Vancity Cruiser

13 minutes ago, Gears said:

Going! Last week of November on the Jewel. A simple six night get-me-the-hell-outta-here cruise.

The only 'bump' we see right now is the hassle of getting pre-cruise C19 tests. (as of the requirements today...end of November?...who the hell knows)

We will need (today) a negative C19 test within three days of our flight...and a negative C19 test within two days of embarkation. Could prove difficult to time a single C19 test to cover flight and cruise embarkation for timing of both since we always fly in day before.

I haven't yet looked into the logistics of it all...but it's sure looking to be a high probability PITA.

Most airports offer rapid testing for flights so if you fly the day before your cruise it all lines up. We have tests booked at YVR for Wednesday afternoon (our flight is early Thursday morning so we decided to get test done the day before), fly Thursday, and board Friday so test covers the flight and is within the two day window required by Royal. As long as result is negative should be a fairly painless process.

I am planning to sail from Seattle on Sept. 24. At the time I booked my wife and I agreed we would only go if the land border was opened and we could drive to Seattle. On August 21 the US announced the land border would remain closed for another 30 days. We booked flights the next day

What can I say.....it has been too long between cruises and I’m determined to sail. 

1 hour ago, jticarruthers said:

it probably looks like freedom did with sub 800 .. a ghost town with a lot of venues closing early.

That’s my concern. Looking forward to a reduced capacity sailing but worried about things not being open if too few people on board

Another option is to do a B2B, turning it into a 14 day round trip 

Do they actually limit the amount of drink packages they sell? I have never seen it sell out and they are usually still trying to get you to buy on board.

I believe the spa is a vaccinated only area 

We got our gty cabin assignment yesterday for Ovation, 29 days out from sailing.

1 hour ago, KevinJ said:

@San Diego Garrett Interesting, I'll assume you do that when you book the package. I've already booked for my Jan cruise with three DBPs I'll see if they will just adjust it without the letter. I'll just call to book the packages for my next couple of cruises, waiting for Black Friday sales, may even have to re-book my Jan DBPs.

You do not need a letter. As long as the other person purchases the refreshment package they are fine with it.

10 minutes ago, Jill said:

My OBC was posted within hours to my cruise planner however my Best Price Guarantee was done through my TA

I had mine done by my TA recently. I was told it would take about 2-3 weeks to show up but it was there 24 hours later.

The percentage off is really irrelevant because it is off ‘on board prices’ and on board prices can vary greatly. The common advice is if you want something and are comfortable with the price buy as early as possible. Then check back regularly. If you see a lower price you can cancel your order and rebook it at the lower price.

Current closure is in effect till Sept. 21. We sail sept 24. Not taking that chance. Just booked flights for the 22nd.

11 minutes ago, Rose City Cruiser said:

 If they were to open up their land borders, it would have to be both or none at all.

It doesn’t have to both or none. Many countries (Canada included) are only allowing visitors from a select few countries and not from others.

2 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

Actually that part was just added

 

Summary of Recent Changes

August 20, 2021

Updated the notice to recommend travelers who are at increased risk for severe illness avoid cruise ship travel, regardless of vaccination status.

My point is that the CDC has always considered cruising a high risk activity and warned people against cruising. Just like they warn people about not eating any meat that isn’t well done, or touching animals, etc etc. The CDC mandate on everything has always been over the top extremely cautious. They have been an organization mostly ignored by the general population as they had no actual control and simply provided guidance that has always been over the top cautious. 

Its only since the pandemic that their guidance has been listened to. Even the organization seemed surprised that people were following their guidance as witnessed when the CDC’s director seemed unaware that they were the sole reason the cruise industry was shut down when she was being questioned by the Alaskan senator.

The CDC has always said this about cruises. Even pre pandemic. Nothing new here.

57 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

I think I know too. 

The question I am wrestling with is book a refundable flight now out of Toronto or give in another month and see what happens September 21?  My sailing is December 19th...

I would wait till September 21st. That’s still 3 months from your sailing and I don’t think prices will change or flights will fill up in the meantime.

On 8/18/2021 at 10:38 AM, DJsMrs said:

Looks like the US gov't will soon impose similar restrictions on Canadian visitors to America -  if the US Feds choose to open their border on the 21st. 

Apparently the US government cannot figure out how to safely open the border to a populous with much higher vaccination rates than their own with the announcement of border closure extension this morning. I will now have to fly from Vancouver to Seattle instead of doing the 2 hour drive.

Ironically I was at a football game here in Vancouver last night and there were several Americans in the seats in front of us. I spoke with them and they had driven across the border to attend the game (they were family and friends of one of the players) and were driving back across after the game. So it’s fine for Americans to come and mingle with Canadians and go back to the US, but vaccinated Canadians travelling to the US poses a threat?

Rant over

1 hour ago, smokeybandit said:

The order expires Nov 1

2 months to flatten the curve

6 hours ago, R.T. said:

My family will be sailing on Freedom of the Seas next year. I would like to be able to text message my family members while on board the ship and am not convinced that an internet package is the best way to accomplish that. Does anyone have an experience or suggestion in regards to this issue? 

You didn’t specify. As you wanting to be able to message family members who will be on board with you? If so you can do so through the messaging feature on the app which you don’t need to purchase voom for. It is a couple bucks a day for the messaging feature though

Can on-board credit be used for booking at Next Cruise?

Our TA repriced our Ovation cruise for next month and now we have a whopping $888 onboard credit and we had already prepaid gratuities, purchased dining and excursions. 

I guess my wife will be spending a lot of time in the spa

On 8/4/2021 at 5:50 PM, JasonOasis said:

Breaking news that might impact Canadians and other international travelers coming into the US in the near future even for a cruise.

Reuters is now reporting a White House official stated the Biden Administration is currently developing plans that if implemented would require all foreign visitors to the U.S. be fully vaccinated.  According to the article the White House began moving in this direction last month and has already met with the nations airlines and other businesses over this proposed policy.  The White House is seeking input on implementation should this proposal become a reality and what would be accepted as proof of vaccination, and which vaccines would be acceptable as fully vaccinated whether they are FDA approved or not (meaning vaccines like AstraZeneca, Sputnik V, Sinovac, Sinopharm and other vaccines which are not approved for use in this country).

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/exclusive-us-developing-plan-require-foreign-visitors-be-vaccinated-official-2021-08-04/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=Social

The article doesn't specify if the White House included the cruise industry in their talks last month, hopefully they did because the number of international visitors who come to the US to take a cruise is huge, any policy such as this would without a doubt have an impact on the cruise industry.

Anyone have any update on this situation?  I've been searching for information online but cannot find anything. This leads me to believe that the land border closure will be extended beyond August 21. This is extremly frustrating since I have a cruise booked for 37 days from now that is only 130 mile drive but I may be forced to fly.

Seems rediculous that the US land border crossings are open to allow back US citizens who have been vacationing in Canada but will not allow Canadian citizens to cross. 

49 minutes ago, Chadster said:

Yep, that's correct.

I was looking at that cruise to replace my LA to Vancouver on Radiance but for some reason the Radiance hasn’t been cancelled even though it is the week before Radiance’s announced restart date

14 hours ago, MicDay said:

@Chadsterthey are a bad influence but I won't have it any other way!

We are on the May 5th 2022 sailing too!

May 5th sailing starts in Vancouver and ends in Seattle correct?

I don’t feel Carnival is doing enough. I know they are doing the 95% vax thing but they are at double capacity of any other cruise line currently sailing, and the real head shaker for me, the only line still doing self serve buffet.

1 hour ago, San Diego Garrett said:

An impatient person in the Windjammer line eating the food as he slowly strolled down the line. Most of the food never touched the plate. Just straight into his mouth.

This is why the full service buffet needs to remain in place going forward. After emuster, the full service buffet is the best thing to come out of covid and like emuster, I hope the change is permanent.