Bob_KY

We just canceled yet again, not wearing a mask in 90 degree weather on top deck, hate to say it, after 20 cruises, we might have to find a new favorite vacation. I have the first shot, if the shots are not good enough, we’re holding off.

I for one see no fun in being on a cruise and having to wear a mask ?...even if it were for just 50% of the time!!  So my answer to your question is no cruising for me until masks are no longer necessary accessories.  For right now...limitations and restrictions would absolutely kill the fun of a leisurely cruise and I will refuse to take part!  Perhaps my April 2022 cruise will turn into yet another "No Go" ?!   Only time will tell...

We're supposed to cope?

Just a pedantic point here: it's actually also 100% effective at preventing hospitalization per the trial data. Severe disease is classified as low oxygen (below 95% saturation) with or without hospitalization (and a bunch of other criteria)... Pfizer also had a case of severe disease classified this way that also didn't require hospitalization. So even better news!
I think you and I have discussed this earlier, and we seem to be in agreement that if the bar is no nCoV-19 anywhere on a ship, then cruises will never sail again. If the bar is instead a much more reasonable metric based on cases of severe covid, then once we have decent, population level immunological resistance to disease via the vaccines and natural infection then we should be good to go.

Hi everyone, 
   Winter in Illinois with no hope of cruising soon and waiting to get a vaccine so I can go to Disney was MAJORLY getting me down!  It was time to come back home lol.  I have missed thinking about cruising and we have begun to consider a New Year’s Eve cruise with the kids, since spring break is impossible for the next few years (husband and I both teach, and our spring breaks are off until my district shifts again).  Anyway, just wanted to say hi again and I hope everyone is well and planning for cruising with a vengeance (and a prayer that things open up soon)!  Jane

The Pride of America was the absolutely worse ship I have even been on!  I only went on her only to meet a friend who was going.  A mistake
I have been cruising  since the 80's and probably been on 50 cruises, and many lines.  In past 20 years I have only cruised with RC and very happy with them.

MSC Meraviglia and MSC Divina
I've been on both the Divina once and the Meraviglia twice on cruises out of Miami.  First and foremost the boarding process is a complete fill in the blank.... show, and we were staying in the Yacht Cub suites. They make you wait in this small dingy room and each person has to see a MSC representative.  On one cruise we actually sat in that room nearly 45 minutes while they called people who came into the room after us.  Then because you are Yacht Club they have to escort you on the ship it is the craziest thing ever and it is so frustrating .  Also when you purchase specialty dinning packages you still can not order anything on the menu.  They have a small selection you can choose from everything else on the menu cost extra on top of the dinning package.
Once onboard the design and flow of the ships makes no sense and on days when you are at sea MSC's cruise staff does not really plan many onboard activities.  I've heard I should give MSC Seaside a try because that ship was designed and built specifically for the US market and has a more American feel than the Divina or Meraviglia.
The three good things I will say about MSC is their buffet is open 21 out of 24 hours everyday, they have new shows in the main theater every night, and MSC Meraviglia has Cirque du Soleil at sea.  Let me tell you this there is not a single Royal Caribbean show that comes even close to matching the Meraviglia's Cirque du Soleil at sea and they have 2 different shows and both were hands down the best shows I've seen at sea.  The quality of those shows match what you see in Las Vegas the shows were just that good.

I don’t think there is one I’d say never again to, but after my last 2 cruises on very small ships, I’m ready to sail again on a bigger ship.  I haven’t been on any amped ships so would like to see some of the new areas and restaurants.  Jane

Viruses are never eradicated - they are just RNA strands that exist all over the place.  A population either is no longer susceptible or taken steps to isolate from infection.  Once isolation is broken, it will emerge again.   Populations evolve to fight these naturally (survival of the fitess) or accelerate spread the immunity process through vaccines.  The Spanish flu is still in the world.  Hasn't been eradicated, just we've adapted.

I got the vaccine yesterday and my husband is getting it Friday.  We have decided to go to a bucket list place.  Bora Bora and stay at the Four Seasons over water cabana.

Like all tourist towns they will suffer but they are not unique in this respect looking across America.  There are places like Myrtle Beach for example which has only the tourist industry as it's economy.  It too has been devastated by the pandemic and while some virus deniers still go there business is way off.  There are tourist hotspots in Tennessee that are suffering.  Hawaii's tourist economy is devastated.  Ski destinations in Colorado are suffering terribly with business way off.
The majority of workers in the SouthEast Alaska tourism industry come from the South for the summer tourist season and then head home to whatever state they came from when the tourist season is over.  From bus drivers to boat captains they follow the tourists to other winter destinations.  My excursion boat captain spends winters in Hawaii taking tourists around there looking for whales for example. 
There are local businesses that are more mom and pa type shops and they are suffering like restaurant and bar owners across America are.  That's the thing - so many businesses across every state have been impacted it's hard to look at SE Alaska and not see the same that is occurring in so many other states that rely on tourism.  Florida for example - a much larger tourism economy has been ravaged by the pandemic since so few tourist are flocking to Florida compared to other years.  
If SE Alaska was the only tourist area impacted by the pandemic it would be one thing to feel like Congress needs to re-write laws to help them but on the other hand it isn't that SE Alaska is alone in this.  So many areas of the country have been impacted and Congress would respond that is what stimulus funding is for.

I have never ever received an FCC directly.  Like @Dad2Cue, I have no idea what it says or looks like.  All of mine have always gone directly to my TA with nothing coming to me.    It’s not a problem for me though.  She always handles placing them on a new booking anyway.  I really have no idea how many I have or how much they are worth.  I have a general idea of what I have floating around.  Thank goodness I have @michelleto track it all for me.

Aqua is very enjoyable as you get Blu and Persian gardens.   I think Blu is a very nice restaurants with often better offerings than Luminae.
 

Awesome post!!!  

We did our first (and only, darn covid) Celebrity sailing in Oct 2019 and loved it.  I actually did a post on the differences.  We were Aquaclass not in a suite, but you may find it informative with differences.  We sailed Summit right after her revolution.   
 

Wow.  What a wait.  Michelle, MEI, just booked us on a Celebrity Alaska Cruise on the Solstice, July 2022 (S1 Sky Suite).  As posted before, this will be our first Celebrity Cruise.  I will have a whole bunch of rookie questions.  BTW, started my spreadsheet this morning.   
Kudos to Michelle.  Cue music for my happy dance.
 

About the same.  In terms of patronage - Celebrity - ALL suite classes can use.  Royal - Seaclass (JS) is excluded except for dinner as room is available.

You also get a complimentary scoop of gelato as Elite   ?.  Solstice class ships have lawns and there are some unique activities on the deck or just lay in the grass.

Sky Class on Celebrity is worth the upgrade IMO.  Luminae is a great suite restaurant.  I put myself (and taste buds) in the hands of the sommelier and went with whatever wine they suggested paired based on my entree.   When I have access to a suite restaurant I don't tend to do specialty dining because I figure the extra cost of the suite and Luminae is enough.  
As far as Seattle the Uber/Lyft loft is a 5-10 minute walk but they do offer a free shuttle to the terminal.  Seattle comes with luggage valet when debarking (the port does it free) so if your flights are timed right you can have them deal with luggage and never see it again until your home airport.  It's a small terminal with limited seating so time your arrival carefully.  Usually two ships embarking that share common drive in lanes so have your luggage tagged and make sure your porter knows what ship you are boarding.  
With Always Included the Elite level doesn't represent very much anymore except laundry.
Chic dress code - not holy jeans and a t-shirt.  Something you might wear to an interview, on a date night with the SO or a special event where you don't want to be "street clothes". If family or friends were celebrating a big anniversary with a party you probably wouldn't wear grubby clothes.  Smart casual or something a notch above what you'd wear going to McDonalds.  Dress or designer jeans, nice khakis, a "fancy" collared shirt, no tie.   A step above street clothes will be fine.

Just booked the May 15th, 2022 Alaska cruise on the Serenade.
I have some FCC from our cancelled cruise May 2020.
Kelley from MEI is my TA.
She has been excellent on getting my deposit extended due to RCCL error.
She has gotten me a better rate then advertised.
Then today, Sunday, I get an email from her that she got an even lower rate with a refundable deposit.
If anyone is on the fence about getting a TA please know I'm more than happy, Kelley is awesome!
First time ever using a TA

No point arguing mate, she's "looked into it".

I know its off the mask topic but congratulations!

There's the rub - I would not be able to relax appropriately to justify the expense of the cruise. My relaxation doesn't come in the form of sitting around in the cabin/on the balcony or hanging out in the casino for hours on end. I am active and outside most of the time. Masks required while on deck is a 100% deal breaker for me.

Yeah..I wont be travelling anywhere that masks are required. They are annoying, uncomfortable, cant eat, cant drink, cant smoke, hard to talk/hear people and those aren't even any potential medical issues with them.
 
Maybe for the first few cruises while they are still being started up and not everyone is vaccinated yet, but I expect any company that wants my $$ once this pandemic is over, no way in hell I will support your business if you think masks are the "new normal"
 
 
 

Wow.  What a wait.  Michelle, MEI, just booked us on a Celebrity Alaska Cruise on the Solstice, July 2022 (S1 Sky Suite).  As posted before, this will be our first Celebrity Cruise.  I will have a whole bunch of rookie questions.  BTW, started my spreadsheet this morning.   
Kudos to Michelle.  Cue music for my happy dance.