Which ships will be the first to resume in the U.S.

[CSHS1979]

5 hours ago, boscobeans said:

If it's "potential drive to" that is one of the factors think about Bayonne. 

 

A three or four hour drive time would encompass tens of millions, probably the highest population pool within 100-200 miles from a port.  .

 

The Cape Liberty terminal is geared to online check in and with reduced passenger capacity it would be a walk through to the ship.  It is almost that fast now.

 

I can easily visualize arriving at the port, dropping off luggage, parking and aside from security. staying socially distanced all the way to a socially distanced table in the buffet or to our stateroom. (all verandas of course).

 

Wishful Thinking.. LOL

 

No 3/4 day cruises out of beautiful NJ to the best of my knowledge

 

Google Big Radius Tool if you want exact population numbers based on distance.

 

I believe Norfolk, VA has the highest population using a 500 mile radius.

 

NJ suffers because the tool will not pick up Canada. US only

Edited February 24, 2021 by CSHS1979

[smokeybandit]

Canada has strict covid re-entry rules. I wouldn't think many Canadians would want to cruise until that rule is rescinded.

[george35]

I hope it will be the ALLURE on Aug 1st 2021. We had 4 cruises cancelled so far for or 62nd & 63 anniversary & aug will be our 64th ( were running out of time )

 

george35

[sandebeach]

51 minutes ago, george35 said:

I hope it will be the ALLURE on Aug 1st 2021. We had 4 cruises cancelled so far for or 62nd & 63 anniversary & aug will be our 64th ( were running out of time )

 

george35

Congratulations on those anniversaries and I hope you get to cruise in August on Allure. 

[livingonthebeach]

21 hours ago, sandebeach said:

My TA thinks it will be Navigator and Symphony out of Miami. Her rationale was Navigator is RC's amped mid-sized  ship that already does the 3- and 4-day Coco Cay routes;  Symphony as RC's newest and largest ship; and Port of Miami is easier to get to from airport (MIA) than going from Orlando airport to Port Canaveral. 

 

I'm booked on Navigator out of Miami in September -- hoping it will sail.  🤞

[boscobeans]

21 hours ago, ONECRUISER said:

Younger was routine. This when 15-25yrs ago a 22hr Drive to Port was always worth it to me,1-2 times a year and more then half the time I drove straight through to Florida. Without Discount priced Airlines of today was cheap, RT gas was less then $100 in my Full sized Ford Expedition. Now when need drive longer then 8hrs for Family Wedding/Vacation I fly or let my Son-In-Law drive while I hang out with my Grand Daughters in back

From our place to Bayonne is just under 3 hours and Baltimore is just under 6.  Six is our maximum for a drive now at my age. Both are just minutes off major highways and offer very secure and convenient parking just a short walk to either terminal.

 

When driving Cape Liberty is such a great place to leave from and would be even greater if a ship like the Anthem was sailing from there with a 50 or 60 % Capacity. 

 

We have a November 7th Cruise on the Anthem booked and wonder if we will sail.

It is to Canaveral, CoCo Cay and then Nassau. 

 

With RCCL fulfilling any new rules from the CDC with a possible vaccination requirement,  and if Florida's Port welcomes the Anthem I imagine CoCo Cay would be feasible..  As far as Nassau ??? Up to them and if they stay closed maybe some extra time in Coco Cay.. 

 

Maybe by November they will be doing cruises a bit longer than 3-4 day trials.

 

Whatever, I hope we can get back to normal as quickly and as safely as possible including a return to normal cruising...

 

[boscobeans]

18 hours ago, CSHS1979 said:

 

No 3/4 day cruises out of beautiful NJ to the best of my knowledge

 

Google Big Radius Tool if you want exact population numbers based on distance.

 

I believe Norfolk, VA has the highest population using a 500 mile radius.

 

NJ suffers because the tool will not pick up Canada. US only

Which cruises leave from Norfolk ?

 

Yes but by November (our sail date) they may be extending the lengths of cruises ?

I use a 3-6 hour drive  ( 150--300 MILES ) which is comfortable for US as well as most folks at any age and can be, aside from bad weather, is an easy and comfortable drive on the day of a cruise.

 

With a 300 mile radius Bayonne includes more than 20% OF THE ENTIRE U.S. population.

Edited February 25, 2021 by boscobeans

[theLCC1]

Friend of ours has a contract starting 11 June on Mariner.... now lets see if it remains that way but does support the theory that Mariner will be one of the first ones out. 

[Big_G]

On 2/23/2021 at 9:21 PM, RFerrington said:

I just hope they allow B2B. 

 

Agree. We have  Celebrity to Royal B2B booked in November. Besides, we need to make up for lost time at sea.

[CSHS1979]

7 hours ago, boscobeans said:

Which cruises leave from Norfolk ?

 

Yes but by November (our sail date) they may be extending the lengths of cruises ?

I use a 3-6 hour drive  ( 150--300 MILES ) which is comfortable for US as well as most folks at any age and can be, aside from bad weather, is an easy and comfortable drive on the day of a cruise.

 

With a 300 mile radius Bayonne includes more than 20% OF THE ENTIRE U.S. population.

 

Carnival does.

 

We're good for 500 miles. Around 8 hours.

 

My TA drives from Ontario to Miami😱

[molly361]

6 minutes ago, CSHS1979 said:

 

Carnival does.

 

We're good for 500 miles. Around 8 hours.

 

My TA drives from Ontario to Miami😱

We're kinda like you. We're good for around 50 miles

[Ourusualbeach]

1 hour ago, CSHS1979 said:

My TA drives from Ontario to Miami😱

Mine too.

[boscobeans]

3 hours ago, CSHS1979 said:

 

Carnival does.

 

We're good for 500 miles. Around 8 hours.

 

My TA drives from Ontario to Miami😱

We don't cruise on Carnival..

 

We are all different.

 

My wife and I have no trouble leaving the house at 6:00am and arriving at our ship around 9:00am or Noon. ( 3 or 6 hours )

 

Leaving at 4:00am to arrive at Noon would not be our choice. I guess we aren't early risers, at least not that early..  LOL👍

Edited February 26, 2021 by boscobeans

[SNJCruisers]

30 minutes ago, boscobeans said:

We don't cruise on Carnival..

 

We are all different.

 

My wife and I have no trouble leaving the house at 6:00am and arriving at our ship around 9:00am or Noon. ( 3 or 6 hours )

 

Leaving at 4:00am to arrive at Noon would not be our choice. I guess we aren't early risers, at least not that early..  LOL👍

Even if you prefer to drive instead of flying,  you could still drive in the day before, stay at a hotel that has parking included and enjoy a relaxing evening the night before you cruise.

Or you could be thrifty and get up early in the morning to drive in and keep your fingers crossed that there is no trouble.

[boscobeans]

18 minutes ago, SNJCruisers said:

Even if you prefer to drive instead of flying,  you could still drive in the day before, stay at a hotel that has parking included and enjoy a relaxing evening the night before you cruise.

Or you could be thrifty and get up early in the morning to drive in and keep your fingers crossed that there is no trouble.

We have done that especially sailing from Baltimore in the Winter. 

 

For more than 21 years we have enjoyed many pre cruise nights in the Arundel area as well as other Baltimore areas.

[CSHS1979]

12 hours ago, boscobeans said:

We don't cruise on Carnival..

 

We are all different.

 

My wife and I have no trouble leaving the house at 6:00am and arriving at our ship around 9:00am or Noon. ( 3 or 6 hours )

 

Leaving at 4:00am to arrive at Noon would not be our choice. I guess we aren't early risers, at least not that early..  LOL👍

 

It seems a lot of the membership here believes in arriving a day early.😉

 

Hence my stance that 500 miles is a viable drive. Personally, I've only gone same day if under 4 hours.

[CSHS1979]

11 hours ago, boscobeans said:

We have done that especially sailing from Baltimore in the Winter. 

 

For more than 21 years we have enjoyed many pre cruise nights in the Arundel area as well as other Baltimore areas.

 

Lived in the 'Arundel' area 4 years, and never once considered cruising out of Baltimore. 

 

Back then it was all about getting away to the south. Rather fly to Florida

[Ourusualbeach]

14 minutes ago, CSHS1979 said:

Back then it was all about getting away to the south. Rather fly to Florida

That’s the way I’ve looked at cruises out of Bayonne.  I’d rather drive 22 hours and sail from Florida in the winter and have 7 days of great weather than drive for 10 hours and have 3 days of great weather. If we cruised during weather that was warmer I might look at the differently but when we get away in the winter I want great weather the whole trip.

[smokeybandit]

44 minutes ago, CSHS1979 said:

 

Lived in the 'Arundel' area 4 years, and never once considered cruising out of Baltimore. 

 

Back then it was all about getting away to the south. Rather fly to Florida

 

Same. While it may have been cheaper to cruise out of Baltimore since there's little travel cost, it just wasn't "the same"

[boscobeans]

1 hour ago, Ourusualbeach said:

That’s the way I’ve looked at cruises out of Bayonne.  I’d rather drive 22 hours and sail from Florida in the winter and have 7 days of great weather than drive for 10 hours and have 3 days of great weather. If we cruised during weather that was warmer I might look at the differently but when we get away in the winter I want great weather the whole trip.

Very understandable and many probably choose to do that.

 

We have flown many time to Florida and a few to Puerto Rico for cruises and had AS ALWAYS great experiences.

 

When flying we ALWAYS fly in one or two days prior to departure because we ALWAYS cruise in the first three weather problem months of the year. January, February or March can be a PIA as far as delays and cancellations. .

 

For us even direct flights, which we mostly take, involve an hour or two pre flight, a few hours in flight and then cabs to a hotel.  The day of the flight is not one of our favorite ways to spend the most of a day let alone 10 minutes. Baggage restrictions and other PIA stuff including cabs to or from or parking fees. UGH

 

When in Florida we must stay in a hotel, we must eat in restaurants and we must often take cabs from hotels to dining venues,

 

So on an 11 day Southern Caribbean cruise from our favorite port, Cape Liberty, we spend part of our morning on a pleasant drive of less than 3 hours and then we are on the ship beginning to enjoy our cruise.

 

1/2 tank of gas, a pitstop for coffee and a snack then we are on board by 10:30 am, with a leisurely 7:00 am departure.

 

Is it cold in Jersey (or NYC where we have sailed out of 5 times in the Winter as well) USUALLY YES.

On the first U.S. sailing of the Celebrity Silhouette the Lawn area was covered in plastic and a combination of ice and snow. 

 

                                                  We are now on the ship on our vacation

 

Day ONE. Enjoy a lunch somewhere ONBOARD. Have a drink at one of the bars or lounges. Get to our room and do a rough unpack. Sail Away at 4 or so. Check out the ship and get our bearings even if we have been on it before.  Get ready for cocktail hour or whatever the Diamond or Elite offers.  Dinner, a show and maybe (not from Baltimore) the rest of the night in the casino.

 

By the time it's 10 or 11 the next morning the ship has been sailing South at about 20 knots (23 mph) for about 18 hours which puts us over 400 miles to the South or in the area of the Carolinas and are almost always in shorts walking the deck. People are often in the sun in some of the protected areas.  By dinner it's time for a pleasant stroll around the deck in the warming breezes.

 

On average LESS THAN 3  days are spent indoors and probably by the solarium or other of all the great places the ship offers.  

 

When flying we spend a day leaving and another returning in an airport and plane. 

We often spend a day (or more) pre-cruise at a hotel.

 

We spend 11 days on the ship out of 11 days of our time off..

We would rather spend the cost of flights, hotels, meals and other associated costs of flying on our cruise. 

With almost 30 cruises, all during the Winter months, we have found this is FOR US the best way to spend our cruise time and money. 

 

It is so nice on return to be back at home in 3 hours while others are looking for places to store their luggage while they often have to wait hours, for what would be for us a 3 hour non-stop to get to our local airport. 

 

It is just our opinion and we recognize for some or even most it isn't their cup of tea and that's what makes the world an interesting place...

Happy sailing to all..

 

 

Edited February 26, 2021 by boscobeans

[Ourusualbeach]

14 minutes ago, boscobeans said:

So on an 11 day Southern Caribbean cruise from our favorite port, Cape Liberty,

If we were able to do an 11 day cruise at the times we could sail then I would reconsider.  We'd still have a week of great weather and we would miss those dreadful 7 day itineraries out of Bayonne.  Nothing against PC but its just not a place I want a port stop at, especially in December when there can be cooler weather.

[boscobeans]

3 hours ago, Ourusualbeach said:

If we were able to do an 11 day cruise at the times we could sail then I would reconsider.  We'd still have a week of great weather and we would miss those dreadful 7 day itineraries out of Bayonne.  Nothing against PC but its just not a place I want a port stop at, especially in December when there can be cooler weather.

We used to cruise 12 nights out of Bayonne on X and RC, NOW they  cut them down to a few 11s. 

There is ONE 9 night.

NCL gave us a great 12 night to the ABCs and Martinique (great cruise but the Manhattan terminal was horrible)

 

 

 

After we hopefully get to sail on our 7 night ( free ) November Anthem cruise  we are booked for a January 20th,  11nighter on the Anthem.

 

After this Vaccine situation I guess we might even contemplate a cruise to the South Pole...

 

Same ports for over 20 years (no problem) and always something new to see or do.

Being on a cruise to the Caribbean in the dead of an upstate winter, the ports and days at sea are BOTH equally important.

 

There is also plenty of room for our visits to the duty free shops as well, with no limits.. LOL

 

Where ever our once or twice a year cruises take us as long its to places where it isn't below zero for 2 to three weeks a year we are very happy.

Edited February 26, 2021 by boscobeans