drsel

5 hours ago, Relaxing Robbies said:

Carnival Australia have recently extended the terms of the unused future cruise credits to book by 31/10/22, sail by 31/3/24. I think that if you call them giving them details of the replacement cruises within that time frame you want to transfer your bookings to, then you have a good chance that the attached OBC will also transfer. I would choose possible replacement cruises and then call them.

I have already applied 2 FCCs + received 2 x  Aus $900 OBC for the 2 Carnival Splendor cruises coming up in 2023.

I also have 2 replacement cruises in 2024 in mind.

But I need to go through my agent, cos Carnival will not entertain me directly

I have 2 Carnival Splendor cruises sailing from Sydney in 2023, with AUD 900 OBC in each.

Each OBC of Aus $900 was gifted by Carnival for accepting FCCs for 2 previous cruises cancelled due to Covid.

If I shift these 2 cruises to 2024, will the AUD 900 OBC also get transferred or be WASTED??? Thanks

I have 2 Carnival Splendor cruises sailing from Sydney in 2023, with AUD 900 OBC in each.

Each OBC of Aus $900 was gifted by Carnival for accepting FCCs for 2 previous cruises cancelled due to Covid.

If I shift these 2 cruises to 2024, will the AUD 900 OBC also get transferred or be WASTED??? Thanks

I recommend buying it from MSc for complete peace of mind. Just in case the policy wordings do not cover Covid on a cruise ship and also on  shore excursions

it should cost 10% of the price of your Cruise,  excluding port fees and taxes

10 minutes ago, 8420PR said:

Link to Italian Government website:   https://www.salute.gov.it/portale/nuovocoronavirus/dettaglioContenutiNuovoCoronavirus.jsp?lingua=english&id=5412&area=nuovoCoronavirus&menu=vuoto&tab=1

I am boarding in Barcelona. I found my answer, thanks

9 hours ago, 8420PR said:

Could it be that MSC are following Italy entry requirements?  As far as I can see Italy only accepts EMA approved vaccines for entry, and maybe MSC don't want to have to manage that passengers have a negative antigen test result each day they want to disembark. 

 

RCCL group companies have the same rules as MSC (EMA approved vaccines only) for cruises starting in Italy:  https://www.royalcaribbean.com/deu/de/faq/questions/what-vaccines-are-accepted

No. the royal Caribbean website clearly states *or WHO approved vaccines* for Cruises from Europe excluding Italy.

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/deu/de/faq/questions/what-vaccines-are-accepted#europe

Also Italy accepts some WHO approved, non EMA vaccines. See this

https://visaguide.world/news/vaccine-checker-proof-of-immunity-for-travel/

MSC had gifted us OBC for accepting  a FCC (instead of refund) for a Cruise cancelled by MSC due to Covid.

Under the MSC flexible change policy, if we change the ship, itinerary and date of our cruise booked using this FCC with OBC before or after final payment date,   will the existing OBC get carried forward (along with the payment made) to the new Cruise or will it go to waste? Thanks 👍

Yes, but I was more concerned about WHO approved vaccines not being accepted by MSC (only), unlike the other Cruise lines in Europe, which accept all WHO approved vaccines.

one cannot change the vaccine one has been administered.

33 minutes ago, Wendy-Europe said:

This is probably the most expensive antigen test at all in Hamburg.

 

Near the main train Station is another test center 

https://certissimo.de/certissimo-hamburg-hbf/

 

But there are many many more

https://www.hamburg.de/corona-schnelltest/

Thanks, what about an antigen test near Barcelona port? Location & cost please

8 hours ago, Lois R said:

Good morning, all cruises in Europe? Where did you get this information? I am sailing in June and my cruise line is administrating pier side testing in Barcelona. Not sure where you got this 48 hr information?  I do know each country has had their own protocols since the start of Covid.......

A 48 hour negative antigen test report print out is definitely required for MSC, Costa and Royal Caribbean.

which cruise line does not require it in advance?

The cruise line you are sailling on will do a pier side test at Barcelona port, but you may still need to bring a negative antigen test report with you.

I dont understand why MSC refuses to accept passengers FULLY VACCINATED (+booster) with WHO approved vaccines,  when all other cruise lines in Europe are accepting them alongwith a 48 hour negative antigen test.

MSC insists on a EMA approved vaccine ONLY. (Pfizer, Moderna, Janssen, Novavax, Vaxzevria)

If you have taken 2 doses + booster of a WHO approved (non EMA) vaccine, you need a EMA vaccine as booster within 6 months of your last shot of the WHO approved (non EMA) vaccine, or else you will be denied boarding even if you have a negative antigen or RTPCR test

Also MSC insists that Covid insurance must be purchased from MSC prior to final payment, while other cruise lines say that Covid  insurance is optional for Europe cruises

3 hours ago, 1kaper said:

You would have to read the policy to know. 
i booked my flights with one card and cruise with another. On one my family travelling with me would be covered. It also covered if a family member not travelling got ill. 
 

the question about the documents with your names on it - that was my issue. They told me all they could do was send me a copy of policy. Which neither included my name or specified Covid 19. Even though covid 19 is considered an illness as outlined in the policy. 
 

i ended up buying a “covid 19 pandemic travel policy” for $30 which did not cover everything they wanted but I figured they wouldn’t look too much past the name. It did cover quarantine and medical.  
i knew I was covered so I was ok.  Then they didn’t ask. 
(I was going to wait til embarkation and purchase the plan last minute as someone above did if required but I went ahead and bought it ahead of time) 

Mandatory cruise insurance has to be bought from MSC (thro your TA) for cruises in Europe & Middle east. For US cruises, insurance is not mandatory

Dear Experts,

1. Since all cruises in Europe require a 48 hr negative Antigen test (even for those fully vaccinated with booster), where can we get it close to Barcelona port & also in Hamburg?

2. How much does it cost on land & how soon can we get the certificate required to board our cruise?

3. How much do MSC, Costa & Royal Caribbean charge for this test onboard the ship?

4. Can it be done just before disembarking for side 2 side cruises? Thanks!

6 hours ago, bennybear said:

We found the same even before.  Better to book ahead and watch for price drops IMO.  Many cruises have sold out before hand.

Before Covid, one of the best last minute deals I got 60 days prior to sailing was a 9 night Celebrity Constellation Abu Dhabi round trip.

It was USD 910 (including port fees and all taxes,  excluding gratuity) for 2 adults ($455 pp) in an Ocean view cabin, including

A) unlimited alcoholic drinks package & service charge on drinks

or

B) USD 300 OBC.

There were also two other options which were not as good.

We chose 300 OBC.

The Cruise was fabulous with 4 Broadway style production shows and excellent solo performers ( violinist, pianist, tribute bands) on the other five nights.

The service was too good and they treated us like royalty.

We had gourmet food in the main dining room, including lobster and tiger prawns on the formal nights, without any extra charge.

An absolutely amazing Cruise at a ridiculously low price!!

6 hours ago, iancal said:

We typically book inside the final payment window.   This makes price comparisons only valid for a short window...sometimes a day.  At least for verandah cabins.   HAL can be the most expensive on one day.  A week later HAL could be the least expensive per diem.   For a time Celebrity's late booking Tuesday specials were very hard to beat.  Especially for Med sailings.  Not so much now though.  Seems like a whole new ball game now.

After Covid, I can't find many last many deals within the final payment window on any cruise line

11 minutes ago, bobpell said:

A  definite slide from a Premium cruise line towards a Mass cruise one

....cornhole and cheesy game shows are offered during the day

But HAL prices haven't fallen. Almost the same as Royal Caribbean, Princess and Celebrity

32 minutes ago, Sea42 said:

For us, the itinerary is the top priority, followed by times in port and price. The entertainment offered on the ship isn't a consideration.

Regarding itinerary & time available for sightseeing, you can do a lot more sightseeing & nightlife on a land tour.

And also combine it with a cruise.

Regarding price, HAL is not cheaper than the competition, especially considering the cost saving on production shows, entertainment & activities

Gary Bembridge, an experienced expert HAL cruiser, has made an excellent YouTube video addressing all the concerns and criticisms of HAL.

All reading all these very interesting and informative comments about how HAL is so much inferior to Celebrity, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean (regarding production shows, entertainment and activities), I wonder how they manage to fill their cabins.

Last minute price drops???

On 7/22/2021 at 5:20 PM, SRF said:

In some countries, paying in US dollars will get a MUCH better exchange rate than any exchange system.  One place I was, paying in USD, you paid 1/3 to 1/5 the amount you would pay if you had changed to local currency at the official rate.  Granted, these are not typically countries you will cruise to.

Which are these countries where you pay only one third or one fifth in US dollars compared to the local currency?

On 10/19/2021 at 2:46 AM, greatestvalue said:

There are currently 3 offers in Amex- 

Celebrity 

Oceania 

Carnival/Princess/Holland America etc 

 

Received them on both Amex Platinum, and Blue Cards both personal and business cards 

 

Hope that helps

Is there any offer on the Amex Rewards card?

On 7/13/2021 at 6:02 PM, spa_bob said:

We decided to stick with what we have. I did the "math". With the fare we had, we come out ahead. Not worth the aggravation of rebooking at a higher fare. Thanks for all the responses to my query. 

How does one find these bargain "snap" fares on HAL?

Are these last minute bookings to fill the last few remaining cabins?

Or last minute cancelled cabins?

https://thepointsguy.com/guide/best-credit-cards-for-cruises/amp/

Now even US $100 per person per night is too much.

MSC  has gone below US $40 per person per night, including all port fees and taxes, excluding gratuities.

eg. MSC Virtuosa, London to Lisbon on 1st May 2022 is only US $113 per person for 3 nights in an inside cabin including all port fees and taxes, excluding gratuities.

Mind you MSC Virtuosa is a beautiful new ship!

On 10/28/2021 at 12:05 AM, Irishcanuck said:

I see the uk website was updated today. Though on the uk website it states under caribbean cruises for non us residents mixed vaccines ate not accepted. Yet on the USA website it states mixed vaccines are accepted.

 

 

For 2022 Cruises, all WHO approved vaccines are accepted.

But second shot of vaccination or booster dose should be less than 9 months before The Cruise.