seapals2

On 3/31/2021 at 4:16 PM, delgirl said:

Sorry thought AI was princess beverage package. West midlands is in the middle of the UK slightly towards wales in the west. Looking at Staycations from Southampton for UK citizens only.

All inclusive I take to mean just that .. not expecting any additional charges for tips.  It includes wifi and gratuities as well as the drinks package.  I haven’t checked but doubt it will include champagne by the glass.  🤔.  

Can you still get wine by the glass included in the package in the speciality dining restaurants?  I saw you can get a full bottle of water.  😊

On 3/27/2021 at 10:57 AM, ann141 said:

One of the 3 night cruises has a suite at £679pp. If that was for a week....

When I last looked at comparing prices with Princess the price quoted for a suite didn’t actually break down into different grades and I’m guessing the price quoted would have been for a mini suite. 
On the Princess website each grade was clearly available within each category and priced accordingly.  
Has anyone made a booking for a suite and can explain better how the prices were structured when making a confirmed booking.  
 

What we have been told is that it’s 100% effective against mortality.  😊

However if there was any infection it could very easily spread to unvaccinated crew.  

Possibly both meanings result in the same outcome regardless.  🤷‍♀️
 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-what-to-expect-after-vaccination/what-to-expect-after-your-covid-19-vaccination#:~:text=Like all medicines%2C no,should be less severe.

There is no routine test for antibodies either from the vaccine or from being infected  .. only those included on surveys and studies have been tested to my knowledge.  

4 minutes ago, WeeCountyMan said:

Is that what 85% effective actually means in practical terms ?

 

 

That’s what  I take it to mean.  If it was 100% then none would be able to get infected.  If it was 0% then it would be of no use.  The vaccine has to prompt the body to produce antibodies ... in some and often the elderly the immune system doesn’t respond.  The flu vaccine has an adjuvant in it for the over 65s to make it more efficient.  

1 hour ago, Windsurfboy said:

 

UK cruises are provisionally permitted  NO earlier than May 17th.  That date is still to be confirmed.  

Think there will be an outcry from the whole of the hospitality industry if that date is changed.  With statistics continue to be on a downward trend there would be no reason to think there would be any reason to support further restrictions.  
I wonder how many crew have already been notified to travel.  Now that could be a reason for concern as many of the crew come from far off countries and will have to have time to fully quarantine in isolation.  

3 hours ago, kevinyork said:

Oh happy days. Reading that made me a bit teary and very much missing our cruises. 

Probably the reason the UK sailings have been so popular.  Not something we would have ever considered 12 months ago but now eagerly anticipating walking up the gangway again.  Even in a mask 😷!!!  

My feelings are that the cruise companies are using these UK sailings to prove cruising is safe and to get the foreign office advisory lifted once international flights are allowed.  They will do everything they can to ensure there are zero cases onboard.  We are lucky we can sail in domestic waters.  The US are not permitting it as their ruling doesn’t allow it.  Ships must visit a port outside of the US as it stands.  🤷‍♀️   

My feelings are that cruise companies are using these UK cruises to prove cruising is safe and banking on the foreign office advisory to be lifted for cruises later in the year.  However the CDC for the US have not changed their view and there are still no sailings permitted out of US.  
We have booked a UK sailing but I doubt we would keep booking cruises that remain in domestic waters particularly once September arrives. 

The reply I posted above is what you will receive if you email the link in the FO advisory.   UK cruises are permitted under step 3 of the road map.  

This s the advice as it stands right now ... there has been no change with regard to cruises other than those which remain in domestic waters which will be permitted after May 17th.  
Cruise companies are allowing you to take a refund or change to another cruise if they cancel.  However bookings made against this advisory will make cancelling for your own reasons difficult.  You stand to lose your deposit as insurance doesn’t cover against a known event at the time of booking.  
 

The new sailings in UK waters are included in step 3 .. No different to booking a UK hotel after May 17th.  International travel remains to be decided,  The FCDO will still have to make an advisory as to whether international cruising will be included at that point. If they continue to advice against cruising when flights reopen then cruises outside of international waters will be effected through the summer.   

Above is the reply I received after sending an email to a link on the foreign office travel advice when the latest UK. Sailings were announced.  
It was unclear how insurance cover would be interpreted.  

9 hours ago, Redrobo said:

 

Are you sure? Friends have been offered a cruise with SAGA in July.  From Tilbury, sailing to Lerwick.After a stop sailing to Norway for a sail through the Fjords.

sorry I was only referring to the latest offerings of uk only sailings.  
The FCDO advisory of no cruising has not been lifted yet but the gov decided to include UK cruises in step 3 and bring it under the UK hospitality restrictions which are due to be lifted on May 17th.  As yet we don’t know what plans there are for international travel.  Booking any other cruise right now is taking a gamble and not covered by insurance policies should you need to cancel.  
 

Its probably more to do with getting back on rather than allowing you to tour independently when you get off.  Instead of going home you are back on the ship with thousands of other passengers.  The vaccine is aprox 85% efficient so 15 in every hundred passengers are susceptible.  When you multiply that up you are talking possibly 300 people.  It would be ok if the port stop was towards the end of the week.  The last thing the cruise companies need is headlines and passengers being taken ill.  
I think looking at it from another point of view as an experiment it will certainly test the vaccine efficiency should there be any positive test results.  In fact we should probably be getting paid to cruise as Guinea pigs ... 😂.  Now there’s a thought.  

Not sure where you plan to call.  You might have to factor in time difference.  When we make calls back to the uk there’s about 5 hours difference. .  

9 hours ago, dwhe said:

So they have a magic way of keeping the passengers away from the locals on their own excursions have they, I would be interested to know how, instead of holding up an umbrella they could hold up a whip and crack it anytime anyone steps out of line. No really I would like to see how they can stop interaction on their tours.

They bubble wrap you as you get off ... 😂😂

Princess Cays is my go to ‘happy place’. ❤️    Been many times and although it’s gradually changed to accommodate the bigger ships and lost its thatched parasols it’s still a lovely beach and blue seas.  We always walk along the beach in front of the bungalows and pick a quieter spot.  
Hopefully this time next year we will revisit.  🤞🏻🤞🏻  🍹🌴🌴🏖🏝

On 3/19/2021 at 3:06 PM, PORT ROYAL said:

BIL called regarding the schedules and asked if QE will enter international waters to allow Duty Free purchases.  Any ideas?

If the ships go into international water they will be classed as international travel and not allowed under the stage 3 of lifting of restrictions.  Domestic waters extend 12 nautical miles from the shore.  

6 hours ago, jangor said:

I am one of those who prefer not to wash my hands in public restrooms.  I do not know who touched the faucet or handle before me and often there is standing water on the counter next to it.  I DO use hand sanitizer, wash my hands frequently in my own bathroom or kitchen and carry towelettes in my purse.  There is more than one way to keep yourself safe.

Latest ships have overcome all the problems with taps.  All automated .. nothing to touch.  Hand sanitizer not as efficient as thorough hand washing but ok if nothing else available.  

What about people who live in Liverpool who have joined the ship?  I suppose we will all get tested before being allowed on and presumably again if you leave on an excursion.  No stops on our 4 nts ... wondering if the ship keeps moving or it drops anchor in the day.  

30 minutes ago, majortom10 said:

We have booked a 7nt seacation cruise with Princess on Wednesday and have within the last 30 minutes received an e-mail from Princess confirming that the only people allowed off the ship in Belfast/Liverpool are those on Princes organised excursions only.

Doesn’t sound much fun.  🙁.  Seems odd since you could visit from out of the area at any time once the travel restrictions are lifted.  You will come into contact with other people even on an organised tour .. unless they bubble wrap you.  😀