Alaska back on

[TNcruising02]

14 minutes ago, LadyMac72 said:

View Online NOTICE OF OPERATIONS UPDATE – SUMMER ALASKA 2021 SAILINGS     Dear Carnival Miracle Guest, We are very excited about our upcoming restart and having you join us for your Alaska cruise.  As we get ready to welcome you on board, our Have Fun. Be Safe.TM 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.  Our Alaska cruise operations will reflect recent guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and close collaboration with Alaskan officials.  As we are still unable to call on Canada, we are cancelling our stop in Victoria and extending our time in Ketchikan by two hours, so you have more time to enjoy this beautiful port.  Alaska cruises are available only for guests who have received their final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to the beginning of the cruise and have proof of vaccination.  Accordingly, the following applies only to these specific Alaska itineraries: All guests, including children who are age-eligible for vaccines, will need to show proof of vaccination.   This means, that regrettably, guests who are not vaccinated, including children who are not yet eligible for a vaccine, will not be permitted to sail.  Our Have Fun. Be Safe. guidelines for Alaska voyages incorporate guidance from the CDC and Alaska officials: All guests will be asked to confirm their status as fully vaccinated for COVID-19 during check-in and provide proof of vaccination in advance of boarding.  (As a reminder, “fully vaccinated” means the final dose of the vaccine was administered 14 days prior to embarkation.)   It’s important for you to come prepared, as guests who arrive at the embarkation terminal without the proper proof of vaccination will not be able to cruise, and no refund will be issued. Facemasks for all forms of transportation are still required by the CDC; however, protocols are evolving and as changes are announced, we will share more information as soon as possible. While guests will be vaccinated, we will follow protocols and requirements for each destination while ashore in Alaska.  Remember, these restrictions are under the control of local government and are subject to change without advance notice, so we encourage you to come prepared for potential mask requirements ashore.   Please note that these guidelines are subject to change and we encourage guests to visit our guest information page at Carnival.com for the most up to date information. Following the above protocols and precautions greatly reduce the likelihood that a COVID-19 case will be diagnosed during the cruise.  However, we want you to know that we are prepared to take steps to protect the health and safety of our guests and crew with the following procedures: Should there be a suspected case of COVID-19 identified on board, certain guests may need to be tested during and after the voyage.   If a guest is diagnosed with COVID-19 during the cruise, they will need to be placed into isolation until recovered.  Additionally, once the ship returns to Seattle, guests with airline reservations who have tested positive for COVID-19 will be unable to return home using commercial air and may have to quarantine locally or drive home to complete their quarantine period.  Carnival has made arrangements with local hotels in the event a quarantine is required.   If the ship meets a certain threshold for COVID-19 illness, the cruise could be cancelled at any point in the voyage and the ship will return to Seattle.  Separately, we are making vaccines available to all crew members and they will have gone through a quarantine period when joining the ship.  As an extra layer of protection, crew members will wear masks while on duty and be tested regularly.  In addition, we have equipped all our ships with enhanced medical facilities, equipment and COVID-19 testing capabilities and have made enhancements to our air ventilation systems.  There will be ample availability and reminders about handwashing/cleaning, as well as even more vigorous cleaning and sanitation procedures throughout the ship. With everyone’s cooperation and support, we are ready to deliver a fun and healthy cruise vacation to our guests.  However, if you determine that given these guidelines, the time is not right for you to personally sail, please call 1-800-CARNIVAL, your Personal Vacation Planner, or your travel advisor, so we can help you rebook for a later date.  Many of our ship itineraries are open through 2024, with more coming online soon.  We have extended your ability to rebook or request a full refund until Thursday, June 3, or by your final payment date, whichever date comes later.  After that date, our regular fare rules will apply. We look forward to our great team welcoming you on board soon. Sincerely,  Christine Duffy President, Carnival Cruise Line

That's an impressive communication for the cruises to Alaska.

[tiggy85]

If anybody wants to cancel their balcony room I’d love to snag it if that’s even a thing HAHAHA! 
I’ve got an Oceanview right now. 

[parachutes63]

i cancelled my balcony room on Miracle August 31 2021. Room 7128. Also Room 2124 will be opening up also. My friends will be cancelling theirs too.

 

[LadyMac72]

Nothing in the email regarding whether independent shore excursions will be allowed.

 

That's the last piece of the puzzle for me.

[LadyMac72]

1 hour ago, Beave8920 said:

Well....we can put this to bed.  I just got an email from Carnival stating in essance that my Alaska cruise was mask mandated and that if I wished to cancel for any reason (not vaccinated nor wishing to adhere to the CDC requirements), they would allow me to rebook to a later cruise......no refund.

 

So in my opinion, at least Carnival is being somewhat honorable, but lets face it, they got a bunch of people to drop deposits on a cruise they can't go on, only to keep their deposits for future bookings.

 

So glad I get to go but I still think they should have included this info when we booked.

 

 

 

Where did you read about a mask requirement?

 

In scanning the email I read:  

• Facemasks for all forms of transportation are still required by the CDC; however, protocols are evolving and as changes are announced, we will share more information as soon as possible.

• While guests will be vaccinated, we will follow protocols and requirements for each destination while ashore in Alaska.  Remember, these restrictions are under the control of local government and are subject to change without advance notice, so we encourage you to come prepared for potential mask requirements ashore.  

 

I interpret this to mean is that masks are *currently* required but this may change and to be prepared if localities require it.  Frankly I think masks will not be required on the ship and probably not in the Alaska ports (I have heard the governor is against the mask mandate.)

[bdever]

18 minutes ago, LadyMac72 said:

 

Where did you read about a mask requirement?

 

In scanning the email I read:  

• Facemasks for all forms of transportation are still required by the CDC; however, protocols are evolving and as changes are announced, we will share more information as soon as possible.

• While guests will be vaccinated, we will follow protocols and requirements for each destination while ashore in Alaska.  Remember, these restrictions are under the control of local government and are subject to change without advance notice, so we encourage you to come prepared for potential mask requirements ashore.  

 

I interpret this to mean is that masks are *currently* required but this may change and to be prepared if localities require it.  Frankly I think masks will not be required on the ship and probably not in the Alaska ports (I have heard the governor is against the mask mandate.)

My mom just got off the phone with her Princess PVP about booking Alaska and Melissa at Princess confirmed masks are required while on board where physical distancing cannot be maintained or when not actively eating or drinking 

[Beave8920]

15 minutes ago, LadyMac72 said:

 

Where did you read about a mask requirement?

 

I interpret this to mean is that masks are *currently* required but this may change and to be prepared if localities require it.  Frankly I think masks will not be required on the ship and probably not in the Alaska ports (I have heard the governor is against the mask mandate.)

LadyMac.....I think you got it right....I was just generalizing.  I actually should have stated Vac requirement.....including the mask possibility.  But I hope you're right about not required on the ships as the requirements evolved between now and Aug.  

[bdever]

The mask policy “could” change between now and Aug/September for Alaska sailing but personally I wouldn’t get locked into a booking until those requirements did change if I didn’t want to wear a mask.

[Buckwheet]

Interesting. 

Now I assume we are going to get a refund for the Victoria port fees. 

[BlerkOne]

34 minutes ago, Buckwheet said:

Interesting. 

Now I assume we are going to get a refund for the Victoria port fees. 

Port fees are just a few bucks, but sure. But if port fees at other ports increased, it would be reduced 

[Suncoastsailors]

34 minutes ago, Buckwheet said:

Interesting. 

Now I assume we are going to get a refund for the Victoria port fees. 

I wondered the same, but of course they are giving us a couple extra hours in Ketchikan. 

[firefly333]

10 hours ago, Buckwheet said:

Interesting. 

Now I assume we are going to get a refund for the Victoria port fees. 

When I've skipped ports, they handed out a paper at boarding and the port refund was obc during the cruise, not beforehand. Could be either. Carnival often adjust port fees during the cruise and I get some random 7.67 refund as obc. Or whatever.

[Beave8920]

12 hours ago, Buckwheet said:

Now I assume we are going to get a refund for the Victoria port fees. 

Just checked the updated booking info and they now show port fees at $247pp....compared to $272 we paid.....so I'm guessin we will get a $25 obc refund.