estrawn

Wonderful info.  Thank you

We have an upcoming cruise on Encore and there is a vegetarian in our group.  In checking the online menus I see hardly any vegetarian options in either the complimentary or specialty restaurants.  Is the selection of vegetarian foods really that limited or am I missing something?

Any vegetarians out there who have sailed on Encore that can shed some light on this?

Thanks for your wisdom

I'm looking at 2 different annual trip insurance policies.

One is an Allianz policy that includes $20,000 emergency medical coverage along with trip cancellation and trip interruption coverages.

The other is a GeoBlue policy that includes $100,000 medical coverage but no trip cancellation or interruption coverage

The costs of both policies are within a few dollars of each other.

Does anyone out there have experience with the cost of getting sick or injured on a cruise?  Does it become instantly expensive or would $20,000 probably be sufficient in most cases?

Great description.  Thank you very much

Is there a designated spot to wait for an Uber at Cape Liberty?  I have a noon flight departure from LaGuardia so can't afford to spend a lot of time searching for my Uber.

On Oasis Class ships I always try to get the very last cabin toward the Aquatheater on any deck from 8-12.  Looking at the deck plans for Wonder I see that all of those cabins are marked as obstructed view (25%).  I don't recall obstructions on any of the other Qasis class ships I have been on so far.

I can't find any pictures of that area online.  Does anyone here know what the obstruction is and if it is really an "obstruction"?

Thanks for your help

10 hours ago, jrbeccles said:

Correct as of this minute. However it could change - who knows! DCL will have to strike some deal with the Bahamas and what the entails who knows. (I wish I did as my Dream sailing is 9/13 to Nassau and Castaway Cay, both currently banned by the Bahama government. )

Apparently the deal they struck with the Bahamas is that EVERYONE onboard will be vaccinated.  They are giving refunds to anyone who isn't or doesn't want to be

I did my online check-in on Tuesday and got the email that I'm successfully checked in, here's your permission to board document (or whatever they call it).  Print it out and ready to go.  One thing I noticed is that the website says that my photos are still under review.  How long does the review take and is it really anything to be concerned about since they already sent me my boarding pass?

22 hours ago, jrbeccles said:

Watching the You Tube VLOGs from the first cruise its sailing with about 1600 passengers or about 60% capacity. 

Sadly they stopped well over 100 people from boarding as they didn't have the correct paperwork. 

Well that's a little extra elbow room.  I'm looking forward to enjoying that.  Thanks for the insight

I'm sailing on Dream in a few weeks and am wondering about how many passengers have been onboard for the first couple of cruises.  Have they noticeably reduced the body count or is the ship pretty close to its normal capacity?

I'm hoping for a nice spacious experience with about 50% occupancy like Royal Caribbean

jrbeccles Thanks for the great info on the newly complicated check-in process.  I'm sailing on Dream the day you get back so have a blast but leave some ship for me 🤣

I just got my email from Carnival about 3 minutes ago that says people 70 and up need to present a medical form that says they are fit to cruise

Has there been any further news about whether Carnival is going to adopt the CLIA suggestion that anyone 70 or over is not allowed on the ship without a "Fitness to Cruise" letter filled out and signed by a doctor.  At the meeting on Tuesday Pence said his group would take it under advisement and make a decision "within 24 hours".  So far I can't find any more news about it other than the fact that NCL instituted the policy today.

My cruise is scheduled to depart on Monday and I'm running out of time to get a form filled out by my doctor because of the upcoming weekend.  I'm going to get a letter but if Carnival follows the example of NCL and produces a special form that has to be used that will be trouble

1 hour ago, dbrucern said:

The ship docks in Otrobanda, when you get off the ship go through the gate and walk to your right (sorry don’t know a better way to describe) it is the newer part of the city lots of shops, bars and casino. But we highly recommend that you walk through and take the people bridge across to the old city. It does open up to let freighters through but no big deal. There is also a free ferry that goes back and fourth. The old city has the Beautiful colorful shops and the homes that you see in all the advertisements. Very walkable. However ever time we take someone new we put them in a taxi so they can go over the bridge (you will see it when you arrive) to the old city so they can see the sights. Remember to bring $1.00 needed for the bathrooms. We are headed there in January again, love this cruise. Enjoy

It looks like an easy walk to the old city with lots to see when I get there.  Thank you for the info.

Instead of an excursion I may walk around the area.  Where does the ship tie up and what has anyone found to be within walking distance.  We are in port from 1:30PM to 10:30 PM so I'm looking for daytime and nighttime things to do and see without going to a beach.

Thanks

Eric

1 hour ago, maryann ns said:

I am not a New Brunswick expert but with an overnight in Saint John I would rent a car and explore the Bay of Fundy. Try posting on the  Trip Advisor forum for New Brunswick.

I like your idea of renting a car to go exploring.  I have done this in several other places and have always had a great time.

I have also hit the Trip Advisor forum with the same question.  Thank you for reminding me of that

8 hours ago, Frncie said:

This part is confusing to me. We were on the Oceania Riviera and docked at the port in Portland, Maine, along with an NCL ship, on October 15, 2019, less than two weeks ago. We didn’t see any issues with the port, although we did spend a very long time, while still on the ship, going through Customs, Immigration and Border Control. (It was our first US port after coming in from Canada.)

The port facilities in Portland were modern and “ready” in every respect. 

I don't know exactly what the issue is but the email RCL sent said that the New Port facilities would not be ready in time to accept a ship the size of Oasis so they had to cancel our stop in Portland and give us an extra day in St John. I've never seen facilities in Portland so I have nothing else to go by.. it's really too bad because I was looking forward to being in Maine. Have not been there in at least 30 years

Oasis had to cancel Portland ME because the new pier won't be ready so we will be staying 2 days with an overnight in St. John.  I'm looking for suggestions on what to enjoy with all of that time to spend there. 

Also, since we are missing a chance for a Maine lobster experience can I assume that in St. John and Halifax there will be wonderful lobsters?  Last time I checked I didn't see any fences in the water between Maine and Canada.  Where are the good spots?

39 minutes ago, iamsteph said:

You're right, that was a different poster, sorry!

I didn't realize that my simple question about the content of fry oil  would start the lard wars 🤣

14 minutes ago, iamsteph said:

I have celiac disease, and just got off of a cruise where I ate at Guy's twice - they OFFER a gluten free bun, and each time, I REQUESTED a gluten free bun.  It's not the best gluten free bun and they'd do a lot better just to carry some frozen UDI's buns but you don't see me requesting an UDI's bun.  Why? Because they don't offer it.  

 

At just about any restaurant you go to, you can customize your food - at Burger King, hold the mayo. At a steak restaurant - cook it medium.  At Chick-fil-a - crispy chicken sandwich rather than grilled.  You can request these options because it's what the restaurant offers.  

 

While I agree that OP is a bit entitled to suggest that they should cater to vegetarians and offer just as many options, if Guy's OFFERS a veggie burger, why shouldn't a vegetarian be able to REQUEST one? 

The OP here. Just to set the record straight I said absolutely nothing about Guy's needing to cater to vegetarians. All I did was ask if there's any animal fat in the fry oil.    Catering to vegetarians is something that just seemed to evolve in the course of the thread. 

14 minutes ago, iamsteph said:

 

9 hours ago, regoodwinjr said:

The oil for the fries does not contain animal fat.  McDonald's is different. The fries have meat seasoning added at the processing plant and the oil at the restaurants is vegetable oil.

This is the answer to my question and I certainly appreciate it.  I will now now out and let the war rage on 😜

2 hours ago, Cushing985 said:

I'm on a very strict diet due to a heart attack experienced several years ago.  Do you all think a double-double cheeseburger and a double order of fries would have any impact?

You should be fine as long as you stay away from the Donkey Sauce 😁

13 minutes ago, deadmoney said:

Perhaps you could explain to her the variety of meats available.😆

Believe me, attempts have been made but she has a will of iron 🤣

9 minutes ago, RandomUser123 said:

If I were a strict vegetarian I would just play it safe and avoid Guys Burgers fries if you are not sure. Plenty of other options on the ship. 

Oh we will be hitting all the other options too but nice to have an additional venue to experience.  Remember, variety is the spice of life!😎

1 hour ago, sanmarcosman said:

The OP is asking about which type of oil is used to cook the fries. Fries are on Guy's menu. Seems like a fair question to me. McDonald's took decades to admit their fry oil contained beef lard when they claimed it did not. 

Exactly.  I've had Guy's fries and they are great so I know she would love them along with her veggie burger as long as there's no lard mixed in the oil.  Just gives her an additional choice in food to make her cruise enjoyable.  It also allows her to participate when the group makes a Guy's visit rather than having to go off to the buffet or elsewhere by herself.