Mary229

Usually it is 10 days but just last week I called 30 hours prior to embarkation and was told if I paid $50 they would allow the change. This was a cruise from Montreal to Boston. there are other insurance/single supplement considerations if it is a no show not a change. That is a bit more complex.

6 months. That is not a long time. Regardless of what HAL does or doesn’t do I would have serious reservations about scheduling a trip to Japan in light of current restrictions and recent press releases. I would expect, even if it does sail that there will be restrictions on your movement once in the country such as the dreaded bubble excursions you may find this page useful https://jp.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/

Seek out a GIA certified jeweler/Appraiser. (Gemological Institute of America). Local jewelers without certification may be inexperienced or have other motives. A good appraisal costs a few dollars

Another fan of Kipling. I also have a small daypack which folds and zips into a wallet size case. When packed it is 4 inches x 6 inches. It folds out to a sturdy but light pack half the size of a day pack. I was gifted this one but I have seen them available in specialty travel stores or the travel gear section of Amazon. It fits small umbrella, poncho, water, etc…. I still prefer my phone and credit card in my thin waist wallet.

All systems, regulations, logistics aside, no one ever said post Covid leisure travel was going to be flawless. In some sectors and regions Covid is not over. 2022 travel is not for everyone.

Flying: Dallas to Athens. For us South America is as close as Western Europe and almost as close as Anchorage. We have driven to Boston, Seattle, each 3 day, one way. We have also driven to New Orleans and Galveston but those are only hours away.

I opened the app this afternoon while in port and it offered 4 days for $20. 4 days is the balance of the cruise.

you can still order the free government tests and use them with the online option. No need to buy them. I dare say that by January this will certainly no longer be a requirement

I find Montreal, New Orleans and Boston easy. They are easy to access and drop off. Amsterdam is very easy and for the hardy and easy walk from the train.

As more and more pharmacies are no longer offering them, testing sites closing down and insurance withdrawing coverage I expect either more people to use those sites or the requirement will have to be dismissed.

I respect the cruise line’s right to keep private that which is private. They are following the law as regards to reporting to the CDC (or similar agencies elsewhere). FOIAs are an option for those bent on getting the information but I would suggest anyone that interested may be best doing something else with their leisure times. As to port changes, I have had similar port changes and I simply go to the said government’s website and read the updates. Many governments have chosen to not have steadfast rules but are using rapidly changing updates to manage to balance between Covid cases and their fragile economies. I chalk that up to low vaccination rates or those using a lesser vaccine than the ones widely available in the western world. The Chinese insist upon using their own vaccine and due to its poor results have announced that they expect to continue their rolling lockdowns until at least 2027.

The two things are not mutually exclusive. Mich of retail on a ship is concessions. There are many possible uses for spaces to have them generate money. I dare say, without any statistics to back me up, but a retail concessions likely generates more revenue than a cabin in that space. Retail includes restaurants, cooking classes, art classes, cigar shops, computer shops/instruction and more

I agree unless you are solo. Solo the fare on the bus can be reasonable if you are not inclined to share a cab

I was surprised to see my late August cruise ticketed 60 days in advance. Things are looking up with July 4 behind us

Yes, agreed. We have only witnessed the very weak falling and they fell quickly and likely that was inevitable Covid or not. Crystal was the exception but their balance sheets, like many Sino Asian corporations, was always hard to determine. I think the big 3 will be safe for a while. With a recession firmly in place and unceasing Covid restrictions it will be rough. They are flooding Alaska and Mexico and it is not clear if there is any actual competitive strategy in place.

It is likely a last minute change from one of the countries you will be visiting.

No and what is weird, like the Covid threads, there are people who come out of the woodwork just to comment on this single topic. It is like they have an axe to grind or a position to cover😉

The US program is voluntary, the Canadian program is not

Old folks have been dying and getting sick on cruise ships for years, yet now you notice. Look I think everyone in the vaccinated world is done with the dictates and feels if you are an adult it is up to you to assess your own risks. The notion that the cruise line or anyone else is responsible for anyone’s medical conditions if overreaching. Should you cruise! talk it over with your own personal physician. Can you imagine if businesses started barring people because of their assumed health, what a nightmare

This is what I do. There will always be unexpected gains from a well diversified portfolio with some mutual funds. Offsetting losses accomplishes both the tax savings but it also takes potentially dead money and has it earning again. CCL, for me, is strictly an OBC generator. Without a benefit it has no place in my portfolio. I need 100 shares and I would rather own them at the lowest sensible value. Currently the benefit has been voted for and ratified until 2023 and I have all of my OBC’s in place. I agree with others in that you shouldn’t be paying off cruises in advance of final payment. For me most of my cruises are locked in with the FCD, with a total cost of $100 to $300 per person until final payment. A minor loss even if irritating. The 60 to 90 day window should be enough visibility with the CCL brands. In the past I only ever had 1 cruise booked at a time. I did change that, I know have 4 or 5 booked with the FCD program as an inflation hedge. My prices are now locked as I expect fares to increase rapidly very soon. I hardly expect any CCL brand to run like a fugitive, any sale or merger would be a publicly announced event.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

I obviously don’t trust them. They are selling a product. Sometimes it is because they own stock, sometimes because their firm owns puts, sometimes because they are financing the debt. They are NOT disinterested parties.

They are not always right. Lots of hedge funds are going belly up when only last year they were the media darlings. Do your own research, listen to solid advice - the financial press is noise and meant to bait. I would never in my wildest dreams buy or sell based on a single analyst’s word. MS is not special anymore than the thousands of other analysts that are publishing reports. Many sites, including Yahoo Finance, show upgrade/downgrade/neutral calls. You will find as many of each if you do your research and of course, all from significant and important specialists; WTH that is. Much of what some thoughtful people in this forum have said it true but those folks are not asking you to view it as investment advice. BTW, if you are interested you can pore over everything. Everything is available at the SEC website.

I don’t think there will be a final blow to the industry. Cruising will remain. My view of the stabilized remaining industry on the other side assumes what many of us have said since 2020 and I continue to say. Cruising will not be the “affordable” vacation for many years. It will become either exotic voyages for travelers, get aways for the well to do or transoceanic transportation to compete with first class air transportation. If you plan to do the Caribbean for $499 a week, it is not going to be available. The affordable vacation is there now while they sort it out and generate cash flow and it will return years down the road but I think between 2024 and 2027 you will see a significant shift.

My DH was never be mistaken for a fashion expert but he has his peculiarities. I saw some the other day at Sam’s and I will also take a look at the ones Costco sells.