Yorky67

Nationwide Flex Plus have honoured claims of 4 couples we know of, for missed ports on the autumn Canada and Greenland cruise (but missed 4 ports including Iceland and Greenland due to weather conditions). 
We knew that the main policy covered cruise travel, but had understood that the additional  ‘cruise cover’ policy would not apply to Ambassador as it is not a member of CLIA. 

1 hour ago, Kentman said:

Can someone please advise what to do with insurance because it is driving me mad. We (3 adults) have a number of cruises booked for the next 12 months, so I am looking to take out a multi trip policy. The one causing me grief is the 35 night to the Caribbean, which the Insurance company, Staysure, are saying is 36 days and above their limit of 35 days. They said that I would need to take out a single trip policy for this cruise, which is considerably dearer than a multi trip. I have looked at other insurers and the days they cover range from 31 - 35 days. So does anyone know of an insurer who covers more than 35 days for a multi trip policy, if so it would be much appreciated. Teo of us have medical problems, I had two stents three years ago and my son has Ulcerative Colitis.

Kentman

May not be of much help as you need  a Nationwide Bank Account … but something to think about. Last spring Nationwide were happy to extend our 31 day cover for a small amount as part of an annual policy. We also have age extension,  a medical condition specified and took Cruise Cover extension. As we both got mild covid and were offloaded from QM2 for 2 weeks in Miami (with many others) we needed all the help we could get! 

Throughout the 5 week ‘Eastern Caribbean’ cruise exercise classes varied in frequency. 
They were held when space permitted on ‘sea’ days in the Queen’s Room (also used for covid testing) or on deck when not too windy. 

Zumba was excellent with great music and held most days, as was Line Dancing. Chairobics was infrequent. I didn’t keep track, but Mareel also had some classes. 
 

Deck 7 was open almost every day for walking round the ship etc. and only closed in extreme wind. As you may know, 3 times round the deck is over a mile. 

Just to add to the above. 3 decks closed off for isolation/ quarantine but so many of us at Port Everglades infected that we were taken to a hotel. We believe the same happened in New York and Barbados. Cunard doing their best , but we missed the whole Caribbean on an ‘Eastern Caribbean Cruise’. 

Yes, fully operational. We’re on QM2. Laundrettes open too for those asking elsewhere. 
Strict mask wearing on last 35 nights but many Covid cases with quarantine off ship. Great cruise though. 

Thanks Megabear. We’re reassured and together with lower omicron numbers felt confident enough to rebook QM2 round trip via New York to Caribbean in 3 weeks. 

Nationwide were most helpful yesterday, answering all our questions and with extra Cruise Cover, Trip and age extension we’ve hopefully covered most eventualities. 

St Lucia … Castries? 

Rocky of London

Couldn’t agree more.

I’m dreaming of a World Cruise in a year or so , when Q M will be the safest ship to travel on… better get saving! 

We love Cunard and were most concerned that crew may not be fully vaccinated … for their safety and passengers. They did say that they had ‘a vaccination policy for all guests’  but

‘our crew also undergo a strict testing and quarantine period as well as regular testing …..’

( not that crew are required to be vaccinated) 

On 27th December this article appeared in the Times. 

Cunard and P&O have joined their rivals Virgin Voyages and Tui UK in requiring staff to be fully vaccinated to work on their cruise ships as operators try to prevent new outbreaks onboard and give travellers the confidence to book.

Sorry to hear about the passengers quarantining in the Holiday Inn .. if that was accurate journalism. 
 

I wonder if all the Crew are now vaccinated.  Someone please correct me if I’m out of date on this.
We know crew are systematically tested, but incubation! They will need to be boosted too as they are so vulnerable with different passengers embarking.  
Vaccination is not foolproof, but a big help. 

Canon Cruiser

Thank you so much for taking time to give us this info. especially in rough seas.

Wenlyn

Really good to hear how it is onboard.. good and bad. Oh yes that Cunard cough on the long cruises. Ha ha. Seems a long time ago. 
Your info will help us make a decision, before we pay the final balance. Thank you. 

Wonderful. Thank you. 

We enjoy all the very practical info you post. 

We’re hoping to do a Cunard Excursion on our first NY stop and possibly by ourselves second stop. Is it the IKEA ferry you mention as the nearest ferry to QM… in case it’s Brooklyn? Sorry if this is posted elsewhere. 

Also, can you still use cash to buy tickets for machines for ferries, subway etc? We do have UK iPhones, but not always able to use them abroad on our network … and it’s been a while because of Covid. 

Good Analogy. Agree entirely. 

Frank

We enjoy your posts, especially practical info about New York. 
Just wondering if the American site or letter you received, has remained silent on the requirement for crew to be vaccinated.

Over the pond, we hear that Cunard may be working towards full vaccination of crew and are doing regular testing, but maybe not quite there yet.

Also wondering what the attitude of Port Authority in New York is likely to be on full ship vaccination…..pre Christmas Queen Mary arrival. 

Little Fish… yes it makes sense and great if testing is so frequent. But why take that chance of infection, by possibly not insisting on vaccination for crew? 
Cunard clearly think it’s important, as it’s a prerequisite for passengers to be vaccinated. Surely it should be a fair ship-wide policy. 

Good to hear re tests. Was that where you got the info that crew to be vaccinated before December?

Just wondering what happens to crew on a longish 35 day cruise, when Q.M. arrives in e.g. New York or Barbados.
In addition to testing protocols on board, if crew have not completed the approved vaccination requirements (are not fully vaccinated), will they be forced to stay on the ship? 
In our experience, with all the hard work they do, a visit ashore for crew provides something to look forward to.. shopping, free internet to contact children etc. 
We hear that Cunard are ‘working towards’ having a fully vaccinated crew. A happy crew is a happy ship!

Reggiefan

Cunard mention protocols for crew, but do not say that they require them to be fully vaccinated. 
 

Reggiefan

From what I can see, it is still just the passengers who must be fully vaccinated and not the crew. 

Good point Lissie. It would also be reassuring for passengers and crew, if the crew was fully vaccinated. Cunard emphasise rigorous protocols, which seem to be working well, but still don’t state that crew are fully vaccinated.. unless I’ve missed it somewhere. 

Its just another layer of protection and a step in the direction for getting back to international cruising, especially if crew want to go ashore in the USA and Caribbean… just as important for crew as it is for passengers. 

Thankyou for your thoughts. Cunard has the answer and guessing they’ll tell us when all crew are vaccinated. Until then we have to assume they are not and an unfair risk to crew and passengers alike. Some people will be happy to sail with this risk and some not.  

Good point ace.  Most other cruise lines seem to have fully vaccinated crews according to Cruise Critic.  There is an article answering the question;

‘Which cruise lines require a Covid 19 vaccine?’

ex Londoner ..that’s good. I didn’t know the e.g. Indian and Philippino crew would be registered with a UK GP. 

Saint George and others. 
 

Does anyone have answers on St George’s question? 
It would be interesting to know if all the crew are now vaccinated. This would give confidence to double AZ vaccinated older passengers.