Vancouver-Cruiser

An update to my previous post. Deleting and redownloading the Surfshark app allowed OpenVPN to appear as an option. Selecting that allowed Surfshark to finally connect. Hopefully OpenVPN continues to get around the blocking in future. 

21 hours ago, afurman said:

Varies ship to ship what VPN would work.  I have seen all VPN blocked then a few months later it's open.  I can say Icon was the last ship that I had a VPN blocked and it was blocking Wireguard connections but openvpn type was working.  (those are VPN types and most of the VPN software uses either of those or both as options.)

I've used Surfshark successfully on many Royal ships without an issue. But on Odyssey currently, it is blocked. We're from Canada so can't watch our Amazon Prime shows. Fortunately I did download a few episodes before we left, and those will play. I can't switch from Wireguard since openvpn doesn't appear as an option. Maybe it's because I'm using a Mac.

4 hours ago, Steeler Nation At Sea said:

@cruisin from florida

 

Pretty sure poster is referring to the Israeli/Hamas war and the potential for a canceled Suez transit next fall.  Without that transit, the ship won't make it to Singapore in '25.  

We’re booked on the Anthem Suez cruise next fall. Keeping my fingers crossed that they don’t cancel before the Suez situation is brought under control. They’ve already cancelled Ashod unfortunately.

But why couldn’t the Anthem sail around Africa to get to Singapore, if necessary? I know it takes longer, but if they changed the Southampton to Civi leg they would have time. Has Royal ever offered a sailing around South Africa?

54 minutes ago, Cap_D said:

And, of note, there's plans to home port Edge class ships at Port Canaveral (no where near Orlando airport, IMO) and Miami, in addition to FLL.  I'm not sure who goes to Orlando parks, drives an hour, and then would do a week on a ship, but suppose that's the thinking overall at RCCL.  Suppose Miami is better for passengers arriving from outside the U.S. locations.  In any event, all the ships seem to make up their time and still get to the same collection of ports in Caribbean and Bahamas.   And, fwiw, the holiday weeks when school children are out do not include stops at CocoCay (presumably due to capacity with RCL getting priority).

 

 

We’re still waiting for the Apex deployment. We’re on the fall 2025 transatlantic that will end in Port Canaveral. Hoping to add on to that. We’d have preferred FLL. I hope Celebrity doesn’t move too far in the direction of Royal. We were planning more Celebrity cruises in future as an alternative. 

4 hours ago, Anubi said:

We honeymooned on the Monarch of the Seas, one of the few at the time with balconies.  We had to upgrade to a junior suite and it was worth every cent.  🙂 

We had our honeymoon on the Sun Viking. A porthole cabin, as I was still a student. It seemed big to us at the time (1983). I couldn’t have conceived of the future sizes ships would reach. Or that we’d start cruising again, later in life, and reach Pinnacle. 

26 minutes ago, rockmom said:

Do you follow this thread?  

I do, thanks. 

6 minutes ago, rockmom said:

Remember, they are doing non-revenue TA for Icon.  That may be the case for Utopia as well, depending on when she actually has her maiden voyage and where she's headed.  That is, if that's the TA you were thinking--getting her from shipyard to homeport. 

We’re aiming for next fall. Presumably after Utopia has a season in the Mediterranean. But I realize that’s based on speculation. 

1 hour ago, NightOne said:

What are you best guesses on WHEN we will see Utopia of the Seas bookings open up?

 

Also guesses on WHERE it will be deployed?

I’m wondering the same. I’d like to book a transatlantic for next fall. I assume it will sail from Europe to Miami then. Icon was available for booking 15 months out. We’re in that ballpark. But they wouldn’t want to take away from the Icon promotion just yet. 

30 minutes ago, Xyla said:

I was hoping there would be some hint as I’m also cruising until Sunday and interested in a Spring 2024 TA.

I think we’re on the same cruise as you. We’re considering booking the spring 2024 Odyssey transatlantic. I spoiled my wife with a junior suite on this cruise, which unknown to us, had two bathrooms. She wants that again! I would also like to book a fall 2024 TA on Utopia, if there is one. 

3 hours ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Just don't forget about them.  After 12 months they expire and you lose your deposit

Oh I’m pretty good at keeping track of these things. I had lots of practice with our 22 COVID-cancelled cruises. 😉

1 minute ago, Ourusualbeach said:

It can vary.  Sometimes yes and sometimes no.  Personally I would not buy the NCC of you were planning on them specifically for that as you have to pick a sailing within 60 days in order to get the OBC

Thanks. I've lost that bet before. Not that the $100 is a huge deal. The smaller deposit is nice though. I'm accumulating a large amount of money on RCL's balance sheet, with about 20 cruises booked. Guess I'm doing my part to help with their liquidity issues!

On 11/1/2022 at 8:41 PM, Ourusualbeach said:

I hope this isn't a stupid question, but would the 2024 spring and fall transatlantics usually be released at the same time as Europe 2024/2025? I'm cruising now and will pick up a few NextCruise bookings if there is a strong probability.

14 minutes ago, barbeyg said:

That is the question a lot of us are waiting for RCI to answer.   The prediction so far is 'later this year'. 

 

Hope you are having a great cruise! 🙂

Thanks. We’re enjoying a great Alaskan cruise, on the Serenade. We’re also on Quantum in July so I may wait until then. 

Does anyone have a guess as to when Icon will be available to book? We’re sailing now and if it’s likely to be within the next couple of months, I’ll but some coupons from the Nextcruise desk. 

2 hours ago, erinsmom03 said:

 

So the Quantum cruise to Hawaii at the end of the Alaska season in 2023 still hasn't shown back up. Is it normal that it would disappear for this long? I know I saw it on December 1st for a short while before I got error messages. It hasn't returned since.

I saw it disappear too but booked the pricier Ovation Hawaii cruise instead. If the Quatum sailing shows up again, hopefully I can re-price Ovation. We’re planning to stay on for the transpacific too. Presumably the two itineraries will be similar. 

18 hours ago, Fouremco said:

It's encouraging to see these changes, and to see that Celebrity is continuing to encourage the CDC to reevaluate mixed AZ-mRNA vaccinations.

I’m hoping this will happen by November, given the US reopening to international travelers. Many Europeans will be mixed with AZ or just AZ.
 

However, I don’t want to rely on hope. My wife and I are flying to Italy in a couple of weeks. If we are able, we will find a third dose to ensure we’re covered for our December cruises from the US. We had AZ/Moderna. So, with the recent RCL change, it seems either Pfizer or Moderna will do the trick, even with a long gap between doses. J&J would be even simpler, but if booster shots are required in future, even that might be no guarantee. 

4 minutes ago, broberts said:

 

You are obviously ignoring what CDC has published on the issue. Which makes your claim somewhat ridiculous. 

I’m familiar with what the CDC has published. I’m also familiar with the studies showing the efficacy of other vaccines and mixes. The CDC will get there, but they are behind. 

5 hours ago, broberts said:

 

Is your definition  of unreasonable "it won't do what I want"?

Of course not. It’s that they are ignoring the evidence that suggests AZ is fine and AZ plus mRNA is fine, and in some ways better than two mRNA. 

8 hours ago, mabt said:

 

No.  There are a couple of "exceptional situations" in which they recommend proceeding with mixed mRNA doses.  The exception conditions, for what little it's worth, are exactly the conditions under which most Canadians received mixed mRNA doses (namely, the unavailability of a second dose of the original product leading to a vaccination interval longer than 48 days).

 

 

Regardless of the reason why you've received mixed doses, you're considered fully vaccinated.  You can't just quote the first sentence of the paragraph and then go on to ignore the rest.

 

"If two doses of different mRNA COVID-19 vaccine products are administered in these situations (or inadvertently), no additional doses of either product are recommended at this time. Such persons are considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 ≥2 weeks after receipt of the second dose of an mRNA vaccine."

 

These guidelines were not written to inform public policy.  If you're an American vaccine administrator following the CDC clinical guidelines, which is the intended audience, then the described situations or "inadvertent" cover all possible scenarios.  You're either following the guidelines, or you're not.  If you're not, then the document is moot.  The point is that if someone shows up in your clinic and has already has two different mRNA doses, regardless of the reason, they are considered "fully vaccinated", clinically speaking, and you shouldn't give them another dose.

 

At this point it's all kind of irrelevant in the context of the cruise lines' policies though.  They are all pointing to the same set of guidelines, and drawing different conclusions, or somehow getting different answers from the CDC.

 

Probably the same as when we ask the cruise lines to clarify their policies and the answers are all over the place.  The answer depends on when, how, and to whom the question is asked.

 

 

Yes, I referred to the exceptions. I ignored nothing. I’m simply pointing out that it’s reasonable that some cruise lines follow a strict interpretation and prohibit any mixed doses. Otherwise they might be in a position to ask if one meets the exceptions. It’s the CDC that is being unreasonable. 

19 minutes ago, mabt said:

 

Well, the CDC actually does agree that mixed mRNA doses are to be considered fully vaccinated.  They are quite clear about that in their clinical considerations guidelines.

 

But for some reason some (not all) of the cruise lines seem to have gotten a different memo.

From the CDC site:

“However, COVID-19 vaccines are not interchangeable.

mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna)

Data on the safety and efficacy of a mixed-product series have not been evaluated. Both doses of the series should be completed with the same product.”
 

They consider you fully vaccinated with mixed mRNA only if you meet a couple of exceptions. Good luck trying to convince a cruise line that you meet those exceptions. 

12 minutes ago, K_e_short said:

 

Sorry I will explain that I do not consider Moderna and Pfizer as a mixed dose. It is the same type of vaccine and other then the time between doses you can cruise.

 

Right now it is those with AZ and Moderna/Pfizer that have no option other then getting a 3rd dose.

 

Unfortunately, the CDC doesn’t agree with you. 

1 minute ago, K_e_short said:

 

 

Thank you for posting about the 84 days for AZ/mRNA mixes. I've only been looking at Carnival and Cunard so hadn't seen rccl policy.

Of course the CDC isn't in charge of non US ports so even more confusion as to why it's 84 days for mixing 🙂

I think everyone needs to check their own cruise line’s policies on a regular basis. The changes are hard to keep up with!

My wife and I will be careful to get the “right” type of third dose when we are even allowed in British Columbia. Or drive across the line and get one, when the border opens.

From Royal Caribbean’s website:

For Cruises Departing from U.S. Ports 

The U.S. CDC has clarified their position regarding mixed vaccinations and provided updated guidance to Royal Caribbean. Currently, the CDC does not recognize any mixed combination of COVID-19 vaccines as fully vaccinated.

For Cruises Departing from Ports Outside of the U.S. 

For cruises departing from ports outside of the U.S., we will accept guests who are vaccinated with a mixed regimen consisting of 2 shots of the following manufacturer combinations: Pfizer and Moderna, or AstraZeneca with either Pfizer or Moderna. The doses must be separated by at least 28 days and not more than 42 days for mixes of Pfizer and Moderna, and separated by at least 4 weeks and not more than 12 weeks for combinations of AstraZeneca with Pfizer or Moderna.

1 minute ago, K_e_short said:

 

Careful. There are no rules about the interval between doses when mixing.

 

The CDC and WHO and manufacturers intervals are all based on not mixing doses.

 

 

True. One must be careful. I was just going by Royal Caribbean’s policy, which they said was based on the CDC’s clarification. Basically no mixing for US cruises and for international, 42 days for mRNA mixes, 84 days Astra/mRNA mixes. 

18 minutes ago, tazlover said:

If this is really the case, we are screwed for travel. My DH had his first AstraZeneca in April, and his second Pfizer was mid June. 73 days apart. But we had no choice in Southern Ontario. 

 

I think he’s fine assuming you are cruising from outside of the US. You have 12 weeks maximum between doses.