Iris5383

In a perfect world, DH and I would be on this trip as well. We had to cancel though, circumstances won't let us cruise now. I'm following every word with interest and a bit of sadness. Thanks for your posts!

Well, crap. Is your cruise a Circle Hawaii? When we did that one, it was 5 days over, 5 days in Hawaii and 5 days back. By those calculations, you will miss the islands. I don't blame you for walking, even though it's a short course. There seem to be a lot of us following you. Hope that helps. Keep smiling!

This is the cruise DH and I would have been on if we hadn't cancelled. I'll be traveling virtually through your posts. Have a great trip!

Such a disappointment 😥. I hope the symptoms go away fast. 

It's awesome you had a great day going through the canal. Keep on smiling; you are an inspiration! 😊

13 hours ago, Turtles06 said:

From what I’ve read here on CC, Celebrity also allows a traveling companion who tests negative to accompany the positive-testing passenger into isolation. Every couple will make that decision for themselves, but here are two reasons why both people might not want to go into isolation: (1) it would increase the chance that the non-ill person will become so; and (2) it’s not a bad idea to have someone on the “outside” to advocate for the isolated person if that becomes necessary, especially if the ship becomes overwhelmed with isolated guests. 

Not to mention being stuck in 200 sq ft, too-warm room with a DH that tends to get cranky when he's unhappy. Or is that just me? I wouldn't expect DH to stay with me if I was positive and he was negative. Time is too short, you never know when or if you'll be cruising again. Likewise, for me. He wouldn't ask me to be locked up with him if I was negative. @NMCruiser123have you noticed with the balcony bunch if family members are isolated together? 

1 hour ago, bcummin said:

Years ago my Navy husband taught me that port has four letters, just like left.

Barbara

I learned by this sentence: "Is there any PORT wine LEFT?" 

6 hours ago, NMCruiser123 said:

I am not alone

You got the shot! I guess you're allowed to open your door to contribute to the trash.

I just now found and read through this conversation. You have my sincere sympathy. We had reservations for the cruise following yours, Jan. 16, Lauderdale to San Diego. We cancelled back in October because my husband is immunocompromised. (There's a word I never used before Covid!)  I did read somewhere that Panama required the Covid test for all cruise passengers going through the canal. That requirement just started, probably with your cruise. It's because of the pilots that come aboard to help with the transit. They want to be aware of how much infection is on board. You are so lucky to have the balcony. It would be so much harder even in an ocean view without access to outside air, especially since you said the room is warm. I agree with another poster, you should write a journal of your experiences. Next time they let you open the door, try to get a photo of the "trashy" hallway. Keep smiling! 😊

2 hours ago, jakers said:

I work in people's homes (with a mask on). I've had Covid (caught it from a customer). I've been vaccinated (I'm 65). I'm ready to cruise as soon as possible and I will be happy to abide (and live) by the rules. If vaccinations are the light at the end of the tunnel I would urge everybody that can safely receive one to get it done as soon you can. Yes, there were side effects, but sometimes you have to take one for the team.

Many years ago while I was serving as a missionary I knocked on a door with a heavy screen. From inside I heard "How can I help you?" I explained that we were going door to door and sharing the gospel. The voice from inside boomed out "I'm not sure you want to come in as I'm a nudist" I called back that we were very inclusive. His reply was "Take off your clothes and come on in"  The moral of the story is; Your house, Your rules. Our only option was to abide by the rules or go to another door.

And the rest of the story? Did you share the gospel with the nudist or go to the next door? Inquiring minds want to know!

On 1/13/2021 at 5:56 PM, ontheweb said:

You folks getting shots are so lucky!

 

DW was happy a few days ago when she heard that in NY State teachers had moved up in the priorities.😊 And then the CDC announced that those over 65 should all be vaccinated now. We're both over 65.😊

 

And then today she heard that there is no vaccine in our county or the neighboring counties.😢

 

Doesn't do a lot of good to move up in priority for something that does not exist.

Exactly the same in my area of CO. 

On 1/5/2021 at 9:39 AM, Aquahound said:

I didn't know Highlands Ranch, CO was a destination.  I actually have family there and I think it's a nice little town.  

 

Totally agree about Cancun though.  

Yeah, Highlands Ranch doesn't fit as a destination spot! We lived just over the county line in Centennial for over 30 years. The area was nice before the city of Highlands Ranch was developed; it just wide open ranch land. A huge historic ranch house there was the setting for the Venneford Ranch home in the movie "Centennial." (I never imagined I would be posting about Highlands Ranch on cruise critic!)

On 12/30/2020 at 3:15 PM, Aulanis said:

Well one of them is here

https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=61374 

 You can search for them by ship name  - see the "reviews"

tab on the above page.

Thank you!

Please let me know how to find the reviews that I wrote for cruise critic. 

Yes, I miss cruising. Now that DH and I have the time and our finances can support it, our plans were to cruise more and take longer cruises. Now we stay home and dream of traveling. I am grateful that we aren't suffering like some and have been healthy. And at least there's my garden. That 1/3 acre is looking so much better this year! 

4 hours ago, TiogaCruiser said:

My husband has gotten better rates than I on several occasions. And there have been times I fit the target demographic.

Same with us. So we price it with both our numbers to see which is lower. Last time, though, our TA got an even lower rate for us. 

On 7/20/2020 at 5:39 PM, kangforpres said:

Can you imagine a HAL Caribbean cruise without Half Moon Cay?

 

-P.

Yes. It's happened a few times for us when the sea was too rough to tender in. A disappointment for sure. 

As soon as a vaccination is known, DH and I will start planning. Hopefully we will both be as healthy as we are today. We want to be cruising again within a few months of a successful vaccine. We're not getting any younger. Time's a wasting!

23 hours ago, emmantedd said:

We have just put a deposit on the Jan.20.2021 32-day cruise to Peru on the Rotterdam

Really, really hope your cruise sails and is not Covid restricted. That's because, next week, we're going to book the cruise following yours to Hawaii, Tahiti and Marquesas also on the Rotterdam!

Details are here.

https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/giftcard.html

The offer dates have been extended. Buy the cards by June 30 and use by Dec. 31, 2021. Good to know you can buy multiple cards.

1 hour ago, Randyk47 said:

The mystery of Mariner, non-Mariner, and even regional pricing with HAL is ages old.   I would bet if you took the time to go back as far as 10+ years ago or more you’d come across several threads discussing this issue.   I can’t remember exactly when but what seems like eons ago a group of us picked one cruise and one category and tried all sorts of bookings.   Certainly some were the same but others varied widely.   I don’t recall if we were ever able to discern exactly what the pricing process or logic was. 

You are probably right, and I've probably asked it before, too. It doesn't make any sense how it's figured. And doesn't seem right that some have never received a discount.

For those who don't know how to see discounts, when you look for fares online, sign into your account and start a booking. After you put in# of passengers, click "continue," and you'll see the fare for your Mariner number. (You don't have to complete the booking to see the price.)

Haven't booked yet, but plan to within the next month. The "Have It All" special is way too tempting with free drinks and free gratuities. We're looking at the 32-day Hawaii-Tahiti-Marquesas, Feb. 21-March 25, on the Rotterdam. Just hope there is a vaccine before then; we won't go without it. Our thoughts are that, the day after the vaccine is developed, people will be booking a lot of cruises. We want to make sure we get onboard for all those South Pacific beach days. 

They have called it a Casino Credit/Discount. DH used to gamble a lot, but not for a few years. I play the slots more than he does, but it doesn't seem to matter. You are right, it's not consistent. Or there is a secret formula. . . 

When shopping for cruises, the HAL website usually shows a lower fare if you plug in your Mariner number. But not always. And it's not the always the same discount for spouses. My DH and I have cruised the same cruises and always together. But when shopping for fares today, using his mariner number gave a much lower fare than using my mariner number. My discount was a mere $1 per person off the published rate. Sometimes, it's the opposite, and my using my mariner number gives a lower fare. Anyone know why? We're both four-star.