jules815

On 8/28/2021 at 11:51 PM, HappyInVan said:

 

Wow. That's just 14% occupancy! 🙄

 

 

That's crazy! 

Haven't read back thru the thread, but do we know how long they're going to continue to sail at reduced capacity? What exactly is it that happens again on November 1? Is that the date they re-evaluate and maybe start up again at full capacity?

1 hour ago, GA Dave said:

On the 3-day on Meraviglia right now and there are 742 people on board with 1100 crew.  Ocean Cay was just spectacular today.  I was literally the first passenger off the ship and had a private drive out to the Yacht Club beach.  The beach was fully stocked with loungers, umbrellas, and towels and the waiter service was excellent.  Lunch at the YC Ocean House for me was a salad and a lobster roll.  Very satisfying day.

Was that your post, Dave, on FB earlier today on the YC Beach drinking the Purple Rain?  The beach looked so inviting. 

Enjoy the rest of your cruise.

28 minutes ago, rkacruiser said:

 

A visit in the near future to The Sunshine State is definitely not on my bucket list.  

I know it might be crazy, but we're determined to go on this cruise. Once we make it on board, I won't be worried at all. We've been cruising from Florida for years, but I think going forward we're going to look at other options, especially Baltimore and NY. 

On 8/25/2021 at 10:48 AM, HappyInVan said:

 

I can think of two reasons why cruisers are cancelling. One, those who live out-of-state might not want to linger to visit the attractions in Florida. So, makes a cruise out of FL less attractive. Second, FL hospitals are full. In the event of a non-covid emergency. Who knows where the patient might end up?

 

IMHO, the cruise lines should consider sailing out of safer ports. That will fill up the ships. I doubt that MSC will continue to sail at 30% capacity indefinitely?

Very true. The thing we're more worried about now are the 2 days in Miami pre-cruise. I know the hospital situation down there isn't good. A friend's 30-something brother just spent 3 days in the hallway at a hospital in Plantation for a non-COVID related illness.

Does anyone know how long they'll be sailing under capacity?

I usually wear the paper surgical masks, but we just purchased those "As seen on TV" Copper Fit cloth masks with a lanyard that's part of the mask.  Started wearing them yesterday to visit a parent in assisted living, and they're not bad. I'll bring both on our upcoming cruise.

19 hours ago, ChattTenn said:

I have the same problem as KSIBLA.  My cruise departs in 53 days.  They said I did not provide all the data eventhough I checked and rechecked many times.

 

We also depart in 53 days. Did the online check in for both of us, including uploading photos. If I look at the web check-in page, next to our name and pictures, we each have a green check next to "Passenger Data" and "Security Photo."  I know I didn't miss anything in the online check-in procedure.

On my "Plan my Cruise" page, "How do I get my e-ticket?" the only green checks I have are that the booking is confirmed and paid in full.  Our room has definitely been assigned, and I don't know how to give them any more passenger info than I already have with on-line check-in. 

Still pretty far out, but I'll definitely be watching this.

1 minute ago, dexddd said:

When we were last on Seaside they did not list a sausage pizza so we asked for one.  They put breakfast sausage on it.

 

 🤣 

Does anyone know if YC uses the same room service menu as the entire ship? 

2 hours ago, Lisichka said:

This makes me wonder why I have not received any communication?  Maybe because my cruise is not until November?

We're mid-October, and haven't received anything via text or email regarding the changes.

5 minutes ago, Lisichka said:

PS: I just got an email from Walgreens saying thank you for getting my first shot, and that they will email me when it is time for my second shot.

 

Absolutely no system is place for documenting what shot you are on.  AFA Walgreens is concerned I am on my first shot, not my third.  Guess they would happily give me a fourth shot when it is time for what they consider my “second” shot.

What a mess. It will be interesting to see what the vaccination status will read on the Walgreens app.

23 hours ago, MarkusToe said:

Uhhhh, Outback is my must if I'm in the US.... really sooo bad?

21 hours ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

Yes. 16-20 years ago it was our favorite. And then the quality subsided, the prices went up, portions shrunk, and we switched to Longhorn Steakhouse instead.

Agree. Not as good as it used to be, but not horrible. If we go to Outback, it's for a meal, not because it's a great steakhouse. Sort of like Olive Garden. Consistent, you know what you're going to get. We don't go there because they have great Italian food, but sometimes you just want Italian and breadsticks.

11 hours ago, fdcruisers said:

Yes they are.  I saw it on their page today only vaccinated passengers from Sept 3-Oct 31.  It's because Bahama's only allowing vaxxed passengers in Bahama's and Ocean Cay.

Unless it's changed since yesterday, and nothing would surprise me, aren't they still allowing children under 12 onboard during this time period?

1 hour ago, back-at-it said:

Just FYI ...  I use one of these for my CDC Shot Card.

 

https://www.amazon.com/KEYLION-Horizontal-Waterproof-Resealable-Multiple/dp/B06XVN1HDR/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=dc+record+holder&qid=1629549343&sr=8-3

 

 

We have these as well, and I highly recommend.

6 hours ago, GA Dave said:

I got vaccinated in February and am now living my life to the fullest.  I have a cruise next Friday on MSC, a Universal Orlando trip with my DD, SIL, and 2 granddaughters in three weeks, and a Royal cruise in November.  No more waiting for "Covid to go away".  Life truly is too short.

So sorry for the loss of your wife. Life is too short. I hope you have a wonderful time with your family and on your upcoming cruises.

1 minute ago, phissy said:

Thinking that the cut off date of Oct 31 will get pushed . Possible to end of year.

Right now, they are giving it a couple months to see if they can get numbers under control.  
For those planning on cruising this year, it seems that getting vaccinated will be a requirement.😷

And I'm fine with that! With everyone still presenting a test at the pier, I wonder if masks will still be required? Stay tuned, right?

"If you are 12 years and older and currently booked on a MSC Cruises itinerary departing from Port of Miami or Port Canaveral beginning September 3, 2021 through and including sailings of October 31, 2021 and you are not fully vaccinated and will not be vaccinated 14 days prior to the cruise, you are eligible for a full refund of any funds currently on your booking. Please contact MSC Cruises at 1-877-665-4655 if you booked directly with MSC Cruises or contact your Travel Advisor."

5 hours ago, Debde said:

Thank you. This is good. I thought they were still testing at the pier also. 

I can't keep up with everything lately!!🥴

From everything I've read online Deb, I don't think we'll have to test at the pier. Of course, that could completely change several times by the time we cruise in October. It does eliminate the stress at the pier for sure, and that's what I was stressing about the most. So now it looks like we'll be testing (antigen) at Walgreens on Wednesday. We fly to Miami Thursday, and sail (fingers crossed) on Saturday.

And now, with the news out of the Bahamas this afternoon, it looks like our already crappy itinerary may be changing again.  https://disneycruiselineblog.com/2021/08/bahamas-imposing-new-restrictions-on-cruise-ships-including-stops-at-private-islands/?fbclid=IwAR0MG2TZR3N8ktr3sU0erh6bVT9mYAtC45Vy2q65dn7e9Ju5qyevM6JlHDY

8 minutes ago, Shippy said:

I would think that makes for a fairly crummy cruise. It is my understanding that if you do not declare you are vaccinated you incur other expenses...like testing and the covid insurance AND you are not allowed in some areas like the casino or pub....

who cares if they know I am vaccinated ? especially on a cruise where it is likely I will never see any of these people again !

Exactly!

11 minutes ago, alyssamma said:

Tried to call MSC to get more info. The rep wouldn't tell me anything and just said I needed to look at the website. You really have to love MSC.

 

If anyone else can get a helpful rep, I'd be interested to know if you show up w/a neg test if they still test you at the pier.

We're not sailing until mid-October, so I expect things to change several times before then. 🙄

That said, there's a FB group where someone is stating that, regardless of a negative test taken 72 hours prior, vaxxed or un-vaxxed, testing at the pier will still be occurring. Not sure where they're getting their info.

16 minutes ago, phissy said:

Tapi, I just did the same.  Rereading Prior and at Embarkation, before August 27 has specific protocols.

you are correct.

After August 27, looks like self tested, fully vaccinated passengers will be allowed to board with the documentation of test results and vaccination card.

Wonder if MSC is responding to anxiety of fully vaxed testing positive at pier and not being allowed to board. OR

They no longer want to incur the cost of testing  ALL prior to embarkation.

This makes perfect sense and I prefer it actually. Way less stressful.

We fly into Miami on Thursday morning and sail on Saturday. So testing on Wednesday should work.

24 minutes ago, no1talks said:

So, ASAP, you need to know if FCC will work like OBC, so you won't be SOL.

LOL to that! And you're absolutely right. 😊

6 minutes ago, Beamafar said:

You can’t use OBC for pre-embarkation purchases with MSC. 

 

Packages are the same price pre-boarding as onboard, but you avoid  the 15% service charge that’s added when purchased onboard by buying pre-cruise.  

This is where it gets a little tricky. We have 2 types of credit coming our way. Over $400 in credit from a FCC, and also another $200 in OBC that was part of the promotion for our current booking. 

Before our last cruise that was canceled (should have sailed in April 2021), we had a FCC from the October 2020 cruise that was canceled. Before the April 21 cruise was canceled, I was told that any FCC money had to be spent online prior to the cruise. I even tried purchasing multiples of OBC credit with the FCC, but was told that was the ONE THING it couldn't be used for. Go figure.

Since rebooking and getting a FCC for our upcoming cruise in October, I was told by someone at MSC corporate that they've made a change to that policy and you don't have to use your FCC online in advance of your cruise, you can now use FCC onboard just like it's OBC. This makes me a little nervous, because depending on who you talk to at MSC, things seem to change.

About a week ago I tried purchasing an excursion for our day in Nassau. It gave me no option for paying with any type of credit that we have. No way am I paying out of pocket for an excursion in Nassau. Been there many times. If we didn't have all the credit, we'd be happy to stay on board. Same with Ocho Rios. We're also in YC, so our internet's covered. Diamond, so we get a complimentary specialty restaurant lunch or dinner. I can always find things to purchase on board. What I really need to do is confirm again that the FCC can be used on board like OBC. It would be pretty typical of the last year and a half to finally get on board and be told we only have the $200. 

When our kids were younger, but finally old enough (teens) to be in their own room, we'd put them in an interior across the hall from us. Now our oldest daughter, 30, still sails in interiors, unless she gets an upgrade, which has happened a few times. 

10 minutes ago, TnTom said:

Yes, there is a questionnaire included in your cruise docs.

Great, thanks!