Screasy

We hope to try Tamarind, and were hoping to use our shipboard credit, but have learned that we must be onboard to use that. Are there usually reservations still available if we wait until after we board, or should we bite the bullet and pay? We depart January 14th on the Nieuw Statendam.

Question about reservations. We hope to try Tamarind, and were hoping to use shipboard credit, but have learned that we must be onboard to use that. Are there usually reservations still available if we wait? We depart January 14th on the Nieuw Statendam. Thanks!

I know TA recommendations are not allowed, and I am NOT asking for that. I would just like to understand what is meant by "Big Box" TA. I understand local or regional, but what are some examples of what you all are referring to as "Big Box" companies? I'm guessing it would be fine to refer to Carnival as a "Big Box" cruise line, so I am hoping someone can prove some examples for context.

Anyone?

OK, so I have been on one cruise which I booked myself a few years ago. Plain vanilla Carnival. It was good, but I am retired now and after boat-loads of research I am thinking of upgrading to more premium-type lines. (HAL, Oceania, Viking etc) I have contacted a recommended TA from a very popular Youtube channel, and have found the person to be very unresponsive. Although they are specifically recommended, I have corresponded with them on occasion for over two months, have never gotten a call (which they first recommended, and I later requested) and when I email them, it is always a few days or more before I am answered. It may be that they are busy, which is fine, but I am wanting to find a good TA. I am seeing a lot of jargon on here (big box TA etc) that is totally lost on me. How do I go about finding a "big box" company and know who is good, or if I even need a "big box person"? I am guessing the forum does not allow specific recommendations? If not, this is unfortunate. Where could I go to begin this process? Thanks in advance!

Can anyone confirm that HAL has removed vaccine requirements for NON-Canadian cruises? Their FAQ states that: "Updated August 19, 2022 Until further notice, these are the requirements for our cruise guests on sailings from the U.S. and Canada. Vaccines: Guests ages 12 years of age and older must be fully vaccinated. Children under 5 years of age do not need to be vaccinated. Children between 5-11 years of age may be unvaccinated but will need to go through an exemption process." Then later under their Which Holland America Cruises require vaccination, they state: "All guests 12 years of age and older must be fully vaccinated on all Holland America Line cruises that begin, end or make a call to a Canadian port. Children under 12 years of age do not need to be vaccinated. For guests 12 years of age and older with a vaccination exemption on any itineraries that include Canada, Canada requires medical documentation for Medical Vaccine Exemptions." They SEEM to indicate that NON-Canadian passengers do not need to be vaccinated in the latter section, but the former section seems to contradict that. Thanks.

Can anyone confirm that HAL has removed vaccine requirements for NON-Canadian cruises? Their FAQ states that: "Updated August 19, 2022 Until further notice, these are the requirements for our cruise guests on sailings from the U.S. and Canada. Vaccines: Guests ages 12 years of age and older must be fully vaccinated. Children under 5 years of age do not need to be vaccinated. Children between 5-11 years of age may be unvaccinated but will need to go through an exemption process." Then later under their Which Holland America Cruises require vaccination, they state: "All guests 12 years of age and older must be fully vaccinated on all Holland America Line cruises that begin, end or make a call to a Canadian port. Children under 12 years of age do not need to be vaccinated.For guests 12 years of age and older with a vaccination exemption on any itineraries that include Canada, Canada requires medical documentation for Medical Vaccine Exemptions." They SEEM to indicate that NON-Canadian passengers do not need to be vaccinated in the latter section, but the former section seems to contradict that. Thanks.

Thanks! Some. SOME of you don't bite! 😉

Apparently Celebrity isn't being so clear... Site says:."All guests 12 years of age and older must be fully vaccinated with all initial doses administered at least 14 days prior to sailing."

So sorry. I am new to the site. I looked around for this information, but didn't see it. I would gladly accept some direction if you would be so kind as to offer it.

Hello all! I just got an email from Regent Seven Seas stating that they would be allowing unvaccinated passengers effective September 3rd. I wanted to know if you all are aware if other lines are beginning to do the same. If so, which ones and what dates will the new policy take effect? Regent will require unvaccinated passengers to embark with a negative antigen or PCR test taken within 3 days prior to embarkation. Vaccinated passengers will not need to test prior to embarkation.

I just got an email from Regent Seven Seas stating that they would be allowing unvaccinated passengers effective September 3rd. Regent will require unvaccinated passengers to embark with a negative antigen or PCR test taken within 3 days prior to embarkation. Vaccinated passengers will not need to test prior to embarkation.

That is DEFINITELY on our radar! I retired last July, and a river cruise was supposed to be our first big vacation, but then our buddy Covid paid a visit. We will most assuredly do one, it is just a matter of timing and restrictions.

I should have said, but we DID have an inside cabin midship. I always do extensive research before I do anything, and thought I had planned as best I could, and I guess I did, but the seas were just abnormally rough. Having said that, I believe that based on all the additional research I did, we will have a balcony going forward, but still midship both laterally and vertically. The lack of a view hindered more than helped, I believe. The patches my daughter and wife used were not dramamine, but Scopolamine.

OK, I thought this might be the case, so let's expand the discussion a bit. If you or any of your party are prone to sea sickness, what type of medicinal precautions have worked for you?

Hello all, My wife, daughters and I have only gone on one cruise. We went to the Western Caribbean in February, 2017 out of Mobile, AL. My wife was nervous about being seasick, and her worst fears were realized. The seas were very rough! I asked our waiter how bad on a scale of 1-10 the ride was, and he said in 15 years of working on a ship he would rate it as a 7. It was so bad that they ran out of barf bags and the performers were not allowed to dance in the show. They only got to sit on a stool and sing their songs. You could see the curtains rocking back and forth! My wife and one daughter had the seasick patch, which was way too much medicine for them. They had cotten mouth, and their eyes dialated. Me and my other daughter were not affected and had a GREAT time. Not sure of the ship, but it was a Carnival cruise that held about 2,500. One of the smaller Carnival ships. I had been told by some friends that cruised a lot that "you couldn't really feel the ship moving at all" and this was NOT the case for us. When walking down the corridor, my daughter and I had to basically run from one side of the corridor to the other to prevent ourselves from stumbling. Now, I am hoping to get my wife to try another cruise, but she is super scared of the rough seas now. She believes that it will always be rough like that. We are retired now, and want to try some lines like HAL, Oceania, Celebrity, etc. which are not so much the party type atmosphere we experienced on Carnival. I have watched many of Gary Bembridge's videos on Tips for Travelers, have contacted a travel agent he recommends in the US, and feel like I am prepared, but I just need to stories to share with my wife to alleviate her fears. I know we will SOMETIMES have the possibility of rough seas, but I am hoping some of you seasoned cruisers can give us a percentage of the time we could expect rough seas vs not. I know this will depend on the time of year and destination somewhat... Thanks in advance for your encouragement!