If not CCL, what cruise line would you go on and where would you go?

[Eli_6]

I want to cruise and I want to cruise this summer.  We were supposed to go on b2b European cruises on CCL but that was long ago canceled.  Now I am looking at Celebrity (either out of Athens or, alternatively, out of Ecuador to the Galapagos) because they are allowing vaccinated Americans.  Greece is, too. Any other ideas? I also saw that Viking had one to Iceland (as Iceland is allowing vaccinated Americans), but it is already full.  We have already traveled (in the US) since being vaccinated so know about the regulations. In fact, we just got back from the Masters where we had to wear our masks (outdoors in Georgia in the heat and humidity) the entire time except for eating and drinking.  

[IntrepidFromDC]

Lots of change currently happening in EU with regard to allowing vaccinated Americans in, coupled with apparent progress on cruise line/CDC arrangements for return to sailing.  I'm hoping our September cruise out of Baltimore is not canceled.  In the meantime, we're tentatively planning a 7-day cruise out of Rome coupled with two weeks landlubbing it around Italy after flying to Paris and taking the overnight train to Venice.  Cinque Terre, Siena, Firenze are calling us, fanning the flames of wanderlust...

[Jasonsterling]

Pretty much anyone anywhere really depending on price and how much time I have. I been actively looking at RCL in the last couple of days as a backup. it would cost more to fly to Nassau but at least I'd be able to go. I might consider NCL as well, I don't think, unless you're going luxury that the lines are all that different for what I'm looking for and it might be nice to try something else just because. 

[firefly333]

54 minutes ago, Eli_6 said:

I want to cruise and I want to cruise this summer.  We were supposed to go on b2b European cruises on CCL but that was long ago canceled.  Now I am looking at Celebrity (either out of Athens or, alternatively, out of Ecuador to the Galapagos) because they are allowing vaccinated Americans.  Greece is, too. Any other ideas? I also saw that Viking had one to Iceland (as Iceland is allowing vaccinated Americans), but it is already full.  We have already traveled (in the US) since being vaccinated so know about the regulations. In fact, we just got back from the Masters where we had to wear our masks (outdoors in Georgia in the heat and humidity) the entire time except for eating and drinking.  

I have looked at celebrity to Galapagos which is a bucket list cruise but $$$$. 

 

I know celebrity has a ship of suites built specifically for the Galapagos.  I wish I'd booked during covid when  prices were lower. What a awesome cruise. I'd love to see those tortoises. If you can still afford to fly to south America by all means do so. 

 

Only 2 cruiselines I believe have access to cruise there so its indeed a special cruise. Do it. 

[Eli_6]

19 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

I have looked at celebrity to Galapagos which is a bucket list cruise but $$$$. 

 

I know celebrity has a ship of suites built specifically for the Galapagos.  I wish I'd booked during covid when  prices were lower. What a awesome cruise. I'd love to see those tortoises. If you can still afford to fly to south America by all means do so. 

 

Only 2 cruiselines I believe have access to cruise there so its indeed a special cruise. Do it. 

Yeah, if we did the Galapagos, it will be minus the kids.  Celebrity actually has three different boats going to the Galapagos. One has only 16 passengers!  The new ship (the Flora which is the all suite boat you mentioned) is more money than the other two but looks super luxurious.  The negative on the Galapagos is that because of them not having four person rooms (so kids would be full fare) and the costs being so high, I wouldn't be able to bring my kids and that kind of sucks because they are now at the age where they are fun to travel with. Also, the only flight back to Houston from the city that the ship goes out of is at 2 am!  It is so strange.  And it is that way every day.     

[Tapi]

Even though sailings from the USA are still halted, cruising is gradually resuming pretty much everywhere in the world, so you may have more choices than you think, specially if traveling longer distances to meet your ship is not an issue. It’s hard for me to suggest a specific cruise though, not knowing more about you besides your desire to go on a cruise this summer (which applies to pretty much everybody reading this thread! LOL). 
 

Here’s a pretty comprehensive list of cruise lines with firm plans either already sailing, or beginning to sail soon. Needless to say, not all are accepting Americans. Also, not all cruise lines are listed, like some of the small ship cruise lines which will be operating in Alaska among many others. 

https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/24837-roundup-of-major-cruise-line-restart-dates-and-plans.html

 

 

[cruisingguy007]

I wouldn't count on anything by summer. Have a land based vacation as a backup to be sure. Good luck with your search. 

[pe4all]

NCL from Athens.  Did Greek Isles with them from Venice and had a great cruise.  Would also consider doing Hawaii with them.

[lazydayz]

We are regular Royal and Carnival cruisers, but have a Celebrity cruise booked for July because we like the unique itinerary.  Not many cruises go to Barbados, which I have wanted to visit for a long time. So fingers crossed we all get to cruise this summer.   

[sid_9169]

I'm booked on Norwegians' first cruise out of Montego Bay on August 7th... I've had it with waiting for the CDC to give the go ahead to sail out of the US... 

[cruisingguy007]

9 minutes ago, sid_9169 said:

I'm booked on Norwegians' first cruise out of Montego Bay on August 7th... I've had it with waiting for the CDC to give the go ahead to sail out of the US... 

 

Hope it works out for you. With what happened with all the employees from India being turned around by Royal and the Philippines having a lot of covid cases as well, it may be tough to get cruising off by summer (employee wise). Especially if a 100% covid free cruise is the expectation. I fully expect a few to slip through the cracks, the real question is what will be the outcome of that? Cancel cruise? Deal with it and press on? What can't be covered up anyway, since the CDC won't be involved and there will be no American authorities to answer too. That may help with breathing room and pushing past a few bumps. It'll be interesting what the other countries require or if they just use the magic formula of "don't test and you have no cases" formula that has been suggested in the past. 

[TooManyWakeUpsTilWeSail]

If my September CCL cruise gets cancelled, I’ll kick the can another year due to being paid via Carnival gift card & whatever OBC they are offering for not requesting a refund.  Cruising out of a foreign port is not in the budget so any vacation beyond the domestic stuff we’ve already done recently on repeat (Florida, Gatlinburg, even Branson) are maybe an all-inclusive to Cancun or Punta Cana.

[firefly333]

Just now, TooManyWakeUpsTilWeSail said:

If my September CCL cruise gets cancelled, I’ll kick the can another year due to being paid via Carnival gift card & whatever OBC they are offering for not requesting a refund.  

Have you been offered obc for  not cancelling for sept? I haven't seen any offers for my sept cruise to not cancel. Did I miss something?

[sid_9169]

1 hour ago, cruisingguy007 said:

 

Hope it works out for you. With what happened with all the employees from India being turned around by Royal and the Philippines having a lot of covid cases as well, it may be tough to get cruising off by summer (employee wise). Especially if a 100% covid free cruise is the expectation. I fully expect a few to slip through the cracks, the real question is what will be the outcome of that? Cancel cruise? Deal with it and press on? What can't be covered up anyway, since the CDC won't be involved and there will be no American authorities to answer too. That may help with breathing room and pushing past a few bumps. It'll be interesting what the other countries require or if they just use the magic formula of "don't test and you have no cases" formula that has been suggested in the past. 

All passengers and crew vaccinated, testing before boarding and prior to departure, cruise line only excursions, ect... I think that under these circumstances that it'll work... Either way, I am willing to do whatever it takes to get back on board ASAP... 

[TooManyWakeUpsTilWeSail]

28 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

Have you been offered obc for  not cancelling for sept? I haven't seen any offers for my sept cruise to not cancel. Did I miss something?

I’m not quite understanding your question.  I said if it is canceled I would take the OBC if offered in lieu of refund.  This is the same policy Carnival has had for the past year.  I would not take a refund since the payment was made with a CCL gift card.  

[firefly333]

13 minutes ago, TooManyWakeUpsTilWeSail said:

I’m not quite understanding your question.  I said if it is canceled I would take the OBC if offered in lieu of refund.  This is the same policy Carnival has had for the past year.  I would not take a refund since the payment was made with a CCL gift card.  

Ok I get it. There was a offer on the table to not cancel cruises and get another $200 obc, but I think the end date was maybe June cruises not for sept that far out. 

 

I'll keep watching.

[xDisconnections]

Any option with Princess or Royal Caribbean (excluding Vision or Sovereign class) is fine with me.

[elklemi]

I would look at Star Clipper sailing ships from St. Maarten or Barbados that goes to small islands that Large ships will never go to and a plus is they have no single supplement. No casino or shows but for real island travel is very special.

[Laurie S.]

We're booked on Carnival, Princess, and Viking this year, 2022, and 2023.  Six cruises for now, maybe more in 2023.

[xDisconnections]

9 hours ago, elklemi said:

I would look at Star Clipper sailing ships from St. Maarten or Barbados that goes to small islands that Large ships will never go to and a plus is they have no single supplement. No casino or shows but for real island travel is very special.

I'd be so bored and want to disembark.

[MMastell]

I almost always put itinerary first, cabin second and cruise line third. All major cruise lines give you a similar basic product and from that they build to their brand and the demographic they want, If I just want a fun getaway for a week then Carnival is my first choice.

 

Take care,

Mike

[SNJCruisers]

On 4/26/2021 at 8:18 PM, sid_9169 said:

 Either way, I am willing to do whatever it takes to get back on board ASAP... 

That's a great attitude to have Sid.  Many posters on other threads and possibly even this one are on the opposite side and refuse to believe that getting the jab is beneficial for society since it will let us achieve herd immunity quicker.  Hope that your cruise goes and you have a great time.

[joeyancho]

I presently have three cruises booked. Carnival in August, Princess in October and MSC in November. I am hoping all these cruises will sail.  Lord knows we need it. 

[PhillyFan33579]

We are booked on RCI in July out of the Bahamas and about to book Celebrity out of St Marteen. I don’t expect any of the 3 cruises we have booked from US ports later this year to happen. Initially I was optimistic about our cruise next February on Celebrity taking place, but now I am starting to have doubts about that cruise.
 

It is very surprising to me that CCL has not made plans (at least publicly) to cruise from foreign ports like most of the other major cruise lines are doing. The CDC seems determined to kill the US cruise industry. I don’t expect any cruises from US ports until 2022 at the earliest. The only thing that could hopefully change that is if the lawsuit by Florida/Alaska is successful. 

[bafinegan]

Hubbs and I are currently booked on Viking's "Welcome Back to the World" Bermuda cruise this July.  Just got thrown a curveball tho.  Just yesterday, Bermuda changed their entrance requirement from 5 days to 3 days for the COvid PCR test.  One has to have the test available to send to Bermuda the day before arrival to obtain their "travel visa".  The cruise leaves on a Tues, so that means results need to be available on Mon.  WHich also means the earliest the PCR test can be done is Sat.  Unfortunately, places here in Ga are only Mon-Fri for rapid tests.   🤨