Britchip

Sounds fun Ros. I’m booked out for 2024 Hawaii in February, Alaska in May and doing a double TA in October/November so going the opposite direction I’m afraid. I’ve just booked a 54 day trip in March 2026 round trip LA visiting Australia/NZ/South Pacific on Island Princess. I Like the idea of a short flight to LA and back with the opportunity to revisit those far flung destinations. Guess my 28 days Caribbean and TA in 2025 might be the only trip that year. Likely living on baked beans on toast most of that year to save up. Merry Christmas and have a happy holiday season all.

When I sail with my daughter and granddaughter we always take a letter from my son in law giving permission for my granddaughter to be out of country with her mum. Better to err on the side of caution IMO

I signed too. Thanks for link

Well the decision was taken out of my hands this morning. Royal cancelled my February cruises. Just spent the day cancelling flights, hotel, tests etc. I was willing to roll the dice and travel but sadly not to be. I have a number of cruises booked this year so maybe I’ll get to go on the next one.

Given RCCL earlier decision this comes as no surprise that Celebrity is now following suit. I guess international travellers make up such a small percentage of their overall market the bean counters have decided it will not affect their bottom line too drastically.  The ships will be filled almost entirely with US citizens who don’t have to test so no cost to the cruise lines. 

So I am now on the fence as to whether I cancel my February/March cruises. I am travelling solo (meeting a US buddy in FLL for 4 cruises) I do have the Switch Health Lamp Test that I can use but I purchased it as a back up plan. The Cruise with Confidence policy is slowly eroding as RC will likely not be arranging for you to return home either once you test off the ship if you are positive. Hmm what to do what to do

My flights changed too. Terrible as I now have an 8.5 hour layover in Montreal, I looked at hotel for the night but decided not to pay over $250 for at most a 5 hour stay. I booked these flights on points months ago. Pretty unhappy with AC at this point. I hate Pearson so my options were limited. Accepted the revised flights even though they are awful. Guess I’ll just be exhausted upon arrival at FLL.

Once again we are thrown into confusion over what the policy actually means.  I am not cruising X but RC which is likely to follow suit at some point. As I have time before final payment (January) I have stuck to my original flight times and will wait to see the next move.  So frustrating for us all as the constant revisions at short notice makes what should be a relaxing undertaking very stressful. It’s like trying to grab smoke and put it in a bag.  Good luck everyone with your cruise plans and let’s hope things are clarified before too long.

Guess it was inevitable. Thanks for the info. 

I’ve downloaded the App but waiting until Alberta gains access to the Federal vaccine passport QR code. Not cruising until February so I’ll wait. I feel this province is so behind the eight ball on just about everything. Sigh…..

Royal Caribbean has followed suit with Celebrity in respect of COVID coverage if you test positive during the cruise. Just read their blog. 

Insurance is such a patchwork across Canada. In Alberta Blue Cross won’t touch COVID so that option is out.  Many won’t touch cruises at all until the GOC lifts its advisory.  I’m a senior so have no employment benefit coverage. I’m not due to cruise until February 2022 so just holding out hope that the situation will become clearer.  Manulife wouldn’t quote this far out online so I’m patiently waiting. Good luck everyone in finding what you need to get back to cruising

Yep I applied and got conditional approval but no interview appointments available right across Canada as of now. Nothing at the border near Calgary either so not hopeful of getting one any time soon.  My friend in San Diego applied for Global Entry card about 2 weeks before I applied and already has his. Hurry up and wait is the game 

2 hours ago, ladysail2 said:

My NEXUS card expires in 2024. I’m hoping to get some use out of it. I renewed it in 2019, and guess what happened in 2020….and now it’s nearly 2022…..and I got the wrong vaccine combo…..😩

My advice is don’t buy a lottery ticket 😢

31 minutes ago, Fouremco said:

Given the general level of success in keeping cruises COVID free since the restart, I have to wonder how long the GOC will keep the cruise travel advisory in place. As many have posted on CC post-cruise, they felt safer aboard a cruise ship with everyone fully vaccinated and tested than they do going to do their grocery shopping at home.

I know the two have no correlation but I fail to see how the GOC can lift the ban on cruise ships entering Canadian ports in November whilst still telling Canadians not to cruise. It just seems counter intuitive to me. My first trip is next February and I have my daughter who is an insurance broker working on getting insurance coverage for me which is proving a little problematic right now.

2 hours ago, lots-of-km2 said:

 

Your plan is perfect.

 

Any hesitant, excuse-making provincial premiers should be badgered and excoriated 24/7. 

I can name at least one

Good luck in Alberta where our provincial government are holding out on any kind of vaccination passport.  

Well it seems RCCL have made the change too. I have flights and hotel booked and was within the 72 hour window now I will need a 2nd test to board. Not cruising till February but these constant changes are becoming tiresome. Not even sure why they made the change to 48 hours. Fully vaccinated and likely will have third shot by then. What to do what to do. I’ll hang tough for now as final not due till November and who knows what the rules will be by then

Hi Ros and Piet, I check here every day as it helps to pass the time.  Thanks for posting the pics.  Calgary is today starting to come out of a very cold week or so with record breaking low temperatures.  As I watch the local news this morning it is showing minus 25C and windchills have been between minus 40 and 45C, brrr! It was too cold for our zoo to hold its penguin walk as the birds do not participate if it drops to these temps. (Who knew).

It’s Paul’s birthday today so we had a lovely phone chat last evening. This time last year I was doing the top end cruise in Australia enjoying tropical temperatures of plus 40, what a difference a year makes.

The cruise industry has certainly taken a beating and with Canada closing its ports until February 2022 it means the Alaska season and the foliage cruises in the NE will likely not happen.

Canada struggles like the rest of the world and vaccines are in very short supply.  I think I may be spending another year sitting on my patio rather than sailing the oceans blue but I live with the hope that we all will once again enjoy one of our favourite pastimes of cruising.

Stay safe and healthy

Chris

Happy New Year Ros and Piet, lovely pic.  Canada is very much behind the 8 ball in regards to vaccine rollout so no idea when I will get that shot in the arm.  My 91 year old mum who is in long term care home is still waiting.  The facility has indicated they will start later this week.  One of my neighbours is an ICU nurse and has been told it will be February sometime before their turn for the shot.

I hear you about being able to travel again, can’t come soon enough for me. Stay safe and well. 

Greetings from Calgary.  All well here including my 91 year old mum who tested positive back in April.  Her care home was a hotspot with the loss of 21 residents but thankfully she’s recovered and doing well. I’ve cancelled 3 cruises so far and am not scheduled to cruise again until October 2021.  Sure hope it’s a go at that time as I’m missing my guilty pleasure for sure. Stay safe and well everybody until we can once more enjoy adventures on the high seas.

Chris

Hi all from solitary confinement (no orange uniform tho).  I remain healthy and laundry is done.  Meg and I go for very solitary walks avoiding contact with all others. My kids deliver groceries, mail etc plunking it down on my patio where I can retrieve it.  We have the whole operation down pat now.  My only concern is my 91 year old mum who is in isolation at her nursing home which has seen 1 death and a number of positives for the virus.  It is very difficult to contact her as she has no phone so I have emailed letters and photos to the receptionist who prints them off to give to mum.  At least she knows we are all thinking of her and are currently in good health.  Stay safe and well everyone.  This too shall pass

5 hours ago, ski ww said:

Chris that sounds like a great itinerary. Poor Westerdam is still sailing around in circles because no country will let them dock, although as of now they don't have any one with symptoms. Enjoy your cruise. 

Oh dear that doesn’t sound good. I’m enjoying my return to Oz and look forward to seeing more cities.  The weather promises to be a challenge, wet and windy for a few days but no complaints I’m on a cruise so what’s to complain about.  Just hope we all stay healthy. As Cary says lots of hand washing!

Greetings from Brisbane. Flying down to Sydney this afternoon to board Radiance OTS tomorrow for circumnavigation of Australia with side bar to NZ and Bali. Very wet in Queensland and NSW but dry here right now. Lots of news coverage here about Diamond Princess stuck in Yokohama due to number of Australians becoming sick on board. Safe travels everyone wherever you may be

Sending best wishes for a wonderful Christmas and New Year to my cruise family. 
Chris