Curt From Canada

Before MAR 2020, I kept a database (with lots of input from this fantastic board). Below is the data (a small sample, but with some trends if you look at it). My plan is to start up again (as soon as the sailing begin ... I should have said that louder ... AS SOON AS THE SAILINGS BEGIN! ... and they will). A few observations: 1). A few get assigned very far in advance. These appear to be outliners (and the frequency may come down over time with more data). 2). Just over a month before there is an inflection point where almost half have their assignment set. 3). Almost all have been set 10-19 days before sailing. 4). All have been assigned by the time you board. ? Stay Safe, Stay Apart, Stay Connected, Curt from Canada

I agree. Actually, that is the main reason that I called the Del Rio quotes a little bit of "theatre". They: Are good sound bites ... "I'd like to hear an argument why we couldn't sail" would make a great T-Shirt. Make me want to break into song ... which happens on literally every cruise I have been on (ask me, sometime, about an electric rendition of "Mack the Knife" at the Chef's Table). Feed the soul ... not quite "When the beating of your heart, echoes the beating of the drum", but good enough to take to the barricades. ? Better days are coming ... Curt from Canada

I was looking for Del Rio quotes specifically. Not because I think it will make a difference, but because of the "theatre" (not something I can go to these days). ? Here are a few of my favourites from the article: “This impasse has got to stop,” Del Rio said. “The cruise industry must participate in the great national reopening. Every other hospitality travel and tourism sector has been allowed to operate and we have not.” “We were disappointed,” Del Rio said. “We thought it was a step backward, quite frankly.” Del Rio called the combination of safety protocols and the vaccine requirement “just an unbeatable airtight set of circumstances that will make cruising a very safe vacation alternative.” “I’d like to hear an argument why we couldn’t sail,” Del Rio said in an interview. “If everyone on board is vaccinated and following the protocols, there is absolutely no need for the conditional sail order to exist as it is known today.” This is what a "Cruise CEO Super Hero" sounds like. ? Curt from Canada

Article in the Washington Post April 5, 2021 (I do not think it is April 1st anymore). Del Rio issues the Cruise Ship equivalent of a "Shot Across the Bow". Can't get the article link on here due to a paywall ... not sure how I was able to read it. Calling all techies! ? Curt from Canada

@Matt Doing his best "Devil on my Shoulder" impersonation. Curt from Canada

My favourite tracking graph is below. A few observations/questions (all cruising related): 1) Why is Australia not cruising? Their control is world class (even without wide spread vaccine rollout ... using Israel as the gold standard). 2) Given the phenomenal results out of Israel, it is not a random selection to home port Odyssey there. Israel is still the "canary in the cave" and their results mean Cruising may return sooner than even the most pessimistic among us. 3) UK & US vaccination rates are very encouraging. Vaccination rates approaching Israel will result in a similar "off the cliff" drop in infection rates. I can smell the sea air now. ? Stay Safe, Stay Apart, Stay Connected, Curt from Canada

Sometimes I think I am on Candid Camera (young people ... look this up). Two images from the identical cruise. Same price ... but missing "Pre-Paid Gratuities" option. Now I am certain it is IT gremlins or someone pressing the wrong button: Always Included "Discount" shows on both. However, "Always Included" is not indicated on first. Not a big deal ... I am sure my TA would fix. Below is the "new" options screen. Darn, I can not longer pay "pre-paid Gratuities" that I "paid' in my AI rate: As before I get NRD and Pre-Paid Gratuities. But pre-paying for something that is included in my AI price is really odd. Curt from Canada

Thanks to you and @twangster for trying to solve my "Cruising Mystery". To be more direct with my questions: 1). Celebrity ALWAYS INCLUDED [AI] has Drinks, WIFI and Gratuities included. There is no option to book a Celebrity Cruise (unless the cruise is very, very close in) without Gratuities being included in the booking rate. Why, then, does the website have the option to "pre-pay Gratuities"? Why would anyone do that? 2). I understand that all AI bookings are NRD. It is nice that you have the option at the end to make them refundable. My process is to "ALWAYS" book Refundable and then convert to Non-Refundable at final payment day. Is this an option? Thanks for the input ... I think Celebrity is in transition and there are a key issues that I find confusing. Curt from Canada

That makes a lot of sense. One twist is the for an AI rate they asked to Pre-Pay Gratuities (or "Maybe Later": It also skips the Two Upgrade Option Page. Website gremlins??? Curt from Canada

I just looked up my May 2022 Silhouette Cruise (where we got a great "pre-AI" price). There were no options for AI "upgrades", AND a choice for pre-paying gratuities was required. I choose to not pre-pay gratuities and this was the summary I got: I will not go on a rant about how AI puts Celebrity out of reach for me (virtual non-drinker, "always" wanting to disconnect and someone who enjoys paying gratuities with on board credit ... OK that was a small rant). My question is ... "What is a credit of $368 for ALWAYS INC NRD?" This is definitely new. Curt from Canada

I am afraid like @Lovetocruise2002 and other Canadians, this is the only cruise ship I will be on this coming summer: Stay Safe, Stay Apart, Stay Connected, Curt from Canada

My guess is December 1, 2020. I am not 100% certain, but I think a Quantum Class ship sailing from a part of the world that is impossible for me to get to. ? Sorry, I know everyone is upset (me too), but it is Friday afternoon and I am feeling "punchy". 90 minutes to Martini Time! Curt from Canada

No doubt the vaccines need to take hold, and that does not happen the second you get your first jab ... there will be a lag. The UK was ahead of the US by about a month, so I look to them to be the leader (of the only two countries that affect my cruising) ... it is really all about me. ? Still, all I need is between 2,792 to 8,878 passengers and crew (vessel dependant) to be fully vaccinated to join my soulmate and I on a cruise ... I am still packing (and I am not packing light). Stay Safe, Stay Apart, Stay Connected, Curt from Canada

This is the biggest reason I am encouraged, happy, exhilarated, and putting on my dancing shoes as I write this: As the two most important cruising countries in the world (to me) continue to crush the virus, I get closer to the 5 cruises we have booked (all five sailing from US or UK). Keep rolling up your sleeves so you can pack and dream (not necessarily in that order). ? Curt from Canada

Darn ... now I am constantly checking. I have a bad case of "Lovetocruise2002itis". There is no known cure. Curt from Canada

We did this about 3 years ago: 1). Fly to Vancouver and take Radiance to Seward. 2). On the way we visited the Hubbard Glacier (it is far north, so there are not many "return trip" sailings ... you need to take a one way to Seward, or the southbound to see Hubbard). It is spectacular. 3). We did a land tour (self directed) up to Anchorage, Talkeetna and Denali. I am certain there are other tours, but we liked the flexibility of doing it ourselves. We took the train mostly, but saw Denali from Talkeetna and on a 13 hour tour through Denali National Park. 4). Took the train back to Anchorage and flew home from there. There are tons of Tour Companies ... we used this one: Alaska Tour & Travel I am certain others will be similar. Stay Safe, Stay Apart, Stay Connected Curt from Canada

We have spent a lot of time on Anthem ... that could make it even more "Freaky Friday". Thanks for your thoughts, Curt from Canada

I am certain if I did a deep dig, I could find out the answer to the question below. Sorry, I am in a little bit of a hurry to book almost identical cruises from Vancouver on either Quantum or Ovation. What are the key differences between the two ships? Any and all thoughts are greatly appreciated. Stay Safe, Stay Apart, Stay Connected, Deane

A couple of concerns: 1) I do not think how "smart" people are these days counts for much. The data and information about the virus changes frequently. Therefore being right today, almost guarantees that you will be wrong tomorrow. ? 2) Cruise lines have been vilified for decades that they are breeding grounds for disease (I do not believe this, but perception is more important than reality). One positive test on a plane or train is a footnote. One positive test on a cruise ship sends regulators into "panic" mode. The cruise industry is at the mercy of public opinion and can not risk even small outbreaks on ships. They will probably be very cautious through 2021 and even into part of 2022. Not because they want to, but because they are in survival mode. Stay Safe, Stay Apart, Stay Connected, Curt from Canada

As long as there is a Schooner Bar and Boleros they can put a massive "Titanic of Seas" banner from stem to stern (as long as it does not block my balcony view). ? "It's not what is on the outside of someone (thing) that matters, it's what is on the inside". ? Stay Safe, Stay Apart, Stay Connected, Curt from Canada

This is the most important graph for the resumption of cruising. Many other countries have much better results. However, they are not the cruising "capital of the world". As the US gets under control (and they will do quickly with the rapid expansion of jabs in arms), starting cruising out of the US will get easier and easier. Roll up your sleeves and then start packing swimwear, your clothes for "Formal Night" (or whatever they are calling it these days), and two bottles of wine. ? Stay Safe, Stay Apart, Stay Connected, Curt from Canada

This is not necessarily a topic for a cruise blog, but your words have touched me. This is not a cheery topic, but an important one. My grandfather passed away from colon cancer as well (long ago ... I am not a young man). It affected me significantly, and hurts over 40 years later. mRNA (and some other similars) have the ability to energize our immune systems against the cancer "invaders". It still is not proven, but it may be the best bet we have (currently). I pray for the day these game changers save millions. Curt from Canada

mRNA is big. Not just for COVID 19. Cancer, flu and even the common cold is in its sights. Too soon to tell, but very promising. I am glad to be alive in the 21st Century, and not the 16th Century. ? Curt from Canada

This is a re-post ... so regulars can pass it by. Grandeur is one of our favourite ships. It's connection with the sea is a highlight. The restaurants can not compare with the larger ships, but we sail for different reasons: Frequently, you will hear experienced cruisers talk about the different reasons for cruising. Sometimes the discussions separate into three camps: “stay on the ship” versus “visit ports” versus “be at sea”. Obviously, there is no “right” answer, but it is very interesting to hear the preferences of others. I think when a cruise line offers “choices”, so that you can meet your needs, they deserve your “attention”. One of the reasons my soulmate & I cruise so often on Royal Caribbean, is the wide variety of experiences on board their ships. I am certain that there are other cruise lines that offer the same variety. Still, one tends to stick with the known versus the unknown. Below are different ways to approach cruising: 1). The Ship is the Destination: How can anyone disagree that the ships are so special that passengers want to maximize their time on the ship? The large ships offer so much that visiting no ports would probably be fine for some. On our last trip, Harmony of the Seas was so busy there was little time for afternoon naps (we think this is necessary if you dance all night). Even their medium sized ships are packed with on board options. So many ships (Oasis, Quantum, Freedom Classes) have so many things to do; we frequently are stuck trying to determine what we will not do (because there is more than one event at the same time). 2). Travel is the Main Goal: We have spent a lot of time in Europe with self-directed land vacations. It is a different experience and has its advantages. One thing that is an absolute pain is packing, unpacking and travel between destinations. When we are in “Travel Mode” it is such a treat to unpack and pack once and wake up with a new experience almost every day. These are not necessarily restful vacations, but they are stimulating and are normally filled with many special memories. Although these can be had on the large ships, we find that small and medium ships are better to meet this objective. 3). Stay Connected to the Sea: After all, this is a cruise ship. Some ships have a strong and obvious connection with the sea. Everywhere you go you can see the sea. When we travel, it is never so obvious than when we are on the water … we are not in our home, we are venturing out, we are exploring. Small and medium sized ships maintain this connection easily. The larger ships get the more difficult it is. We have been on Grandeur three times in the last 2 years. Lady G does not have all the “bells & whistles”, but she has sea views everywhere. In support of Goal 2), she taken us to many places we have never been before. She also has been the catalyst, for our main reason for cruising … 4). Make Your Own Fun: We did not start with this strategy, but it is becoming our primary one. Sometimes, day to day routines can foster a complacency that turns into a “rut”. Travel is one way to shake this up, but we think the concept is a little simpler. By using new experiences (ship or port or sea), we “connect” better on cruise ships. Relationship building is about shared experiences, and we find that we converse more, laugh more, dance more (and drink more too) on the ship. As much as possible we try to travel with friends. The more friends, the more opportunities to build deeper relationships. It does not matter if the ship is big or small, if the number of days are few or many, or if we are in port or at sea … we make our own fun. For 1) … we enjoy: Allure, Harmony & Anthem. For 2) … we enjoy: Radiance, Grandeur, Adventure, Explorer & Anthem. For 3) … we enjoy: Grandeur, Radiance & Anthem. For 4) … we enjoy: All the above. Regardless of how you cruise … Have a Blast. Curt from Canada

Here is what my Soulmate and I did a number of years ago (the interesting thing was the RCL agent convinced us out of a 14 day north/south B2B on Radiance to do this instead): 1). Fly to Vancouver and take the North Bound cruise to Seward. Make sure you get a Starboard Balcony (do not miss the Inside Passage ... I thought I could touch the tress on the shoreline). 2). Make sure the itinerary has the Hubbard Glasier ... it is stunning. We enjoyed tons more on the cruise, but many people have already covered. Hubbard was the highlight of the cruise. 3). Do a land tour (we did ours self directed, but a tour group would be fine as well). Do not miss: Denali ... We had two views of the spectacular mountain: Talkeetna and from Denali National Park. Talkeetna ... a great town to visit. If you are there on a Sunday morning there is a cafe that only plays the Beatles (we stayed there for a couple of hours (breakfast and a break)). Denali National Park ... we had a 13 hour bus tour. It was "other worldly". Anchorage ... lots of history and things to do there. Alaska ... was one of the most welcoming places we have ever visited. We thought it was once in a lifetime visit. Nope ... we will go back. Bore Tide Surfing on Turnagain Arm ... We did not do it, but it was fun to watch. Obviously, there are more things to do, but we only had 6 days. 4) Fly back out of Anchorage The RCL agent (who was from Alaska) said the North and South itineraries were pretty much the same. She said, "do not go all that way and miss Denali". Hope you have a blast, Curt from Canada