I got both types -- an FCC and a goodwill credit.  Can they be used towards gratuities?

Carnival is the parent company and they announced today:

Carnival Cruise Line announced Monday that it is extending its pause in operations because of the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

All North America sailings through to May 11, 2020, are canceled.

"As COVID-19 continues to impact global health and commerce, we are sorry to extend our pause in operations until May 11," the company stated. "If you have an impacted sailing, you will have received an email direct from Carnival or your travel advisor.:

The emails contain instructions for claiming a cancellation offer or refund.

Princess had already canceled cruises through May 10 and I have not found anything new in today's search.  I had thought that Carnival's announcement would be followed by another announcement from Princess especially in light of the news about Ruby Princess.  My cruise departs on June 19, and we really do not want to take a cruise this summer with the threat of some lingering cases.  We do want to go on the cruise we booked next year.  I think this policy below only applies to cruises scheduled to depart during the March 12 - May 10 cancellation period.  Does anyone have any experience with trying to cancel a cruise taking place after May 10?

All Princess Cruises sailings have been canceled from March 12, 2020, until May 10, 2020.

Cancellation Policy Due to COVID-19

If you need to cancel a Princess cruise during this time due to COVID-19, you’ll have 2 options. This policy will be applied to any guest who made a final payment and canceled their cruise on or after February 4, 2020, and all cruises that were scheduled to depart between March 12, 2020, and May 10, 2020.

Option 1: 100% of the money you paid can be transferred to a future cruise of your choice through May 1, 2022. You’ll receive a future cruise credit benefit.

Option 2: You can opt to receive a full cash refund. You’ll also receive a future cruise credit (however it will be a smaller credit than option 1).

How to Cancel a Princess Cruise

To request a refund or cruise credit for your Princess cruise affected by COVID-19, click here.

For Princess Cruise’s full policy regarding COVID-19, click here.

It was an add-on to the travel insurance we bought.

CFAR needs to be bought within a specified number of days from booking -- usually 10 to 21 -- and it doesn't pay 100% -- our policy paid 75%.  We bought it for our October Cuba cruise.  Within a week of booking, it was likely that travel to Cuba would be restricted and we were within the timeframe.  At the time, we had paid our deposit, $400 in air, and a non-cancelable Miami hotel reservation through Priceline, so that's all we insured.  Had we gone on the cruise and paid for more, our insurance costs would have gone up.

We canceled.  We got back our deposit and called the insurance company.  They told me that I had to attempt to cancel the other expenses.  We did get our hotel refunded but not the air.  We put in a claim for the air.  They paid 75% but it took from last June to early March to get our check.  There was some error in my bank account number that slowed the process.

Thanks for the MSC info.  They are still up in the air on itineraries and offering a $400 OBC to go or no fee changes to another MSC cruise.  We are planning to cancel as we have not made final payment.

Booked on MSC in October.  Any word yet on their plans?

17 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

I'm a 5 Star Mariner with HAL and had my travel agent handle getting me registered for the Voyagers Club.  Within 24 hours, I had an e-mail from MSC informing me of my Black Card status.  24 hours later, I made my reservation for MSC Meraviglia using the 5% discount.  A nice welcome to MSC Cruises!

Yes - it is a nice welcome to their program.  The $50 OBC has posted to our account.  I imagine that it had to go through channels and it took a couple of weeks. 

Mine took 5 days, but it may have been because it was a hotel program and not another cruise line.

We are doing free drinks and wi-fi package in October.  Tell your sister to watch for one of these promotions.

I just looked at the royal carribean blog (with no spaces) dotcom

Scroll down to check today's message.

So far, no changes to Royal Caribbean's Cuba sailings

In:

Just for ha-ha's, I went to a big "go to vacation" (hint- change the word order) website and plugged in dates from Jan 1 to Dec 31.  I did not sort by 5 day or 45 day, I just wanted to see if any cruises were on sale for the entire 2020 year.  The good news is that there are more than I felt like counting.

The cruise lines do not have to stop going to Cuba.  At this point, we don't even know if Americans have to stop -- but people from other countries definitely don't have to stop going.  Maybe they won't be allowed to leave from US ports, but it is all speculation.

This is from TravelPulse, paraphrasing the Miami Herald article, "By some accounts, Trump’s new stance could mean the end of cruises that started to operate during the Obama years as part of the expansion of the types of travel allowed, the Miami Herald reported.  The re-tightened restrictions could also impact air travel, reducing the numbers of passengers headed to the island. Travel by Cuban Americans to reunite with relatives on the island will remain unchanged."  (The italicized "could mean" are my addition.)

Check your facts before you post.  Thanks

Our cruise was in Caribbean, Cuba, and Antilles.  We booked for Cuba as we have spent at least a week's vacation time in Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel.  We are looking at CFAR (Cancel For Any Reason) travel insurance.  I just made my deposit this week, but the policy I am looking at has to be bought 20 days ahead.  Does anyone have any experience with this policy through IMG?

International Medical Group --- iTravelInsured LX

The iTravelInsured LX plan has excellent coverage, like the iTravelInsured SE plan, but with higher benefit levels and additional coverages. The plan is specifically designed for luxury and adventure trips to exotic locations.

For this reason, the plan includes adventure sports and activities as covered reasons for emergency medical care. This can help to provide emergency medical coverage to you if injured while participating in an adventure activity. It’s excellent coverage for travelers participating in sky diving, extreme skiing or mountaineering; be sure to read the full certificate for the full list of included and excluded sports and activities.

In addition to traditional trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage, the LX plan offers Cancellation for Any Reason and Interruption for Any Reason coverage for all travelers who purchase this plan within the first 20 days of their initial trip payment. This coverage will help to reimburse you up to 75% of the total trip cost if your trip must be cancelled or interrupted for any reason at all.

The LX plan offers a pre-existing condition waiver if your plan is purchased prior to or within 24 hours of final trip payment. Unlike the SE plan, this plan has up to $1,000,000 in coverage for emergency medical evacuations and automatically includes the hospital of choice benefit as well. This may be of interest to you if you are participating in extreme adventure activities with a chance of becoming injured while traveling.

Mine is 180 days away.  Just made non-refundable reservations for air and hotel yesterday -- but more than 24 hours ago.  😢

1 hour ago, sandy999 said:

Yes my TA applied for the discount on a cruise I had already booked.  

Thanks for your reply.  I contacted my TA this morning and we got the discount and a $50 OBC. What did you mean about, "I queried my match and got an upgrade to Gold."  Was it matched to gold or did you have to ask to be upgraded?

It took about 5 days total for the status match.  I never got an acknowledgment of receipt of my application, I just got the approval email.

I just got status matched to silver.  I matched to a hotel points membership with IHG.  I have a cruise booked through a TA with a deposit that we just made this week -- booked it then heard about the status match. Can i still get a 5% discount or is that just on a new booking?

Thanks.

We just returned from Harmony of the Seas last week and saw no dogs on the ship. We are a family of dog lovers and don't even try to take our dogs with us as we understand the level of anxiety they feel.

Like you, I feel they are a medical necessity for some people. They must be well trained for the service they provide and they must be intelligent and possess the ability to provide the service in any situation despite distraction. These dogs should be welcome everywhere.

Thanks. We cruise Saturday so it will be on my to-do list for this week.

I was told you need to download the RoyalIQ app before you board. Is this correct?

Thanks.

But it's a big ship.

Clydesdale? I could ride to the MDR. Wonder if I'd get free Budweiser at the pool bar.

I would ask the tour operator. Some tours do hotel pick-up/drop-off. Otherwise check to see if your hotel has an airport shuttle. If not, you should be able to taxi or Uber.

Thanks, Bob. I wondered if reallyitsmema was iMessaging. There has been some confusion on the subject.

Text or iMessage?

Average cost for healthy dog in US is $25-$45 per day. More $$ if the dog gets meds or any special treatment -- play time, walks, etc. 7 nights cruise is minimum 8 days of boarding or $200. Can buy fake vest for under $10 online and use it for next cruise as well.

Flew Delta twice last month. Did not see any dogs on board. Flew SW down to FL in January. My sister is wheelchair bound and the man who pushed her said that there were 24 dogs on the flight but that he had seen as many as 46 on a single flight.