ael123

It is frustrating that the website doesn't work. And really hard to understand how a large company would not have halfway decent software engineers. I can't book any excursions on line. MSC also has a poor website that has many issues. As a first time client of Explora Journey's it is not a good first impression. 

We went to the Antarctic this past winter on Atlas and it was very nice. We are considering the Arctic this August. Can anyone tell me what is a typical day on the Arctic cruise. The thing I didn't like about the Antarctic was we only had an hour on land in the AM and an hour on land in the PM. There were somedays we went for a ride in the Zodiac and that ride was only about 45 min. I am trying to decide between an 11 day Arctic expedition cruise with Atlas or a 5 day Arctic expedition cruise. I want time on land more than what we had in the Antarctic. The Arctic has national parks and I want to ask someone who has been to the Arctic on Atlas what was the daily schedule like. Please advise. 

We are a family of 11 interested in cruising on Star Pride this summer. There are two children in our group a 10 and a 15 year old. Does Windstar charge full price for children?

Thank you for your response. I don't have anyway of sanitizing the metal bottle while cruising. We are on a 14 day voyage and if I were at home I would run my metal bottle through the dishwasher before using it and then at the end of each day's use. We have been on the ship 6 days now. I didn't like that I was given the metal canister and there was no way to run it through a dishwasher before using it. The water tasted like tin. Then we had 2 days of taking it out on excursions and being at sea. I rinsed it out but the metal canisters need to be cleaned with hot water and dish soap which we don't have in the cabin. I don't mind the glass water container that is sterilized and refilled but I don't like the metal canister being reused and having no way to sterilize it. I would prefer they use a mixture of bottled water and the Vero system.  Had I known about this I would have requested to bring a case of bottled water. 

We are currently on Sirena. Upon embarkation in our stateroom was a glass bottle of water which is refilled daily and two metal canisters that hold water to carry with us and refill. My concern is that metal containers should be sterilized and should not be refilled day after day without being cleaned thoroughly  especially when taken on and off the ship for excursions. Water provides a breeding ground for germs. Are the metal canisters on all O ships? Any thoughts about how to keep them clean and safe for drinking on long voyages?

Our theme night is Gala Masquerade. What is suggested to wear to the Masquerade. Do people wear full costumes or only cover their face. We live near Disney so we have many costumes we could buy... just not sure if that would be appropriate.

Traveling to Sirena by air to Barbados. I bought the Binax Now Covid test that you do at home and is proctored on line while you take the test. Is that accepted to enter Barbados?  I know Oceania accepts the test but am not sure if I can get into the country of Barbados or if they will not allow me through customs with the home test. Please advise. 

I am on a 14 night cruise and at level bronze on Oceania Club. We are booked in a veranda. My previous cruises on Oceania were on 21 day cruises. I was a little surprised that I am only allowed to make 2 dinner reservations 1 in the steak house and 1 in Red Ginger. Once on board are you allowed to make additional reservations. I don't eat much steak albeit I love the Waldorf salad that is served in the steak house restaurant. I would really like more than 1 night in Red Ginger. Any suggestions on how to get additional nights of dining in Red Ginger?

We are booked on the March 29th Sirena Barbados to Barcelona. Then we have a Viking River cruise and are booked on the Queen Mary 2 back to New York.  I am considering cancelling due to Covid, my past health history and the State Department's issuing a "Do Not Travel" Warning to Spain, The Netherlands, and the UK all places we would be going. I checked with Viking and with their worry free travel policy I can cancel with a full future cruise credit. Cunard pushed the final payment date into March so that their passengers can cancel and still keep their final payments. I called Oceania two days ago and was told that if I cancel I am in the 50% penalty period but that I can request a future cruise credit for the 50% I would lose. I thought that was fair, however, yesterday I called my agent and advised him to cancel. He called Oceania and told me they are not accepting any further requests to provide a future cruise credit for cancellations. That change occurred literally over night. Has anyone cancelled recently on a cruise that was in the 50% penalty period? What is your experience? Initially we had an ocean view but we upgraded just before Omicron to a B3 Balcony and paid the difference in full. Given Covid 19 has worsened since we bought and paid for our cruise  I  would think that Oceania should allow some adjustments.  Maybe my agent is incorrect? What is your experience?

I bought trip insurance through Carnival but did not receive a policy. When I reviewed the paperwork they sent there was a link which I clicked on but it is very general. It says the policy is underwritten by Nationwide but it doesn't provide specifics of coverage.  I want to know if it covers evacuation in case of medical illness. Has anyone used their Carnival Trip insurance? If so what was your experience with the trip insurance. 

Thank you to all of those who have replied to the topic. I will keep checking back in case anyone has anything else to share on the topic. 

Do the quarantine cabins have windows. I have a balcony because I need sunshine. I am also claustrophobic and would go crazy if I was kept in an inside cabin day and night. I appreciate the responses. From my understanding it depends on viral load and how much of the virus one is exposed to versus your bodies ability to fight the virus. When I go to Walmart I run in and out. I am not in the store for days at a time. On the cruise I am hoping the air filtration system is cleaning the air. 

I am sailing on Pride November 28, 2021. I see that on the CDC cruise ship color status the Pride is yellow. Green means no reports of Covid -19. Orange means Covid -19 or CLI has been reported in the past 7 days and the ship is below investigation threshold i.e., less than .1% of passengers and no crew cases reported.  Yellow which is Pride's status indicates cases reported in .1% or more of passengers or 1 or more crew members.

My question is for those of you who have cruised or know more about this does this rating suggest that Covid is active on board? I have my vaccinations, but find this concerning because no vaccine is 100% effective. Has anyone who has sailed on Pride or the other non green ships been quarantined and if so what does this entail? Are you kept in your cabin? Carnival Liberty, Legend, Horizon, Glory, Elation, Ecstasy, Conquest, Miracle, Panorama, Radiance, Sensation, Sunrise, Vista and Valor are all green. But not Mardi Gras, Breeze, Freedom, Magic or Pride. See https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/cruise/cruise-ship-color-status.html

We are taking a Viking river cruise that leaves from Amsterdam and are sailing on Oceania's Sirena (trans Atlantic) to Barcelona and then flying to Amsterdam to catch the river cruise. The concern I have is that to fly from Barcelona to Amsterdam although we are vaccinated we need to have a negative PCR test within 72 hours of flying to Amsterdam. We are not sure when to schedule our flight from Barcelona to Amsterdam. Can we go directly to the airport or do we need to stop somewhere and get a test? Are cruise ships giving their passengers the PCR test on board before they disembark? People leaving the ships and flying back to the US will also need a negative PCR test to return to the US. Will we be on our own to get tested before we can catch our flight to Amsterdam?  If so how much time do I need to allow to catch the flight to Amsterdam? Also I know different cruise lines have different policies. Does anyone have a list of what cruise lines are charging for these tests and which lines are giving them free of charge? Do all cruise lines have the capacity to test passengers before they leave the ship?

We are taking a Viking river cruise that leaves from Amsterdam and are sailing on Oceania's Sirena (trans Atlantic) to Barcelona and then flying to Amsterdam to catch the river cruise. The concern I have is that to fly from Barcelona to Amsterdam although we are vaccinated we need to have a negative PCR test within 72 hours of flying to Amsterdam. We are not sure when to schedule our flight from Barcelona to Amsterdam. Can we go directly to the airport or do we need to stop somewhere and get a test? Are cruise ships giving their passengers the PCR test on board before they disembark? People leaving the ships and flying back to the US will also need a negative PCR test to return to the US. Will we be on our own to get tested before we can catch our flight to Amsterdam?  If so how much time do I need to allow to catch the flight to Amsterdam? Also I know different cruise lines have different policies. Does anyone have a list of what cruise lines are charging for these tests and which lines are giving them free of charge? Do all cruise lines have the capacity to test passengers before they leave the ship?

On 6/5/2021 at 12:16 PM, SuiteTraveler said:

I don't see how that makes sense.  If a passenger is vaccinated for Covid-19, they cannot get Covid-19 nor can they give Covid-19 to anyone else, so it doesn't matter who they are around, where they go or what excursion they take.

You are wrong. A vaccinated person can spread covid. They likely will not show symptoms of covid but will appear asymptomatic. Covid enters the body through the mouth and nose. If vaccinated your body knows how to fight the Covid germs. So the virus will not multiply as quickly to where it takes over the body. However, there can be virus in your nose and mouth that spreads to others through your respiratory droplets. That is why 2 vaccinated passengers on Celebrity tested positive and 2 on MSC also vaccinated tested positive. 

On 6/22/2021 at 4:10 PM, evandbob said:

Just curious:  Does the short 2 hr + flight present any problems for you?   I do know some friends who hate being enclosed on a plane .  And, are there any medications that can help or ease the panic mode?  Not asking maliciously, just as I said, curious???

Thanks for your interest. Actually, I don't have a problem in planes now. I had a mass behind my heart the size of my heart that caused me to have difficulty getting oxygen. Prior to surgery I couldn't ride in an elevator, had difficulty in crowded places and difficulty flying because I wasn't getting sufficient oxygen. After 3 surgeries I breathe well and only have trouble in CAT scan machines and need an open MRI with sedation. I just am not sure how I would feel or if I would panic being put in a small cabin with no windows and not being allowed out for days. That could invoke anxiety or panic unless I was sedated. I had bookings on Oceania, P&O, QM2 and Viking. I called the cruise lines directly to ask them where on the ship they will have quarantine cabins. Oceania said they did not know yet. I was told that there would be space on the ship if someone needed to be quarantined but no one could tell me what type of space it would be. On Viking our cabin was a balcony so if allowed to stay in the cabin I probably would have been ok but no one at Viking could assure me if quarantine was needed that I would be allowed to stay in my cabin. I just don't want to risk going through quarantine either on the ship or when we disembark. When it is time to disembark a positive test I would not know what the country's policy would be or where we would be taken. I felt very bad when I read about those people who were initially ill with Covid and locked in their inside cabin. Just thinking about it made me sick. I love cruising so once there is more data about this I will revisit my decision. The thing I love about cruising is you get a consistent product in a foreign land. Under normal circumstances, I know my meals will be delicious, my room comfortable, and every evening there will be great entertainment. As soon as data is available I will revisit my decision. 

On 6/22/2021 at 3:38 PM, SuiteTraveler said:

ael123, I believe you have made the right decision to cancel your cruises for now.  We are in a situation with a lot of unknowns and that is truly unsettling for many people.  I do want to provide you with some reassurance:  Less than .006 of people have had a breakthrough case of Covid-19, that is 10,262 breakthrough cases in total out of 150 Million people who have been vaccinated in the United States.

 

My suggestion would be that you take other, land based vacations for now and choose situations where you feel confident, comfortable and safe.  There are so many amazing places to vacation in the United States.  Sedona, AZ, Mount Rushmore National Park in South Dakota, The Riverwalk in San Antonio, TX, Santa Fe, NM, Charlotte, NC, Savannah, GA, Bar Harbor, Maine, Rockport, Massachusetts, just to name a few of the wonderful places to visit!

 

I believe that Covid-19 will not be the huge problem it is now in a year or two after the majority of people are either vaccinated or have had Covid-19.  Also, medical researchers will have had the time to learn much more about how long the Covid-19 vaccines last and if we need booster shots or not and then, armed with full information about how to protect yourself from Covid-19,  you should feel much more confident about cruising again.  

 

Thank you for your understanding and advice. I appreciate your response.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

Tons of over reacting here. "I can't quarantine in an inside cabin". If you happen to test positive...a very, very, verylow chance...you need to do whatever protects others. You know...the good of many outweighs the good of the few.

Cruiser Bruce, I agree totally. If I were to test positive I definitely would not want to infect others. Why would you think I would not want to be respectful of others? I didn't say that in my post.  I did cancel my cruises because I don't know where I would be put if I were in quarantine. I can tell you don't know how bad claustrophobia can be. I literally go in full panic mode and fight my way out without having any control to the point where I have to be sedated. Most people who are claustrophobic have a past history of near drowning or have been in a situation where they could not breathe. It is a real thing. The reason I was asking the question is that it is better to know what the options are ahead of time then to get into a situation that could be problematic. Thank you to all that provided helpful information. 

Immediately after getting fully vaccinated we planned and paid for 4 upcoming cruises. I recently read where there are cases of people who are fully vaccinated testing positive albeit asymptomatic and having to be quarantined from other passengers. I am trying to understand what does being quarantined now look like if you are a vaccinated passenger who tests positive? Are you restricted to your room? Do they move you to a different cabin. What happens if two people are sharing a cabin, both fully vaccinated and one tests positive? Do they separate them and one goes to quarantine and the other doesn't. The reason I am asking is I am very  claustrophobic. I am afraid if I were quarantined in a small inside cabin I might not be able to do it and I would panic. I also was made aware that you can't fly between some countries in Europe without a negative covid 19 test. We are booked to sail on Oceania from Miami to Barcelona and then fly from Barcelona to Amsterdam and board a Viking River cruise. But Amsterdam requires a negative Covid test administered within 72 hours of the flight. I am not sure where I would get the test and what would happen if I got off Oceania then tested positive and could not get on the plane to Amsterdam. I checked my trip insurance and it doesn't cover costs related to Covid i.e., quarantine costs related to Covid or missing a cruise due to a positive Covid test. If I were ill it would pay for medical care but being that I am fully vaccinated I am not expecting my risk is suffering illness.   Any help or thoughts are appreciated.  I don't know if I should cancel. 

We will be on the 2022 Grand Africa cruise on Zaandam. This cruise is 71 days. We don't drink alcohol but like bottled water and soda pop and specialty coffees and teas. I am reading on line and it sounds like the cost for the packages is per day. Pop, water and specialty coffee packs look like they are $15.95 a day which would mean for a 71 day cruise the cost would be for the two of us about $2,200. This seems crazy. From what I read drink packages must be bought by both people in a cabin. The other thing I need is a laundry package for the cruise. I can't find the price of unlimited laundry for 71 days? And I need an internet packages. I have traveled on Seabourn, Oceania, Viking, and Crystal so I am used to included beverages, internet, and sometimes excursions. I am purchasing this cruise because of the itinerary but am concerned about how much additional money I will need to cover soda pop, water, internet, and laundry. If you have been on HAL grand voyages can you provide insight into the cost of the packages.  Thank you.

Thank you all for your prompt response. I kinda figured that we should wait. But it is always good to get validation from other cruisers. Now I am wondering what to do with my cruise credit with Seabourn. We were supposed to do a world segment in Spring 2020 that was cancelled. I believe we only have a year to rebook. I guess I better take a look so I can think about what to do with my credit.

With the Covid 19 vaccine coming out soon I have been pondering taking a cruise in 2021. I am an experienced cruiser who prefers longer cruises. My bucket list is Africa, Asia, and India. I am booked on a cruise/tour on Azamara from Dubai to Singapore in November 2021. My question to those of you who have sailed this route I wonder..... Typically passengers from all over the world sail in these destinations; also visiting these destinations to see all the sites there may be areas where people haven't been vaccinated. How do you think the cruise companies will respond if someone on board who is not vaccinated contracts Covid 19? My concern is although I may be vaccinated, is there a possibility the cruise ship will not be allowed in port if someone or a percentage of individuals contract Covid. I am planning cruises to ports that are very important for me to see, once in a life time adventures and am making a substantial financial investment. I would feel very bad if I spent a lot of money to travel to Africa, India, or Singapore only to have the ship not to be able to stop at the ports on the itinerary. Or worse yet if I am on a cruise and they institute a quarantine. What do you think? For shorter Caribbean itineraries I would not be that concerned I am thinking more about cruises that will embark far from the US. I am interested in knowing what are your thoughts.

On 3/6/2020 at 7:03 PM, Cantara24 said:

 

Sadly you are correct, I do not understand how people buy into these 3rd party cheap seats. Ya get what ya pay for.

On 3/9/2020 at 9:44 PM, Lindadave said:

We are very sorry to inform you that your Seabourn Encore cruise departing April 17, 2020, has been cancelled.

 

Seabourn has been closely monitoring the evolving situation with respect to the new coronavirus (COVID-19) that originated in mainland China. Our medical experts are being briefed regularly and coordinating closely with international health authorities to ensure we protect the health and well-being of our guests and crew, which is always our top priority.

 

The difficult decision to cancel your voyage has been made based on the additional changes we have seen recently in travel restrictions and port operations in Asia. While we expect things will stabilize, we always strive to ensure we can provide our guests with an experience that will live up to their expectations, and, due to the volume of port closures in the region, we are not able to offer the balance of destinations and sea days originally planned.  

All guests will receive a full refund of their cruise fare, Seabourn Flight Ease air, Seabourn pre- or post-cruise hotel packages or transfers, prepaid shore excursions and amenities purchased through Seabourn, and taxes, fees, and port expenses back to the original form of payment. 

 

As your cruise has been cancelled so close to departure, each guest will also receive a Future Cruise Credit equal to 25% of the cruise fare paid on this voyage. The terms and conditions of this Future Cruise Credit appear below.

 

If you booked flights independent of Seabourn, please work with your carrier directly regarding these changes. Most airline carriers are waiving fees for travel changes related to COVID-19.

4 hours ago, germanshep said:

 

Which port was the last port that you were able to get off? Was that in Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles? 15 consecutive days at sea is a long time, longer than what most people on other cruise lines usually go on! Are you sure you will be able to land in Broome and not get turned away?

What are they feeding you? You must not be getting any fresh salads, vegetables, or fruits. Do they have food deliveries out in the middle of the ocean?

5 hours ago, cuddles115 said:

You're absolutely right.  It's not superb when you get struck by a car crossing the street. It's not superb when you're on a mainstream line( ie.  Princess) and get quarantined.  The chances of this happening on a Seabourn ship are lessened

 to a large extent. The why's and wherefores are too numerous to mention. If you ever went to Vegas or another gambling venue, you check the odds before putting your money down.  Similarly, your odds are greater if you are in contact with a "carrier" or are not precautionary and would be lessened on a SB ship.

Viruses spread quickly on cruise ships. Also before arriving on the ship most people have come through airports and been on air planes so there is a greater risk of someone having been in contact with the virus. And even if you are on a cruise and you do not get the virus if one other person does get it the whole ship is quarantined. The risk of catching the virus if you are home is not as high as it is being on a cruise ship with a group of people who have all been through airports and airplanes.  I think the precautions are reasonable.