cabin for sticking it out!

[ontheweb]

17 minutes ago, chocolate melting cake said:

We're on that cruise also in a similar situation (our room is fully paid due to other cancelled cruises). We're driving in the night before and only need the flight from Tampa back to Baltimore. We are choosing hotels with free cancellation policies. We've written to Carnival and John Heald requesting that passengers board on Oct. 31, have a swinging Halloween party after dinner (as they normally do) but don't leave the dock until after midnight. At this point that would satisfy the CDC ruling of no cruises longer than 7 days until after Nov. 1! In any case, we'll wait and see about the cruise (I give it a 33% chance of sailing)-----if it does go we'll all receive a $100 OBC per cabin for sticking it out!

Wishing you good luck having the cruise as a go. That is a great solution you proposed for the no longer than 7 day rule. 

 

Being Halloween on Carnival, maybe you could have as a costume your cruisecritic name; dress up as a chocolate melting cake.😉

[80sGal]

6 hours ago, Aplmac said:

 

The golden rule of flying in to meet a cruise is...

always fly in the day before!

 

"Murphy" is your constant companion while travelling!!

 

This is so true!    On our last cruise, we were scheduled to fly in to NOLA the day before so we would have an entire afternoon and evening on Bourbon Street.   The first and second leg were both delayed, and we ended up getting to the hotel straight from the airport around 1 a.m.    If we had been flying in on the day of the cruise, we would literally have missed the boat!   

[Aplmac]

15 minutes ago, 80sGal said:

If we had been flying in on the day of the cruise,

we would literally have missed the boat!   

 

See?

 

[chloe kitty]

We also received the notice.  We are going to wait it out, and hope it goes.  If not, didn't lose anything.  We also have two cruises in Oct., but not on Carnival.  So far, no notice from either of them.  Cruise withdrawal syndrome has hit me hard.  We both received our vaccines, and are very anxious to sail.

[mredandchis]

On 2/17/2021 at 11:36 AM, sparks1093 said:

We're scheduled for mid-November so that works for us. We'll have the vaccine by then so I hope the cruise does go off as scheduled.

Me too, got a b2b on the Magic after it comes outta dry dock.   We just gotta hope CDC doesn't crush cruising by then.  Everyone that wants one will be dosed by then for sure.

[stellarose]

carnival cancelled until end of May.

[ProgRockCruiser]

4 minutes ago, mredandchis said:

We just gotta hope CDC doesn't crush cruising by then.  Everyone that wants one will be dosed by then for sure.

Two things come to mind - I'm sure the CDC will be just as happy to allow cruising to resume as anyone else - they aren't an evil cabal conspiring to destroy all hope and happiness in the cruise industry.

 

Secondly, there not only has to be reasonable vaccination rates (to attain some sort of herd immunity) in the US, where the cruises depart, but also the various ports of call.

 

If Mexico for some reason has a sudden explosion in cases (random example - they seem to be doing much better, per capita, than the US on a caseload basis, but about the same on a death rate basis, so one wonders whether there is effective testing going on), the CDC isn't going to exactly encourage cruises there.

[mredandchis]

1 hour ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

Two things come to mind - I'm sure the CDC will be just as happy to allow cruising to resume as anyone else - they aren't an evil cabal conspiring to destroy all hope and happiness in the cruise industry.

 

Secondly, there not only has to be reasonable vaccination rates (to attain some sort of herd immunity) in the US, where the cruises depart, but also the various ports of call.

 

If Mexico for some reason has a sudden explosion in cases (random example - they seem to be doing much better, per capita, than the US on a caseload basis, but about the same on a death rate basis, so one wonders whether there is effective testing going on), the CDC isn't going to exactly encourage cruises there.

Oh, wasn't saying that the CDC has some sort of conspiracy going on but that they are a bureaucracy and not usually the best at helping.  And you are correct in that ports of call have to be available.  It is a bit harder on getting info on the Caribbean rollout. Some islands have started but not all.  The mainland ports are still in trouble.. 

[Aplmac]

2 hours ago, stellarose said:

Carnival cancelled -until end of May.

 

Like this?

 

[phoneman69]

4 hours ago, Aplmac said:

 

Like this?

 

Shame it happened. Glad i had the chance (from my PVP) to move my may booking without penalty a week ago. Hope anyone with a canceled booking can find another ship and date there happy with.

[mredandchis]

On 2/15/2021 at 9:08 PM, tytanbri said:

Here you go:

Options for Guests Booked on Departures (7 Days or Less) Through July 31, 2021

Dear Carnival Cruise Line Guest: As you know, the return of cruise operations in the U.S. is still not determined. While we await guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we continue to work on our plans and protocols, but we cannot provide our guests with a specific timetable.  Our operations are currently paused through April 30, 2021.  However, if you are booked on a departure through July 31, 2021 we are prepared to give you some options so you can choose what works best for you and your vacation plans. Option 1:  Maintain your existing reservation (including making any final payment that might come due) and automatically receive a US$100, per stateroom, onboard credit (OBC) should the cruise operate.  This is in addition to any other OBC currently on the booking.   If the cruise is eventually cancelled, and you haven’t already received our enhanced value offer, you will be entitled to what we have provided guests throughout this extended pause: a future cruise credit (FCC) for the full amount paid on your booking, PLUS a US$300, per stateroom, OBC (for cruises 5 days or less) or US$600, per stateroom, OBC (for cruises 6 days or more), as long as your FCC is used on a booking made by September 30, 2021 for a sailing departing by April 30, 2023.  At the time of the sailing cancellation, you will still have the option to receive a full refund.   If you choose this option, you do not have to take any action at this time.  We will continue to keep you informed of the status of your cruise.   Option 2:   If you are not comfortable waiting, you may cancel any time between now and March 31, 2021 and receive a full refund to your original form of payment.     If you booked with an FCC, you will receive a refund for any amount paid above the FCC.  You will retain the FCC (and the accompanying OBC) as long as your next cruise is booked by September 30, 2021 for a sailing departing by April 30, 2023.     Taxes, fees and port expenses, Carnival Vacation Protection, pre-paid gratuities, pre-purchased Carnival shore excursions, beverage and Wi-Fi packages, and Fun Shop purchases will also be automatically refunded to the original form of payment.   If the cruise is eventually cancelled, and your booking did not already have an FCC/OBC, you will notbe eligible for the rebooking offer made to guests who remain on the sailing.    You may make this selection by using our online tool available here.  There is no need to call.  Our contact center continues to experience a high level of activity and calling will not expedite your refund. We appreciate your ongoing patience and support and look forward to welcoming you aboard a Carnival ship just as soon as possible. Sincerely,

Christine Duffy President, Carnival Cruise Line

I have been crunching numbers on the rollout and told my wife the other day that it appears early August everyone in the US that wishes a vaccine will have it.  So July 31 seems like a good time to open cruising safely.  BUT the ports of call have not all even started a roll out and that may be problamatic

[ProgRockCruiser]

6 hours ago, mredandchis said:

 BUT the ports of call have not all even started a roll out and that may be problamatic

Many have, it is just not in the news.

 

Admittedly, most are still below the rates for the US, but on the other hand getting them up to speed can happen a lot faster since there is a much lower population.

 

Bermuda and Cayman Islands are at rates above the US.

 

But Mexico is barely started.

 

Turks and Caicos has minimal data points, but the trend looks good if maintained.

 

Bahamas hasn't started, but shipments are on the way, supposedly, and they already have plans in place.

 

But I agree - if the ports aren't ready, it doesn't matter who is vaccinated in the US.

[Aplmac]

6 hours ago, mredandchis said:

BUT the ports of call have not all even started a roll out

and that may be problematic

 

Luckily for us in Barbados

the Gov't. of India sent us a gift of 100,000 doses

of 'CoviShield' vaccine, i.e. Oxford/AstraZeneca

and so far about 30,000 islanders have been vaccinated

myself included (second dose on 5th. May).

 

When we were done,

we got a big blue card with the specifics! So things are happening..

 

[ProgRockCruiser]

4 minutes ago, Aplmac said:

 

Luckily for us in Barbados

the Gov't. of India sent us a gift of 100,000 doses

of 'CoviShield' vaccine, i.e. Oxford/AstraZeneca

and so far about 30,000 islanders have been vaccinated

myself included (second dose on 5th. May).

 

When we were done,

we got a big blue card with the specifics! So things are happening..

 

That is very welcome news indeed!  Congrats!

[mredandchis]

3 hours ago, Aplmac said:

 

Luckily for us in Barbados

the Gov't. of India sent us a gift of 100,000 doses

of 'CoviShield' vaccine, i.e. Oxford/AstraZeneca

and so far about 30,000 islanders have been vaccinated

myself included (second dose on 5th. May).

 

I am glad they did.   We are all in this together.  I always love visiting Barbados.

Edited February 26, 2021 by mredandchis
miss keyed

[MIcruiseguy]

On 2/16/2021 at 10:48 AM, bar1068 said:

We moved a cruise we had booked in May that have been previously canceled twice, to a cruise in November 2021. We kept the $600 OBC and even received a refund of the cruise cost difference. 

Our October 2020 cruise was cancelled.  They offered us $600 OBC if we rebooked.  We rebooked for September 2021 (8 day) to the ABC's.  We received an email that stated we can wait it out and see what happens or we can rebook and roll over the $600 OBC as long as its booked by 30SEP21 and Sailed by 31APR23.  So... when you cancelled and rebooked, did you use the link they provided in the email?  I am just wondering if they email you information about the $600 OBC that is transferal to another booking as long as its booked by 30SEP21.  I am not sure I want to go ahead and rebook at this time, but I would like a refund for the time being.  Thank for you help.

[ProgRockCruiser]

20 minutes ago, MIcruiseguy said:

Our October 2020 cruise was cancelled.  They offered us $600 OBC if we rebooked.  We rebooked for September 2021 (8 day) to the ABC's.  We received an email that stated we can wait it out and see what happens or we can rebook and roll over the $600 OBC as long as its booked by 30SEP21 and Sailed by 31APR23.  So... when you cancelled and rebooked, did you use the link they provided in the email?  I am just wondering if they email you information about the $600 OBC that is transferal to another booking as long as its booked by 30SEP21.  I am not sure I want to go ahead and rebook at this time, but I would like a refund for the time being.  Thank for you help.

If you want a refund "for the time being", then you will not be able to get the $600 OBC rolled over.  You only get to keep the OBC if you move the booking.  It doesn't go into a "bank" to be used next time you book.

 

I looked around for a cabin/cruise we would want to book, put a hold on it, and then called in to get the bookings switched.  So making a new booking should be pretty easy for you, but no refund in the interim.