craig01020

12 hours ago, Matco said:

Have you seen RCI Icon of the Seas... Massive ship, 250,000 gross tons, 1,200 feet long, 20 decks, 7,600 passengers and 2,350 crew that's 9,950 max capacity. I can only imagine 8000+ people trying to get on or off in port... 

...and, if it's a tender port = 😖

16 hours ago, UPNYGuy said:

 

like it or not, this is the modern cruise industry. Unless you go with Viking, Azamara, or Oceania, what you see is what you are now going to get. Even Holland America's new ships are almost twice the size as the smallest and oldest ones that were decommissioned in the last few years (99,000 GRT vs 50,000ish GRT) Hell, Princess has a 175,000 GRT ship on order, and several in the fleet right now that are the same size as a Breakaway or Voyager class.

Norwegian's newest ships, the Prime and Viva are only in the 3,000+ passenger range.

I think I just found the answer to my own question (see link below). (These dates are 2023, not 2024, but there are none as late as April 27.)

https://www.studentcity.com/plan-a-trip/when-is-my-spring-break/

I'm thinking of booking a 7-day cruise on the Panorama from April 27-May 4, 2024. Is it safe to say that spring break would be over by then?

Thanks.

1 hour ago, PTC DAWG said:

I doubt I would have said anything myself, I would be glad I wasn't injured and made it back to the ship fine.  Tendering has its inherent dangers for sure.  

I might have just kicked the crap out of the idiot "driving" the tender.

19 hours ago, nunuc2000 said:

3.  Has anyone seen actual crab legs on any of the ships in the last few years?

Does a sunburned old man on the Lido deck count? 🤣

4 hours ago, molly361 said:

Yes you can change your existing reservation to non refundable but you will pay whatever TODAY'S non refundable rate is for that sailing NOT the one on the day that you booked

Thanks. I just did a mock booking, and the cruise price is now a lot more than my current price.

When I booked my cruise, I paid $128 to make my deposit refundable. I'd like to change to a non-refundable deposit and get that fee back.

Has anyone else done this? Thanks.

The ETIAS is officially scheduled to come online in May 2023. Once initiated, there will be a 180-day period of grace. Non-EU visa-free travellers requiring approval in the new ETIAS system will have the opportunity to fill out an ETIAS application form. The six-month grace period will also provide European travel authorities ample time to be sufficiently trained on new protocols and a vetting period wherein technical issues with the system can be identified. The six-month grace period has a scheduled expiration in November 2023; from then onward, third-country nationals will require approval from the ETIAS.

source: https://etias.com/etias-application

1 hour ago, ukrccl_a said:

As os Saturday 24th September, Greece removed their requirements for cruise ship passengers to test prior to boarding. 

 

Celebrity have updated their protocols now to reflect this, however Royal Caribbean don't appear to be yet.

 

https://www.celebritycruises.com/healthy-at-sea/italy-travel-requirements

 

"Please Note: Greece has removed its unique testing requirements as of Sept. 24, 2022. Please disregard any previously received communication with special instructions for sailings visiting Greece and follow the above guidelines."

Wow! No wonder I'm confused! 

Thanks!

If the cruise departs from Athens, then a proctored test wouldn't be accepted. Glad I'm departing from Spain.

Can it get more confusing? 🤪 😷

30 minutes ago, badvector said:

 

I read it as using a proctored/supervised test will meet the requirements.  You cannot use a home self test kit on it's own.

That makes sense, thanks!  Sometimes a second set of eyes is all you need. 🤓

I'm sailing from Tarragona, Spain to Greece next week. From RC's protocols web page:

• Tests must be supervised with the result provided on a certificate which includes the guest’s name and date of birth. All tests are at the guests’ expense.
• All guests age 12 and older, regardless of vaccination status, will be required to present a negative antigen test within 48 hours or a negative PCR test within 72 hours before your sailing.
• Guests 11 years of age and younger do not need to complete a pre-cruise test.
• This test can be satisfied using any proctored telehealth test kit or lab-supervised test. Self test kits are not accepted for sailings that visit Greece.

I was planning on doing a proctored self-test, but it looks like I'll need to find somewhere to test in Tarragona before we board.

Am I reading this right?

I've booked a forward-facing oceanview cabin on Anthem (9500) for a Norwegian Fjords itinerary. Just wondering if anyone has experience with these cabins, and did you feel a lot of motion?

Thanks.

Anyone else having issues with Royal's website? I can't see any of my cruises. I've tried multiple browsers.

I've been exploring New Zealand cruises for Feb. 2024 on all the mainstream cruise lines. The NCL Spirit is priced thousands more that other mainstream cruise lines for a balcony cabin! For example: Celebrity Edge 10-day NZ cruise = $5,400 w/gratuities; NCL Spirit 12-day NZ cruise = $8,400 w/bev pkg.

I'd like to sail on the Spirit, but I can't justify spending over 50% more!

I've had the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3 since 2012, and have not been disappointed.

We're booked on Viva from Civitavecchia, regular balcony, forward, deck 11.

On 9/9/2022 at 5:17 PM, shipgeeks said:

We definitely take our own water bottles and just refill them. Wide-mouth ones make it easy to fill in the cabin, or from cabin ice bucket, or from glasses of water in the buffet.

European or American? Do I need a converter?  🤣

57 minutes ago, brillohead said:

They're not in the "transportation" business

Unless you're late coming back from a port of call. Then they have no problem leaving you there. 🤣

I'm not looking forward to listening to even more Facetiming from rude passengers. 😡

On 7/31/2022 at 8:36 PM, TheSeagoer said:

The OP asks about the panorama and people who have never sailed on her chime in. Why?

Welcome to Cruise Critic. Some folks think they're getting paid by the word. 🤣

I am a first time visitor to Greece. My cruise is ending at Pireaus and I have a hotel for two nights in Athens before flying home.

I'd like to explore a little bit when I get off the ship since i can't check in to my hotel till afternoon. Has anyone here used a luggage storage or locker service at the port?

Is it necessary to book in advance or can I just show up? Thank you!

I'm looking at a Feb. 2024 cruise to New Zealand. Ovation and Brilliance are about the same price. I've been on Brilliance, but never on Ovation.

Can anyone who's cruised to NZ on either ship share their opinion?

Thanks.

I was looking at cruises to Australia and New Zealand for April/May of 2024. I usually book with PB4 rate code (refundable) but that isn't offered.

Is this unusual?