NiceAunt

The "kids" want to do it in November, 2023 for Thanksgiving. I realize it may be crowded at that time, or limit our choices, but that seems to fit everyone's schedule. Does this help with any suggesetions?

Whogo, I love your style of writing!!!

Not sure where to post this, so thought I’d start here. Looking to take our adult children and their spouses on a Caribbean cruise next year..a family vacation. Everyone is over the age of 40. Prefer to stay away from the mega ships with 6,000 people. Would like to be around or under $2,500 per person. I realize it’s not a lot of info at this point. Just starting to look into this instead of just renting a beach house for a week. Any suggestions as for a cruise line? We have been on Sea Dream, Royal Caribbean and hopefully Holland America in January. Sea Dream is out of the price range. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Appreciate all of the replies! As I stated in my original post, I am really just interested in hearing people's viewpoints on this subject, I am not asking for people to decide for us. It is a very interesting topic of conversation in our circle of friends and want to hear others views. We have a few friends who are going no matter what, a few others who have already backed out and few others who are taking a wait and see approach as the time gets closer. Of course, it is a decision that only we can make and we will make a fully informed decision based on our own circumstances and risk tolerance level.

I hope I don’t get bashed or shamed here for asking this question, but I truly am just interested in peoples thoughts these days. I am 62 and my husband is 72. We both recently had Covid and it was really really bad - it was nothing like a common cold or even the flu. Believe me it was not fun. We liken it to being beaten with a baseball bat over and over and over for 4 days. We could hardly walk to the bathroom our muscle aches were so bad. We just felt awful. My husband needed to take Paxlovid due to being high risk. He finally tested negative after 10 days and I am still testing positive after 4 weeks, even though I have no symptoms now. We are contemplating a cruise in January 2023 for 14 days through the Panama Canal. While there are no guarantees, you could still contract Covid even if you do everything in your power such as wearing masks, isolating yourself, etc. What worries us most is coming down with it and being moved into a Covid floor …possibly without each other if only one of us were to get sick … and basically locked down for a minimum of 5 days and possibly the duration and needing good quality medical care. I’ve read a few recent posts where people were quarantined for almost their entire cruise, often away from their spouse and literally locked in their Covid room….no key card given so you can’t even walk 20 steps a day outside the room to get exercise. Even if we were permitted to stay in our own room, being locked in for 5+ days is concerning. We are currently weighing the risks about continuing forward on this trip.My husband is reluctant to take the risk that we could contract Covid again and be relegated to the Covid ward on the ship for who knows how long. It was bad enough being at home in our own bed but can’t imagine being on a cruise ship stuck in a tiny room and being so sick, i am really undecided. It is after all 5 1/2 months away, but if we are going to pull the plug on it we need to do it soon so that we can pivot our vacation plans toward something else. Just curious as to everyone’s thoughts right now about the risk versus rewards of cruising. How would you feel if you tested positive and had to spend a significant part of your cruise isolated in a room that you were not permitted to leave at all, with little Wi-Fi or anything to keep you busy? And food that sounds like it is sub par at best. And with lack of quality medical care if you had it bad? Again, I am just interested in peoples thoughts here. Please no political discussions, just what are your thoughts regarding the risks! Would you take the risk? Thanks!

Hello! I know we will have to provide proof of a negative Covid test to board the ships, but is there a mandatory Covid testing at any time during the cruise? We are doing the 2-week cruise through the Panama Canal in January. Friends told us they heard the passengers will be required to take a Covid test while on board about halfway through the cruise. We don’t care but are just wondering if this is the case. Thanks in advance!

THANK YOU for posting these pics and also for sharing your cabin number! We are booked in #7002 when we sail on this ship in January 2023 through the Panama Canal. Our friends will be in #7003. The room looks lovely! I was a bit concerned because #7002 is right next to the Bridge or I believe it shares a wall with the Bridge. Can you tell if this is an issue for the occupants of 7002 yet? I know it's really your first night so still getting around. Have a wonderful time and many thanks for the updates! This is great.