Jan115

Royal Caribbean International will not require passengers to be vaccinated on cruises launching this summer in Florida and Texas, reversing a policy that guests eligible for the vaccine must have it. “Guests are strongly recommended to set sail fully vaccinated, if they are eligible,” the cruise line said in a statement. “Those who are unvaccinated or unable to verify vaccination will be required to undergo testing and follow other protocols, which will be announced at a later date.” Royal said that its entire crew will be fully vaccinated. Royal made the change when it revealed the launch of six ships this summer from ports in Florida and Texas in July and August, with the first revenue sailing departing July 2 on the Freedom of the Seas. The line did not say whether the change is in response to the Florida law that prohibits companies from requiring proof of vaccination from customers. Businesses can be fined $5,000 per violation. Royal passengers sailing to Alaska this summer who are 16 years of age or older still must be fully vaccinated, and those 12 or older as of Aug. 1. Royal Caribbean CEO Michael Bayley said that the vast majority of Royal Caribbean passengers are getting vaccinated. “Thanks in large part to the successful rollout of vaccines, the world of adventure is beginning to open up, and we are all excited to start delivering great vacations to our guests, who have increasingly told us they are getting vaccinated,” Bayley said. “As of today, 90% of all vacationers booking with Royal Caribbean are either vaccinated or planning to get vaccinated in time for their cruise.” __________________________ SOURCE: Travel Weekly (Johanna Jainchill, June 5, 2021); Photo Credit: Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more For more cruise news and articles go to CruiseCrazies.com View full article

Now that the CDC has eased restrictions and cruise lines will soon be putting ships back into US ports, do you have a back-to-cruising sailing booked or are you waiting to see how things go before planning?

Inquiring minds want to know.🙂 My last cruise was August 2019, Caribbean Princess, Quebec City to NYC, with some friends here from CC. If I had known there would be a world pandemic sidelining ships for 15 months, I would have booked a couple more in the following 6 months after the Quebec cruise.🛳😜

As much as I love cruising, living permanently on one is not for me. But people do it - and choose to retire on one - at least pre-pandemic - and love the pampering, the meals, the camaraderie, and of course the travel all over the world. I would miss my family too much.

Yes, cruising is looking better and better since this article was posted back in April, and I’m happy to see ships scheduled from US ports once again. 😁

At Royal Caribbean International, our guests and crew's safety and well-being are always our top priorities. In order to allow additional time for our return to service preparations, we have decided to extend the suspension of sailings for our global fleet through June 30th, 2021 – excluding sailings onboard Quantum, Anthem, Adventure, and Jewel of the Seas. Our plan is to resume further operation in July; however, the following circumstances have extended the suspension for the following ships and sailings: • Quantum of the Seas Alaska sailings departing April 5 to October 14, 2021: In order to allow additional time for our preparation, Quantum of the Seas will remain in the Asia-Pacific region. • Odyssey of the Seas May 9 to October 28, 2021 sailings departing from Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy. Odyssey of the Seas was to resume operations beginning June 2nd, 2021 out of Haifa, Israel. However, due to the unrest in Israel and the region, we have not been able to complete the preparation required to operate and as a result, sailings out of Haifa will be cancelled. • Adventure of the Seas June 5 to October 14, 2021: Instead of offering sailings from Barcelona, Spain, Adventure of the Seas will now offer sailings from Nassau, Bahamas beginning June 2021. • Vision of the Seas June 6 to August 29, 2021: Vision of the Seas was to resume operations from Bermuda beginning June 2021. However, in anticipation for our U.S. return to service and following overwhelming feedback from our guests, the summer season in Bermuda will be cancelled. • Jewel of the Seas June 7 to October 31, 2021: Instead of offering sailings from Northern Europe; Barcelona, Spain; and Boston, Massachusetts, Jewel of the Seas will now offer sailings from Limassol, Cyprus beginning June 2021. • Anthem of the Seas June 4 to August 29, 2021: Instead of offering European sailings, Anthem of the Seas will now offer Ocean Getaways and British Isles itineraries from Southampton exclusively for UK residents. ___________________________ SOURCE: Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (Press Release, May 20,2021); Photo Credit: Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more For more cruise news and articles go to CruiseCrazies.com View full article

At Royal Caribbean International, our guests and crew's safety and well-being are always our top priorities. In order to allow additional time for our return to service preparations, we have decided to extend the suspension of sailings for our global fleet through June 30th, 2021 – excluding sailings onboard Quantum, Anthem, Adventure, Vision, Jewel, and Odyssey of the Seas. Our plan is to resume further operation in July; however, the following circumstances have extended the suspension for the following ships and sailings: • Quantum of the Seas Alaska sailings departing April 5 to October 14, 2021: In order to allow additional time for our preparation, Quantum of the Seas will remain in the Asia-Pacific region. • Odyssey of the Seas May 9 to October 28, 2021 sailings departing from Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy. Instead, Odyssey will begin her inaugural season out of a new homeport, Haifa, Israel from June to October 2021. These new sailings are available for residents of Israel only. • Adventure of the Seas June 5 to October 14, 2021: Instead of offering sailings from Barcelona, Spain, Adventure of the Seas will now offer sailings from Nassau, Bahamas beginning June 2021. • Vision of the Seas June 6 to August 29, 2021: Instead of offering sailings from San Juan, Puerto Rico, Vision of the Seas will now offer sailings from Bermuda beginning June 2021. • Jewel of the Seas June 7 to October 31, 2021: Instead of offering sailings from Northern Europe; Barcelona, Spain; and Boston, Massachusetts, Jewel of the Seas will now offer sailings from Limassol, Cyprus beginning June 2021. • Anthem of the Seas June 4 to August 29, 2021: Instead of offering European sailings, Anthem of the Seas will now offer Ocean Getaways and British Isles itineraries from Southampton exclusively for UK residents. _____________________________ SOURCE: Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (Press Release, May 13, 2021); Photo Credit: Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more For more cruise news and articles go to CruiseCrazies.com View full article

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – While Princess Cruises continues to work with various government and port authorities to finalize its additional plans for return to cruising and due to ongoing international travel restrictions, the company is cancelling the following cruise vacations: California Coast and Mexico sailings on Ruby Princess through August 21, 2021 Caribbean sailings on Caribbean Princess through August 21, 2021 Remaining 2021 Mediterranean season on Enchanted Princess Princess continues its discussion with various United States and Canadian government officials to try to preserve a portion of the Alaska 2021 cruise season. "We continue to have constructive discussions with the CDC but still have many questions that remain unanswered. We are working diligently to resume sailing in the U.S. and meet the CDC guidelines," said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president. "We know our guests are just as eager as we are to begin sailing, and we appreciate their patience as we get close to resuming cruising." For guests booked on a cancelled cruise, Princess will offer to move guests to a choice of an equivalent cruise in 2021 or 2022. The rebooking process will have the added benefit of protecting the guests' 2021 fare on their replacement cruise. Alternatively, guests can choose a future cruise credit (FCC) equivalent to 100% of the cruise fare paid plus an additional non-refundable bonus FCC equal to 10% of the cruise fare paid (minimum $25 USD) or a full refund to the original form of payment. Requests must be received through this online form by June 15, 2021 or guests will automatically receive the FCC option. FCCs can be used on any cruises booked by and sailing by December 31, 2022. Princess will protect travel agent commission on bookings that were paid in full in recognition of the critical role they play in the cruise line's business and success. The most current information and instructions for booked guests affected by these cancellations, and more information on FCCs and refunds, can be found online at Impacted & Cancelled Cruises. ___________________________ SOURCE: Princess Cruise Line (Press Release, May 12, 2021); Photo Credit: Princess Cruise Line Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more For more cruise news and articles go to CruiseCrazies.com View full article

MIAMI (May 5, 2021) - Celebrity Cruises announced today its Summer 2021 return to sailing the breath-taking Galapagos Islands on one of the new-luxury brand’s three stunning ships that offer itineraries in this unique part of the world. Beginning July 4, the luxurious, state-of-the-art mega yacht, Celebrity Flora®, will be the first to resume sailing the extraordinary archipelago, followed by the award-winning Celebrity Xpedition® and intimate 16-passenger Celebrity Xploration® on July 24, and September 18, respectively. All ships will sail with vaccinated crew and will be available to vaccinated adult guests and children under the age of 18 with a negative PCR test result. In addition, all guests should review and comply with local requirements for entry to Ecuador and the Galapagos. For a limited time, Celebrity is also including airfare in the purchase of a Galapagos vacation package, carefully curated 7-night Celebrity Cruises itineraries combined with all-inclusive land-based accommodations and activities to create 10- to 16-night unforgettable vacation experiences. The offer is valid for roundtrip economy or business class airfares departing from US or Canadian gateways and valued at up to $750 per person including air taxes and fees on applicable vacation packages on sail dates departing between July 3, 2021 - December 31, 2023. Flights must be booked via Flights by Celebrity by June 30, 2021. Each ship offers a unique experience for this must-see location. For those looking to explore the Galapagos’ spectacular wonders in ultimate luxury, Celebrity Flora®, a mega-yacht built specifically to navigate the waters of this natural paradise, is ideal. Inspired by the islands and built with natural materials, including the latest environmental technologies, the ship merges seamlessly with the surroundings. And, to fully immerse travellers in this extraordinary landscape, certified naturalists from the Galápagos National Park are on board to guide the journey. Celebrity Xpedition® and Celebrity Xploration® will both equally explore the Galapagos with Northern and Southern Loop itineraries, while offering the ultimate individual indulgences. In this extraordinary destination, every island offers its own unique experiences, from hiking otherworldly volcanic landscapes to snorkelling alongside sea turtles in their natural habitat. Guests can also partake in twice-daily shore excursions guided by Galapagos National Park certified naturalists or stay onboard to relax and be treated to locally-sourced cuisine crafted by a Michelin-starred chef. From the history and culture of Quito, to the charm and beauty of Lima, to the historical significance of the extraordinary flora and fauna visible everywhere, guests can check multiple items off their bucket list with Celebrity Cruises’ sailings to the spectacular Galapagos Islands. As with all Celebrity Cruises sailings, everything has been thought of for guests including unlimited Wi-Fi, drinks, and tips; and vacation packages add luxury hotel stays and flights between Ecuador and the islands. For more information on all Celebrity Cruises’ Galapagos sailings and vacation packages, visit https://www.celebritycruises.com/destinations/galapagos-cruises. ____________________________ SOURCE: Celebrity Cruise Line (Press Release, May 5, 2021); Photo Credit: Celebrity Cruise Line Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more For more cruise news and articles go to CruiseCrazies.com View full article

The CDC today relaxed restrictions on mask-wearing outdoors and shore excursions, but otherwise did not make any major changes to rules on cruise ships with 100% of passengers and crew vaccinated. The CDC's cruise restart Operations Manual now says that vaccinated passengers are not required to wear masks outside, except in crowded spaces, while unvaccinated passengers still must, including while sunbathing on lounge chairs spaced six feet apart and between bites and sips during outdoor meals. The CDC's ban on independent shore exploration for all passengers was changed from being a requirement to a recommendation, whether passengers are vaccinated or not. It now says that cruise lines may advise passengers and crew that if they are fully vaccinated, "they may engage in self-guided or independent exploration during port stops if they wear a mask while indoors." It still recommends prohibiting independent exploration during port stops by nonvaccinated passengers and crew and that, on shore excursions, unvaccinated passengers should always wear a mask and maintain physical distancing. Earlier this month, the CDC's cruise restart guidance said that cruisers would have to be masked outside, even while eating or spaced out on the pool deck, whether vaccinated or not. The guidance for eating inside has still not changed and still says that, whether passengers are vaccinated or not, "removal of the mask for extended meal service or beverage consumption would constitute a violation" of the agency's current mask order. Frank Del Rio, CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH), last week expressed disappointment at those regulations, especially given NCLH's plan to operate ships with 100% of the crew and passengers vaccinated. "In between bites of your meal and in between sips of your beverage, you have to put on your mask, take off your mask. So nobody should order soup because your mask might get sloppy," he said. "So that, to me, is just preposterous." __________________________ SOURCE: Travel Weekly (Johanna Jainchill, May 12, 2021); Photo Credit: Pixabay Free Images Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more For more cruise news and articles go to CruiseCrazies.com View full article

MIAMI, May 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Carnival Cruise Line today notified its guests and travel advisor partners of cancellations for additional sailings as it works toward plans for a possible July restart in the U.S. on select ships. Carnival hopes to begin operating sailings on three ships from Florida and Texas, including Carnival Vista and Carnival Breeze from Galveston, and Carnival Horizon from Miami. Further, if Carnival can find a solution to allow cruise ships to visit Alaska, Carnival Miracle will assume some of Carnival Freedom's departures from Seattle. Given that there is still some uncertainty in our ability to operate these cruises, guests booked on those sailings who wish to make alternate summer vacation plans may cancel without penalty by May 31, 2021 and receive a full refund. The company is cancelling sailings on all other ships through July 30, 2021. Guests whose cruises are cancelled are eligible for a future cruise credit (FCC) and onboard credit (OBC) or a full refund. "We continue to have constructive discussions with the CDC but still have many questions that remain unanswered. We are working diligently to resume sailing in the U.S. and meet the CDC guidelines," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. "We sincerely appreciate the continued patience and understanding of our guests and travel advisor partners and will share additional information as quickly as we can." Separately, late last week Carnival notified its guests that Carnival Splendor's pause out of Sydney was extended another month, as it cancelled sailings from Aug. 19 to Sept. 17, 2021. ______________________ SOURCE: Carnival Cruise Line (Press Release, May 11, 2021); Photo Credit: Carnival Cruise Line Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more For more cruise news and articles go to CruiseCrazies.com View full article

CNN) — Florida's new law prohibiting businesses from asking whether employees or customers have been vaccinated against Covid-19 may take a toll on its cruise business. The CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. said Thursday it could cause the company to suspend Florida departures and move its ships elsewhere. "At the end of the day, cruise ships have motors, propellers and rudders, and God forbid we can't operate in the state of Florida for whatever reason, then there are other states that we do operate from, and we can operate from the Caribbean for a ship that otherwise would have gone to Florida," CEO Frank Del Rio said during the company's quarterly earnings call. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed an executive order last month banning the use of Covid-19 passports in the state. The order prohibited any government entity from issuing vaccine passports and blocks businesses from requiring any such documentation. Senate Bill 2006 was signed into law Monday making that executive order official. "In Florida, your personal choice regarding vaccinations will be protected and no business or government entity will be able to deny you services based on your decision," DeSantis said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week announced guidelines for trial cruises with volunteer passengers to test safety measures, which will be required for each ship before resuming regular passenger voyages in US waters. To bypass the trial cruises, the CDC says at least 98% of crew members and 95% of passengers must have been vaccinated. Del Rio says he hopes the CDC's conditions will override the governor's action when it comes to the cruise industry, although he said he was "disappointed at first read" of the agency's proposal for resuming cruise operations. "It is a classic state versus federal government issue," said Del Rio. "Lawyers believe that federal law applies." He added that the company has been in talks with the governor's office but did not specify what was discussed. Norwegian Cruise Line had previously hoped to resume cruises on July 4, and said it was willing to require all passengers and staff to be vaccinated in order to gain CDC approval. That's no longer possible, Del Rio said Thursday. "It was possible back in early April when we proposed to the CDC 100% vaccination. We've always said it takes about 90 days to stand up a vessel," he said. So the cruise line is now looking at August at the earliest. Whether Norwegian decides to operate in Florida or not, it and other cruise companies will have to meet the CDC requirements before setting sail from US ports. DeSantis had earlier cited freedom and privacy concerns as the primary basis for his executive order, arguing that the implementation and enforcement of vaccine passports would "create two classes of citizens based on vaccinations." His order had noted that many Floridians have not yet had the opportunity to obtain a vaccine, while some may have infection-acquired immunity, and other people may be unable to get a Covid-19 vaccine because of health, religious or other reasons. "Individual Covid-19 vaccination records are private health information and should not be shared by a mandate," DeSantis' executive order had read. But, Del Rio's company plans to stick to vaccination requirements. "At least in the beginning, 100% of our guests and our crew will be vaccinated," Del Rio said. "I think everyone should be wanting to start cruising in the safest possible manner." Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. operates three cruise lines: Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. Representatives for the company and DeSantis did not immediately return messages from CNN for comment on Thursday night. Correction: A previous version of this story mischaracterized CDC requirements for cruise ship passenger and crew vaccination. __________________________ SOURCE: CNN (Mallika Kallingal and Andy Rose, CNN • Updated 7th May 2021); Photo Credit: Norwegian Cruise Line Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more For more cruise news and articles go to CruiseCrazies.com View full article

Princess has a new dining program “Dine My Way” linked to the Medallion. I like the concept. What do you think? https://www.princess.com/ships-and-experience/food-and-dining/dine-my-way/?fbclid=IwAR1jGfh5CXm2IunzGvWZrM5g45G_b-aL53MzNgYy48hZ1hrPy3kNRMPAcmg

It appears the restart of U.S. cruising is now on a bit clearer path. Late Wednesday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released more guidance for cruise ships undertaking simulated voyages with volunteer passengers as part of the COVID-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate application. "With the issuance of these documents, cruise ship operators now have all the necessary requirements and recommendations they need to start simulated voyages before resuming restricted passenger voyages," the CDC said in a press release. The cruise lines can avoid those simulated voyages entirely if 98 percent of passengers and 95 percent of crew have received the full COVID-19 vaccination at least 14 days prior to embarkation. And, for the first time, the CDC released its COVID-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate application, which the agency called "the final step before cruises can restart as 'restricted passenger voyages.'" Initial Industry Reaction On Wednesday night, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) said it was reviewing the new details provided by the CDC, as did Carnival Corporation, the world's biggest cruise company. "The technical instructions issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on May 5 confirm that there is a lot of work to do in order to achieve the goal of sailing from U.S. ports this summer," a spokesperson for CLIA told Travel Agent. "We appreciate the CDC’s expressed commitment to this goal and look forward to further discussions on the details of the instruction, including a better understanding of how predominantly vaccinated passengers and crew can accelerate a return to service. Meanwhile, nearly half a million American jobs and livelihoods continue to hang in the balance. The cruise industry will continue to go above and beyond to meet the requirements of the CDC, building on the ongoing resumption of operations taking place in other parts of the world and the demonstrated success of the industry’s protocols and public health measures." Other travel industry sources told Travel Agent that the CDC action is a positive step, but some also point out that the cruise industry is still being treated differently than other sectors such as hospitality and airlines. "I am happy to see any progress, especially on National Travel Advisors Day, but at the same time, it’s complex and frankly still unbalanced versus the guidance the CDC has provided other businesses and even Americans in general," says Alex Sharpe, president and CEO of Signature Travel Network. "Lots of work still to do." CDC Background In Wednesday's press release, the CDC said it released the "Conditional Sail" Order (CSO) in October 2020 "to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 on cruise ships, from cruise ships into communities, and to protect public health and safety." The order introduced a phased approach for the resumption of passenger cruises to mitigate the risk of spreading COVID-19 onboard. But the order was seriously lacking in the type of detail the cruise industry said it needed to plan a restart. The latest guidance from the CDC provided technical instructions for simulated voyages, including: Eligibility and requirements for conducting a simulated (trial) voyage in preparation for restricted passenger voyages Guidance for inspections of cruise ships conducted by CDC during simulated and restricted passenger voyages Operational procedures to assist cruise ship operators in mitigating the risk of spreading COVID-19, including requirements and recommendations on prevention measures, surveillance for COVID-19 on board, laboratory testing, infection prevention and control, face mask use, social distancing, passenger interactive experiences, and embarkation and disembarkation procedures In the final phase of the CSO, cruise ships operators with an approved COVID-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate application will be permitted to sail with passengers following the requirements of the CSO. The CDC said it doesn't anticipate releasing any additional documents for the next phase. Instead, it will update online documents to incorporate changes to quarantine, testing, color status and lessons learned from simulated voyages. The agency's press release also said it's "committed to working with the cruise industry and seaport partners to resume cruising following the phased approach outlined in the CSO. This goal aligns with the prospective resumption of passenger operations in the United States by mid-summer, expressed by many major cruise ship operators and travelers." Adding a bit of background: The CDC said that since April 12, 2021, it (as well as senior leadership from other federal agencies) had engaged in twice-weekly meetings with cruise line representatives for dialogue and the exchange of information. Addressing the vaccine issue, the CDC's press release said that "COVD-19 vaccines play a critical role in the safe resumption of passenger operations, but not all cruise ship operators have announced plans to mandate passenger vaccinations." But as more people are fully vaccinated and more drug therapeutics are available, the CDC said that a phased approach will allow incorporation of these advancements into planning for safe resumption of cruise ship travel. The CDC recommends that all port personnel and travelers (passengers and crew) get a COVID-19 vaccine when a vaccine is available to them. The CDC also acknowledged that "it is not possible for cruising to be a zero-risk activity for spread of COVID-19. While cruising will always pose some risk of COVID-19 transmission, CDC is committed to ensuring that cruise ship passenger operations are conducted in a way that protects crew members, passengers, and port personnel, particularly with emerging COVID-19 variants of concern." For the CDC's views of COVID-19 and cruise ships, visit www.cdc.gov/coronavirusand www.cdc.gov/quarantine/cruise. __________________________ SOURCE: Travel Agent Central (Susan Young, May 5, 2021); Photo Credit: Pixabay Free Images Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more For more cruise news and articles go to CruiseCrazies.com View full article

Now that the future is looking brighter for cruising, people will likely start venturing on board ships again. I am thinking optimistically and have five cruises in the pipeline scheduled through 2022, making up for lost time. I have added them to our Roll Call Forum. Feel free to add your cruises, as well. Someone here in the community could be on the same sailing, and you can discuss your plans and anticipate the excitement together! Cruise Roll Call Forum

Just booked this one, which will be our first time cruising from San Juan, and I love the itinerary! Anyone else?