Jan115

Hi Michael, and welcome to CruiseCrazies! I'm not sure if you mean this summer or 2022 (no Alaska this summer), but both ships pack a big punch. Quantum class is the newest class of ship and the more technically advanced. It's known for North Star (the arm with the attached pod), Sky Diving simulator, and is very popular with teens and young adults for the activities they love. The Oasis class (Symphony) is the biggest ship at sea, and has a staggering number of bars, restaurants, and entertainment choices. Their claim to fame is the Flow Rider, Aqua Theater, waterslides, and their "neighborhoods". Both ships have more than plenty to do for your family with young kids, but I think the Symphony would be a good fit if you don't mind traveling cross country. Let us know what you decide!

It's here! The news we’ve all been waiting for has arrived! It is with great pleasure to announce that Norwegian Cruise Line will return to service and begin sailing in July! Choose from three 7-day itineraries and ports of embarkation: Athens (Greek Isles), Montego Bay (Western Caribbean) and Punta Cana (Eastern Caribbean). For these return-to-sea sailings, Covid vaccinations are mandatory for all crew and guests, and other health and safety protocols are in place, as well, to ensure that guests have an enjoyable vacation! Even better - the second guest flies FREE! Now open for booking! Contact Jan to reserve your cabin today! In the meantime, tune in to NCL's EMBARK Series Live on Demand FB Series "Great Cruise Comeback", August 15, at 8:00 pm.

Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued the next phase of technical guidance under the Framework for Conditional Sailing Order (CSO) requiring cruise lines to establish agreements at ports where they intend to operate, implement routine testing of crew, and develop plans incorporating vaccination strategies to reduce the risk of introduction and spread of COVID-19 by crew and passengers. This phase, the second of the CSO issued in October 2020, provides technical instructions on: Increasing from weekly to daily the reporting frequency of COVID-19 cases and illnesses. Implementing routine testing of all crew based on each ship’s color status. Updating the color-coding system used to classify ships’ status with respect to COVID-19. Decreasing the time needed for a “red” ship to become “green” from 28 to 14 days based on the availability of onboard testing, routine screening testing protocols, and daily reporting. Creating planning materials for agreements that port authorities and local health authorities must approve to ensure cruise lines have the necessary infrastructure in place to manage an outbreak of COVID-19 on their ships to include healthcare capacity and housing to isolate infected people and quarantine those who are exposed. Establishing a plan and timeline for vaccination of crew and port personnel. The next phase of the CSO will include simulated (trial) voyages that will allow crew and port personnel to practice new COVID-19 operational procedures with volunteers before sailing with passengers. CDC is committed to working with the cruise industry and seaport partners to resume cruising when it is safe to do so, following the phased approach outlined in the CSO. COVID-19 vaccination efforts will be critical in the safe resumption of passenger operations. As more people are fully vaccinated, the phased approach allows CDC to incorporate these advancements into planning for resumption of cruise ship travel when it is safe to do so. CDC recommends that all eligible port personnel and travelers (passengers and crew) get a COVID-19 vaccine when one is available to them. Cruising safely and responsibly during a global pandemic is difficult. While cruising will always pose some risk of COVID-19 transmission, following the phases of the CSO will ensure cruise ship passenger operations are conducted in a way that protects crew members, passengers, and port personnel, particularly with emerging COVID-19 variants of concern. CDC will continue to update its guidance and recommendations to specify basic safety standards and public health interventions based on the best scientific evidence available. For more information about COVID-19 and cruise ships, please visit www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/cruise-ship/what-cdc-is-doing.html and www.cdc.gov/quarantine/cruise. ### U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICESexternal icon CDC works 24/7 protecting America’s health, safety and security. Whether disease start at home or abroad, are curable or preventable, chronic or acute, or from human activity or deliberate attack, CDC responds to America’s most pressing health threats. CDC is headquartered in Atlanta and has experts located throughout the United States and the world. SOURCE: CDC Press Release, April 2, 2021. Photo Credit: Pixabay Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more For more cruise news and articles go to https://www.cruisecrazies.com View full article

I’m weighing all the options and as soon as my ‘retired’ husband is done with his work day, I’ll let you know what we’re thinking. In the meantime, I’m going to jump on pricing for Bermuda, Nassau and St. Martin as soon as they are available.

Looks like you’ll be on the Carnival Glory (unless Carnival extends their suspension of cruises). No reservations needed in the complimentary dining rooms on formal night or any other. You just show up when you’re ready and wait. Reservations are encouraged for Specialty Dining venues, however. Sometimes Carnival does offer discounts on Cheers, and sometimes travel agents may do so, as well. Check with Carnival or your agent.

Meanwhile, this just in from the CDC about its Conditional Sail Order: According to the CDC, “the CSO will remain in effect until Nov. 1, 2021, as the agency works on a way to return to passenger cruising in a phased approach to mitigate the risk of spreading COVID-19.” 😡 https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/24635-cdc-says-it-won-t-drop-conditional-sail-order.html?fbclid=IwAR3LLdEq8NWWESgVeQTBXUX7pjYK5XBo8HAkG3qHcecD3aSES4du9tiUApE If this is true, our Bermuda cruise from NYC will be a no-go.🙁

And another just added from Royal Caribbean: Round trip Bermuda to private island and an overnight in Bermuda. Maybe CDC will take the hint! The only glitch I’m seeing are folks who live near or within driving distance of U.S. ports - they don’t want to fly. But hopefully there are enough vaccinated cruisers willing and eager to cruise again! The cruise lines need us!😎

Royal Caribbean and Celebrity both announced 7-day Bahama & Caribbean vaccine-required cruises beginning in June. Both lines are beginning their journey to the sea with a single ship, new health and safety protocols and a host of other new policies: Royal Caribbean - Adventure of the Seas; new Home Port of Nassau Celebrity Millenium - new Home Port of St. Maarten Let’s get some discussion going. I’d love to hear everyone’s thoughts on these new cruises, whether you will cruise with a vaccine requirement, and if these cruises will be just the thing to get you back on board a ship.

Hi Jana, and welcome to CruiseCrazies! Congrats on your first cruise! It looks like you’ll be on one of the first sailings when cruise ships return to the water, so I hope you will come back here and share your experience, as it will be helpful for all of us here with cruises scheduled in the upcoming weeks.😎 A passport is always better, but as long as you are cruising round trip from an American port to the Caribbean or Bahamas, DL AND birth Certificate (with raised seal) will be fine. Passports are taking longer than usual to process, and unless you are expediting them (for added cost), you’re probably too late obtaining PP for a June cruise. Passports are taking around 12 weeks and expedited passports 6-8 weeks. For a first or any cruise, it’s a great opportunity to get a family formal portrait done. You’ll also see the ship photographers appear around every corner. I remember for our first few cruises we used to stop and pose for every one. Now we usually just keep walking. Still, it doesn’t hurt to stop for a pic - the first one when you board is always fun. You can always buy ones you like or just ignore them all. For more helpful tips for newbie cruisers, check out my blog post: https://7seajourneys.com/what-to-expect-on-your-first-cruise/ Also, be sure you’re aware of all the covid health and safety precautions pertaining to your ship. Have a great cruise! 😎🛳🏝

Princess and HAL just announced the cancellation of north and southbound Alaska cruises, with HAL keeping Seattle round-trip cruises open (for now) while they try to work out the Canada port requirement. Other cruises will be sure to follow with their own cancellations. If you’re affected by a cancellation, contact your TA or the cruise line to discuss your options. What has not been canceled are small ship adventure cruising, like Uncruise. Another option if you’re devastated about losing your cruise (again?!?) is a land or rail package. Fly into Anchorage or Fairbanks and see Denali and more with no Canada requirement to worry about. Ask me for more info.

Sounds awesome! We took the NCL Alaska cruise from Seattle a few years ago on the Pearl. We loved it, as well! Speaking of Alaska, HAL and Princess just announced cancellation of cruises for Alaska. There goes another devastating season.

I and many others would agree, Dennis, and I don't intend to cruise without one. While some will require a vaccine (Crystal, American Queen), most other major lines will likely require the crew only to get vaccines; not so sure about guests. If cruise lines require vaccines of guests, then they would also be required to refund money to people who booked before the vaccine requirement was made, and after losing so much revenue last year, I imagine that's not an idea they're fond of. Plus, there is a segment of the population who refuses to get the vaccine and thus won't cruise with any line that requires one, and the cruise lines fear losing guests. You've done a lot of cruising! What was your favorite ship and favorite destination?

Welcome @Dennis! Tell us about some of your best cruise experiences or share where you're going next! 🛳️

Yeah, photos seem to blow up here. No problem, it’s a great book cover! Will read it as soon as I’m done with Book 5 of the Outlander series (I’m hopelessly addicted).

Thanks for sharing! Although the title seems all too familiar during these trying times, the book looks intriguing. Can't wait to check it out!

Disney Cruise Line is temporarily extending final payment until 60 days prior to sailing for guests booked in unrestricted stateroom categories for sailings through June 30, 2021. This means guests who have not yet reached their final payment due date can wait until up to 60 days prior to sailing to pay for their cruise vacation. Guests must pay in full before being allowed to book cruise activities within their Castaway Club booking window. In addition, Disney Cruise Line temporarily relaxed its cruise cancellation fee schedule for sailings through June 30, 2021, as described below. One to Five Night Cruises, Excluding Suites and Concierge Staterooms: Guests who cancel 60 days or more prior to sailing, there is no cancellation fee. Guests who cancel between 45 and 59 days prior to sailing, the cancellation fee is their deposit. For guests who cancel 30 to 44 days prior to sailing, the cancellation fee is 50 percent of vacation price per guest. For guests who cancel 15 to 29 days prior to sailing, the cancellation fee is 75 percent of vacation price per guest. For guests who cancel 14 days or less prior to sailing, the cancellation fee is 100 percent of vacation price per guest. Cruises Six Nights or More Excluding Suites and Concierge Staterooms: Guests who cancel 60 days or more prior to sailing, there is no cancellation fee. Guests who cancel between 56 to 59 days prior to sailing, the cancellation fee is their deposit. For guests who cancel 30 to 55 days prior to sailing, the cancellation fee is 50 percent of vacation price per guest. For guests who cancel 15 to 29 days prior to sailing, the cancellation fee is 75 percent of vacation price per guest. For guests who cancel 14 days or less prior to sailing, the cancellation fee is 100 percent of vacation price per guest. Suites and Concierge Staterooms: Guests who cancel 60 days or more prior to sailing, the cancellation fee is their deposit. Guests who cancel between 56 to 59 days prior to sailing, the cancellation fee is 50 percent of vacation price per guest. For guests who cancel 30 to 55 days prior to sailing, the cancellation fee is 75 percent of vacation price per guest. For guests who cancel 29 days or less prior to sailing, the cancellation fee is 100 percent of vacation price per guest. Categories with Restrictions: Reservations for Inside, Outside or Verandah Categories with Restrictions remain nonrefundable and nontransferable. These temporary changes are in addition to Disney Cruise Lines’ Cruise Date Flexibility Option that already allows guests the flexibility to change their sail date up to 15 days prior to departure for any cruise booked by Dec. 31, 2020 for scheduled sailings on or before June 30, 2021. For more information, visit www.DisneyCruise.com. __________________________ SOURCE: Insider Travel Report (Alan Fine, Dec. 3, 2020); Photo Credit: Janice Neves Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more For more cruise news and articles go to https://www.cruisecrazies.com View full article

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Princess Cruises has announced its summer 2022 Caribbean cruise season. Caribbean Princess, a Medallion Class ship, will return to Port Everglades, FL(Greater Fort Lauderdale) from April through July 2022 to operate seven- and 14-day cruises to the eastern and western Caribbean. Seven-day eastern Caribbean sailings roundtrip from Port Everglades will visit the cruise line's private island experience, Princess Cays, as well as St. Thomas (with late-night ashore time there), U.S.V.I. and St. Kitts. Cruise dates in 2022 include April 30, May 28, July 2, July 16, 2022. Princess Cays has sandy beaches, water activities and a beach barbecue. Cruisers who want to splurge can reserve (for an added fee) a private cabana with air conditioning and bar service. Beach-lovers also will discover soft sands and plenty of sun time on a different seven-day eastern Caribbean itinerary. On April 16, May 14, June 4 and June 18, 2022 departures, Caribbean Princess will sail roundtrip from Port Everglades to Princess Cays, plus Amber Cover (another private island experience), San Juan, Puerto Rico and Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos. For those who prefer to explore more Caribbean culture and Mayan ruins, Princess' western Caribbean sailings include a seven-day itinerary visiting Grand Cayman, Roatan (Mahogany Bay, Honduras), Belize City and Cozumel, Mexico. Departures are May 7, May 21, June 11, June 25 and July 9, all in 2022 On April 23, Caribbean Princess will also sail a seven-day western Caribbean itinerary to Cozumel, Belize City, Roatan (Mahogany Bay) and Costa Maya in Mexico. The 14-day voyages explore the best of the eastern and western Caribbean. Cruise dates are April 16, April 23, April 30, May 7, May 14, May 21, June 4, June 18, July 2, July 9, 2022. During the line-up of Caribbean cruises, Princess will offer "Exclusive Discovery" and "Animal Planet" shore excursions to such UNESCO World Heritage sites as the Mayan Ruins at Tulum or Brimstone Hill Fortress in St. Kitts. Recently modernized, Caribbean Princess will immerse passengers in the destinations via the onboard "Rhythm of the Caribbean" program that includes concerts, crafts, "Parrots in the Piazza" and presentations from shark experts and treasure hunters, among others. In addition, the ship offers the OceanMedallion experience. This wearable technology device offers such personalized services and perks as expedited boarding; on-demand food, beverage, retail and service delivery; keyless stateroom entry; contactless payment; friends and family locator; anywhere wagering; interactive games; and movies/live TV on the go. Princess past guests are eligible for a special promotion when they book early. Expiring April 30, 2021, this special promotion consists of a Captain’s Circle launch discount of up to $100 per person. Visit www.princess.com. _______________________ SOURCE: Travel Agent Central, Susan J. Young (Dec. 1, 2020); Photo Credit: Princess 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 https://www.cruisecrazies.com View full article

We disembarked our virtual cruise on Sunday, November 15. Rather than post a day-to-day account here, to save time, please read the blog. I am glad I wrote this report because it made me feel like I was there. Even though my husband and I weren't really there, we feel like we have become familiar with the ship, thanks to all the great onboard photos from Princess used with permission. If you didn't get a chance to read my report, check it out here on my Travel Journal Blog. It's divided into days, so need to be overwhelmed if you read a day at a time.

Ready to think about cruising again? Cruise lines are working hard to get you safely back on board, and Carnival has a deal too good to pass up! Message me to book your cruise today! Or contact me at: https://7seajourneys.com/contact/

I’ve seen the same Titanic exhibit when it came to Hartford and the Maritime Museum in Halifax. We were supposed to do this cruise with Celebrity in 2020 with Belfast and Dublin, as well as Glasgow. I’ve had my fill of Titanic and was looking forward to tours themed toward Game of Thrones and Outlander. Hoping to catch the Outlander tour in 2022 unless I book the land tour am hoping for.🙂