RCVoyager

The band is Gaelic Storm.  The name of the song is:  'The Night I Punched Russell Crowe In the Head'.  It's a true story.

If you see Russell Crowe today, don't tell him about the song.  Gaelic Storm is afraid Crowe will sue Patrick (the front man).

Funny stuff.

I would give it some time.  Late June is 3 1/2 months away.  It would be best to let RCCL come to you with changes as you will get the best deal that way.

Just now, RichardMexico said:

Hi folks!

I was going to cruise at the end of March but now I have to reshedule thanks to Covid19, and since my airline is not letting me reschedule after October, I was thinking the possibility of taking the cruise at the begining in August (which I think is the worst of hurricane season in Western Caribbean).

Those of you who have plenty of experience in cruisers, do you think is a good idea? Or Im better of resheduling until December even If i lose some money on flights?

The peak of Hurricane Season is September 10th with a secondary peak on October 10th.  That said, many people successfully cruise during Hurricane Season every year.  The rates are low and the ships can mostly avoid the storms.  The problematic issue would usually be related to a hurricane affecting a home port on embarkation day.  Other than that, they can usually avoid the issue.

1 hour ago, JLMoran said:

This is not an option due to the PVSA / Jones Act mentioned earlier by @twangster, which prohibits foreign-flagged vessels from leaving from one US port and returning to the same or another US port without first visiting at least one foreign port along the way. The stop in Canada is how these itineraries satisfy that requirement.

This might be a good time for President Trump to temporarily strike down the Jones Act. In a National Emergency, he can do it.  That would allow Alaska itineraries to home port in Seattle this year.

I'm sure your doctor will do so after this blows over.  If not, find a new doctor.

I had an annual physical appointment scheduled for this Friday.  My doctor's office cancelled it because they are too busy and too concerned with sick patients.

5 hours ago, Baked Alaska said:

It is a subjective title, not purely objective nor totally accurate in the quantitative realm. I created this title as many of us on these message boards will NOT receive the additional 25% FCC for our cancelling. Hope that helps.

Update from Carnival just came in:  We booked the Breeze after we were allowed to change our trip for free but before Carnival ceased operations.  I figured we were out the $1200 in OBC (2 staterooms @ $600 each).  I just received the email that we get the credit anyway.  I just applied for it.  Carnival just handed us $1200 we didn't expect.

Again, I am partial to both RCCL and Carnival.  I know some on here have no use for Carnival, but they stepped up to the plate for us... and the Breeze is a really nice ship.

6 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

We had a group birthday cruise scheduled for April 20th and cancelled because 17 of 23 people going cancelled. I got back 50% of my fare as a FCC and the rest a a refund. I told them to wait but most believe it will be May before the cruise industry can resume. I don't really like CCL but its aesthetics...I find the decor to be ugly and garish

Like @twangster said things really boil down to semantics as the offer really isn't that great. Although they are giving high FCC and OBC it won't work out that great as the price for a future cruise in a decent room will eat up the 125% and you will still owe more. Plus they have like one drink package capped at 15 drinks total, they don't do "washy, washy" and since its 'budget friendly" there seems to be tons of filthy children.

Royal has a better loyalty program, internet and interior decorating....imho.

I like Carnival's lunch options better.  I like RCCL's MDR dinners a little better.  I like Carnival's comedians better.

I like RCCL's fleet much more.  Carnival has simply not competed in the ship "arms race" until very recently.  The majority of their ships are more than 20 years old (Fantasy Class and Spirit Class).  The Breeze and Magic are very nice.  They are a nice comparison to the Voyager Class and came 10 years later.  But it's only in the last couple of years they have anything that compares the RCCL's newest ships.  They have nothing to compete with the Freedom Class and even with their newest ships only 2 or 3 to compete with Royals newest two classes that are numbering close to 10 combined.

1 hour ago, tonyfsu21 said:

The Carnival Horizon Southern Caribbean cruise was pretty awesome. Seriously as good or better then Royal (and we always sail Royal Suite Class).  

I really do agree Tony.  Carnival got the reputation of a frat house at sea decades ago.  It's just not true.  Sure there is more late late night stuff on Carnival, but truth be told, a blindfolded person would have a hard time telling the two apart.  

I realize, I'm defending Carnival on an RCCL forum, and I really like RCCL.  I guess I've dissed Disney Cruises because of all the kids and I've never been on DCL.  Truth is, all the major lines do a really  good job, and we may have our preferences, but you can't go wrong in a normal situation on any of them.

As mentioned in another thread, it appears all three ships scheduled into San Juan this morning were turned away.  All three are heading NW... perhaps to Miami or Ft. Lauderdale.

I'm surprised this isn't in the news more than it is.  I appears to me all three ships scheduled into San Juan this morning were turned away.  All three appear to be heading NW as of now.  Miami or Ft. Lauderdale maybe?

59 minutes ago, Jill said:

You couldn’t pay me to sail Carnival. 

With all due respect, Carnival does a job that is overall the equal to RCCL.  Better at some things, not as good as others.  The menus are quite good.  The entertainment is comparable.  Their comedians are much better.  The place Carnival has not competed is in the arms race (ship size and innovation).  Otherwise very similar.  

When shopping for cruises, I look at RCCL and Carnival.  They are both in my price range and comfort level.  I would pay half as much or 2/3s as much for NCL or Celebrity.  I'm not really interested in Disney because of all the kids (my three are enough for me).  Point is if someone gave me a trip on one of those other lines, I would gladly take it.  If paying Carnival or RCCL for me.  

Just asking you, Miss Jill, to have an open mind.

9 minutes ago, hail73 said:

Sooo my cruise leaves April 12, the day after this suspension. Do you think it would be effected or should I plan on sailing like normal?

I you want to change it, you should be able to.  If you want to sail as planned, I would watch for notifications and closely monitor this board.  The good people here know things before they happen sometimes.

6 minutes ago, twangster said:

Single use gloves don't necessarily offer all the protections required.  At some point you have to take them off and touch some of the things you touched when you had the gloves on.  Many viruses, germs and bacteria will transfer to or from gloves just as they do with skin. 

Skin is pretty good at keeping stuff from entering the body, that's what it does 24 x 7.  The problem isn't so much getting something on your hands but what you hands do once "contaminated".  Touch your eyes, mouth, nose, etc. and that is how many people become infected with something.  It didn't seep in through the skin on your hands.

If the food tongs are contaminated that will transfer to your gloves.  You carry a plate full of food, a glass of water and utensils to a table.  It doesn't matter if you have worn gloves to get to this point or your hands.   Assuming there was a contamination prior to this point if your gloves or hands are contaminated at this point, so is your glass, your plate and your utensils.  

Now you have to take off the gloves without further contaminating you.  Your unexposed hands grab the water glass you carried with your contaminated gloves.  They are now contaminated.  How about the salt and pepper shakers?  The table surface, the chair you grab and pulled out to sit down.  

Incidentally touching your face is fine IF your hands are clean.  If you just washed your hands touch your face, no problem.  It's only when you have been touching things like door knobs or railings that you shouldn't touch your face.

If everyone wore gloves all the time around the ship the slogan would become "Wash your gloves it's the right thing to do..."

I'm with you Twangster.  The original premise was that single use gloves wouldn't eliminate the problem, but would mitigate it.  I agree they must be used correctly to help.  A trash can at the end of the Windjammer line to push the glove off from the inside would be the proper way to do it.  Having drinks poured for pick up rather than self service drinks or drink machines would help too.

6 minutes ago, SpeedNoodles said:

I haven't touched an elevator button with my fingers for years.  I have such bony wrists that I can do it with my wrists.  I haven't touched nearly anything that isn't at my own desk at work for  years.  Because Norovirus runs rampant through our workplace at least 3 times a year.  I never get it, because I don't freaking TOUCH THINGS, lol.  I open doors with my feet, or with my sleeves.  It kind of baffles me that anyone lives in a world where they don't have to do the same.

I find myself doing a lot of the same things.  I don't think my wrists are quite a bony as your's though!

I think the use of a single knuckle for elevator buttons and maybe the elimination of the handshake could be coming to all of us.

Why are single use gloves not a big part of the answer in all facets of life in public and particularly on cruise ships (thinking of Lido lunch lines)?  You would actually only need one glove for touching utensils and use an ungloved hand for holding your plate.  This would not eliminate risk, but it would certainly mitigate it.

20 hours ago, Brobbins246 said:

Cruisemapper.com is a good site for seeing where all the ships are for all cruise lines on an online map.

https://www.cruisemapper.com/

Hey Brobbins.  A big thank you for pointing out cruise mapper.  I have been using marine tracker for years, and I still will do so for certain things, but I really like cruise mapper too.

3 minutes ago, Brobbins246 said:

Cruisemapper.com is a good site for seeing where all the ships are for all cruise lines on an online map.

https://www.cruisemapper.com/

Also use Marinetraffic.com/

8 hours ago, RCIfan1912 said:

I just made a thread asking questions about all this tonight and quite frankly its all bullshit. We have all paid in full for a cruise that did not happen, or we don't feel comfortable taking. The 2,000 or 3,000 or whatever should just go to the new cruise. The fact you have to shell out 750 bucks for a deposit is bullshit. That is sneaky and wrong in my opinion. They are making this more complicated then it needs to be.

We are loyal to both Carnival and RCCL.  In this case, Carnival wins hands down.  We cancelled and rebooked our March 21st sailing on the Breeze before it was cancelled but after options to rebook were announced.  We took a slightly more expensive cruise.  Carnival transferred all of our cruise fare, deposit, taxes, and prepaid gratuities with no questions asked.  We just have to pay the difference which is about $100 each. 

30 minutes ago, JohnK6404 said:

It will be some sight for sure! I guess the ships will unload passengers, some crew/personnel, garbage, extra supplies, etc., and then anchor off shore temporarily, then move closer to the port and drop anchor since they can’t all dock.

I would think they would use this time to thoroughly sanitize and then do cosmetic repairs above the waterline and onboard while out of service. Let’s hope this doesn’t extend into May!

 

There will be a ton of ships in the immediate vicinity of Miami, Port Everglades, and Port Canaveral.

I agree about not extending into May.  We already rebooked our trip (for June) on the Carnival Breeze that was supposed to be March 21.

I think it will be interesting to watch where the cruise lines keep all this ships for the next month.  The Saturday cruises should all be home today.  They will have to be moved to allow the arrival of the Sunday ships as well as all the 3 and 4 nighters that will be coming in starting Monday.  Just off shore maybe?

I would assume there will be a deep cleaning over the next month.

This was a 10 night cruise.  The crazy flame fanners currently have momentum.  I hope it burns out soon.

Just moved our Carnival Breeze from March 21st to June.  Cost a little more for cruise, and a little less for air and precruise hotel.

We (wife, son, Grandma, and I) are booked on the Carnival Breeze on the 21st.  We are on the fence about going.  Right now we have $200 per cabin obc.  I inquired with Carnival tonight about our options (stay, rebook, or upgrade).  We are considering upgrading to a balcony just in case the is a qt.  The customer service rep said there are as many people booking as cancelling and the price per cabin to upgrade is still more than $900 per cabin.  If true, I am surprised many people are booking.

2 hours ago, twangster said:

The media doesn't report facts.  They report what will generate ratings and support ad revenue.  They don't report news, they create it or sensationalize it because in part that is what people want.  Bad news travel faster than good news because of human nature.  No one but ourselves and fellow members of society to blame for that.  

Too many Americans, and probably people around the world, believe what they hear or even see sometimes.  Funny how important news like trying to protect our Southern Border from daily invasion doesn't jibe with their agenda, so it goes unreported.  Yet this affects a tiny percentage of the World and is all over the place to the point where people I know who never pay attention to the News are stocking up on Clorox wipes.

This board is not about politics and I'm not trying to make it such, but it is ironic the amount of money Congress printed up for Corona in about 3 days was the exact same amount that they can't seem to find with a search warrant for another more important project to the safety and well being of our Country.  I think you know what I'm talking about.