Jan115

Did you try Budget? I have never rented a car in St. Thomas, but I just pulled up cars on their website for the Budget location near Crown Bay.

Some cruise ships partner their casinos with land based casinos and offer free cruises for their ‘frequent fliers’. Norwegian, for example, has their “Casinos At Sea” program. If you spend enough time and money at your hometown casino and they are partnered with a cruise line’s casino program, you might be lucky enough to receive a certificate in the mail for a free cruise. The hometown casino is counting on you throwing some money in the slot machine when you pick up the certificate, and the cruise line counts on those same gamblers to come play in their casinos. We have gotten quite a few complimentary casino cruises from Norwegian, and upgrading from the free interior cabin to a balcony is still a good deal. Now Princess has started doing the same thing, as we found out when we received a similar certificate in the mail a few weeks ago. 🙂

Hi Tony, and welcome to CruiseCrazies! Congrats on your very first cruise - you must be so excited! I’m not sure about the App, but if you go to Royal Caribbean’s website and click “Manage My Cruise”, you can access the Cruise Planner. If you haven’t already done so, you’ll need to register with a login and password. There you should find beverage, dining and other onboard packages available for purchase. Shore excursions may or may not be available yet, depending on the destination and whether or not the cruise line has worked them out with the local tour guides since their post-pandemic return. For more tips, check out my blog ‘What to Expect on Your First Cruise’. Since it was written pre-pandemic, some procedures are changed somewhat, but it will give you a general idea of a day in the life of a cruiser. Let us know if you have any questions or need any guidance.

So sorry that Muffy was unable to make the trip. This is a good reminder for anyone planning on bringing a service animal on board to begin the process well in advance, starting with the cruise line’s website and following the links to all the requirements. The most important is the Department of Agriculture which covers the regulations for all pet travel, especially when returning from a foreign country.

Enjoy your cruise! After some false starts, we will finally be back to cruising on Norwegian Epic 1/30/22 from San Juan.😎🛳

So sorry this happened to you. There are terms and conditions and expiration dates attached to cruise coupons with NCL. I don’t know if these could be reasons why they won’t refund them and not others, but possibly.

It might be possible to get a lower price or another promotion that results in a lower price. It never hurts to check with your travel agent or the cruise line before making final payment.😎

What's missing from this article? Smokers! Being able to light up in the casino is a big attraction for smokers onboard. Otherwise, it's something to kill the time. I do throw a few bucks into a slot machine once in a while, but otherwise I don't see the attraction. I can find better things to do on a cruise.

Congrats on your upcoming cruise! I haven't been on Elation but cruised her former sister ship the Imagination back in 2003. Elation has gone through a few facelifts since then, the most extensive renovation completed in 2017, making it a nice, smaller-ship cruise. I was sad to see Imagination and Fascination go, but I am glad that Carnival has kept some smaller Fantasy class ships in their roster. I think it will be a great first cruise for your friend.😀 Be sure to come back here and tell us how it went. In the meantime, we hope to see you around our CruiseCrazies neighborhood.🙂

It looks like you’ll be on the Epic January 16 from San Juan, is that correct? We will be on the Epic, but not until February 20th from San Juan. If you haven’t been on the Epic, it’s a nice ship, just a bit different from the rest of the Norwegian ships. I love the Southern Caribbean itinerary! Enjoy your cruise and come back and tell us all about it so I know what to expect!😎

My first cruise back in two years isn’t scheduled to go for another few weeks. In the meantime, now that cruising has restarted at partial capacity with protocols and precautions in place, anyone who has been aboard a cruise, please share your experience with us. CruiseCrazies want to know!🛳😎🍹

Royal Caribbean International's Serenade of the Seas is the first large cruise ship to sail into Alaska waters in nearly two years, on a test sailing required by the CDC to operate with a passenger vaccination rate of less than 95%. The ship departed Seattle on July 7 and arrived in Ketchikan on July 9, marking the first large-ship port call of the 2021 Alaska cruise season. If the test sailing is successful, the Serenade will resume revenue sailings on July 19. "It's a happy day for Alaska's tourism industry and communities that rely on tourism in Alaska," said Alaska Travel Industry Association CEO Sarah Leonard. "This short cruise season means the difference between reopening or closing for good for so many small, locally owned businesses. We are grateful to our congressional delegation, governor and legislators for their hard work to bring cruise ships back to the state this year." The ship's arrival was celebrated by U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, Alaska Lieutenant Governor Kevin Meyer and Ketchikan Mayor Bob Sivertsen, who all spoke at an event hosted by CLIA. "It was an all-hands-on-deck effort to find a solution to the 2021 cruise ship season and bring a much-needed economic boost to our communities," Murkowski said. "Today marks an important step toward Alaska's road to economic recovery from the pandemic." CLIA concluded the program with a tribute to Murkowski for her leadership in the passage of the Alaska Tourism Recovery Act, which was instrumental in facilitating the return of cruise tourism in Alaska this summer. The legislation, sponsored by Murkowski and Alaska's other Republican senator, Dan Sullivan, relieves cruise ships sailing in Alaska of the Passenger Vessel Services Act restrictions for as long as Canada's cruise ban is in place. The Serenade is the first of nine large cruise ships that are scheduled to operate 78 Alaska sailings at reduced capacity through October, according to CLIA Alaska. Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean and Silversea will all sail ships to Alaska this summer, in addition to small-ship lines that have been operating since May. According to the ATIA, cruise lines typically deliver more than half of Alaska's annual visitors, and Southeast Alaska had been expecting an estimated 1.44 million visitors traveling by cruise in 2020 to spend nearly $800 million in the region. "We're seeing an increase in independent travelers already this summer, and that's excellent news for a lot of businesses. However, we know large cruise ships are also an important part to our tourism recovery," Leonard said. This report was updated to include Senator Lisa Murkowski's comments and information about CLIA's tribute to the Alaska congressional delegation. _____________________ SOURCE: Travel Weekly (Johanna Jainchill, July 9, 2021); Photo Credit: Alaska Tour & Travel Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more For more cruise news and articles go to CruiseCrazies.com View full article

Carnival Cruise Line has followed Royal Caribbean's lead in adding a travel insurance requirement for unvaccinated cruisers departing from Florida. "Consistent with the practices of other lines who are also restarting their operations, and in the best interests of our guests who are unvaccinated, this is important coverage to have should they encounter a medical situation during their cruise," Carnival said in a statement provided by spokesperson Vance Gulliksen. The new requirement will be in effect for cruises departing from Florida starting July 31. The requirement is waived for children under the age of 12 who are not yet eligible to be vaccinated in the U.S. All unvaccinated guests must provide proof of their travel insurance policy that covers at minimum $10,000 per person in medical expenses and $30,000 per person for emergency medical evacuation and without exclusions for COVID-19, the cruise line said on its website. The policy has to name the unvaccinated passenger as the holder or beneficiary and can be purchased from a travel insurance company of the passenger's choosing or through Carnival Vacation Protection. Royal Caribbean International said last month it is requiring passengers ages 12 and up who choose not to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination to purchase travel insurance – if they're departing from Florida. "The insurance must cover medical, travel and other related costs for COVID-19 should they test positive while on board," Royal Caribbean said in a statement provided by spokesperson Lyan Sierra-Caro. Outside of Florida, Royal Caribbean is requiring all COVID-vaccine eligible passengers to show proof of vaccination. But in Florida, requiring proof of vaccine putsbusinesses, including cruise lines, at odds with state law. The travel insurance requirement applies to sailings departing from Florida Aug. 1 through Dec. 31 and all bookings after June 28. Proof of travel insurance for unvaccinated passengers must be shown at check-in. _____________________________ SOURCE: USA Today (Morgan Hines, July 9, 2021); Photo Credit: Carnival Cruise Line Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more For more cruise news and articles go to CruiseCrazies.com View full article

If you want to travel internationally in the next six months and you don't have a passport or yours is set to expire in that time frame, act now to apply for one or renew yours. Due to increased demand, a shortage of appointments and delays with the U.S. Post Service, the State Department now says that those applying for a new or renewed passport should expect to wait up to 18 weeks for their document. That wait time drops to 12 weeks if you pay $60 extra for expedited processing. The delays have taken prospective travelers by surprise and many have turned to their elected representatives for help. Summer air travel:Expect competitive airfares, non-stop flights and more Travelers caught off guard by passport application delays U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.) said his office is getting a tremendous number of requests for help with expedited passports. Typically, Stanton’s staff processes 10-12 emergency passport requests from Phoenix residents in a month. The office received 20 last week alone. “We want to make sure that people are aware of the new State Department recommendation to apply for the passport six months before planned travel,” Stanton said. That means if you hope to travel late this fall or early next spring, the time to apply is now. “We want to make sure that everyone has an opportunity to go on their long-planned vacations or see loved ones. If your passport did expire during the pandemic, it’s going to take a while to get that new one so we’re asking people to plan ahead,” Stanton said. Passport appointments are hard to get There are several reasons for the delays. State Department offices were closed for several months last year during the worst of the pandemic, and some people decided to hold off renewing their passports since most travel was on lockdown. Combine those factors with the resurgence of confidence in travel and you get a big demand for passports. Most passport acceptance facilities — like post offices, clerks of court and public libraries — are back open and accepting applications but may have limited appointment availability. “Passport demand is considerable at the moment as customers in Phoenix and across the country look forward to expanded travel opportunities. We’re working to increase passport application availability, but USPS isn't the only passport agent of the State Department,” Rod Spurgeon, spokesperson for the USPS in Phoenix, said. He urged first-time applicants to check for appointments at county clerks, libraries or State Department passport offices. If you just need to renew your passport, the State Department urges you to do that by mail. Long waits for postal returns Typically, the State Department estimates that those applying for routine services can get their passport through the mail within 12 weeks. That timeline is six weeks if you pay the $60 fee to expedite it. However, the processing time begins the day your application is received, not the day you mail it, and that's where passport seekers also are seeing delays. “Some of our service providers have been experiencing operational issues which result in delays in applications getting to our passport agencies and centers. These service providers include the U.S. Postal Service and the intake facility that processes payments and enters applications into our systems,” a State Department official said via email. The department said that due to those delays “routine service can take up to 18 weeks from the day a customer submits their application to the day they receive a new passport," which includes six weeks' mailing time. If you choose expedited service, you should expect to wait up to 12 weeks for your new passport to arrive. What to do if you have an emergency With those delays in mind, Stanton's office is urging people who think they may travel in the next six months to start the application process now. If you have more pressing plans or an emergency, you have a couple of options if you need a new passport. You can go to one of the State Department's passport agencies and get same-day service. But, that comes with a couple of caveats. First, you'll need an appointment, which are mostly reserved for cases involving life and death emergencies. Appointments can be made online at passportappointment.travel.state.gov/. In an emergency, you also can reach out to your congressional representative's or senator's office for help. They have staff who help constituents navigate issues with government agencies, including the Department of State. "If you're in an emergency, contact our office. But if you're not in an emergency and just thinking about it, plan ahead and get that passport process going right away," Stanton said. You can connect with Arizona Republic Consumer Travel Reporter Melissa Yeager through email at melissa.yeager@azcentral.com. You can also follow her on Twitter and Instagram. ________________________________ SOURCE: USA Today, Melissa Yeager, Arizona Republic (July 7, 2021); Photo Credit - Pixabay Free Images Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more For more cruise news and articles go to CruiseCrazies.com View full article

He has a twin? I had no idea!😎

At our age, life is too short to learn new things we don’t need.🤣

… our mascot - Crazie Bear? I had him last on the Ocean Princess in 2012 showing him around the British Isles. At the end of the trip, I shipped him back to his keeper, the late great Mary Lou, and the poor critter has hasn’t been seen since. I miss that little guy.

I already bring too many gadgets - phone, notebook, camera, chargers, batteries, etc. Call me old school, but I’m not stuffing my bag further with a Keurig, a mini speaker or a fancy electronic bag to pack it all in. 🤣

So sorry to hear you want to leave us. Lockdown? Ships are back in service, the CDC has lifted the ban and with restrictions and new protocols in place, ships are off to a cautious re-start. I’m reading positive reviews from people now returning from the first sailings. Granted, many avid cruisers are taking a wait and see approach before booking. There will be a small number of incidents of Covid infections on board cruise ships - it’s a fact. But how the ships handle it (and how the media reports them) will be the key factor in how we respond. People are ready and booking for 2022 and on. Cruising has changed but will return. I hope you’ll stick around with us, but if you want to delete your account, send a PM to Jason, and he can help. Be well!

As Carnival Cruise Line guests return to cruising this summer, they will find expanded functionality of the award-winning HUB App, which will include enhanced food and beverage features, spa and shore excursion booking capabilities, virtual queuing for onboard venues, and updated health and safety information. The most popular app in cruising with more than 8 million total downloads and 4.6+ rating in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, the HUB App is leading the way in Carnival’s efforts at providing a more contactless and convenient shipboard environment once cruising resumes. “In today’s world, smart phones have become ubiquitous for travelers, and they provide a great platform to help our guests make the most of their cruise vacation. We continue to leverage the popularity of the HUB App to enhance our guests’ pre-cruise and onboard experience,” said Ron Dillehay, Carnival’s vice president of guest marketing & technology. “The updates we are announcing today will build upon the convenient features that have made the HUB App the most popular app in cruising, and further enhance our guest experience on board.” New offerings include: • Expanded Food Delivery, Additional F&B Capabilities: The HUB App was the first app to enable pizza and beer delivery, and this popular function will be expanded to include the delivery of a variety of culinary and beverage offerings anywhere on board. Menus for all shipboard dining and beverage offerings will be available in a digital form using QR codes. The HUB App will also be expanded to include dining check-in functionality to additional guests and venues, in addition to Your Time Dining. • Virtual Reservations & Queuing: Guests will soon be able to reserve seats virtually for various venues on board and be alerted when it is time to arrive for their function. Additionally, guests will be able to check-in to virtual queues for select locations on board, including guest services, and be alerted when their place in line is ready. Guests will also leverage the HUB App to reserve tickets for BOLT, the first roller coaster at sea debuting on Mardi Gras July 31 from Port Canaveral. • New Safety Content: Guests will be able to check-in for their cruise via the HUB App with the ability to submit necessary health information, including a health questionnaire and other time-saving steps prior to departure, and new safety content, including new notifications to help guests complete their muster check-in on board. Additional enhancements to the HUB App capabilities will be rolled out in the coming months. These new enhancements complement the variety of functions that provide a seamless vacation experience from beginning to end, including advance spa and shore excursion reservations, a popular chat feature, a full listing of food, beverage and entertainment offerings, youth program check-in and check-out information and easy access to guests shipboard Sail & Sign accounts. For additional information on Carnival Cruise Line and to book a cruise vacation, call 1-800-CARNIVAL, visit www.carnival.com, or contact your favorite travel advisor or online travel site. ____________________ SOURCE: Carnival Cruise Line (Press Release, June 28, 2021); Photo Credit: Carnival Cruise Line Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more For more cruise news and articles go to CruiseCrazies.com View full article