Suncoastsailors

1 hour ago, Blondiemomm said:

I believe you need to educate yourself on how vaccines work. It is not a cure-all. Cruise lines will not sail if there is a chance of an outbreak on board. I would be very surprised if they become mandatory. If Americans are refusing to wear a mask because it infringes on their "rights" you think they will let 
"big Pharma" inject them with a vaccine with such a limited  history? Hell. No.

I never said vaccine was a cure-all. Neither is hand washing, mask or sanitizing. Full compliance with vaccine will eliminate large outbreaks onboard and get us back to cruising. Americans are getting the vaccine over a million a day. Hell YES. 

12 minutes ago, fandash03 said:

just so you are aware, my family and I have adhered to ALL the health legislations and rules since march 2020. I have wore my mask, I social distance and everything else and do not flout the regulations so please do not tell me I have no right to cruise or fly or go to restaurants just because I choose not to have the vaccination. THAT IS MY CHOICE and you choose to have the vaccine ... if that is what you want but the choice should not take away other options to enjoy life... so what should I do in your opinion...just stay in the house and do nothing at all ever again ?   ...wow I am absolutely amazed by your thoughts... but I have had my say in this so THE END

Not sure what to say to that. I don't want the vaccine either, but I realize the implications on cruising when several people get COVID during a cruise. The path back to safe cruising needs to start somewhere. Vaccine compliance among passengers and crew is the best way to build confidence. I am seeing why the cruise lines will have difficulty getting passenger compliance based on some of statements in this thread. I don't obviously don't have answers for every scenario. Fraudulent vaccine documentation, children vaccination, lack of final FDA approval, vaccine allergies or contraindications, possible COVID infection after vaccine, etc. etc. etc.. We need to start somewhere, even if it is temporary and does not fit everyone's needs. Set a realistic date and require all to be vaccinated seems like the best option. Last week 1.3 million shots were given per day. 

2 minutes ago, cruiseguy1016 said:

 

My guess is the form showing that you had the vaccine is different in every state/county. My wife and I have both been vaccinated in the same county but at different locations. Our documentation papers are different. She has the date hand written with a sticker for the lot number. On mine, the dates and lot numbers are both just written by hand.  Anyone can make a fake form and write any dates and lot number they want. The cruise lines will not take the time and effort to verify the authenticity of every form.

Every comment is so negative. What about a life time cruising ban if you get caught? 

3 minutes ago, cruiseguy1016 said:

 

My guess is the form showing that you had the vaccine is different in every state/county. My wife and I have both been vaccinated in the same county but at different locations. Our documentation papers are different. She has the date hand written with a sticker for the lot number. On mine, the dates and lot numbers are both just written by hand.  Anyone can make a fake form and write any dates and lot number they want. The cruise lines will not take the time and effort to verify the authenticity of every form.

July1st and Aug 1st are of course used just as an example. 

4 minutes ago, cruiseguy1016 said:

 

People are going to lie about being vaccinated (does the term "Service Animal" ring a bell?). Where is the proof going to come from? I've been vaccinated. I have a piece of paper that "proves" it. That piece of paper would be very easy to forge.

4 minutes ago, cruiseguy1016 said:

 

People are going to lie about being vaccinated (does the term "Service Animal" ring a bell?). Where is the proof going to come from? I've been vaccinated. I have a piece of paper that "proves" it. That piece of paper would be very easy to forge.

How many would go to that extent to cruise. You need expiration date, lot number, date etc. on your paper. Even if a few people did cheat it would still be safe for those who follow the rules. Severe consequences could follow if you cheat and get caught. It would be easy to call the vaccination facility to verify. 

31 minutes ago, leisuretraveler223 said:

Wow, there's a lot to unpack in this thread, and I'll confess I didn't read all NINE pages, mostly because I don't hate myself.  But I did want to add one thing to the original subject about mandating vaccines.

 

Currently, there are NO "approved" vaccines for sars-cov-19.  That's right, there is not a single vaccine approved for use against Covid 19.  Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have "emergency use authorization", which means they are allowed to be administered because of the current pandemic emergency circumstances, but are not officially "Approved".

 

Now, a private company might go with the "we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone", and say they aren't allowing people to board.  But they also know it's a tricky line to navigate to require people to accept something that hasn't been "approved" yet.

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm a pediatrician and an ARDENT vaccine advocate. I'm also thankful to have already received my two doses.  But I hear this conversation a lot.  Cruise lines should mandate it. Employers should mandate it.  The Federal or State Governments should mandate it.   It's just not realistic to MANDATE something that hasn't actually met the criteria to be "approved".

I am not purposing cruise line MANDATE you to have the vaccine. Only they they require vaccination to join the cruise. Possible exceptions could be made small children. If you set a date say July 1st or Aug 1st 2021. Everyone has time to prepare. Cruise lines could seek government approval. Staff could be vaccinated, protocols put in place and those who want to cruise can get in line for the vaccine. They are allowing vaccinated local nursing staff to attend the Super Bowl. Approved or emergency use is not the issue. Set a sail date based on data. Presently 1.2 million vaccines per day given. Those who disagree can wait until the rules change.  

20 minutes ago, broberts said:

 

Mistaken assumption that the virus cannot spread in a mostly vaccinated population. It has yet to be established that the vaccinated cannot transmit the virus. With more and more variants coming to light, until proven otherwise we can not assume the vaccinated are always protected.

 

Besides, people do eventually get off the ship and enter the general population. Until most people are somewhat protected, it is very unlikely that cruising will resume.

 

I know people could still get the virus after the vaccine, but this would protect from a mass spread around the ship. 

1 hour ago, molly361 said:

They have not even said when they are going to conduct their test cruises.

Why do they need test cruises if everyone is vaccinated.

Today 6.5 % of the nation is vaccinated. If cruise lines would mandate the vaccine for crew and passengers and give a realistic start date. Those who want to cruise can focus on getting the vaccine. Let the ports of call know that all crew and passengers will be vaccinated. This seems like the answer to cruises returning. Testing can be relaxed, ship precautions can be reduced. Even if someone gets the virus onboard it won't spread to other passengers or crew. Those who don't want the vaccine can cancel, but those still booked on cruise ships want to cruise.

17 hours ago, Wine-O said:

I've already booked on Brilliance of the Seas from Ravenna to Barcelona (fully refundable). It's the last cruise of the season prior to the TA's.  Unless something comes out better, I'll book its TA probably to Tampa.  I will already have flights booked to Bologna or Venice by the time after final payment on Celebrity. 

 

Celebrity is pricing me out of its market.  I have one last cruise I booked last year for 2022, and I think that's it for me.  🍷

 

 

I agree I don't like the pricing structure of Celebrity. We do not drink and don't feel would should have to pay more for the others who do drink. 

Hopefully this means Royal Caribbean will be doing the same soon. 

We did a lift and shift for 4/10/2021 Rhapsody of Seas Transatlantic to Rome 14 days. Oddly enough it offered me a 16 day Sydney to Honolulu April 10 2022 on Ovation of Seas, which was priced at about three times my cruise. I submitted the request and it was excepted. Price protected, only a small increase for higher port charges. 

13 hours ago, cellfree said:

Suncoastsailors, have you cruised MSC Divina? Wondering if we were on ship with you.

Sorry no, never on MSC. All of the other cruise lines however

10 hours ago, cellfree said:

Will do our best. We have a cruise booked out of Tampa on the Legend January 17 but I am really unsure about that one so decided to book January 3 on the Horizon as I feel it has a better chance of going, need to get on a ship sooner than later, so we will either be on two cruises in January or one cruise in January or none.

We are also on the Legend Jan.17th.  I have am pretty sure it will be cancelled. But of course not until after final payment.

3 hours ago, Cruisesfun65 said:

Now you're scaring me even more. LOL 

Sorry

We are on the Legend out of Tampa in Jan. 2021. With the Tampa Port Director stating that he expects only limited cruises to start in April 2021 it seems likely that the May 17th cruise will be the first sailing of Legend post pandemic. 

2 hours ago, kwokpot said:

I hope they take out every single URN

Urn?

1 hour ago, cellfree said:

We have Tampa booked for January and March, worried about January for sure, thought I read something not too long ago about the Port of Tampa and their hesitation in starting up cruises. Anyone else read anything recently in the news about that?

Yes the article said Tampa Port expects limited return of cruising in April. We have a Jan. cruise out of Tampa that will most certainly be cancelled. 

We had an inside promenade window cabin on Adventure and the Jewel does not have this option. Plus 2 of the three ports being changed and no St Petersburg port. Faced with not knowing what cabin we would be offered before the cancel deadline, we decided to cancel. In my opinion this is very poor customer service.  

I choose to cancel 7 day Jewel May 23. Will get my refund vs fcc. Thank you all for the information.

3 hours ago, NancyIL said:

Sept. 28 is the deadline (unless extended) to get a  refund  for cancelling a new cruise that was automatically transferred from Brilliance to Indy or Adventure to Jewel.  Cancellations after that date are subject to the Cruise With Confidence policy, which would issue a FCC, unless the deposit is refundable. I agree that  RCI should’ve extended that date - at least  until Sept. 30th. 
 

For those whose cruises were cancelled with no replacement - you have until October 31st to book a new cruise in order to get the additional $100 or $200 OBC from RCI. 

Thank you for pointing out that the cancellation had to be done by Sept.28th or be subject to the cruise with confidence policy. Of course we we probably not have our new cabin assignments until Sept 28th or later.  

5/23 Adventure of Seas....Ship change to Jewel. Ports changed from Stockholm, St Petersburg, Tallinn to Helsinki, Tallinn and Visby. For this we receive $50 OBC. I am thinking cancel, but I would be interested in other opinions since I have not been to any of these ports. Thank You

5 minutes ago, Norwich Cruiser said:

Adventure 

 

April 21st transatlantic 

 

Galveston to Copenhagen 

 

May 9th cruises commence from Copenhagen 

 

June 27th Cruises commence from Stockholm

 

August 5th Cruises again from Copenhagen

 

October 14th Transatlantic to Miami from Southampton 

 

Or at least this is what I’m being told 

Sorry but this can not be correct per RCCL own website. Something needs to change. 

I called RCCL today about our 7 day RT May 23 2021 on Adventure of Seas out of Copenhagen. The agent admitted that this same ship is also scheduled for a May 27 2021 out of Barcelona. I expect an announcement soon on these changes. He said the announcement was not ready at this time.  What a mess. By the way I did book airfare using frequent flyer miles and with multiple COVID cancellations have never been charged a rebooking fee.  

RCCL is posting on Adventure of the Seas a 4 day RT cruise from Galveston on 4/26/2021 and then a 7 day RT from Copenhagen on May 9 2021. This is not likely and it makes the leaked news article more believable. Surely RCCL will need to address this soon since it is obvious the schedules do not jive.    

4 hours ago, Anyislandwilldo said:

Sailing on the Freedom.  It is still listed under cruise manager.

 

We were told by Carnival agent that capacity is 69%.