PetraElise

Generally, yes, lower capacity increases your chances, but it is somewhat sailing/cabin category dependent.  I got both upgrades for our AOS sailing in August for incredibly low bids (GS to OS for one week, JS to OS for the next week) but for my upcoming sailing next week, low bids (even solid medium high bids) are not winning for JS and above.  Inside to OV or Balcony are much easier.  

We did a B2B in August on AOS, and the first week was close to 600, and the second week dropped to just under 500 (first week of school that week)

We did a B2B in August on AOS, and the first week was close to 600, and the second week dropped to just under 500 (first week of school that week)

Not RC, but NCL has just cancelled two cruises due to covid positive crew members. One is already two days into an 11 night cruise, and the other was due to embark tomorrow.  Will be watching very closely ahead of our late January RC cruise, mostly to have a back up plan in case we get the “cruise cancelled” email AFTER we arrive across country to the departure city, like my friend who was supposed to be on Getaway tomorrow.  

Not RC, but NCL has just cancelled two cruises due to covid positive crew members. One is already two days into an 11 night cruise, and the other was due to embark tomorrow.  Will be watching very closely ahead of our late January RC cruise, mostly to have a back up plan in case we get the “cruise cancelled” email AFTER we arrive across country to the departure city, like my friend who was supposed to be on Getaway tomorrow.  

Not RC, but NCL has just cancelled two cruises due to covid positive crew members. One is already two days into an 11 night cruise, and the other was due to embark tomorrow.  Will be watching very closely ahead of our late January RC cruise, mostly to have a back up plan in case we get the “cruise cancelled” email AFTER we arrive across country to the departure city, like my friend who was supposed to be on Getaway tomorrow.  

As I always enjoy saying for people who are concerned and ask these things on FB and forums....there is the rule and there is the ship by ship, person by person enforcement of that rule.  The rule is/was to wear a mask.  Sometimes a crew member would point this out, most times they didn't.  But the rule was to wear it 😉 so for an expectation setting point of view, one should expect to wear it ahead of their sailing at this point.  If you leave expecting to not wear it and end up surrounded by people heavily enforcing the stated rule you are setting yourself up for disappointment

I’m guessing you haven’t been paying attention, both because you didn’t notice this policy going into effect in mid December and because you don’t seem to realize that with the Omicron virus, being vaccinated is only helpful for preventing severe disease for most people, not for preventing transmission.  I would think it would be more “burdensome” for your 85 yo mother to go on a cruise and catch covid, potentially assuring it would be her last cruise.  Deciding what works just for you is not really a thing with an incredibly contagious, potentially life threatening disease.  I think a land based vacation in your rule-free Florida bubble would be more fun for you.
 

This is a baseline for overall test positivity rate, not infections over a period of time. Even if 1% of the United States became infected each couple of days (length of a cruise) then we would have an issue on our hands. You have to look at these metrics from a different perspective.  The main concern as others have pointed out are the limited resources for handling even 1% infection rate onboard (med staff, isolation rooms, administrative personnel), plus the logistics of clearing these people to go home once ashore.

I’m guessing you haven’t been paying attention, both because you didn’t notice this policy going into effect in mid December and because you don’t seem to realize that with the Omicron virus, being vaccinated is only helpful for preventing severe disease for most people, not for preventing transmission.  I would think it would be more “burdensome” for your 85 yo mother to go on a cruise and catch covid, potentially assuring it would be her last cruise.  Deciding what works just for you is not really a thing with an incredibly contagious, potentially life threatening disease.  I think a land based vacation in your rule-free Florida bubble would be more fun for you.
 

I’m guessing you haven’t been paying attention, both because you didn’t notice this policy going into effect in mid December and because you don’t seem to realize that with the Omicron virus, being vaccinated is only helpful for preventing severe disease for most people, not for preventing transmission.  I would think it would be more “burdensome” for your 85 yo mother to go on a cruise and catch covid, potentially assuring it would be her last cruise.  Deciding what works just for you is not really a thing with an incredibly contagious, potentially life threatening disease.  I think a land based vacation in your rule-free Florida bubble would be more fun for you.
 

I’m guessing you haven’t been paying attention, both because you didn’t notice this policy going into effect in mid December and because you don’t seem to realize that with the Omicron virus, being vaccinated is only helpful for preventing severe disease for most people, not for preventing transmission.  I would think it would be more “burdensome” for your 85 yo mother to go on a cruise and catch covid, potentially assuring it would be her last cruise.  Deciding what works just for you is not really a thing with an incredibly contagious, potentially life threatening disease.  I think a land based vacation in your rule-free Florida bubble would be more fun for you.
 

I’m guessing you haven’t been paying attention, both because you didn’t notice this policy going into effect in mid December and because you don’t seem to realize that with the Omicron virus, being vaccinated is only helpful for preventing severe disease for most people, not for preventing transmission.  I would think it would be more “burdensome” for your 85 yo mother to go on a cruise and catch covid, potentially assuring it would be her last cruise.  Deciding what works just for you is not really a thing with an incredibly contagious, potentially life threatening disease.  I think a land based vacation in your rule-free Florida bubble would be more fun for you.
 

I’m guessing you haven’t been paying attention, both because you didn’t notice this policy going into effect in mid December and because you don’t seem to realize that with the Omicron virus, being vaccinated is only helpful for preventing severe disease for most people, not for preventing transmission.  I would think it would be more “burdensome” for your 85 yo mother to go on a cruise and catch covid, potentially assuring it would be her last cruise.  Deciding what works just for you is not really a thing with an incredibly contagious, potentially life threatening disease.  I think a land based vacation in your rule-free Florida bubble would be more fun for you.
 

I’m guessing you haven’t been paying attention, both because you didn’t notice this policy going into effect in mid December and because you don’t seem to realize that with the Omicron virus, being vaccinated is only helpful for preventing severe disease for most people, not for preventing transmission.  I would think it would be more “burdensome” for your 85 yo mother to go on a cruise and catch covid, potentially assuring it would be her last cruise.  Deciding what works just for you is not really a thing with an incredibly contagious, potentially life threatening disease.  I think a land based vacation in your rule-free Florida bubble would be more fun for you.
 

I’m guessing you haven’t been paying attention, both because you didn’t notice this policy going into effect in mid December and because you don’t seem to realize that with the Omicron virus, being vaccinated is only helpful for preventing severe disease for most people, not for preventing transmission.  I would think it would be more “burdensome” for your 85 yo mother to go on a cruise and catch covid, potentially assuring it would be her last cruise.  Deciding what works just for you is not really a thing with an incredibly contagious, potentially life threatening disease.  I think a land based vacation in your rule-free Florida bubble would be more fun for you.
 

I’m guessing you haven’t been paying attention, both because you didn’t notice this policy going into effect in mid December and because you don’t seem to realize that with the Omicron virus, being vaccinated is only helpful for preventing severe disease for most people, not for preventing transmission.  I would think it would be more “burdensome” for your 85 yo mother to go on a cruise and catch covid, potentially assuring it would be her last cruise.  Deciding what works just for you is not really a thing with an incredibly contagious, potentially life threatening disease.  I think a land based vacation in your rule-free Florida bubble would be more fun for you.
 

I’m guessing you haven’t been paying attention, both because you didn’t notice this policy going into effect in mid December and because you don’t seem to realize that with the Omicron virus, being vaccinated is only helpful for preventing severe disease for most people, not for preventing transmission.  I would think it would be more “burdensome” for your 85 yo mother to go on a cruise and catch covid, potentially assuring it would be her last cruise.  Deciding what works just for you is not really a thing with an incredibly contagious, potentially life threatening disease.  I think a land based vacation in your rule-free Florida bubble would be more fun for you.
 

I’m guessing you haven’t been paying attention, both because you didn’t notice this policy going into effect in mid December and because you don’t seem to realize that with the Omicron virus, being vaccinated is only helpful for preventing severe disease for most people, not for preventing transmission.  I would think it would be more “burdensome” for your 85 yo mother to go on a cruise and catch covid, potentially assuring it would be her last cruise.  Deciding what works just for you is not really a thing with an incredibly contagious, potentially life threatening disease.  I think a land based vacation in your rule-free Florida bubble would be more fun for you.
 

Is it just a little bit possible that the slots/ hours available during a holiday cruise filled with a lot of kids might be different than an average week? You may find, depending on a lot of factors such as number of kids sailing your week, number of available staff with negative covid tests, etc that your mileage may vary.  Cruising during a pandemic is not a great choice if you can’t adapt, and recognize with equanimity that not everything is going to be guaranteed.

You have no idea what you're talking about when you're calling this sort of thing "discrimination." And nobody said people who are medically unable (including those not of age yet) to get vaccinated would be excluded. You're just trying to create unnecessary panic, too. Right now, coming from outside the US, one must present proof of a negative test for COVID taken in the prior 3 days. This would simply create a requirement for proof of vaccination or proof of being unable to be vaccinated for a qualified reason.

We are in a pandemic and people are dying or suffering significant medical trauma that could last a lifetime right now. And it is necessary to use all available tools to put a stop to it while we can do so.

We definitely are reducing our “excursions”.  Quoted because we tend to do our own thing.  We are content to limit our port activity on our upcoming cruises.  Probably make a brief foray to “shop” and help the local economy a little but really not doing much. The ship experience is the main focus 

Lots of people at the vaccination sites were volunteers, and there was/is a LOT of variance as to what was written on the cdc cards.  Both between vaccine sites, and at the same sites between shots.  And plenty of scribbles.  It’s unfortunate that a standard requirement either wasn’t set, or wasn’t adhered to, but it’s not indicative of fraud.

No kidding. How can any half-way responsible adult who knows how to book a cruise, airfare, etc. during the pandemic NOT be aware of various Covid-related travel restrictions/requirements?
My travel agent has been pinging us consistently to ensure we are vaxed up and to set up a Covid test 3-days prior to our embarkation day. 

I have no sympathy.  I’m not even considering an Alaska cruise and I knew the policy for sailings out of Seattle.  Each of us has a responsibility to find out what travel documents are needed anytime we travel.  If you choose not to take the time, it’s on you.