florida eagle

11 hours ago, cruisingguy007 said:

 

I doubt it, that demographic is much more problematic than a young kid demographic. Young kids don't drink, aren't aggressively defiant, and won't be yelling about "their rights & freedoms". I know who I'd pick if it were up to me and the unvaccinated adults aint it. The young kids don't have choice to get vaccinated, the adults do. The wiser choice is the under 12 kids with vaccinated families.  

I can not tell you if many younger cruisers who are on budgets and party a bit more are going to be vaccinated. Paying the extra money for insurance for not be vaccinated to go on the cruise will cause them to do something else though. And at some point that will affect the prices of cruising throughout the lines.

2 minutes ago, EngIceDave said:

Doesn't taste the same

Since it can be medically prescribed, a doctor's note may suffice. Ensure is not cheap. Or was cheaper decades ago. That product is used in psyche and medical hospitals.

1 hour ago, rainbowflag said:

In a few short years the smokers will be relegated to the small casino. It is inevitable. We accepted our fate years ago.

I used to smoke. It bothers me today. But reformed smokers can be the worst. Carnival has spaces unused or left open. Swaths at times. Serenity decks on some ships filled up some spaces. I believe the Paradise and Elation's top deck now has changed a lot and some sort of configuration can be set up for smoking. That can be another partying area if they wanted it to be.

There have been posts on the upgrades to the Destiny class. The Conquest Class is similar but perhaps 50 feet longer and 10 thousand tons heavier.  When I compared the ships on the Carnival site, the max passenger capacity is 3000 or so for both. So would the Conquest class be a bit better with more room in it or public space? And if you had two near identical cruises near or from the same port as an example, which one would be chosen by cruisers? 

23 minutes ago, Sailin_Pirate said:

Yes or use the Carnival app

 

People have said they are available the night before

That would be on the wifi phone. Which needs to be put into airplane mode.

9 hours ago, Sailin_Pirate said:

1 page paper fun times are available at guest services

 

look at current cruise reviews from last week and this week on this forum for some photos

So you are saying that to know what is happening everyday, you go to Guest Services and pick up a copy of the Fun Times as there is no more of them in the cabins. 

7 minutes ago, crewsweeper said:

Octopus and squid are really good, if cooked right.

 

I do agree with vicky3vicky that alligator can be dry . breading the thing makes it easy to overcook.  And all the olive oil they float the snails in tends to grease them up.  Guess they just want you to slide them down your throat, not chew.

Octopus and Squid are also Italian meals. Does the Italian pay restaraunt serve this? They seem to be specialties. 

Another angle. I am a grandfather. Probably no cruises with grandchildren for a few years. If you bring a couple of pre school children older then two and younger then first grade should you pay gratuities?  I do not believe the mom would bring them on younger as one is not born yet. p.s....I would still have to be alive when this happens.

1 hour ago, BecciBoo said:

WE received same for Sept. 12 as well.

From looking at cruise vacation sites, Mariner of the Seas and Independence of the Seas are supposed to be the two ships at Port Canaveral for Royal. If Allure of the Seas becomes a permanent fixture, does that make it three or will one of the other two move? Mariner I read was supposed to cater to a more partying crowd when amped up and assigned to Canaveral. Of that I do not know. 

16 hours ago, phdiva said:

Good point. Thanks!

Squeezing more people in and removing a bit of the public areas can be negative. Using the track earlier in the morning could be done with less people in that area. 

17 hours ago, bruzin_for_a_cruizin said:

I quite enjoy Labadee as a port stop. We always head straight for Columbus Cove; it's the furthest beach from the pier, and while you have to "run the gauntlet" of local "artisans" selling "handmade" "crafts" at "low, low prices" you are rewarded with a great beach with great views of the moored ship. And because it's the furthest away, it's usually the least crowded beach.  And perhaps most importantly, since Labadee is RCL property, drink packages apply! 

 

The port is well-guarded and secure. I don't expect any ships to deviate from any planned stops due to a touch of political unrest in a country which is almost always in some form of upheaval.

 

That said, I think Haiti as a country is a complete failure. When they had that massive earthquake in 2010, I was very vocal in my opinion: instead of sending aid dollars, countries should just set up emigration tents. Instead of giving the corrupt, inept government there $100,000,000 to no effect, give each person $100,000 and refugee status in a first world country. For the same amount of money, you can actually help people. Then, they can abandon that god-forsaken rock.

They share the island with the Dominican Republic which is not wealthy. But seem like it compared to Haiti. There has been resources spent or sent to uplift the people there.

13 hours ago, evandbob said:

As long as you are willing to pay for extra testing fees and see no problem for on board COVID restrictions for unvaxxed cruisers, sure.

There will be most likely be a drop in the percentage of cruisers who are not as trusting of our government/media as you and others on this forum are. This may increase cruise fares and other costs as cruises may not fill up as much. Those shorter cruises that are good deals also help to keep the longer ones down in prices.

5 hours ago, Bobal said:

 

I agree. Last time we called there we said if we visited again we'd stay on the ship

If you like beaches Labadee is great. There are two sides. Columbus Beach is outstanding. It is at the end of one side of the tiny peninsula. You can walk a half mile or so or take a tram car. The you walk through a gauntlet of several stores perhaps spending several bucks on an item with not everyone having to spend that. Then you get to the beach and somebody will get you your relaxing chairs. So if it is a few to more give the person ten bucks or so total.  So if five people you spend 15 bucks on the shops total and 10 bucks on the recliners on the beach. 

2 hours ago, ALWAYS CRUZIN said:

Not less risky to my thinking. You can watch the pizza being made and the burgers. You cannot see what is happening in the MDR kitchen and most of the specialty restaurants.

That would be detrimental to their employment. If they did not see it then, they see it now. Covid shoved cold water into their face. The cruise lines let them sit out in the seas for months. This is not an indictment. It is just if they messed with food, they may not anymore.

Several years ago Royal had a few levels of alcohol deals. One was Beer, there was a middling level containing most alcohol and another that included all and non alcoholic products. Even now, if you go to one of Carnival's Cay Islands you have to pay upfront. So there are people who have written on this forum that you can order Beer without opening them while you are out at night over a period of time and take them to the Island if you have the Cheers package. That and bringing a couple bottles of carry on wine may reduce the price for a passenger. But it seems so transparent by the cruise line that they make it a bit difficult.

16 minutes ago, poocher said:

Not usually,  gratuities are added once you put the package in your cart.  My $57 becomes $67 in the cart.

Thank You. So as compared to Carnival it is higher at that price. 

47 minutes ago, Peak city said:

And today the price is back to $53 for the 4th of July Sale.  

Do prices seen include the gratuities?

13 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

I always tip extra even if a tip is included. Sometimes Sail and Sign, sometimes cash. I don't always carry cash around on a ship 

If you do all of that and more you should be in a much higher class cruise company then Carnival. Wal Mart of the Seas made much better with the blue blood upgrade you are. 

Is that covered with the Liquor package?

16 hours ago, Bevv said:

I found this list on a cruise blog.

PepsiCo Beverages include:

 

• Pepsi*

   

• Diet Pepsi*

   

• Pepsi Zero Sugar*

   

• Caffeine Free Pepsi*

   

• Diet Pepsi Caffeine Free*

   

• Sierra Mist*

   

• Sierra Mist Zero Sugar*

   

• Mug Root Beer*

   

• Diet Mug Root Beer*

   

• MTN Dew*

   

• Diet MTN Dew*

   

• Bubly Lime Sparkling Water*

   

• Bubly Grapefruit Sparkling Water*

   

• Bubly Orange Sparkling Water*

   

• Dr. Pepper will continue to be served on Galveston and New Orleans based ships.

   

 

2 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

Self-service including ice cream machines (for now). A perk of (mostly) vaccinated cruises.

So many have fought for equality. And we get equity. Learning from the past is always determined by selfish comforts over what is good.

11 hours ago, davekathy said:

Disagree. Speaking only for myself, and a x-smoker I didn't stupidly chose to smoke. As a baby boomer I chose to smoke as it was the cool thing to do being under age (seemed like everyone smoked). I enjoyed smoking (26 years) but quit (over 30 years ago) because I wanted to. Saw too many people attached to oxygen. But I will admit, after I quit smoking I realized how bad the stench on my person including my breath was from cigarettes. I have no problem if others smoke (their choice for what ever the reason) but where they smoke is the issue. 

If we have smoked in our lives and then stop do we have the right to become self righteous on it to others? And we know that there is an affect on others. Cruise ships let this go on in casinos because of gambling. Even if some will smoke in there to not gamble. Vices like drinking, which I still do is okay.

8 hours ago, viewsandqueues said:

Glad you guys found day 3 and 4! Day 5 is now up! 

 

 

 

Thank You. 

4 minutes ago, TNcruising02 said:

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/covid-4/coronavirus-haiti

Level 4: Very High Level of COVID-19 in Haiti

Key Information for Travelers to Haiti

 

• Avoid travel to Haiti.
• If you must travel to Haiti, make sure you are fully vaccinated before travel.
• Because of the current situation in Haiti, even fully vaccinated travelers may be at risk for getting and spreading COVID-19 variants.

Haiti has had tens of billions of dollars given to it over years. In an island split between them and the Dominican Republic, the DR is spoiled compared to them. Endless poverty. Destruction of their own resources by themselves. Begging by children from generation to generation. But we go to Labadee and it is out of sight except for the people in employment who even beg a bit from us visitors.

32 minutes ago, elcuchio24 said:

 

missing my point. Why should we have to worry about transmission when all adults have had a CHANCE to get vaccinated. If 10% of people decide never to get vaccinated, does my kid have to wear a mask, what FOREVER??

Should they have had to wear them in the first place? Since this was a political issue over a medical one in importance.