steverk

2 hours ago, SandyW said:

By the way, it is unlawful for an employer to mandate a vaccine while the vaccine is under an EUA.  https://www.statnews.com/2021/02/23/federal-law-prohibits-employers-and-others-from-requiring-vaccination-with-a-covid-19-vaccine-distributed-under-an-eua/   

Since we're talking about a foreign flagged vessel, possibly owned by a foreign subsidiary and sailing out of foreign ports, I'm not sure US law applies to these sailings.

14 minutes ago, Royale said:

I’m happy to wear a mask from my cabin to areas on the ship or in/out of eating areas but I would be bothered about wearing one sitting by the pool. 
 

I wonder if the gyms would be open

Good points!

Many of these questions will only be answered by actually sailing.  Even then, it will undoubtedly change over the first few weeks/months.

I'm ready to go sailing and will do my best to get on the Celebrity Millennium as early as possible.  I'm sure that many people, including me, will be posting about our experience.

I agree with @twangster and @BarbieBell. Royal has to get back to cruising somehow and this appears the only way to do it.  There's no point in waiting further.

As far as people that don't want to sail because of the vaccine, well that is their choice.  The requirements to go on these cruises is well understood and publicized. Anyone that chooses to go, also chooses to abide by them.  Anyone that can't abide by them, is free to stay home. 

People that complain about these kinds of things are just making trouble.  Kinda reminds me of this woman: Woman refuses to wear mask in Texas, again, gets arrested - ABC News (go.com) (Of course it is rather ironic. She's probably the first person to get arrested for refusing to wear a mask at a bank!)

1 hour ago, Dave Penney said:

For those of you that are eligible to get the shots, you are lucky I guess. But some of us cannot have the shots so I would venture to say that our cruising days are over. I am awaiting the word from RCCL and if that is the case all of cruises will have to cancelled. It may be time to look at other vacation ideas.

I'm not sure why you aren't eligible to take the vaccine, so I'm probably speaking out of line.  If so, I'm sorry. Just trying to be helpful.

For those that live close enough, at least 2 counties in Texas (Orange & Hardin) and possibly a third (Galveston) are open to all comers.  You must be at least 16, but otherwise no restrictions.  I'm not sure if you need to be a resident of Texas, but you absolutely do not have to be a resident of these counties. I got my first shot in Orange last week and I do not live in Orange County Texas.

58 minutes ago, twangster said:

You would think the CDC would factor in human nature and how Americans will act.

They seem to be of the opinion that by denying cruises Americans will shelter in place and never leave their homes.

In reality Americans are going to leave their homes and vacation recreationally somewhere.  The CDC isn't protecting anyone by banning cruise ships, they are pushing Americans to choose less safe options domestically.  Once the CDC wakes up to the reality of their actions they will realize that cruising with protocols is a much safer way to recreate given many of the other options they are pushing Americans into where there will be no protocols required.

Well said!  I hope the CDC wakes up to this, but I'm less than confident they will.  According to a video clip I saw on the La Lido Loca Youtube channel, the CDC director doesn't even know who is keeping the CSO in place!

I have trouble seeing them lifting the CSO if they don't even understand that they are the ones who issued it and own it!

Perhaps Royal sailing out of other ports will cause them to come to their senses.  Or perhaps they'll be miffed that someone is working around them and try to shut down travel in and out of the embarkation ports.

Here's hoping for them to come to their senses!

At this point, nobody knows what is going to happen in August! Don't give up, but stay away from non refundable airfare. 

As far as ncl is concerned, I only sailed with them once.  Wasn't impressed, but they have their fans

I'm planning to go on one of the celebrity cruises. If I understand the announcement correctly, it's actually a bargain. 

I'm not sure what I expect as far as excursions, masks, etc. But I plan to go with an open mind and enjoy what I can. 

I'll do the Bahamas cruise as an alternative if necessary, but hoping for celebrity on this one.

The cdc has never felt this much power in its existence. I hope they come to their senses, but I think it has gone to their heads.

6 minutes ago, twangster said:

The cruise lines will do what they always do...  follow the money.  

If cruising returns to any resemblance of what it used to be like I suspect most guests won't want the cruise to start offshore.  

If the CDC continues to kill American jobs with limits or restrictions for cruising from US ports for a prolonged period, offshore cruising will continue.

That makes sense.

The big possibility in my mind is the Bahamas.  Royal is purchasing and re-developing a resort there.  I'm probably missing something, but the only way that makes sense to me is if the Bahamas becomes a permanent embarkation port. 

Your point about Americans preferring to depart from American ports is well taken. Does RCI figure that they can make the Bahamas a combo land vacation/cruise port? Are there any countries that can fly to Bahamas, but not to the US (at least not easily)? If so, do they have enough disposable income to be profitable?

I don't know. It's all a mystery to me. 

23 minutes ago, RBRSKI said:

Oh how I remember many on this blog in particular one individual said that Nassau couldn’t handle embarkation and the logistics.  Saying it would not happen.  Well, my grin is from cheek to cheek 

A little less than a year ago, I had said that the lines should sail from some of the islands as well.  I'm sure the challenges and costs make this far less than ideal, but it looks like the lines eventually agreed.  

I wonder when they reached that conclusion? It had to take months to work out the logistics for this.

I also wonder what it means for the future.  Do the Bahamas, St Maartin and Barbados become permanent embarkation ports?

2 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

I would imagine fares will be sky high for these cruises

The Celebrity announcement strikes me as surprisingly reasonable.  "Veranda cabins starting at $1999" per person. It includes taxes (which I assume means port charges) and airfare.  It isn't super clear, but I think it also includes tips, drink package and wifi.

The devil may well be in the details, but it looks like you could be all in for $4K for a balcony.

We can argue whether this is a bargain or not, but it doesn't strike me as sky high.

I'm ready to sail! I don't care which itinerary, I'm all for it!

1 hour ago, Jill said:

What’s the largest RC ship that can go through the canal? Can Navigator do it or is she too big? 

It is my understanding that the new locks are large enough for all of royal Caribbean's ships but the oasis ships are  too tall to pass under the bridge. 

On 3/17/2021 at 10:44 AM, KyleW22 said:

I'm curious if the people who have severe reactions to the vaccine are the same people who would've had a severe reaction to covid if they got it. That might explain why the reactions vary by person.

Once again, this isn't a scientific study, but I have a co-worker that had a very severe case of COVID (hospitalized for 2 weeks, on oxygen for over a month) and then went ahead and got the vaccine.

He had a fairly mild reaction to the vaccine.  Sore arm and headache for a couple days.

16 hours ago, Matt said:

The good news is name change for a cruise is easy

I was on a cruise with my family and easily swapped out one of the passengers just 3 days prior to sailing.  Royal is very generous in that regard.

There's no such thing as too much time on a Royal Caribbean ship!

Ok, time for a little more thoughtful response...I was on Explorer of the Seas (which is a sister for Mariner) for a short cruise and believe there is enough to do that I wouldn't get bored no matter how long I stayed on board.

12 minutes ago, Jill said:

I just read the announcement has been cancelled. Seriously

That's not what we want hear! Where did you hear this?

I have 2 cruises scheduled for summer. Celebrity Solstice to Alaska in June and liberty in August.  I'm about to cancel Solstice as I think I'll do something else. I'm still holding out hope for liberty 

43 minutes ago, Zacharius said:

Yep, I have lost a 30-something year old friend, and two friends' fathers. I have no desire to mess around with it and will get the shot the moment I am eligible. 

I'm very sad to hear that. You have my condolences.

3 of my co-workers had very rough cases of COVID.  I don't want any part of that, so I got my first shot 2 days ago. 

As far as risks go, I feel that the risk from the vaccine, although real, is small compared to the risks of getting the disease.

8 minutes ago, CJS2766 said:

Will we have any 7 night or longer cruise in 2021 or will we have to wait until 2022 for those?--They will have 7 nights, but no longer

I also should have asked, if cruising does resume lets say by September, will ports be closed or will it be RC excusrions only??--Ports will be open by September

One other thing: I believe all passengers over 16 will need to prove vaccination.  That's important for your second question.

As always, these are just guesses!

If it doesn't happen by August 1, then it will be November when the CSO expires.

40 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

+1 on that. 

I have been somewhat researching it for a while too before @Matt posted this.  I don't need to use it yet.  I'm almost positive the cruise this July to Norway isn't happening.  I was researching for the sailing that I booked July 2022 to Norway.  I wanted to be prepared this summer when flights do get released.  The more I look into it, the more I am not sure if I even want to do it this way or just book direct.  With our own situation for July 2022, we plan to fly into Heathrow at least 5 days prior to sailing and probably fly back to DTW the day after the ship gets back.  So with that cushion, I don't even know if it's worth dealing with Air2Sea.  Unless the price is cheaper than Delta direct, which I doubt it would be seeing that the other thread mentioned an Air2Sea booking fee....

Please don't get discouraged.  I've found Air2Sea no more difficult than booking through other methods and it gives you much more flexibility.

While personally calling is probably the best option for Air2Sea, you can have your travel agent do it or even select from the list of flights on line.  The benefits of using Air2Sea far outweigh any hassle or cost (in fact, I've booked flights through Air2Sea that worked out much cheaper than using Travelocity)

One thing I've noticed about A2S: If you call them directly, they'll have far more flights available at better prices than if you do it on line. (I've never asked my travel agent to check because I figured that would be just one more person to cause confusion)

13 hours ago, twangster said:

Much US law also delves into or was an attempt to promote US shipbuilding and protect jobs in US shipyards. 

This is a big part of the issue with the US law. A ship sailing between US ports without stopping in a foreign port must be US flagged.  That's well known.  However, it doesn't get to the heart of why Royal, or someone else wouldn't reflag their vessels for specific US only itineraries, such as Hawaii, Alaska, east coast, etc.

The reason is to protect US shipbuilding, all US flagged vessels must also be US built.  Since the US has only built 1 ocean going cruise ship in the last 75 years, you can see the problem.

From time to time there is talk of reviving the old S.S. United States (which is US built) to sail in Hawaii, but this always proves too expensive.