arkaine23
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Posts posted by arkaine23
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That's just speculation, but I'd speculate along those lines too. Prioritize salvaging a booking- i.e. a single exception request for a booking vs a booking with multiple exceptions requested. And higher price booking > lower price booking. Loyalty could also be a factor. Wouldn't you want to approve the booking of the people who cruise with you 10/year and have other bookings already for the future? Denying that exception could cause multiple cancellations.
But we have no way of proving that is the case. And there very well could just be some randomization so they could be above board legally if there was any chance for case of discrimination.
The other thing is that as the bookings turnover.... many were booked a long time ago at lower rates than what they'd go for now, only weeks away from sailing in peak season. Also many include $600 OBC's from cruises that were cancelled and rebooked in the last 1.25 years. When those flip by voluntary cancellation the OBC disappears and a rebooking in that room is at a higher price. As long as demand is very high, there won't be that many rooms that go unfilled, and the margin of profit is greater and/or the loss from OBC is lesser when a room cancels and someone else books it.
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Ultimately its not going to be fun for your kids. There's no option that's good for them until the vaccination age is reduced and they get vaccinated or the CDC rules change. They can go on RCL but the whole ship will be under safety protocols. You can try other lines including Carnival, but it will be hard to get them into the limited number of unvaccinated exceptions and you may have to rebook a few times with your money tied up the whole time until you get a booking approved for both exceptions. And they will be under safety protocols.
There are 6 Carnival ships departing from WA, CA, Tx, and Fl and more get on the books as time goes by.
WA is out- no unvaccinated allowed by the state/port. I don't know anything about the Mexican Riviera cruises from CA. I believe they do not have anything stricter than the CSO enforced locally, and that they will be 95+% vaccinated cruises.
Fl is still uncertain due to state law conflict with the CSO- Fl says businesses can't require proof of vaccination, but the CDC provided the cruise industry vaccinated and unvaccinated options for how to return to service, and most cruise lines are doing 95% vaccinated cruises option. Cruises are set to go from FL starting next month, even though the legal battle isn't settled.
Tx does not have this uncertainty, and will be 95+% vaccinated cruises.
Carnival's policy is to require-
- cruise paid in full
- fill out exception request for unvaccinated passengers
- live with uncertainty until they give you a yes/no for your exception(s) and either get to sail, rebook for later, or wait for a refund
Unvaccinated exception guests have to wear masks while indoors on the ship, have to follow distance protocols, and can't go on non-Carnival excursions. In fact each foreign port has its own rules, so its even possible unvaccinated guests could have to take a rapid covid test to debark, or could be denied entry to a port period.
Compare this to RCL- RCL will allow more than 5% unvaccinated on its ships that sail from FL. They will require multiple covid tests for unvaccinated guests ($136 each for adults, free for kids), masks and distance protocols will be in force onboard for everyone, although some areas and events will be for vaccinated only and protocols will be lifted at those times/places. They give you a bracelet if you showed proof of vaccination. They will punch a whole in your Ship&Sail ID if you didn't. Port policies would be the same as unvaccinated with Carnival and would vary by port.
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Suites and VIFP Platinum and Diamond can select their check-in time 16 days before debark. For the rest its 14 days before debark.
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AFAIK, there is no capacity restriction in the CSO. They will sail full if they can keep everything booked. 95%+ of guests must be vaccinated however, so there's a lot of cancelling/booking/rebooking going on. Florida' cruises are also kind of still up in the air, given the state's dispute with the CDC about proof of vaccine requirements, but the cruise lines are acting like they have it figured out or expect a decision from a federal judge soon, and are a go for FL cruises starting next month.
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Cayman Islands and Jamaica are closed to cruise ships for now. Since you don't have alternate destinations in the direction that'd get you over to Cozumel, you are stuck with Eastern Caribbean destinations.
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5 hours ago, BoozinCroozin said:
It is becoming apparent that there will be no exemptions to the vaccination requirement. They are not even detailing the criteria nor are they even stating what they will have to do once onboard. I do think stringing people along for full payment before telling them no is wrong. But this is a cash-is-king game for them because the refunds will be across quarters for the most part. I for one would not be tying my money up with a July or August cruise until they specifically told me I would be sailing with unvaccinated kids. Vacations are going up daily during the Summer and having to change on a dime is not going to be cheap.
So apparent. /s
This is the request exception link for August sailings + Mardi Gras July 31. It will remain live until June 25. June 21 final payments will be done and they will know how many exceptions they can issue for each sailing. Sometime after June 25, the follow-up and yes/no decisions will start being made.
This is the email that came last night that I pulled that request link from.
OPERATIONAL UPDATE
MARDI GRAS JULY 31 AND AUGUST 2021 SAILINGS
Dear Carnival Guest:
We are excited about getting to welcome you aboard your upcoming cruise in August. We know you are awaiting more details about pre-cruise and onboard protocols and procedures and we want to thank you for your patience while we finalized our plans.
Our Have Fun. Be Safe. protocols and procedures have been designed to maximize the health and safety of our guests and crew while delivering a fun and memorable vacation experience.
Please take note of our Have Fun. Be Safe. guidelines we expect to follow:- Guests, including children who are age-eligible for vaccines, will need to be vaccinated and show proof of vaccination in advance of boarding. (As a reminder, fully vaccinated is defined as receiving the final dose of a vaccine at least 14 days before embarkation.) For your reference, any vaccine approved by either the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the World Health Organization (WHO) meets this requirement.
- According to current CDC guidelines, vaccinated guests on your sailing will not be required to wear face masks or physical distance while on board. However, masks are required at the cruise terminal during embarkation.
- Vaccinated guests may participate in Carnival-sponsored tours or independent activities. We are in the process of finalizing our tours and expect more availability to be added in the next few weeks. Please check back on Carnival.com by the end of the month.
- All guests are required to follow the protocols and requirements for each destination while ashore. These restrictions are under the control of local government and are subject to change without advance notice. We encourage you to come prepared for potential requirements ashore which may apply to health screening/testing, masks, physical distancing, organized tours/independent activities, etc.
We know there are some guests who are ineligible or unable to meet the vaccination requirements and we want to provide them with more information on our decision. The current CDC requirements for cruising with a guest base that is unvaccinated are much more restrictive and will make it very difficult to deliver the experience our guests expect especially given the large number of families with younger children who sail with us. Specifically, the current CDC requirements for cruises with unvaccinated guests require that vaccinated guests wear a face mask indoors and that all unvaccinated guests undergo testing at the embarkation terminal (and within 24 hours of debark if the cruise is longer than 4 days). This requirement applies to all unvaccinated guests, including children, along with physical distancing requirements that will have to be maintained between guests on board.
We are in regular communication with the CDC requesting that more manageable guidelines be adopted, especially as it relates to families traveling with children under the age of 12 who are ineligible for vaccination. Until those guidelines are revised, our only alternative is to sail with vaccinated guests. We also continue to work with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on our plans for our Florida based ships.
We know this is disappointing to those guests who are unable to be or have not been vaccinated, including the many children who are booked to sail with us for their summer vacation. We had to make some difficult decisions based on where we are with the CDC, general public health guidelines, and the overall health and safety of our guests and crew.
We remain optimistic that requirements for cruising from the U.S. will continue to evolve and our approach to future sailings will become more flexible. However, at this time we must follow the guidance we have as of today.
As we operate to meet the CDC guidelines, there is an exemption process to accommodate a small number of guests who are unable or ineligible to be vaccinated (children under 12 and other exceptions as required by federal law). The current standard to meet the CDC’s criteria for a fully vaccinated cruise – under which guests can sail without a mask and other restrictions – is that at least 95 percent of all guests on board are fully vaccinated.
Please click here to submit an application for an exemption if a member of your party meets our criteria. Exemption request must be completed by end of day June 25. It’s important to note that the number of exemptions will be a very small subset, will largely be children under 12, and it will be less than 5 percent of guests to account for no shows and other operational matters. And, we cannot begin to process these requests until after all final payments are received on June 21 and we have certainty on the total number of guests on board – so that we can determine the number of exemptions. But we are committed to moving as quickly as possible.
In the meantime, it is important that you make sure your booking is up to date, which includes the names and ages of all guests in your party. You can manage that in the MyCruisePlanner function on Carnival.com, with your Personal Vacation Planner, your travel agent or by calling us at 1-800-CARNIVAL.
If you determine the time is not right for you to sail, please call 1-800-CARNIVAL, your Personal Vacation Planner or your travel advisor who can help you rebook for a later date. We have ship itineraries open through 2024 and as previously communicated, we have extended your ability to rebook or request a full refund until Monday, June 21. After that date, our regular fare rules will apply.
Ultimately, we are focused and committed to following all guidelines, protecting public health, AND delivering to our guests, a FUN Carnival cruise vacation. We look forward to seeing you on a Carnival cruise next month.
Sincerely,
Christine Duffy
President, Carnival Cruise Line -
Since no one has posted the whole thing and speculation early in the thread strayed immediately to misinformation about there being no exceptions....
Its not hard. There are a small number of exceptions allowed for a vaccinated cruise. Final Payments need to be paid for there to be a passenger count. They have to undercount exception slots a little to account for there being some no-shows or denials at the terminal. There are 3 categories for unvaccinated exception in the request form- children under 12, religious, and medical. Its expected children will be the largest group or be given priority based on the phrasing in the communication. Yes, this sucks to have to put your money on the line and possibly be unable to fit into an exception slot and have to rebook for the future or wait for a refund. If that's a deal breaker for your family, cancel or rebook for December or next year.
OPERATIONAL UPDATE
MARDI GRAS JULY 31 AND AUGUST 2021 SAILINGS
Dear Carnival Guest:
We are excited about getting to welcome you aboard your upcoming cruise in August. We know you are awaiting more details about pre-cruise and onboard protocols and procedures and we want to thank you for your patience while we finalized our plans.
Our Have Fun. Be Safe. protocols and procedures have been designed to maximize the health and safety of our guests and crew while delivering a fun and memorable vacation experience.
Please take note of our Have Fun. Be Safe. guidelines we expect to follow:- Guests, including children who are age-eligible for vaccines, will need to be vaccinated and show proof of vaccination in advance of boarding. (As a reminder, fully vaccinated is defined as receiving the final dose of a vaccine at least 14 days before embarkation.) For your reference, any vaccine approved by either the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the World Health Organization (WHO) meets this requirement.
- According to current CDC guidelines, vaccinated guests on your sailing will not be required to wear face masks or physical distance while on board. However, masks are required at the cruise terminal during embarkation.
- Vaccinated guests may participate in Carnival-sponsored tours or independent activities. We are in the process of finalizing our tours and expect more availability to be added in the next few weeks. Please check back on Carnival.com by the end of the month.
- All guests are required to follow the protocols and requirements for each destination while ashore. These restrictions are under the control of local government and are subject to change without advance notice. We encourage you to come prepared for potential requirements ashore which may apply to health screening/testing, masks, physical distancing, organized tours/independent activities, etc.
We know there are some guests who are ineligible or unable to meet the vaccination requirements and we want to provide them with more information on our decision. The current CDC requirements for cruising with a guest base that is unvaccinated are much more restrictive and will make it very difficult to deliver the experience our guests expect especially given the large number of families with younger children who sail with us. Specifically, the current CDC requirements for cruises with unvaccinated guests require that vaccinated guests wear a face mask indoors and that all unvaccinated guests undergo testing at the embarkation terminal (and within 24 hours of debark if the cruise is longer than 4 days). This requirement applies to all unvaccinated guests, including children, along with physical distancing requirements that will have to be maintained between guests on board.
We are in regular communication with the CDC requesting that more manageable guidelines be adopted, especially as it relates to families traveling with children under the age of 12 who are ineligible for vaccination. Until those guidelines are revised, our only alternative is to sail with vaccinated guests. We also continue to work with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on our plans for our Florida based ships.
We know this is disappointing to those guests who are unable to be or have not been vaccinated, including the many children who are booked to sail with us for their summer vacation. We had to make some difficult decisions based on where we are with the CDC, general public health guidelines, and the overall health and safety of our guests and crew.
We remain optimistic that requirements for cruising from the U.S. will continue to evolve and our approach to future sailings will become more flexible. However, at this time we must follow the guidance we have as of today.
As we operate to meet the CDC guidelines, there is an exemption process to accommodate a small number of guests who are unable or ineligible to be vaccinated (children under 12 and other exceptions as required by federal law). The current standard to meet the CDC’s criteria for a fully vaccinated cruise – under which guests can sail without a mask and other restrictions – is that at least 95 percent of all guests on board are fully vaccinated.
Please click here to submit an application for an exemption if a member of your party meets our criteria. Exemption request must be completed by end of day June 25. It’s important to note that the number of exemptions will be a very small subset, will largely be children under 12, and it will be less than 5 percent of guests to account for no shows and other operational matters. And, we cannot begin to process these requests until after all final payments are received on June 21 and we have certainty on the total number of guests on board – so that we can determine the number of exemptions. But we are committed to moving as quickly as possible.
In the meantime, it is important that you make sure your booking is up to date, which includes the names and ages of all guests in your party. You can manage that in the MyCruisePlanner function on Carnival.com, with your Personal Vacation Planner, your travel agent or by calling us at 1-800-CARNIVAL.
If you determine the time is not right for you to sail, please call 1-800-CARNIVAL, your Personal Vacation Planner or your travel advisor who can help you rebook for a later date. We have ship itineraries open through 2024 and as previously communicated, we have extended your ability to rebook or request a full refund until Monday, June 21. After that date, our regular fare rules will apply.
Ultimately, we are focused and committed to following all guidelines, protecting public health, AND delivering to our guests, a FUN Carnival cruise vacation. We look forward to seeing you on a Carnival cruise next month.
Sincerely,
Christine Duffy
President, Carnival Cruise LineAnd this is the link address for exceptions: https://click.carnivalcruiselineemail.com/?qs=6c7fa3c3722fe8669ab72c51675cdaeafec6972370cff976a70017cf5342a9f88208f2b14fa8d0bb891296b5795989a526a2fafbfd96dfb9
I've heard that you can't submit the exception request if your booking isn't in the time frame (all August sailings + Mardi Gras July 31) and if it isn't paid in full. My wife and I are vaccinated so no need for us to request an exception. There DOES NOT seem to be a first-come-first served thing going on. This link is supposed to stay live until June 25, meanwhile final payments are due by June 21. Sometime after June 25 the request form link will close and they will follow-up and start selecting and notifying who does or doesn't make the cut.
My gut says a lot of families are going to cancel or rebook for later and this will pave the way for those who are patient and persistent to have a better shot at an exception slot.
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The August exception form is up. It will not allow you to submit unless your booking is paid in full. It advises that the deadline for submissions is June 25, so acceptance/denial most likely will be after that. Whereas the July sailings the deadline for exception submissions was June 15, and final payments are still deadlined for June 21 and exception accept/deny is still pending and expected sometime after that date.
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For ships besides Mardi Gras too. We got this email and we're booked on Vista August 28.
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I like the class of ship the Triumph is compared to the larger ships like Vista. More hot tubs, less crowded buffets/clubs.
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Without knowing what's changing for these early restart cruises.....
Highly recommend picking up some half price fishbowls at the Red Frog pub during happy hour, which is generally 2 hours in the early afternoon during embarkation day. Can vary by ship. It was 12pm-2pm last time I went out of Galveston, but I've seen posts saying 12:30 - 2:30 and even 3:00 - 5:00, so this probably varies by ship/port. Always watch the various bars and newsletter for info about happy hours and free drinks if you don't buy Cheers and want to keep your drink spending low.
Guy's Burger, Pig & Anchor, Pizza, Tacos... best to grab what you like and find a spot on deck to eat/drink and get a good view on day of debarkation.
Know that you will probably have to use the stairs because the elevators will be mostly reserved for crew to move luggage in. Red Frog tends to be in a mid level and on Vista at least I think its the same floor or 1 floor off from the Pig & Anchor. Other ships I've been on Pig & Anchor is upstairs from the Lido deck buffets- there are always some quasi-hidden restaurants up there, and might be good options with shorter lines. While Guy's Burger's, Pizza, and Tacos can be had on Lido deck, and its just a matter of dividing and conquering with your cruise partner to get some food and fishbowls and meet back up. Pro-Tip: hankerchief, napkins, gloves, hand towel.... if you're on drink-duty, carrying 2 fishbowls from the bar to Lido will freeze your hands if you don't work out an insulating layer. Sometimes you won't get a fishbowl glass because they've given them all out (if you show up 10 mins before happy hour ends), and they may just give you a plastic pitcher of cocktail instead- same size.
So given ship differences, maybe do a little checking and planning to know where your bars and restaurants are. Grab food, cheap drinks, minimize wandering through crowds and up and down stairs, get a good spot to sit or walk around on a high deck and enjoy the view.
Update to Carnivals Guest Protocols
in Carnival Cruise Lines
Posted
Nope. I would not want to be booked on a cruise out of FL right now.