cruisellama

v/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/crew-disembarkations-commercial-travel.html Not sure if this has shown up , but the health score for each ship is published. As of date is 30 Mar 30, published 2 Apr 21.

If we're in Phase 2B, in theory, should be open to test cruises after the gov't processes and approves the request (which provides all the risk mitigation processes 60-day review). Then 30 days for sail certificate. So minimum of 90 days of processing paper. Those cruises will need to be less than 7 days despite the rest of the world. Maximum time lag is unknown. If still 2A, we're still chasing our tails, and clock can't even start. '21 is fading.

Might still be a few loose ends with the port and municipality . They may need to be part of the release approval chain for the release.

If you're including Nerf archery, there was a ship officers vs guest archery competition on one of the Celebrity ships we were on in the pre-plague past.

Guess it's not a surprise after observing how the agency operates. (Under an assumption of proceeding with no risk) They will eventually publish that everyone who touches the ship will need to be vaccinated and I'm sure will even reach back to the suppliers. Expected we wound need to start with vaccinated crew and guests, but as I've pondered, you're really not testing safety protocols much with immuned samples of people. You're testing the effectiveness of vaccines on a floating hotel. Maybe if the expanded cruising from non-US ports show good results a few steps might be modified.

We got the vaccine so we could travel. For early cruising, I would put up with the mask.

As things start, number of available cabins remain limited. Right now we only are seeing 2 Celeb ships starting in Q2/3. (Think 3-4 RC ships operating) Penned up demand outstrips supply so they can (and should) be inflating rates. In 2 years when (if) everyone is fully operational, considering all the new ships, there should be a room surplus leading to competitive situation. But not going to see that for awhile. They've got several billion in lost revenue to recoup - never will, but have to show a rebound to investors. (Haven't seen NCL and Carnival to enter early fray yet)

True. Royal is requiring crew, but its actually the port country gov'ts imposing the V rule. In a way, the country rule takes the heat off the business, but the business could require. Watch what happens for concert and sport arena venue admission requirements. But would not surprise me if CDC imposes the rule early or later in the year as it certainly reduces risk of infection and spread. It may be the only way we start seeing things move out of US ports. Time will tell - they'll be watching Nassau, St. Maarten, Barbados etc to see how that experiment works. If as successful as Singapore - should grease the skids.

I've seen example menus published prior to cruises, but you really don't know what will be offered until you sign up. I find Royal's to still be a pleasant surprise while Celebrity's has become predictable by centering on Daniel Boulud's culinary offerings. Repetitious if you sail more than 1/yr.

Yep! I worked out a spreadsheet to see what it costs (many different rate assumptions - gave me a headache). Turns out you can reach Pinnacle on Royal more affordably than Celebrity Zennith. If you go the Celebrity low cost route its many years for an average traveler and the extra time (80s sounds about right & more cruises requires more $$ too, just at a different rate). Celebrity doesn't have a Diamond lounge equivalent - you have to bump up to suite level for Michaels Club/Retreat. I will contend the Celebrity Sky Suite level provides far better package than Royal Junior Suite. As that gets you Retreat level and suite dining (Luminae), reserved seating for show on formal nights, while Jr Suite doesn't provide much love. On Oasis you can eat in the Coastal Kitchen for dinner if space available.

I believe you can reach Elite at a faster rate on Celebrity than Diamond on Royal because Celebrity offers greater opportunity for point award using a more aggressive scale of room class point award. Royal uses 2 levels of point award; 1pt/night and 2pts/night for suite. Celebrity "sliding scale" can get you up to 18 points/night if you're on the highest level suite. So while you can up the tier levels faster, it will cost you more money Royal. (Buying time is money)

More readable I hope.

This is the updated list. I think the complementary laundry and cleaning is a nice add that Diamond doesn't get you. But Royal's Diamond Lounge is a nice perk along with the 3 drinks added to your card (if I remember correctly).

The sad thing about Azamara leaving RCG full reciprocity in point between Celebrity and Azamara. Whereas points can't be added between RCL and Celebrity BUT tier levels are honored. ie Elite = Diamond level, but the point values are different.

Can't cut off a cash flow source.

Lets watch for crew/staff/port logistic movements late July - Sept. US will probably affirm crew and passenger vaccinations as the "norm" for startup, meaning they'll have to find vaccinated crew and/or find a way to vaccinate incoming crew and get through the "waiting period".

CDC. Do not believe the Aussie intent is to send a political message to their port cities/states.

Had a similar issue the Ultimate Abyss slide on-board. Had a Go-Pro with head strap, but the operator would not allow me to use it. So I didn't try the chest harness - maybe that would have been permitted.

Where will be the next "cruise friendly" country embarkation port be? (So far RC/Celeb has Bahamas, St. Maartin, Cyprus, Greece, UK, Bermuda, Barbados, Singapore) Maybe Mexico, Australia?

There have been a lot signals that was coming for a few years. I remember locals raising issues about "wakes" of new generation of larger ships impacting the city.

Agree - initial closure to figure out what's going on makes sense. But once you figure it out, put mitigation processes in place, protect those at greatest risk then move on to normal ops. At least in our area, parents had the choice of face-to-face or on-line. We're now seeing that the on line students did not do as well as those who continued to meet F2F. Fortunately more are going back now. My daughter teaches at a college and noted the incoming freshman are not ready. They've had to increase the amount of remedial content to get a larger population up to the right level.

6 - Nov '21, Dec '21, Mar '22, Jun '22, Nov '22, Mar '21

Thanks. Reason I asked was -- We had done them on Oasis (pre-Amp) and Liberty a couple years apart, and they were definitely different menus. When we sailed Celebrity within the same calendar year, it was the same menu despite different ships (Daniel Boulud menu). Since I have multiple RC cruises next year, wondering if we'd see the same menu across the trips. If the same, I would do only one, and not purchase early reservations.

For those who have sailed more than once per year and partaken of chef's table on those cruises, are the menus different between cruises or ships within that year?