Julienatul

18 hours ago, SeanGR said:

I know now it was for families. Havent cruised as much as many of you, so I was unaware.

just giving others like me a heads up.

 

thinking about trying Celebrity next time, even though we are “gold” lol

 

Celebrity will status match your RC "gold"  so you are good to go. 

I have sailed MSC 3 times (non yacht club) and Carnival about 30 times in addition to RCCL, NCL and Disney. There are positives and negatives to both of the lines.

MSC ships are absolutely beautiful. Hands down,  they are one of the most gorgeous and decorated to the hilt. The Swarovski crystal staircases, Bridge of sighs, elaborate lounges and decor designs are much fancier than your typical Carnival ship. I prefer the food on Carnival. There is more variety and the quality is better. The selections on MSC  are limited and almost exactly the same food is presented every day on the buffet. There is no free alternative food venues like on Carnival.  MSC does offer nice discounts to the specialty restaurant throughout the week during your sailing. For instance,  we got 40% off and a bottle of wine to eat at the Teppanyaki restaurant on the Seascape a few months ago.  The shows are better on MSC,  in my opinion. They are only about 40 minutes long,  so they are easily worked into your evening. The Casinos on MSC ships are very small so if gambling is your thing, MSC may not be for you. Stateroom service is better on MSC. Staterooms are serviced twice a day and I find they exceed your expectations. Dining and Bar service is better on Carnival.  The Vibe on MSC is more relaxed. It is not a spring break/party ship/ heavy drinking atmosphere. There are not pool games and loud music and constant activities late into the evening like Carnival. It is quieter and more of a relaxed European/family vacation vibe. It is much calmer.  

For me, I prefer MSC just due to the atmosphere. My last two Carnival sailings were not what I value for my family. We are not big drinkers/partiers and we are just looking for the more relaxed family friendly vacation. The behavior of passengers has changed on Carnival and rules are not enforced. I don't want to be surrounded by drugs or smoke while enjoying my balcony,  and don't need my children witnessing physical fights on the pool deck or buffet lines because people cant be respectful of others. Both occurred on my last 2 Carnival sailings last year. People can say it occurs on all lines,  but that isn't the case in my experience. It happens a lot more on Carnival.  My family cruises many times a year and I have not experienced that same thing on MSC or NCL recently. MSC will address the smoking and drugs, if it is reported. They do not tolerate it. They also enforce dress code to an extent. We were turned away from the dining room at lunch because a family member (male) wore a tank top. We were surprised but fine with it, rules are rules. Carnival used to be my favorite line but until they clean up their act and enforce respectful behavior, we wont be sailing them.  I am just happy there are enough cruise lines for everyone to enjoy. If you like to drink like a fish, gamble your night away, smoke weed and party into the wee hours, then you will likely not be happy with MSC. 

Pretty much just like a regular cruise but with Christmas decorations and a "special menu" in the dining room

I would say you need to move your cruise to a month later until she can be fully vaccinated. She wont be allowed to board if she is 12 at embarkation and not fully vaccinated.

I got a letter last week from NCL saying it would NOT be open for our Spring Break cruise. Only Entourage will be open. However they are offering family activities to do with your child  but no drop off. I'm guessing until quarantine recommendations change with the  CDC and "healthy sail" policy then nothing will be open . One child gets a sniffle or symptom of covid and then 50 other cabins must be quarantined the rest of the cruise due to potential exposure from the kids who were all in close contact at Splash Academy. My guess is that is their rationale. Perhaps by fall things will change. 

I think this is typically a lower capacity time right now historically in the winter. We sailed Thanksgiving week and the ship sailed at 90% capacity so it really just depends on the demand. As we get closer to spring break season and summer I bet we will see more passengers sailing. 

NCL will take care of all forms/health visas. Cruise ship travel has different requirements than land based travel. All forms are handled by the cruiseline itself which certifies all passengers meet each port's entry requirement. On our latest cruises since COVID, we were told which ports required us to take our covid vaccine cards to access stores and restaurants. Some ports are stricter than others. 

I have an apple phone and tried to do it through the Navica app yesterday but it made me use a laptop instead. Easy process though once you get all logged in and set up. 

On 7/15/2021 at 1:51 PM, TalkinCrusin said:

I've got you beat, my cruise is on Aug 2, and no response about my toddler being approved/denied. I'd love to hear how soon (late) people hear back about exemptions for kids.

I dont think your toddler will be approved. I heard they are not approving younger than 4 because they cannot wear a mask properly. I can tell you there were no kids under about the age of 4-5 on my July 4th sailing. Zero babies, Zero toddlers. 

They have you fill out a questionnaire when your booking opens up to set your appointment time. They have you fill another one out a few days before sailing. At the port you are screened again by a port agent where you are asked the same questions and show your vaccine card. 

14 hours ago, firefly333 said:

I think things for carnival go along as before.

 

For rcl who was maybe hoping to lower that 95% and pax could go maskless onboard, I think it affects them more. I dont want a cruise with a mask on inside the ship.

 

For those with kids this means, not yet, unvaccinated kids still will be fewer. Not totally surprising with covid cases rising. A bigger deal for families especially.

I was on the July 4th Horizon sailing. No masks are required at all onboard Carnival except in the terminal and getting on and off in port. No one uses any masks onboard even in the shows or crowded areas. I may have seen a total of four passengers wear them all week on the ship. I was very surprised they were not requiring unvaccinated to mask like Royal. 

According to recent studies, antibodies from previous covid do not protect against new strains like the Delta. The vaccines do offer some protection which is why they recommend getting vaccinated even if you have had covid. The cruiseline does not recognize previous covid infections as being "vaccinated" or grounds for a waiver. With the recent outbreaks on the Horizon even with 95% vaccinated, I can guarantee they will not relax their protocols and in fact may raise them. It is doubtful the OP is going to be able to sail in October with unvaccinated older children. Best bet is to postone. Carnival will work with you if you call them. 

We were on the Horizon July 4-10. No one in my family became sick. We also flew to and from the port on one of the busiest travel weekends and used Carnival bus transfers. I have a friend  who just vacationed in Orlando last week and came back with Covid. She is also fully vaccinated,  so it can happen anywhere. 

14 hours ago, drolltroll said:

Anyone had any luck getting their credit on board? I sent mine off, tried to call and get verification, nothing.....

Yes, I did! I got mine mid cruise last week on the Horizon. It was applied as soon as it was approved while I was already onboard. I sent it off 3 weeks before sailing but it hadnt been approved before my sailing. Then 3 days into sailing I got an email and it appeared on my onboard account. 

45 minutes ago, wemjam said:

I saw it after, I was posting the same time you were.

 

I do not know about unvaccinated, and wouldn't speak either way to that.  I was just checking ALL my bases and researching it for my husband and I and our upcoming cruises this year to make sure my bases were covered for us.

 

I will say my question to JH was broad in "do we need one" - and his answer was no.  I would "guess" he would have said "as long as you are vaccinated" but don't quote me on that one.

Unvaccinated were able to get off but had to stay in a group and be guarded by a Carnival employee who escorted them in port. They were not allowed to do any shopping or mix with port employees who may not all be vaccinated yet. 

13 hours ago, ALWAYS CRUZIN said:

Please read what is required. ALL travelers in the Bahamas and to the Bahamas. That means anyone who is going to the Bahamas on a cruise ship or flying. Go to the Bahamas Paradise cruise Line web site and read what is required to CRUISE to the Bahamas. It is spelled out quite clearly. hay, if you go and do not purchase. it is your fault. Do whatever you want, just trying to help. 

No it doesn't. I went to the Bahamas for two days last week on the Horizon. No health passport or testing was required if sailing from the Carnival Ship if you were vaccinated. 

I am very happy to report there were zero covid cases reported or detected aboard the first Horizon sailing July 4-10th! The restrictions worked. 

On 7/11/2021 at 6:54 PM, deliver42 said:

Part of the problem being unvaccinated is that some of the ports won't let them off the ship. If Carnival follows Royal, they will be treated differently.

We sailed last week on Horizon. Our tablemates had an unvaccinated 10 year-old. They were told the ports don't allow them off unless in a bubble tour because many of the port workers have not been vaccinated yet so they are higher risk. The bubble tour had a guard that watched them the entire time, escorted them to the bathroom etc to ensure they did not come in contact with anyone in port unvaccinated"

18 hours ago, Cruisesfun65 said:

So, just confirming. 5 vaccinated adults and 1 unvaccinated 8 yr old - we all need to take a bubble excursion if we want to get off board together?

Correct. The vaccinated can get off and do anything they want but if they plan to stay with the unvaccinated all must do the bubble tour. 

On 7/11/2021 at 6:54 PM, deliver42 said:

Part of the problem being unvaccinated is that some of the ports won't let them off the ship. If Carnival follows Royal, they will be treated differently.

We sailed last week on Horizon. Our tablemates had an unvaccinated 10 year-old. They were told the ports don't allow them off unless in a bubble tour because many of the port workers have not been vaccinated yet so they are higher risk. The bubble tour had a guard that watched them the entire time, escorted them to the bathroom etc to ensure they did not come in contact with anyone in port unvaccinated"

Right now it is only for July- September cruises. Circle  and Club 02 are open for the vaccinated older kids. We sailed last week and both my teens attended. 

I am on the July 4th sailing of the Horizon. The only people in my roll call to receive exemptions were children and they didn't get them until about a week and a half before sailing. I don't believe any adults received them. They do allow for full refunds since it is past the final payment date. I am not sure how that will translate to later sailings. They are being extra cautious. No oxygen, no dialysis, no unvaccinated younger children's programming. No slot pulls. The unvaccinated cannot get off in port unless they are part of a Carnival bubble excursion and some ports possibly not at all because the excursions do not exist yet.  There are many who have cancelled due to the restrictions. I would say if you are unvaccinated and don't want a heavily restricted cruise, then it's best to wait a few months until things change. 

I am platinum on the July 4 sailing and mine opened up to register yesterday, 16 days before.

On 4/13/2021 at 12:59 PM, BlerkOne said:

I'd like to see some proof of that.

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/how-cruise-lines-have-adapted-to-sailing-during-coronavirus

https://cruising.org/-/media/Facts and Resources/CLIA_Health and Safety-Factsheet_June 2020_Global

On 4/12/2021 at 9:05 AM, chengkp75 said:

Thanks, Captain Obvious.  What they are concerned with is someone stepping off a ship and starting a super spreader event, when that person could have been identified outside the US and not allowed back in, or transferred to a quarantine location.

well with mandatory embarkation and debarkation covid testing and potentially vaccine requirements, wouldn't that virtually decrease that risk to very very low levels?