Pee-ah

I have the "Have it all Package" and booked dinner prior to my cruise this week. You dont have to wait-to till you are on board i guess it's a case of first come first serve.

The borders for non essential travel may be closing.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/canada-us-border-1.5501201

On 3/14/2020 at 12:16 PM, iancal said:

I continue to be amazed at the sense of entitlement and self importance of people on the forum.

 

The cruise lines are struggling with change, volume, and port changes.  Give them time to figure it out and process the appropriate refunds, credits.

 

Just be thankful that you or a love one is not in a hospital bed.  Or worse.  Many people are loosing their livelihoods over this and the ensuing financial repercussions.  Businesses will fail and close for good. There are people with far greater issues than a two hour hold time or an immediate refund or credit note.

 

I am not a huge fan of corporate America the cruise line lobby.  But these folks, the airlines, the leisure travel firms, and the insurers need time to work through this.  
 

One thing is certain.  Those firms with first rate, flexible, customer focussed IT systems will be in a much better position to work through this for their customers than those with sub standard IT groups.

Could

you please run for office!

On 3/14/2020 at 12:16 PM, iancal said:

 

 

 

 

 

 
I agree, these are the times, and no one wants this virus to spread.  I wish we could shut the border altogether right now, and Vancouver is taking a huge hit, too, with the cessation - albeit temporarily - of the cruise ship season.  No one is happy about it, but it is necessary.  I would be very surprised if Seattle continues it's cruise season during this time.  Let's face it, the virus is the same everywhere, but Seattle is certainly a hot spot right now.   
Given that this is a pandemic claiming many lives, fretting about not being able to cruise for a few months and trying to find a way around Canada's decision sure sounds selfish.

There are a number of smaller options for those wanting to see Alaska or the Northwest. 
--Fly to Anchorage and take one of the boat glacier tours.
--Use the Alaska Maritime ferries, which go to most coastal cities. if you want the closest equivalent to a cruise, you can start out in Bellingham, where the ferry leaves the lower 48 (with cabins available and you can bring your own food to avoid shared facilities), and goes from there to Ketchikan and beyond. Bellingham airport has many direct flights on Allegiant, with most coming from Las Vegas, so if you fly to Vegas it's a cheap flight to Bellingham. You also get a more authentic experience on the Alaska ferry, since a lot of the passengers are residents and the ferry is small enough to get into smaller harbors you might never visit (like Haines). 
--Bellingham also gets you close to the WA state ferry in Anacortes which goes to Sydney on Vancouver Island, and also the ferry to explore the San Juans. The BC ferry system operates across the border, also beautiful cruise options with a rented car, particularly the Sunshine Coast, which has plenty of beautiful spots to explore by land and sea.
--You can cruise to Victoria from Seattle and from Port Angeles, on the Olympic Peninsula. Whale watching day cruises are available in most places also, and you can explore places like Bainbridge Island, Bremerton, and Vashon Island from Seattle ferries.
 
The good thing about ferries is that it's easy to maintain social distance, especially if you stay in a car or stand outside where no droplets stay in the air. Since so many WA and BC residents are dependent on ferries, they're unlikely to be canceled.  WA also has smaller airports with fewer travelers and no international flights, such as Bellingham (BLI) and Everett/Paine Field (PAE). 

1 hour ago, Crusinsusan2 said:

I do totally agree with you on this. Testing has been SO very limited that there is no way to know how many cases have already been rolled into normal flu season stats until this came front and center in the last few weeks. I think when/if widespread testing actually occurs for anyone presenting with respiratory symptoms the number's will increase dramatically.  

 

As will the survival rate!

Those MOST effected are people with underlying medical conditions. I have a cruise scheduled with my 82 year old mother and she has asthma... we are still sailing in May.

Its almost two months from now. And to be honest I do think that the media hysteria will die down. (What sells adverting space.. fear)

9 hours ago, slidergirl said:

For the high prices of hard liquor?  Have you ever gone to a nightclub/concert where they have "bottle service?"  To me, it's a little akin to what HAL is doing to let you have a "private place" to drink vs mingling with the masses at a bar.  It's not as outrageous as bottle service ($200 for a bottle of low-end vodka like Grey Goose, Kettle One), 2 bottle minimum at the table), but is does track a little,  

Great comparison. Thank you!

Great Review!

Thank you for taking the time to do it!

Thanks :)

Still hope to one cruise with you!

If you haven't been in this suite you are going to love it. We always have the same room on the Jewel and we put mom and aunt in the kids room they love being called the kids!!!!

 

Love the OBC also, this last cruise we had $600 the highest ever for us.

 

Have a great trip on our Jewel she is so beautiful!!!

Thanks:) the only other suite I have had was on HAL ... Any tips you can give me are welcomed!!! (Others too please)

I'm giving her the master and ill take the kids room :p

Still can't believe that it's less $$$ than the ccl Spirit to Alaska. People say shop around ... And they are right!

Recently booked a two bedroom suite on the Jewel for $200 less than my aft cabin to Alaska this year. .. And have a 450 obc :)

(Moms 75 birthday present)

Of course they have to right to be comfortable on their vacation. They can order room service and eat naked. They can eat in swim suits and cover ups or shorts on the Lido. There is a place for everyone's comfort level onboard. :)

Like!

Sailed 3 x with Stu and less than impressed!

Here is a few from the window.

Thanks! Were you able to put the beds together? Does it feel small?

We didn't have the beds together and we had more than enough room! We did spend a lot of time on the lido deck. But I loved opening the curtains to see the weather.

Note there is an extra set of curtains for privacy. You can see out and it's VERY hard to see in (I tried too). At night due the ships bridge being above the curtain must stay shut.

I was in 6206 two years ago. Loved the view as we were able to see the sea from the cabin. (I'm 5'8 & BFF is 5'6)

If you hit rough weather you will feel it more being at the front of the ship. Also there is no couch in the cabin just a chair.

Would stay in one again in a heart beat!

Great review! Im hooked!

Thank you for the amazing review!

I'm so looking forward to going back! Spirit's last trip to Alaska is my next cruise! (insert happy dance)

Does the Carnival Spirit Alaska cruise follow the inside passage sailing both north and south? In your opinion, which is the best side to be on - Port or Starboard?

They cruise the Alaskan part of the inside passage... But they sail around Vancouver island and only cruise the British Columbia inside portion if they are either coming into Vancouver or leaving from it. (the BC portions are not true sea days as you can see land from either side of the ship, while sailing around Vancouver Island the ocean is pretty much all you see)

Hope this helps :)

Thank you!!!

 

I pray you love the SPIRIT as much as I did!!! I'll be getting to Alaska and the ship soon...

I so know what you mean having sailed on her to Alaska.. WOW! (going back before she leaves)

Thank you for the great review!

On our last cruise we had "Tea Time" as one of our CC events :) and we had ALOT show up! Great food and company.. who could ask for more!

My grandmother runs up the stairs with her cast iron skillet in hand, screaming obscenities in Vietnamese, trying to locate any one of her three bad grandchildren... at this point, any one of them will do.

 

HA! You thought this was the next installment, didn't you! Gotcha!

 

Sorry, no new post tonight... I'm exhausted from work, and don't have the mental energy to continue the memoir this evening. <sigh> Tomorrow's only supposed to be a 12-14 hour day, so I'll try again tomorrow night when I'm a little less tired.

I think that you are due for another cruise! You certainly have earned it!

Thank you for sharing!

Looking forward to the next installment :)

[quote name=pyropoodle;29991457

I promise' date=' I will give Canada another try, when it's not sooooo cold. *shiver*[/quote]

Just come to Vancouver :D

During our winter Olympics we had to import snow via trucks and helicopters :p

Thank you for sharing the latest post! I loved that tent when i was there in Sept 2010. It had the friendliest people in there! I went way over budget because of this!

I have even thought that i could live there.. NB not the tent :)