micheleg

And then there are those of us who participated in the Clinical Trials.  I didn't even get a CDC card.   Once we were unblinded and found out what we got, then we got cards that we associated to the Trial and Drug Manufacturer.  No lot numbers because that was all blinded, and just the dates we got it, and the site name that administered it.  I go back for another blood test next week, and am going to ask them to give me a CDC card (hopefully they have them).

And for those concerned with the long term effects...that's what we're around for.  Just because the vaccines got approved for Emergency Use, doesn't mean the trials stopped.  Yes, some did drop out because all they were concerned about was getting the vaccine.  Then there are those of us in it for the long haul.  I go again next week, and this would be my 5th blood in about 7 months.  So believe you me, they're still looking at everything, and it's our antibodies, and our reactions that are going to tell them if boosters are needed, etc.  

So..for all of you that continue to say NO to the vaccines, thanks for nothing.  For those that said YES, it was worth risking my life for you and everyone else to live a healthy life and for our country, our allies,  and the rest of the world to flourish and defeat this horrible virus, and you're welcome.

Same protocol as when Norovirus is on board.  No self-serve anywhere.  By doing this across all lines, Noro most likely will be eliminated.  Another plus IMHO.  🙂

12 minutes ago, grandgeezer said:

What happens if it goes up? If significant, that would be the end of cruising as that shutdown would be a long one and adding to the current debt, the lines would fold. Are you willing to risk it?

The only reason it's going to go up is because people refuse to get vaccinated, continue to participate in super spreader events, stop wearing masks, etc. (I am not talking about the ones that cannot because of medical or religious reasons). 

As a participant in one of the first Clinical Trials, and was willing to risk my life (not only because I also felt it was my patriotic duty to the US) to ensure that the world will have a safe and effective vaccine, I take it as a personal insult from those that either refuse vaccination or deny that this virus even exists.  Stop placating what is really the issue here.  The percentages of infection must go down and the cruise lines need to prove they can do this.  It's the people that are hindering us from sailing.  Not the CDC.  

Everyone's got their opinions, every politician is on one side of the other, the CLIA has to look out for everything in their charter, my cruise line friends have been out of work and money for over a year, and we sit here hoping our next cruise doesn't get cancelled, yadda yadda. 

The most political part of this entire situation now, involves the segment of people that refuse to get vaccinated.   Get the message to and talk to those people.  They're the ones keeping us from sailing.

Let the June cruises sail and hope that the infection rates in each state drop...if no issues, that will send the biggest message to the CDC and Washington.

We played cabin roulette as well this morning.  Prices just too steep, especially when you have to add Business Class air.  Also, the sailings didn't push all the way out to Labor day, so the earlier sailings didn't work for us.  Hard for us to have to pay air for a 7 dayer when we're used to just stepping on the ship at Fort Lauderdale or Miami.  We'll just wait for our April 2022 Apex 14 dayer which is essentially paid for from our 3 previous cancelled sailings and save our money for a 2023 blow-out cruise!

Happy sailing for everyone that is going to go in June/July!

21 minutes ago, twangster said:

Open on the public site now.

 

Can you please provide the direct link to that?  I still cannot pull it up.

I was wondering about masks as well.  Only required indoors?  Are they required outside on open decks as long as social distancing is maintained?  Did they spread out the deck chairs by the pool?  Are the chairs at the bars spaced out?  Oh, so many questions.  No matter what, have a blast!!!

Sold out or capacity controlled?  That is the new question.

Just wanted to let everyone know that there is hope.   Sailing was cancelled in March, American Airlines refunded back to Celebrity on April 18th, and after numerous calls and emails to Flights by Celebrity, funds refunded back last night.  Got the 1 to 2 billing cycles and "in progress" responses many times, but I just guess they're getting to each refund one by one.  So be patient....you will get it back.  🙂

The noise isn't too bad.  Just in the morning and then in the early evening and in short intervals.   For Alaska,  you're getting up early every day anyway...either to whale or glacier watch or to get off the ship and explore. The pole next to the bed bothered me more than the noise.  LOL...In the middle of the night I walked right into it (after an evening of way too many martini's).  For Alaska...it's the best view in the house.  You get to see whales from every perspective.  It's just amazing!!  Grab it and enjoy!

We are booked on the 4/20 - 13 Night Eclipse cruise beginning in Hawaii.  We already cancelled everything else except for the cruise and air.  Just waiting for Celebrity to finally cancel.  Can't start in Hawaii, can't end in Vancouver.  Don't think anyone wants to do the middle part which is 5 days at sea.  My TA spoke to Celebrity today...was told to sit tight, and that's it.  Guess they'll get to us when they get to us. 

Just got this email from the Hawaiian Tourist Authority:

13 minutes ago, Fouremco said:

I'm not sure that, given the circumstance, Celebrity can be accused of doing a horrible job. When a pandemic strikes, there are impacts that no one can predict, and cruise lines are no exception. For your cruise, there was no need to communicate with you as there were no changes for them to report. Then, in the middle of a day when they were facing further news from the US administration and were in the midst of instituting a ±30 day suspension, the Government of Canada dropped a huge bomb in their lap with the announcement that all Canadian cruise ports are to be closed until July. That was all just a few hours ago, so give it some time. Remember too the the cruise immediately preceding yours is also affected, and that barring a waiver to the PVSA, that cruise might never get underway. Be patient.

Sorry...but I'm in IT, and in the customer service business and being in Miami, I also know how big their IT and marketing departments are.  I know what it takes to query databases by sailing dates, and formulate email blasts, especially with the marketing tools RCL/Celebrity has. There's no excuses, just a "we're working on it" email would've been nice with a projected date of when they'd have more info.  That's all it would've taken.

Just feel like we're being strung along.  We're on the 4/20 sailing on the Eclipse from Honolulu to what was Vancouver.  Also was supposed to call at Victoria.  Our cruise never made the list because we're 38 days out, but now that we can't disembark in Canada, unless they wave Jones act, are they going to try to end in Ensenada or do a 30 minute stop to fulfill the international call and potentially still end in Seattle, where none of really want to go now, or leave through Sea-Tac.  No offense to Seattle, but until they get their act together, we'll pass. 

We haven't cancelled yet, still trying to see what's going to happen with the itinerary, but just the whole stress of this trip has really put a damper on what was to be a bucket list and anniversary cruise.  Not even one email to let us know they're working on things.  Celebrity, if you're reading this, you've really done a horrible job of taking care of your VERY loyal cruisers.  😞

And how do they categorize Cardiovascular disease?  There going to be High Blood Pressure police at the piers?  I didn't see anything about them checking blood pressures along with temps.  This is all crazy.  I spoke to my cardiologist...no way he was going to sign any waivers.  He just told me to make my own decision and if I decided to go, to have a good time and sanitize a lot!  LOL

We've been in them twice and of course I always seem to get the side with the pole.  One time the pole was right up against the bed, and I couldn't even get in, so we had to move the bed away from the pole.  Only one time did I get close to hitting the pole in the middle of the night.  Since you know it's there, you kinda feel your way with your toes to make sure you flat out don't walk into it.  It's never an issue or in the way anytime you're awake.  The suite and aft location far outweigh any concerns about the pole.  🙂

We loved it for lunch.  All the seafood all the time.  Starters + the Tower....wonderful to share outside with the ocean breeze.  We missed it on the Solstice.

Just 7 days until we board the Solstice.  GenX's posts have been so wonderful, we are even more excited about our upcoming cruise than ever!  I hope the weather gods shine down on us as they did GenX.  Now I know that when the ship's horn blows, it's not just for leaving a port, but thar's whales out there to awe at.  🙂 

Thanks for sharing your honeymoon and Alaska with us.  Can't wait to hear about Seattle as well.  We're spending two days there post cruise too!  Not only do you have to do a B2B, but you must experience a Transatlantic or a full Panama Canal crossing.  Both worth saving vacation days for.

Many happy years of cruising and love!  Congrats again!

Michele

Thanks for all of the intel GenX.  We board the Solstice on 8/23, and all of your reported whale sightings are very exciting.  We'll be enjoying an aft Sky Suite on your behalf.   🙂   Agreed, once you have one of these, you're spoiled forever. 

We just booked a Hawaii cruise for next year on the Eclipse (on our bucket list as well), and had to go with a Concierge cabin because the costs with everything are just killer.  This Alaska cruise isn't exactly chump change either when it's all said and done.  But we figure we're not taking it with us, so we might as well enjoy life now!

Thanks on the tips as far as clothes are concerned.  I'm going to freeze anyway since South Florida is the total opposite regarding temps.  Good thing we can check two pieces of luggage each as well, otherwise I'd be screwed.  So spoiled about being able to just hop on a ship from Fort Lauderdale or Miami without worrying about luggage size or weight. 

Glad you're having a blast and enjoy!

Michele

We did the Mardi Gras cruise in 2018.  We were in an aft Sky Suite so we had the best of all worlds.  We were more starboard than port, so while docked we had a great view of the city.  During the cruise up and down the Mississippi, we could see both sides.  The only issue we had was weather... cold and foggy.  If you're not on the port side, the only way you'd see the fireworks for New Orleans would to be on the top deck or aft, otherwise, you'd miss them all and they were quite a sight to see.  We loved this cruise so much, we want to do it again.  Have a blast!

The trip up the Mississippi was glorious.  We enjoyed it so much except when it really got too rainy and cold.  We sat on our balcony and just watched everything go by all day.  We were all the way aft, so we could see both sides, the best view onboard by far.  It was so different then just watching the waves go by and being far out at sea, and that's what made it so nice.  You won't be able to see anything when you sail out of NOLA, so taking the time to soak in the river sights on Sunday is the day to do it!  Don't miss the parades, you have to catch at least one.  Zulu and Rex was a hoot and we were right up front.  The locals that we were sitting with in the Grandstands couldn't have been nicer, especially when one of my neighbors reached out and caught a bag of beads headed directly for my face.  We came back to the ship with a ton of beads and other trinkets that were thrown from the floats.  Bathrooms were a challenge, the wait at Cafe Du Monde was over two hours (no, we did not wait), we did however stand out in the freezing wind for almost an hour to get into Mothers.  The food was just too good and we ate so much that we cancelled the reservations that we had at Emril's for Monday night.   You will have a blast...just do your homework and have a plan!

Hiya...yes, we did the Mardi Gras cruise last year and loved it.  Unfortunately it was very cold and rainy in NOLA when we arrived, so that put a little bit of a damper on things.  You will need to do all of your own research on what you want to do.  I do not remember Celebrity providing much if anything on the NOLA Mardi Gras goings on.  We did all of our own planning, had streetcar tickets as there is a station right at the Julia Street pier, and also had Parade tix for Tuesday, and hop-on hop-off bus tickets for Monday.  We brought masks and beads, but we just decorated our suite, and never wore the masks, however others did.  Everyone was wearing beads after the first day in NOLA.   We opened our balcony doors as we were all the way aft, and could hear music from the streets, and was treated to a great fireworks show on Monday night as well.  We did not do the museum, but just remember, that everything except for some bars and restaurants will be closed on Tuesday (that's why we did the parade on Tuesday - which was fabulous).  So plan on getting what you want to see and do done on Sunday night and Monday.  Also, make sure you have patience.  There were very long lines for all of the popular attractions and restaurants.  There were cabs available to go out from the pier if you wanted, finding one to get back was more of a challenge, especially when there were parades going on.  We wished we had one or two more days, but we had a blast.  New Orleans is a very special city.  Have fun, and remember to put your cash and wallets out of sight and out of your pockets.

Thanks for the information everyone! We have ponchos, and I have a walker, so slow and muddy will rule the day. :)

One last question. Anyone have an idea as to what time Zulu will make it to Lafayette? Our tickets say 8:00 AM, but that's the start, so between the walk and what time they will get there, I want to make sure we're in our grandstand. Not sure how 7 small blocks at a slow pace will take us to get there.

Hi All of you great NOLA residents. First, thanks for all of the helpful information. What happens when it rains when a parade is scheduled? Do they still happen or are they cancelled - is there a rain or shine definition? We have tickets for the last parade on Fat Tuesday - Zulu/Rex, and I was looking at the forecast for the next week and it appears that rain might be a high probability.

Also...one last question...is Uber a possibility during parade days? I know that streetcars are limited due to road closings, but walking is hard for me, and it's not exactly close from Julia street to the our parade location (St. Charles & Lafayette)

I appreciate your help!

Michele

A little something for those walking from Hilton Riverside...I attached a camera to a giant penguin and had him walk to the port.

 

Holy crap...what a schlep!!! What do older and disabled folks do? That's one hell of a walk. If you dock at Julia Street how far from the ship just out to the streets to catch an Uber? We're not staying at a hotel, we're going to be on the ship for 2 nights, and just need to get to the where the hop on hop off buses are and the street car stop. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks again for all of the great information Dragon! For those of us sailing in 2018 on this cruise, we can use all of your sound advice starting now!