Ditchdoc

Still planning for early 2023 as per signature . Hopefully a year and a half will be long enough to sort COVID out.

Dont think you would have an issue in most places as long as space and weigh permit you to carry it. I would say one thing. I have used something very similar. Its kind of a lean to or 3 sided wall tent. It provides shade but its crowded, barely allowing two beach chairs to fit, and they block any breeze you might get so they are like sitting in an oven. I would search your favorite online store for "ultra light sun shade" or "tent rain fly" and focus on something that is a "roof" and open on all 4 sides to provide shade and ventilation. This is a bit higher end: https://www.amazon.com/AKASO-Portable-Shelter-Camping-Backyard/dp/B08XMG8XGM/ref=psdc_3258963011_t4_B08YRHY6SF?th=1 Its under 7 pounds and big enough for a family. You can find smaller, cheaper and lighter if you look around. Again, the key is being open all around so it does not get so hot. You will be glad you did.

Generally not an issue. Sea level is sea level. Not much difference from one ocean to the next. Doing a land tour, say from Seaward to Denali, takes place over a few days a and your body has time to adapt. Unless take a helicopter tour to glacier/mountain top I don't think elevation will be an issue. I do remember, several years back, I had a layover in Denver after flying from near sea level. I climbed a couple flights of stairs could have sworn someone sucked all the air out the room. That was a sudden and pretty dramatic change that combined altitude with exercise.

There is an article here that outlines some of the differences. https://www.yahoo.com/news/royal-caribbeans-florida-cruise-july-125200634.html In addition RCCL outlines differences here for Freedom of the Seas... https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/are-there-any-experiences-that-are-closed? It becomes apparent that that the exact restrictions/rules will vary a bit from ship to ship since all ships do not have the same venues for dining and entertainment. Perhaps the information is in another forum thread but I was curious as to what kind of controls there might be aboard. For instance, the first articles states UN-vaccinated people will be excluded from the Schooner Bar, the casino and Viking Crown Nightclub among several other locations. How would this be accomplished? Wrist band? Seapass card reader at every door? Security personnel stationed? Honor system? In addition, the Schooner Bar and casino are significant path ways when moving from one part of the ship to another. They are not the only way to get from A to B but again, if you are UN-vaccinated it seems you will be expected to take the 'long way' around. I was surprised at the number of locations UN-vaccinated people will be excluded from. Add the added expense of have to pay out of pocket for additional testing and travel insurance .... even though I understand limiting liability and making people responsible for their decisions ... it seems to me the underlying message is, if you are not vaccinated, don't cruise.

1 from Australia. The US is still trying to figure out what they are doing...or not.

Until FL gets its head out of its butt I just will not be cruising from there. Ill fly to another country that isn't so stupid and makes rational decisions about requiring vaccination on ships.

Good write up by someone on the scene. It gives pretty good insight on what happened and how its being handled. It all sounds pretty straight forward and logical to me with no finger pointing or wouda/shouda/couda. It is what cruises can probably expect in the short term. Who knows in 6 months or a year from now other than it probably will not be the same.

High interest rates and mediocre rewards compared to some cards make this card a poor choice.

I am not a mathematician but I would speculate that: An un-vaccinated person is at much higher risk. Two un-vaccinated people together increases the risk, perhaps exponentially, e.g. the risk goes from 50% to maybe 80 or 90% .... etc. Vaccinated people are at a much lower risk but lower is not 100%. Two vaccinated people together decreases the risk even further to the point its almost 100%. A cruise ship, as has been said by many, is a floating petri dish. You HAVE to consider not just yourself, but other passengers and perhaps more importantly, the crew. Do you want groups of un-vaccinated people, at a much higher risk of being infected, touring the bridge and talking to the Captain, the First Mate, the Navigator, the Chief Engineer etc? These are the people responsible for your safety, for the safety of the ship. True they should all be vaccinated at this point and are reasonably safe. If the opinion is, we are safe because the crew is vaccinated, then the argument becomes 'I don't have to be vaccinated and am safe because of those that are vaccinated therefor I can afford to be be negligent and piggy back off those that are being responsible.'

Well, vaccinated people are pretty much 'virus proof' and get to live a normal life. Those willing to voluntarily show they have been vaccinated may get access to areas closed to those who are not. Those that are not vaccinated take their chances and potentially will have to face the consequences of their decision, what ever that might be. There is your freedom. You get to choose.

Look at rooms on the bow and stern, particularly the corners. They are often unique in some way.

Get vaccinated and the odds of that happening are slim to none.

Its been a few years but we did the equivalent of the current 13 night grand mountain post tour. It was fabulous. After the week long inside passage cruise we were bused to Anchorage then it was a mix of motor coach and luxury dome train to Talkeetena, Denali and Fairbanks. All hotels were excellent. The dome rail cars were fabulous with a dining at one point and a bar. Your luggage was taken care of door to door of your hotels. We held Alaskan sled dog puppies and enjoyed eye candy scenery every day. We saw bears, wolves, elk and moose in Denali. Well versed tour guides kept us entertained and informed every step of the way. It was worth every penny and I would do it again in in a heartbeat.

With you. We booked one for Feb 2023 ,,,, Looking really hard for one in 2022.

Wasn't a comment on the food but the crowd.

Don't remember for sure. Its in my tag somewhere. Remember the zip line was there and not much else except lunch, booze, and beach.

Don't always follow the crowd. The path less traveled is more serene, less stressful and just as much fun. Find out where you can eat that is not the Windjammer. You will be glad you did.

Currently planning .... With the 60% off the second guest, for a larger balcony, mid-ship on deck 9, the price for 13 nights is about 4k (everything included) for two or about $300 a day with a low price guarantee should the price drop. Airfare in coach will be about the same or 4k for us with current pricing. By the time we stay in a hotel a few nights pre-cruise, additional meals, excursions, visa fees and so on I figure a budget of 10k US should cover about everything. We had considered the Galapagos but it was going to cost about the same for 1 week to see volcanic rock, lizards and turtles. It was an easy choice to pick New Zealand for 2 weeks instead. Obviously it could be more or less depending on a lot of variables. We try to do something nice every 5 years on milestone anniversaries. 2023 will be our 40th year so this is it. We started with the Caribbean, then Alaska, then the Panama Canal, then Cuba, now New Zealand. In betwixt and between we like going to the western US national parks and touring as well as trips to places like Orlando (we love Disney), New Orleans, San Antonio, Seattle, and so on. We are thankful for the opportunity to do this much. Sorry to digress. Hope the pricing info is helpful.

I was very excited to find this and read through it while making notes. Its a ways off but we have reserved a similar 13 night cruise on Radiance in February 2023, a bit over 600 days away but time fly's. It will be over valentines and my wife's birthday. Right now excursions, flights etc are so far out they can not be made yet but I have plenty of time to plan and consider options. Thanks for all the inside information and photos.

Thanks for the topic and info. We are reserved for February 2023 on Radiance for 13 nights. Only 639 days and counting. I would appreciate any input, comments, recommendations, experiences you may have had on similar trips.

https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-news/alaska-tourism-recovery-act-canada-cruise-ship-ban Alaska Senators Introduce New Legislation to Bypass Canada’s Cruise Ship Ban If passed, cruise ships would be allowed to travel between the state of Washington and Alaska without stopping in Canada.

Key West, Venice ..... maybe others. Cruise ships carrying 6,000 passengers has it down side. You can only put so many people in VW, or a phone booth (both extinct now and perhaps a warning) and towns.

Keep in mind that traditionally these cruises start or end in Vancouver. So many are entering Canada to stay for a day or two.

Timely to the conversation https://www.cruisehive.com/royal-caribbean-not-to-cancel-any-canada-and-alaska-cruises/47061 "Royal Caribbean has now announced it will not be canceling any voyages. This includes cruises embarking/debarking from Canadian ports and those itineraries touching on Canadian ports of call." “As the state with the most extensive shared border with Canada, the Alaska Delegation has worked in good faith to seek a compromise over border crossing restrictions due to COVID-19, keeping in mind the health and safety of Alaskans and Canadians. Canada’s announcement to ban all cruise sailings carrying 100 people or more traveling through Canadian waters, without so much as a courtesy conversation with the Alaska Delegation, is not only unexpected—it is unacceptable.” Senators from Alaska "An amendment to the passenger PVSA seems to be one viable option if Canada refuses to budge."

I see. Now I understand better why most of the Alaskan cruises depart from Vancouver. Its kind of a goofy rule to me. I guess the second part is what covers the various "river cruises" is the US. II also cruised from Baltimore to Bar Harbor Main and then on to Nova Scotia and back. So that makes sense as well with this PVSA. Still kinda of goofy to me but it is what it is.