Summary of Carnival's policies for July & August sailings from John Heald

[kdr69]

1 minute ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

The other current fly in the ointment is that Carnival (using WHO & CDC guidelines) does not recognize those vaccinated with mixed dosages except for Moderna+Pfizer.  So anyone with a mix of AZ and anything else is not considered fully vaxxed.

I have Moderna Pfizer combo so not worried.  Also hoping that by time of my Cruise in November the testing requirements are eased a bit.  I have booked my return flight for 3 days after i Cruise in order to get the required test completed to allow me to fly back just in case.

[Honolulu Blue]

2 hours ago, Honolulu Blue said:

• There won't be any smoking in any Carnival ship casino until refueling is done (they'll announce this).  The reason given is that casinos are now routinely being used as muster stations.

 

2 hours ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

That seems rather odd - I'd think if there's refueling going on, that they'd be in port (and the casino would be closed).

 

Tom

 

I'll make a couple of comments to clear things up.  First of all, the casino only bans smoking on embarkation day.  And second, the casino is actually closed at that time since the slots are all shut down and no one is staffing the table games.  But the casino is actually OPEN to the promenade walkway, so anyone can easily get in and do whatever.  There's probably a curtain or gate of some kind that could seal off the casino in an emergency, but I've never seen it used.

 

Oh and since I have the attention of three of you, I should note that Mr. Heald announced that the Chefs Table would be open for bookings on the Breeze, the Miracle, and the Mardi Gras.  He had previously noted that there would be no Chef's Table on most of the early cruises.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

4 minutes ago, Honolulu Blue said:

 

...

 

Oh and since I have the attention of three of you, I should note that Mr. Heald announced that the Chefs Table would be open for bookings on the Breeze, the Miracle, and the Mardi Gras.  He had previously noted that there would be no Chef's Table on most of the early cruises.

 

Thanks - yep, noticed that option popped back up on my Cruise Manager yesterday afternoon.

 

Things appear, disappear, and perhaps will reappear (only to disappear again, lol)

 

Tom

[kafraser78]

1 hour ago, kdr69 said:

I have Moderna Pfizer combo so not worried.  Also hoping that by time of my Cruise in November the testing requirements are eased a bit.  I have booked my return flight for 3 days after i Cruise in order to get the required test completed to allow me to fly back just in case.

We live in Ontario and my husband has AZ and Pfizer, so he is not considered fully vaxxed in CDC/Carnival eyes.  So what does that mean?  More testing for him onboard, not allowed to travel on Carnival (if so, we have 4 cruises to cancel in the coming months).  I have so many questions.  I am hoping they will be answered soon. 

[kdr69]

3 minutes ago, kafraser78 said:

We live in Ontario and my husband has AZ and Pfizer, so he is not considered fully vaxxed in CDC/Carnival eyes.  So what does that mean?  More testing for him onboard, not allowed to travel on Carnival (if so, we have 4 cruises to cancel in the coming months).  I have so many questions.  I am hoping they will be answered soon. 

Hope you get them 

[ProgRockCruiser]

30 minutes ago, kafraser78 said:

We live in Ontario and my husband has AZ and Pfizer, so he is not considered fully vaxxed in CDC/Carnival eyes.  So what does that mean?  More testing for him onboard, not allowed to travel on Carnival (if so, we have 4 cruises to cancel in the coming months).  I have so many questions.  I am hoping they will be answered soon. 

Can he get a third shot, which could be any of the three (Moderna, AZ, Pfizer), as any combo of two of them satisfy the CDC / WHO?

[kafraser78]

7 minutes ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

Can he get a third shot, which could be any of the three (Moderna, AZ, Pfizer), as any combo of two of them satisfy the CDC / WHO?

That's the thing will the Ministry of Health allow a third shot?  Not sure. 

[Clarabella_Baby]

3 hours ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

The other current fly in the ointment is that Carnival (using WHO & CDC guidelines) does not recognize those vaccinated with mixed dosages except for Moderna+Pfizer.  So anyone with a mix of AZ and anything else is not considered fully vaxxed.

Oh no!!!  I'm AZ and Pfizer!!!  Gosh I hope this changes.

 

Remember when you could simply book and cruise, fly down and take the cruise.  Life was so simple back then.  😄

[LHARTWICK]

Just now, Clarabella_Baby said:

Remember when you could simply book and cruise, fly down and take the cruise.  Life was so simple back then.  😄

Oh, you are so right!  We sure took it for granted.  I miss the days of complaining about such things as chair hogs, watered down drinks, food disappointments, the headaches of embarkation/debarkation days.......how I long for those days! 😢

[Cruise Related]

What I don’t understand stand is, if you have the J&J or Astra Zeneca you are considered fully vaccinated, but if you get a second shot of Pfizer or Moderna, you’re considered not fully vaccinated? Kinda weird, I thought carnival said any vaccine approved by WHO or CDC. Aren’t those approved? Do they become unapproved when mixed? 

[Clarabella_Baby]

9 minutes ago, Cruise Related said:

What I don’t understand stand is, if you have the J&J or Astra Zeneca you are considered fully vaccinated, but if you get a second shot of Pfizer or Moderna, you’re considered not fully vaccinated? Kinda weird, I thought carnival said any vaccine approved by WHO or CDC. Aren’t those approved? Do they become unapproved when mixed? 

 

I was curious so I found this.....

 

It just says "mixed".  It doesn't define mixed with what?

 

Edited July 14, 2021 by Clarabella_Baby

[tree.critter]

5 hours ago, kafraser78 said:

We live in Ontario and my husband has AZ and Pfizer, so he is not considered fully vaxxed in CDC/Carnival eyes.  So what does that mean?  More testing for him onboard, not allowed to travel on Carnival (if so, we have 4 cruises to cancel in the coming months).  I have so many questions.  I am hoping they will be answered soon. 

 

The only guaranteed workaround I see would be to get one more vaccine of either one before your next cruise, is that an option there?

 

[kafraser78]

18 hours ago, tree.critter said:

 

The only guaranteed workaround I see would be to get one more vaccine of either one before your next cruise, is that an option there?

 

We aren't sure.  😞

But we are toying around with the idea for sure

[ProgRockCruiser]

21 hours ago, Clarabella_Baby said:

 

I was curious so I found this.....

 

It just says "mixed".  It doesn't define mixed with what?

 

It says "Pfizer and Moderna can be mixed".  i.e., no other types can be in the mix - just those two.  And the next sentence makes that clear: all other vaccines in a 2-dose series are required to be of the same type.

 

21 hours ago, Cruise Related said:

What I don’t understand stand is, if you have the J&J or Astra Zeneca you are considered fully vaccinated

A-Z is a two-dose vaccine, like Pfizer and Moderna.  Not like J&J (Janssen).

[Clarabella_Baby]

 

I doubt they would let us get our third vaccine when there are so many people waiting to get their first or second.  And then even if they do start third boosters in the future, I'm sure they will prioritize those most at risk.  Gosh I'm so disappointed.  If I would have known this was going to be a barrier to me cruising I would have never gotten AstraZeneca.  We were only doing what our government recommended.

[Clarabella_Baby]

https://www.citynews1130.com/2021/07/15/canada-cruise-ban-end-nov/

 

Now can we come on your cruises with mixed vaccines?!?  hahahaha

[Cruise Related]

28 minutes ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

It says "Pfizer and Moderna can be mixed".  i.e., no other types can be in the mix - just those two.  And the next sentence makes that clear: all other vaccines in a 2-dose series are required to be of the same type.

 

A-Z is a two-dose vaccine, like Pfizer and Moderna.  Not like J&J (Janssen).

Oh wow, didn’t know that. Thought it was similar. Appreciate the info. 

[Honolulu Blue]

Another day, another coffee talk from Mr. Heald.  This one didn't have much new content.  I'll summarize what was interesting to me:

 

• The Breeze sailed yesterday with about 2900 passengers
• They're working on updating or better explaining their vaccine policies in regards to mix & matched brands.  They plan to draft a letter and send it out next week with options for Canadian cruisers.
• John hopes to explain more about the September & October sailings and protocols on Monday or Tuesday.  He asks for patience.
• He doesn't know when FTTF will be back
• The Breeze, Dream, and Magic each have new non-smoking casino areas on deck 4.  This was an area reserved for conferences and crew meetings.  It will have both table games and slots.  There won't be a bar in the area, but there will be bar service offered there.  Similar non-smoking areas may be expanded to other ships if this is successful and/or popular.

[Honolulu Blue]

Thread about the new casinos:  Carnival adds new smoke-free casino to the Breeze, Magic and Dream - Carnival Cruise Lines - Cruise Critic Community

[ontheweb]

On 7/14/2021 at 2:14 PM, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

Thanks - yep, noticed that option popped back up on my Cruise Manager yesterday afternoon.

 

Things appear, disappear, and perhaps will reappear (only to disappear again, lol)

 

Tom

Sounds like the old Donovan song.

 

First there was a mountain

Then there was no mountain

And the there was

[ontheweb]

On 7/14/2021 at 4:40 PM, LHARTWICK said:

Oh, you are so right!  We sure took it for granted.  I miss the days of complaining about such things as chair hogs, watered down drinks, food disappointments, the headaches of embarkation/debarkation days.......how I long for those days! 😢

And complaining about the muster drill. How could you leave that one out?

[mpacker]

21 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

And complaining about the muster drill. How could you leave that one out?

 

straws...you left out the straws :)  lol  (i only thought of that because we are finalizing packing and our reminder list said to get straws)

[ontheweb]

1 hour ago, mpacker said:

 

straws...you left out the straws 🙂 lol  (i only thought of that because we are finalizing packing and our reminder list said to get straws)

Yes, save the environment by getting rid of straws while at the same time filling your room with paper ads for everything sold on the ship, and are immediately thrown away.😒

[LHARTWICK]

On 7/17/2021 at 7:12 AM, ontheweb said:

Yes, save the environment by getting rid of straws while at the same time filling your room with paper ads for everything sold on the ship, and are immediately thrown away.😒

EXACTLY!!!!  I thought I was the ONLY cruiser who never even reads that stuff.  It always goes immediately into the trash.  Misery loves company! 😁

Edited July 19, 2021 by LHARTWICK

[TNcruising02]

It would save long lines at guest services if the steward could just ask people on day 1 in they would like a daily paper copy of the fun times when they ask them about morning or evening cabin cleaning.