DublinFC

1 hour ago, jticarruthers said:

Not my quote, but someone hypothesized this new warning was a precursor to lifting the No Sail order.  Essentially, consider yourself fairly warned.

We can only hope ... 

+1

1 hour ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

Just saw this after i posted!  This is great news!  If all goes to plan we will make Platinum during our Dec 2021 cruise!

I sent in a msg to our TA to see if we can reprice for our July booking.  We just booked 2 weeks ago.  Hoping the price stays the same so we can take advantage of the double points.  Would be a great way to get closer to the next level in C&A.  We would be 4 nights away from Platinum if we can get it to work for us.  

Hello, 

Just wondering if anyone had a suggestion for hotels by the port that would give good views of the ships in port?  I was looking at a list from my TA, but I thought I would ask the group here as well.  

8 hours ago, Mike Huereca said:

Received email from Southwest Airlines about flights from Houston to Miami and back. Use to go to Fort Lauderdale and transfer to Miami port. Now can fly to Miami directly and back. 

Flights listed on Southwest Airlines website. Already changed my departure flight to be from Miami when I get off of Allure in Febuary. 

Great news, I am glad they are now available.  We have 3 cruises next year all out of Miami.  We have a substantial credit for cancelled flights from earlier this year. Glad we will be able to use  them up on existing vacations.

Going to jump in and ask about when dining reservations open on Indy?  We just booked a cruise with the new kids sail free promo on Indy for next July.  I am looking on the cruise planner, but dining and activities are not open with 279 days to go.

With the meeting at the White House being pushed back I am not surprised.   I am really hoping, for own personal gain(selfish), cruising is back for a few months before our April sailing.  I would like to see how the experience is and kinks worked out before we sail.  

Hopefully the meeting at the White House is favorable to getting cruising going again.  The success in Europe is encouraging.  I am hoping what is being learned there can be applied here so we can get back out on the water sooner than later.

22 hours ago, Scooter6251 said:

If you submit a Lift Shift request, do you have to accept their choice of ship and cabin?

No, my TA moved us after the dust settled from the L&S.

I hope the cups are still provided even if they cannot be used at the machines for the time being.

12 minutes ago, princevaliantus said:

In on word ... YES!! And if you think trying to outwit RCG, let me remind those who try to play stupid when MSC Cruises says family denied re-boarding after they broke COVID-19 'social bubble'... you can also read the full article: https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2020/08/19/msc-cruises-cracking-down-passengers-who-break-covid-19-regulations/5605867002/

I get that going on your own with excursions saves money, but right now there are these rules we need to follow.  I am not going to chance being denied boarding just to save a few dollars.  I am hoping we can at least walk around the port and get lunch and drinks off the ship for some local options.  If the cruise line says no, only way to get off is through an excursion then more ship time.  

On 9/19/2020 at 6:29 AM, Baked Alaska said:

After this class, you won't NEED to take another class. I also learned a few tips and tricks that I can use elsewhere in my kitchen. A big one was using plastic wrap to cover the counters/tables where participants worked to keep cleanup to a minimum. This is one of those "more is caught than taught" situations. Now, when I make bread (daily), I cover my countertop with a 3'x2' layer of plastic wrap. With that in place, I rarely have to use my bench knife for cleanup. We were rolling our sushi before this class, but it was nice to pick up a few pointers, and we made a lot! Took it back to our cabin for a mid-day snack!

I am hoping to have plenty of leftovers too so I can snack on it later too.  I already told my wife our bill might be a little steep from the grab and go sushi option.  I plan to have it a few times on the ship

@Pima1988I looked at the report wanting to see exactly what was stated.  I am not a fan of forced mask wearing.  I think what was written was to be expected, but I do not see it as a deal breaker for me.  This passage is what I am referring to.

"Specifically, guests should wear face coverings in any indoor, congregate setting regardless of physical distancing measures, but should not be required to wear face coverings in their own cabins. A notable exception is indoor dining. Seating in restaurants and bars/lounges should allow for physical distancing, so guests can eat and drink without needing face coverings while seated. Face coverings are not required in outdoor settings as long as physical distancing is feasible. However, if physical distancing is not feasible in certain outdoor settings, masks/face coverings among guests should be required in those locations. For crew members, masks should be worn any time they are engaging with other crew members or guests (i.e., in all public settings, both indoors and outdoors)."

I think this is a good compromise.  Being outside at the pool then we are not required to wear them.  I am not sure what they are going to do about the hot tubs though.    On the way there and back yes, but I will take that over all the time.  

Also, this passage is encouraging to me.

"The Panel recognizes that as disease prevalence goes down, face covering requirements may be loosened over time based on the latest available scientific data, public health agency recommendations, and risk modeling. However, in the initial period of sailing, they are an important tool that should be regularly used"

I am taking this information, and the rest of the panel's report,  as a positive sign that we can get the ships back in the water and sailing again.  I hope the CDC agrees with the panel's report.

3 hours ago, Baked Alaska said:

We loved the sushi making class on our Alaska sailing. We roll our own, now. 

I am the only one in my family that likes sushi, so I am rolling solo for the class.  I might start making it for myself after the class.  I have looked locally for a sushi class without any luck.  

4 minutes ago, twangster said:

I don't want to be forced to sit on a boring bus ride because it is the least undesirable excursion option available.  

Terrific point.  I did not think of that.  Things are going to be different for awhile.  We usually pick cruise line excursions for peace of mind if we were delayed for some reason.  But, now there looks like we won't have a choice of going out on our own.  For now at least.

I would like to try river cruising.  I have looked into it and for what it is @twangster has a great point about the cost.  Correct me if I am wrong I think they are all inclusive and include excursions.  We talked with someone who has been on a couple and that is what she told us.  They did the Mississippi.  

I think a European river cruise will be something we need to put on our radar.  They just seem to really get you to the heart of the places you visit.  

So if Royal started this sort of cruising we would check it out.

On 9/16/2020 at 9:26 PM, RWDW1204 said:

developing a plan and creating a timeline to implement it. Isn't this things cruise lines have been working on for months?

This is my annoyance with the whole thing.  Why has it taken this long to even get to this point?  I love cruising, I want to cruise.  The lack of action by the CDC or government has been terrible.  I am glad something is now being done, but why did it take so long?  I know I am bitter about having to postpone my cruise this year.  I know I am not the only one.  We have another one booked on a different cruise line for this coming April.  I really hope cruising is back and running before we sail so all the new kinks are worked out of the new operational procedures.  

I had this booked for our postponed Dec cruise.  I can book it for the next cruise but it is on the last day.  I personally would prefer if it was earlier in the cruise.  I am still debating on signing up again.  I am already doing the sushi class.

I hope so, but I am not going to hold my breath on what the CDC says now and two weeks later.

On 7/30/2020 at 4:11 PM, JLMoran said:

Escargots!!!! MY GOD, DO NOT THINK ABOUT TOUCHING THE ESCARGOTS!!!!!

 

EDIT: Unless there's actually a way to make them better. I mean, this is the head chef who actually made Sorrento's pizza fairly decent. Imagine what he can do with something that's already at the level of "OMG!"

On 7/30/2020 at 8:42 PM, SpeedNoodles said:

^^^^ THIS.  THIS. A THOUSAND TIMES...THIS!!! ^^^^

never had escargots, was planning to try it on our cruise we had planned for this year.  I guess I am going to have to wait until next year.

We have had a lot of shakeups for our cruising future.  The only RC cruise we are now booked for is Dec 12-19 2021 Oasis of the Seas.  All others had to be cancelled  

10 minutes ago, Jolly Ogre said:

That is one of the major reasons I did a lift & shift to next year.

That and I am worried that they may have venues closed, like the hot tubs. I want to have a fun relaxing time on a cruise not be worrying about what others have or might be spreading. 

We decided to do the Lift and Shift to next year as well.  Started the process today.  We made the decision since time was running out on L&S and we have no idea what cruising is going to look like when it resumes.  Limitations on pools/hot tubs, entertainment, etc is not the vacation we are signing up for.  Seriously disappointed, but this is the right decision for us as well.  The count down will be starting all over again....

2 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

@DublinFC Yes you can L&S any cruise that is booked before Aug 1st...until Aug 1st. Cancelled cruises have a different L&S date, some have until July 10th.

Thank you

Is the deadline still Aug 1st to do a L&S?

1 hour ago, Marlena said:

It's taking away some hope for us going on our dec sailing.

I will be surprised if we sail in Dec too.  I hope we do, but I really think we are going to be disappointed.