travelplus

I hate to say but if you have any special requests like oceanview or balcony quarruntine cabin due to being clasttophobic in closed spaces perhaps the Special Needs Department can guide you or consider postponing your cruise.

I would imagine it would be an interior cabin close to the Medical Center but a Cove balcony makes more sense.

For my in person Drive Thru test I just scheduled it on Thursday 6 AM before my 10 AM flight for a Saturday cruise .

1 hour ago, cruisingguy007 said:

Agree!

I'd take that. Even if things went a bit sideways, that price is worth simply being on the ocean relaxing, especially if just an adult trip without kids.

1 hour ago, cruisingguy007 said:

 

I'd take that. Even if things went a bit sideways, that price is worth simply being on the ocean relaxing, especially if just an adult trip without kids. They'd be pissed though if we cruised without them..lol. They love it as much as we do and can't wait to cruise agian. 

wait to cruise agian. 

7 minutes ago, pinklucky61 said:

Was just thinking that about our February 20 cruise! 

Two minds think alike😁

20 hours ago, cruisingguy007 said:

 

Awesome! Hope you have a great cruise! Panorama is a fantastic ship. I'm tempted to switch to her for April from Radiance and extend my cruise holiday to a 7-day and probably will if I can make it work without too many penalties or super high fare. My kids have been excited to cruise and were bummed we didn't take a Christmas or New Years cruise like we decided (thanks to omicron) so moving from a 4-day to a 7-day would be a nice treat/surprise for them. I'm really wanting to try Big Chicken though so it's a little bit of a conflict but 3 more cruise days vs a chicken sandwich isn't really a competition...lol.   

Just do it!

I am keeping my 2/26 Panorama Cruise and just switched from City Health to Worksite over at San Jose airport for a 6 AM test. They guarantee it within 36 hours so I am fine as I am taking it on Thursday before my 10 AM flight. 

Hope by then things will be better.

I am holding out on my 2/26 Panorama Cruise. Perhaps it wont be crowded.

I was able to schedule it at the SJC airport before my flight. I was speaking more about those who need assistance. I have had the administrator at the drive thru test site assist me. Luckily in my case I can get a ride and my visual impairment is not severe but it does limit my driving for now.  I wish they had more "in store" testing.  I was able to get a  6:00 AM appointment on 2/24 for my 2/26 cruise which gives me more than enough time to get the results and board my 10:10 AM flight.

My original appointment was at 8:30 AM with City Health but then one of my contacts told me to try WorkSite Testing and they opened up the early testing time. They offer the RT-PCR regular test and guarantee a 36 hour turnaround. With this being said I am almost certain I will get the results in time. Worst case I can go to their Long Beach testing center.  I am covered!

Thanks so much for your concerns. 

I found a testing center at SJC airport for 6:30 AM . When it says 2 days before I imagine it can be taken anytime on Feb 24th for Feb 26th.

I scheduled my test for February 24th before my Feb 26th cruise and flight on the 24th to LAX.

The testing center at SJ airport has regular tests. If there is a delay in getting reaults due to backlogs will I be denied boarding if its beyond my control?

I dont drive so drive thru centers in Long Beach wont help due to my low vision.

Its discriminating to only have drive thru testing but in person vaccines. Its hard for me to do the at home proctored test.

Can we just end the testing January 30th as Omicron will hopefully be on a downward swing or at least increase the time back to 72 hours before for vaccinated cruisers?

The ADA requires equal access to testing centers but if you cannot drive or Uber refuses to take you through the line there is a problem.

Can Carnival make an exception and bill my Insurance or not charge me for a rapid test at the port the day before? Can I use my disability as a reason for it being hard to get a test?

I follow all guidelines however this test is hard for those with visual impairments who cannot drive.

Does the ADA and CDC require  testing centers require them to allow walkups for those who can't drive?

On 1/3/2022 at 9:19 AM, Youyoyotoo said:

I am guessing here but Mexico is NOT the U.S. They do NOT have the mechanisms in play to test out 4,000 additional people on a whims notice nor take mass causalities in their port cities given the sieges they are already under but a grossly non reported by Media. So, that is the most logical explanation I could guess at. Doesn't seem that far fetched. Hence forth also why Government decided to buy 500.000,000 additional test kits in AMERICA as I think airplane flights and many other mass transit, closed air ventilation system transport systems are gojng to be hit with lots of added masking and testing req's they may have been exempted from up until recent "new" variant assault on the world...Be flexible or be angry. Your choice.

Lets work on ending the testing requirement After Jan 30th lets start by returning the 72 hour test for vaccinated passengers as by then Omicron should be on a downward swing. 

When will the testing end?

19 hours ago, LRDR01 said:

Question on tipping for the Chef's table.   Do they present a check wallet at the end of the experience where you add the tip to your shipboard account?   I'm assuming the customary meal tip is expected?  Do you tip as a whole, or for each of the individuals involved?   Any insight would help.  We are doing the Chefs table on the Radiance in a week and this will be our first time doing this.

Not as far as I know. I was charged gratuity as part of the experience. I guess you could tip more .

Would the cruiseline pay for a hotel room until the next sailing and pay to change your flights? I wish. A decision could have been made earlier to cancel.

Love how it states we will treat you with fairness yet you dont have your refund a year later. How is this fair?

I only tell my close  Relatives and Friends..It's none of anyone's business really what I do with my money.

Can you imagine telling your boss that you will be cruising during a pandemic and then get fired? Everyone is so happy for you. You got approved by everyone to take off . As soon as you return you are called in by HR and your reporting boss. They inform you that because you violated company policy of no foreign travel you have been terminated. Aah the nightmares😁. 

Luckily I renewed mine just before COVID! So I would say that it may be worth paying the expedited fee if you know you will travel in the next 3-5 months. Just play it safe. BTW the renewal fees increased.  Me personally I would gladly pay the expediting fee if I knew passports would take 6-12 weeks to process. Its a small price to pay for an expensive journey.

As long as each Family member is booked in the same category of Stateroom there would not be a difference! I suggest that everyone is booked in a Balcony for fresh air!

I don't care about the flipped itinerary. 

I booked this for my February Panorama cruise as a gourmand foodie. Totally worth the cost with the wine and unique food pairings. You do have to go with an open mind and I love watching Food TV and have a refined palate. 

1 hour ago, dcsham said:

I'm with you 100%!  I cruise for the ship experience, the ports have always been secondary to me and my wife.  I know that may not be the same for everyone, but I'd much rather be at the Alchemy Bar than huddled at home worried I might catch Covid.

Exactly right my Friend!

2 hours ago, nslatin said:

So if Panorama is denied port entry at  PV, Mazatlan and Cabo does this put Carnival in violation of the PVSA?

Of course not its  not like Carnival missed the ports on purpose.

1 hour ago, cruisingguy007 said:

 

I wouldn't mind a cruise to nowhere or a technical stop cruise for the right price, though this itinerary has good port stops, a week on Panorama ship is plenty enjoyable for me. Well, with everything open and operational (full experience) and covid not flaring out of control that is. I'm even worried about my April cruise now. May have to push that back to 2023 and do a local land vacay if conditions don't improve. Figured things would be normal by then. Surprise! The Mrs is leaning that way too. Feels like we are starting all over again almost. I think omicron is just getting started too, the next few weeks will be a dozy. Enough people will be jabbed though and a lot of minor cases isn't such a bad thing IMO. Hopefully, folks that are lower risk, get their jabs/boosters and continue to sail on even with these hangups.      

7 nights on a cruise without Ports that I can easily fly to would not be the end of the world living in the SF Bay Area. While I would love to do the Shore Excursions I booked if it turns out we skip a port or ports I am not that upset. If I am given $50 I would buy a Bottle of Wine or put it towards my Adult drinks.  We have to be flexible.   I would rather be on a cruise then stuck  on I80 in the snow! 

Maybe we have to turn our thinking around. Instead of the Ports we focus on the cruise as the primary reason we are going on vacation like a moving All Inclusive Vacation and the ports secondary.  Then we won't be as disappointed. As long as Carnival provides a good cruise with food, entertainment and a safe environment then I am all for a 7 Day Cruise to Nowhere.

2 hours ago, chengkp75 said:

 

Actually, if all the foreign ports are missed, then Carnival would be charged as being in violation of the PVSA, and a fine levied.  It would then be on Carnival to request an exemption from the fine due to the port authorities not allowing the ship to enter (outside Carnival's control), and they would almost assuredly get it.  In all cases like this, where foreign ports are missed (weather, mechanical, or local conditions), CBP issues the fine (gotta keep the paperwork correct), and then the line has to appeal.

This is so crazy because of COVID a county does not let you dock so therefore an aitomatic exepmtion should be granted as it was not Carnival's fault. At least you won't need to clear Customs on return because technically while you entered International waters you never physically docked in any port. Am I right?    Perhaps Carnival will be required to call at Ensenada for formalities. 

I will be on the February 26 sailing of the Panorama so we shall see what happens.

12 hours ago, Lee Cruiser said:

Another thing that I did notice is that they are essentially changing the definition of fully vaccinated.  They have basically added booster to that.  Based on Carnival's recent information for our January cruise (boosters strongly recommended), I told my wife that boosters would probably be required before our April cruise.

I want it to say "Boosters are strictly enforced" 🤣