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[TNcruising02]

John Heald has a video on Facebook from this morning and he talked about the Mardi Gras and the other cruises.

The cruises for July and August are vaccinated cruises for people who are fully vaccinated.

He said that at the moment there isn't an exemption for families.  If, and when, CCL will let people know.

He said that children shouldn't have to wear a mask all day and he apologized.  He said that it's not forever and what they are doing today doesn't mean that will be what they are doing in September.

 

No mask wearing on the cruises.  He said people will not be expected to wear a mask.  Mask wearing may be required in some of the ports.

 

He said that there will be days ahead when they will open up to everyone.  He said the high vaccination rate is the reason cruises can start again.

This contradicts the link that was provided in the email for Galveston cruisers allowing people to sign up for the 5% exemption.

 

Edited June 11, 2021 by TNcruising02

[LouChamp]

i’ll wait 

[kdr69]

15 hours ago, stormy_weatherman said:

Ahhhh so close to being on the first sailing! I booked on the August 7th thinking that might be the new first. Alas, I’ll be vlogging for my YouTube channel (link below), if you’re interested in following along for the second cruise!

 

Also, did anyone notice that in this release from Carnival it refers to “pre-inaugural” sailings and it doesn’t call the July 31 cruise anything but a “first sailing”? Perhaps Carnival is awaiting a less-restrictive “inaugural” cruise, with all of its fanfare and celebration, to be held at a later date?

They havent christened her yet that is why its Pre-Inaugural i understand.

[LHARTWICK]

16 hours ago, WhaleTailFlCruiser said:

 

Those old Protocols have been up for awhile. Shouldn't be trying to go off of those.  

Okay - then what are the latest protocols?  I'm only trying to get an answer to the question, and I'm just going by what is posted on CCL's page.  

[ProgRockCruiser]

39 minutes ago, LHARTWICK said:

Okay - then what are the latest protocols?  I'm only trying to get an answer to the question, and I'm just going by what is posted on CCL's page.  

They haven't posted blanket statement yet, AFAIK.  You can read between the lines based on what the CDC CSO "operating rules" say, but there is also this mix of the FL-CDC court case/mediation.  Thus why we are all waiting.

[LHARTWICK]

3 minutes ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

They haven't posted blanket statement yet, AFAIK.  You can read between the lines based on what the CDC CSO "operating rules" say, but there is also this mix of the FL-CDC court case/mediation.  Thus why we are all waiting.

Thank you!

[cruisingguy007]

3 hours ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

 

No.  The cruises aren't cancelled, so now SNJ has to actually pay for and enjoy the B2B cruises, when they were hoping for a cancellation and reap the rewards of $600 OBC per cruise, to be used on a future re-booking.

 

Someone tried to game the system, and may have not got the expected outcome.

 

I imagine he's not alone. Makes you wonder who hit this hardest? I've seen some mention 6-8 of these "opportunities", though it wouldn't surprise me that a few might have between 25-50; especially since they allowed the pushing back of final payment; which basically invited folks to take advantage. All those $600 scoop ups might not seem that great of a deal when prices are inflated to offset them. It might end up being a genius reversal rope-a-dope that ends up getting many to spend more than they already would in order to cash in all those FCC and "save" $600. 😄  

Edited June 11, 2021 by cruisingguy007

[IntrepidFromDC]

4 minutes ago, cruisingguy007 said:

 

I imagine he's not alone. Makes you wonder who hit this hardest? I've seen some mention 6-8 of these "opportunities", though it wouldn't surprise me that a few might have between 25-50; especially since they allowed the pushing back of final payment; which basically invited folks to take advantage. All those $600 scoop ups might not seem that great of a deal when prices are inflated to offset them. It might end up being a genius reversal rope-a-dope that ends up getting many to spend more than they already would in order to cash in all those FCC and "save" $600. 😄  

Possibly.  Somebody has to subsidize the free cabins Player's Club members received.  I mean in addition to our casino "donations".

[SNJCruisers]

9 hours ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

LOL 

 

👍

That's it....throw salt into an gaping wound Tom, while you enjoy your Presidential Suite and six nights of specialty dining in the Steakhouse and Rudi's.  Enjoy knowing that your butt is only the second one that hit the mattress in your suite.

[SNJCruisers]

4 hours ago, bucfan2 said:

Who tried to screw who (and lost)?

It irritates me to no end about the plethora of people boasting about getting Cheers as cheap as 5 bucks per day because they were the recipient of a RU1 code.  Others paid a bit more when they got a RU2 or RU3 code.  All the algorithm bestowed upon me was the RU9 code, which was worthless.  Have sailed on Carnival for 35 years and the only thing I ever got from them was a free upgrade 10 years ago on the Spirit.

So, I decided to roll the dice, gauge the system and overpay for a B2B August cruise hoping that it would cancel so I would earn the 1200 in OBC to use towards Cheers for our new B2B.  No big deal, I have my Halloween cruise on the Mardi Gras to look forward to as well as 8 bookings in 2022 and 4 in 2023.

[SNJCruisers]

4 hours ago, Jamman54 said:

Enjoy your B2B! 😁

I will, next year on 8/27 and 9/3.  Just won't have 1200 to spend courtesy of Carnival.

[SNJCruisers]

4 hours ago, TNcruising02 said:

Your cruises were cancelled and they aren't offering the OBCs to rebook?

My cruises are sailing on 8/7 and 8/14, the two weeks before your's.  I never planned on going on them to begin with.  Only booked them a few months ago to try to get the OBC. 

The funny thing is that we were originally booked on the Mardi Gras for the 8/28 sailing when bookings opened, but we switched it to Halloween when I decided to switch our cancelled August of 2020 cruise out of Bayonne on the Oasis to the same week this year that we were going on the MG.  Last week that Oasis cruise got canned by Royal, so it'll be flipped to next June.

[cruisingguy007]

58 minutes ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

Possibly.  Somebody has to subsidize the free cabins Player's Club members received.  I mean in addition to our casino "donations".

 

It's been my experience that most people underestimate their "donations" and are quick to tell you about their wins (I call then David tales) but willfully omit the stories about Goliath kicking their backsides. Most people that think they get something for "free" are incorrect. I've seen people do crazy things and spend crazy amounts chasing "free" or some status that allows them trivial free things that they could easily pay for many times over. Free can get real expensive sometimes...lol.   

Edited June 11, 2021 by cruisingguy007

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

19 minutes ago, cruisingguy007 said:

 

It's been my experience that most people underestimate their "donations" and are quick to tell you about their wins (I call then David tales) but willfully omit the stories about Goliath kicking their backsides. Most people that think they get something for "free" are incorrect. I've seen people do crazy things and spend crazy amounts chasing "free" or some status that allows them trivial free things that they could easily pay for many times over. Free can get real expensive sometimes...lol.   

 

Isn't that the truth (One always learns the lesson best, when it's learned first hand!)

[jfunk138]

27 minutes ago, cruisingguy007 said:

Most people that think they get something for "free" are incorrect. I've seen people do crazy things and spend crazy amounts chasing "free" or some status that allows them trivial free things that they could easily pay for many times over. Free can get real expensive sometimes...lol.   

I actually did come out ahead one time on the comps at a land casino... The guy checking the bets and marking them into the players club system thought I was the guy the next to me playing the green and black chips.  Got credit for 4 hours at $75 average bet.  Dinner was free for the rest of the trip and 2 more trips after.

[ultrafighter]

19 hours ago, mondello said:

I fully expect that by Sept. masks will be hanging on the rear view mirror.

Lawdy I hope so!

[firefly333]

1 hour ago, SNJCruisers said:

It irritates me to no end about the plethora of people boasting about getting Cheers as cheap as 5 bucks per day because they were the recipient of a RU1 code.  Others paid a bit more when they got a RU2 or RU3 code.  All the algorithm bestowed upon me was the RU9 code, which was worthless.  Have sailed on Carnival for 35 years and the only thing I ever got from them was a free upgrade 10 years ago on the Spirit.

So, I decided to roll the dice, gauge the system and overpay for a B2B August cruise hoping that it would cancel so I would earn the 1200 in OBC to use towards Cheers for our new B2B.  No big deal, I have my Halloween cruise on the Mardi Gras to look forward to as well as 8 bookings in 2022 and 4 in 2023.

Sorry, but not sorry. I dont want more carnival cruises cancelled.

 

I am paying full fare to get that ru1 code. And the breeze is also the going price plus cheers. At ,east the ru1 codes arent almost free casino rates. Those are the ones that get me that post i got a balcony for $100. 

 

And breeze I dont have any obc, though will apply for shareholder obc. So all those tips are out of my own pocket. I did have at least 3 carnival cruises cancelled I asked for a refund when they were cancelled, didnt hold the fcc for the future. 

 

I'm wanting to get to 340 pts on rcl, for 50% solo supplement .. but coukdnt resist adding a couple of carnival with cheers. Sorry. I understand the feeling. I thought for 2 days about adding breeze. Magic was my favorite ship and breeze is sister and never been on her...caved finally. Just too good to pass up. If you tip each drink, that cheers pkg could add up. Not free.

 

I took 1 fcc on rcl and 1 on carnival, the rest I asked for a refund. Not a gambler!! I'm very conservative. Enjoy your b2b please. Lol my travel agent refused to book me b2b until after nov 1st!! He too played it safe.

[relmondcrsise]

For anyone else who may be booked for Alaska out of Seattle this summer, there is someone booked on the first Miracle sailing out of Seattle in July who is providing a step by step account of everything.  I sail later in the summer and am following along to get a preview on how everything is going.  I'm excited to get back to cruising and to Alaska, but I'm a bit nervous about how everything will go.  

 

You can follow her experience here: First Hand Account of Cruising After Covid

[ZoeyVictoria]

34 minutes ago, jfunk138 said:

I actually did come out ahead one time on the comps at a land casino... The guy checking the bets and marking them into the players club system thought I was the guy the next to me playing the green and black chips.  Got credit for 4 hours at $75 average bet.  Dinner was free for the rest of the trip and 2 more trips after.

I used to gamble at Atlantis on Nassau port days.  I always stopped at a $5 per spin slot machine located just inside one of the entrances as I was leaving, to enjoy four spins.  Never won anything, but I left my card in the machine accidentally one time and apparently at least one person played that machine for quite a while after I left.  I received really generous offers and free play for several years afterwards.

 

 

[mouche]

Great news!!! So happy for everyone who's going to cruise soon, looking forward to the reviews and all the pics.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 11, 2021 by mouche

[amcankid]

1 hour ago, SNJCruisers said:

It irritates me to no end about the plethora of people boasting about getting Cheers as cheap as 5 bucks per day because they were the recipient of a RU1 code.  Others paid a bit more when they got a RU2 or RU3 code.  All the algorithm bestowed upon me was the RU9 code, which was worthless.  Have sailed on Carnival for 35 years and the only thing I ever got from them was a free upgrade 10 years ago on the Spirit.

So, I decided to roll the dice, gauge the system and overpay for a B2B August cruise hoping that it would cancel so I would earn the 1200 in OBC to use towards Cheers for our new B2B.  No big deal, I have my Halloween cruise on the Mardi Gras to look forward to as well as 8 bookings in 2022 and 4 in 2023.

On one hand you tried to game the system and lost. On the other hand, did you?(lose)

You’re gonna have some great times and from everything I understand, those two cruises you were hoping to get canceled will be at reduced capacity so in a way it’s a win for you.

And other than that, you ain’t gonna get much sympathy from us when you have 14 bookings in the next two years!!!

Maybe a little envy, but definitely no sympathy!!

[Bgwest]

15 hours ago, Lee Cruiser said:

Never heard of Bimini. 

Then you are clearly not old enough to remember Gary Hart  during 1988.

What a hoot that was! 

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

HERE'S  a link to the 8/7 Mardi Gras roll call if any fellow cruisers that date want to pop in and say HI !  🙂

 

Tom

[WhaleTailFlCruiser]

12 hours ago, SNJCruisers said:

Not for all of us.  Booked a B2B expecting it to get cancelled and Carnival screws me out of 1200 in OBC.  

 

Lol so you thought cruises were gonna keep getting canceled and you tried to play the system and got burned eh lol. 

[ScottsSweetie]

7 hours ago, Wennfred said:

California opens up June 15th, Panorama first sail is August 21st, crew members are getting their vaccines now in San Diego & Long Beach, your Sept 4th cruise should be set to go.

 

Fred

So I hear. It just seems to me, imho, that California is waaaay behind the rest of the country in opening up, so I'm surprised that cruiseports are opening so closely on the heels of other states. We were in Manhattan Beach last month and they are still taking names and numbers for contact tracing at restaurants, which we haven't experienced anywhere since last May. In the places we visited, capacity restrictions were still quite strict and fast-food type places still operating drive-thru only with no dining indoors. I figured California would be SEVERAL months behind Texas and Florida port openings.

 

As it is, I will look forward to my September cruise, and if it doesn't happen then I'll have no worries and gladly take the OBC to rebook. 🙂