Dr. Pam

6 minutes ago, MarkWiltonM said:

Honestly I doubt there will be widespread cruising until Covid is no longer a problem, which means there are good vaccines and a majority of the world's population is vaccinated. Nearly every place they thought it was safe to reopen (Germany, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, etc.) has seen resurgences of the virus and learned it's not so easy to control. I'm betting on 2023. And while I used to love the excitement of crowds (in some circumstances) I now look at crowds with trepidation and as something to avoid. So even conceptually this cruise lover has no desire to cruise until Covid is history. I suspect a majority of people agree. Perhaps those who don't bother to wear masks, etc., and were the first to rush into bars when states reopened them are ready to cruise no matter what. Good luck to them.

THIS.  YES.

4 hours ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

Celebrity normally offers cruises to Alaska both out of Seattle and Vancouver.  Take your choice.  I will say that my embarcation from Vancouver was hell and I will never set foot in that cruise terminal again.  And it was entirely due to having to clear US Customs.  Not properly staffed.  I stood in line for over 4 hours and was completely wiped out by the time I got on the ship.  I've sailed out of Seattle a few times.  Was there last May for an Alaska cruise on the Solstice.  We stayed at Inn at the Market.  And went up to see the Chihuly Museum.  Did not see homeless people.  I've always found Seattle to be a very pleasant city, although I liked it much better when Celebrity sailed from the pier downtown.  Walking distance from Inn at the Market.  Vancouver is a lovely city as well, but they need to get the cruise terminal under control.  

I will repeat......US customs is staffed by the USA NOT Canada.  

34 minutes ago, George C said:

Airlines were totally understaffed that day also several cruise ships arrived same day , just saying never in hundreds of flights domestic and foreign have I came so close to missing our plane. Luggage arrived the following day.

Hmm there is a small problem here with what you are saying.

You say almost missed my flight returning from a cruise because of your customs.
Well when you are at the airport and go to clear Customs you are clearing US Customs to go back to the USA. So if you have a beef then it is with YOUR US Customs and and not our Canada Customs.
The YVR airport authority has nothing to do with controlling what US Customs does.

To reiterate travlr21's thoughts...I have had to clear US customs in the the Canadian airports of Calgary, Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver as well as Frankfurt, Heathrow and Paris if I am routed through the US or  before boarding a US bound flight.  bigbenboys, the reason why this was implemented was because of September 11, 2001.

USA decided to pre- screen flights heading to American Soil!  I think this was a good decision.

17 minutes ago, pumpkin 11 said:

If you honestly believe wearing a mask is going to solve this whole pandemic problem why didn't we do it back in March? It's like putting a condom on after sex, not going to do you much good at this point! 

Canadians did and we stayed at home in March! I call BS....how much sex are you going to have?  Are you kidding me??? IT will do good at this point.  Every condom or mask counts!!! 

My DH and I left the Reflection on March 2 after the Mardi Gras Caribbean Cruise.  We were in a RS and absolutely loved our first time on a cruise with just the two of us! (No adult children, parents or friends.)  We are grateful to have had this time to ourselves on such a wonderful ship!  We were so ready to reserve for next year....but then COVID reared its nasty head!  I know that as health professionals, it will be years before we will ever be on ship again.  I am very, very sad.  We had such a wonderful vacation on the Reflection that I was counting on more to come!  I understand our world has changed and that not being able to cruise is truly a first world problem.

Please take care......every life matters. 

Pam

2 hours ago, DrKoob said:

We remember you Pam. Sometimes I just don’t get anyone who doesn’t value every single life. We have friends who lost moms, sisters, cousins. Some of them were health care professionals risking their lives to treat others. Stay safe yourself. 

EVERY LIFE MATTERS!

3 hours ago, MamaFej said:

OT:

Dr. Pam, I appreciate your post. I just wanted to tell you that I smile every time I see your screen name. My niece was to earn her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree this month, but, due to CoViD-19, her final clinical work was delayed. She will now become Dr. Pam in September instead. 
 

We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread. 

Congrats to your niece!  :)

My screen name kinda stuck when I used to see a lot of pediatric dental patients.......:)

4 hours ago, DrKoob said:

 

No people are being hospitalized with ventilators down their throats. You people are getting sick and infecting their mothers, fathers and grandparents. 

 

What do I want you to say. How about if one person dies, it's a bad thing and your wanting to go on a cruise does not outweigh someone else getting sick or dying. That would be a good start. Your attitude since this all started (this thread) is that it's OK for some people to die from this. It's not. Not when it's preventable. 

Hi again,

We met you and your wife on the Mardi Gras cruise just before this Pandemic.  My DH and myself as health professionals have had a very difficult time with other posters disregarding the absolute devastation that is occurring to our loved ones.  I support your posts and hope that because of these threads that more people will be aware of masks, personal protection and curtailing normal activity until we have a vaccination.  Please folks......these are scary times.  Stay apart but stick together. PLEASE!

Take care,

Pam

1 hour ago, ABoatNerd said:

Everyone is making excellent points.

 

Everyone I know who has cruised, will Not be cruising again. They are not interested in the air travel to get there, to be locked down on a cruise ship in the middle of no where, to be put on a set schedule while aboard, wearing masks all the time etc.

 

But they are looking at high end escorted and customized tours when borders open,  vacation villa rentals etc. Cruising is not considered an option, period.

 

Even if I was interested, I would not put a $ down until the exact parameters of the cruise product is known.

 

For me, this is a key point - I did not Trust, trust the cruise lines before the virus. I did not Trust the cruise lines that they would provide the same quality of product as my previous cruise, I did not Trust that the cruise line was not deliberately eliminating ports using the "operational" excuse, on and on. 

 

There was too much erosion of the cruise product, the experience, along with price increases and the lying of the cruise lines like "free" beverage packages.

 

I also rejected the cruise lines anti-consumer attitude, instead of a refund like hotels, restaurants provide, they only provided a FCC. No thank you. 

 

In my mind, this virus is comeuppance to the arrogant cruise lines, unfortunately, staff and others pay the price.

 

 

 

 

THIS!  YES!

Nice pitch....not buying this product....at this time.

I'd really rather NOT be on a cruise at any time if Covid-19 is still a major threat.  Forget not being able to venture out around the ship...or eat your meals anywhere but cramped in your cabin...or not having any form of entertainment, you are also NOT in a position to get top rate medical care.  Remember, your cruise ship has VERY LIMITED medical staff and VERY LIMITED facilities...

Or. maybe the answer should be...DON'T cruise until this thing is really OVER.

Steve.....I sooooo agree with your post!

Until there is a vaccination, I believe that holiday air travel, hotels, resorts, and cruising will not be in the foreseeable future.  Of course the cruise industry will continue to promote their product but I think with this pandemic and resulting economic downturn, that perhaps the cruiselines may be holding up their flag and marching uphill and will at sometime look behind and see that no one is following or supporting.  Very, very sad!  My DH and I so enjoyed our time on the Reflection and disembarked on March 2, thinking we wanted to make a reservation for next year! We are both health professionals.....absolutely no way no how.  Our world will be different forever.  Frankly, I am not sure if the cruise line industry will survive.  But just my $.02.  

I used to sign off as "happy and safe travels."

I have amended that to "Just be safe."

This. is. a. scary. time.

Pam

4 hours ago, Covepointcruiser said:

The use of the term “free” was “tongue in check” as regards to the U.S.   In the U.S. we  are being harmed by our freedoms.  We are free to deny our children medical care, can you do that in Canada?

Children die of illnesses that could be avoided through vaccines.   If your child has cancer and can’t get the vaccine, he will have to go to school with children who could have been, but were not vaccinated.   

Totally shaking my head as well.  Yes sakigemcam, we Canadians would like to address the facts.  However, the blatant ignorance of the above....well, just hard to get beyond.  Sorry.

3 hours ago, sakigemcam said:

 

Put what out there? I'm the OP - you mean the Canada/free stuff? Not me.

 

 

No not you!!!  Covepointcruiser perhaps need some enlightening facts regarding the country and their neighbors to the north!  JEEZ!

I cannot even believe that a poster even put this out there?  Really, really, really? 

6 hours ago, Covepointcruiser said:

You have to understand in the USA we are free.  We are not allowed personal information about the health of anyone, including our spouse, without their approval.   I believe anyone who traveled anywhere in FEB or MAR was in contact with COVID-19.

 

OMG....Are you kidding me?  Do you think that Canadian citizens are not free????*****?  Pardon my French.  I hope and pray that all countries will come through this pandemic with the minimum number of deaths.  Alas... I fear for my friends to the south.  Take care.  There is a very long journey ahead for all of us.

OMGosh!  This too shall pass......we just do not know when!  However, in the meantime, please be prudent, avoid unnecessary travel, and take care.  Holiday travel includes airports, planes, and ships.  Let us shut this virus down and be compliant until this is under control.  I believe the worst is yet to come. The world will recover.....hopefully sooner rather than later.  May we all try to do our part.

Delayed...Happy and Safe Travels.

Pam 

Great minds think alike!😉

8 minutes ago, Guindalf said:

 

Not sure what you're thinking here. The coffee in Al Bacio is also Lavazza brand. Cafe Americano is simply coffee with cream or milk and not a brand as your post suggests.

 

The machines found in Oceanview make drip-type coffee, such as the results from your Mr. Coffee machine at home whereas cafe Al Bacio makes espresso that is then watered down and cream added to make the Americano.

Caffè Americano (also known as Americano or American; Italian pronunciation: [kafˈfɛ ameriˈkaːno]; Spanish: café americano, literally American coffee) is a type of coffee drink prepared by diluting an espresso with hot water, giving it a similar strength to, but different flavor from, traditionally brewed coffee.

8 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

Ouch! For the nights in question The St. Regis is $650/nt!

Yesssss, I know it is not cheap!  We used our Marriott (Now Bonvoy) points to have a suite connected to our kids' room.  It was wonderful. :)  We have had friends that stayed at the Westin Excelsior and they loved the hotel and its location.  Sorry, I cannot be more help.  Please no flames....we are kinda high end travellers.  

Check out TripAdvisor and make it your friend for research on hotels, restaurants, everything.  There is something for everyone and every budget. 

8 minutes ago, carolekv said:

Thank you - sounds like excellent advice!  So, I will take this one step further and ask - would you recommend a car service?  How about a hotel in Rome?  

We have used DRIVERINROME several times while in Rome and private excursions in Naples (off a Cruise Ship.)  Remo and his son Daniel are amazing and very safe drivers.  We used them for touring our family plus my brother's family for seeing the highlights of Rome.  We could not have covered the same ground on our own.  Daniel had pre-purchased tickets for the Forum, Colliseum, and the Basilica and we also had arranged a private guide for us.  It was nothing short of amazing. He would drop us off right at the location and then coordinate when to pick us up.  We also asked to be taken to an authentic ROMAN restaurant off the beaten path.  No English was spoken here and no tourists....except US! :)  Incredible day. I have used this company several times for FCO pickup, Ship pickup and dropoff as well as touring.  Highly recommend.  I think they are on TRIPADVISOR.

Regarding hotels:

Our personal favourite is The ST. Regis Rome.  Outstanding beautiful old world hotel. We have stayed there a few times. :)

16 hours ago, talljules1 said:

No.  Not in the same container. Eww.

In Canada, we mix our Clamato with Vodka and put a tall celery stick in to mix and eat.  We call it  a "Caesar!" Breakfast of Champions.....kinda like the Bloody Mary for our American friends.  😉

Absolutely stay in Rome for your arrival day on Friday and Saturday!  Traffic on Sunday morning will not be as bad as on a week day.  If you have never visited Rome before than it is even more important that you maximize your time in the city!  Lots of incredible history, wonderful hotel choices and amazing restaurants.  It is still one of my kids' (now adults) favourite cities and definitely one of mine!  Enjoy Rome, you will have lots of time on a ship that will not compare to your experiences in Roma!

Happy and Safe Travels!

Pam

39 minutes ago, TeeRick said:

This topic is going in circles at this point.  Summary of possible solutions.   (In my order of preference- my opinion only):

1) Make Blu exclusive to Aqua guests as originally intended.

2) Expand Blu to accommodate more Aqua guests - particularly if Celebrity is adding more Aqua cabins.

3) If suite guests are allowed by the rules in non-peak times, then Celebrity should strictly enforce their own rules.

4) Communicate the rules and restrictions on board to suite guests in advance for their possible dining in Blu.

5) Offer the Blu menu in Luminae (non-Edge class ships)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amen!  Thank you!

On 2/11/2020 at 1:45 PM, Dr. Pam said:

We will be in a suite (RS) and for anyone reading, I certainly do not announce it on board....LOL.  AND, I certainly do not feel entitled to dining at BLU. I have no none intention of dining at Blu!  We have enough options to dine elsewhere on board and this restaurant should be for Aqua guests only. 

IMO....this thread has been going on too long......

 

Happy and Safe Travels,

 

Pam

THis is my comment from almost 1 week ago. LOL!  

Again, everyone enjoy their cruise.

Pam

3 hours ago, Ma Bell said:

Strange, we sail in Sky Suites and I couldn't tell you where anyone else is. This whole thread has been very interesting.

Interesting for sure! This thread is still veering off topic?  There certainly are a lot of anti-suite sentiments.  Too bad.  Everyone pays for the cabin they want and in return receive  what is expected on their cruise. Life is short.  Just enjoy!