Recent Cruise reports
 

Looking for people who have cruised in the past few months to give a report here. What was good? Bad? Hard?


I'll start.
I took a Pacific Coastal cruise on HAL's Konigsdam Nov. 7.
The lack of people on board was delightful (capacity is still somewhat limited by CDC for US waters). Below is a picture of the pool area in the afternoon on an AT SEA day. Never a problem finding a chair!
Crew was always masked.

Here's a few key points.

• Provide proof of vaccination
• Provide negative Covid results within 2 days of sailing.
• Wear masks when indoors (except in cabin dining, drinking). There was very high compliance with this.
• HAL had a gift of a HAL mask for each guest.
• Several itinerary changes occurred prior to the cruise due to local restrictions.
• We arrived a bit early for check-in and were waived through. It was quite efficient. First, check in the show Covid vaccination card, then negative results, and of course boarding card.
• Muster drill has been replaced with: 1) Watch saftey video in your cabin and 2) Check-in to your muster location so they know you know where it is. Big improvement!
• No nightly turn-down service. If you call for more towels, etc. they came immediately. Only downside to me is you have to find a place to get your little chocolates.
• Crew was delightful. Most expressed happiness to be working again.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...df49bf5e9.jpeg

My TATL cruise on Regal Princess last month was similar:
- We had to take pictures of our passport and Covid vaccination proof in their app before the cruise.
- No prior Covid test required; instead everyone was tested in the cruise terminal. (UK required all to pay for a test within 2 days after UK arrival, but since I was departing on the cruise by then I did not have to actually take this test.)
- Upon arrival at the cruise terminal and dropping off our luggage, everyone first had to stand in line (1st 50% outside, rest in a room with very high ceilings) to take a Covid test - the line took ~15-20 minutes. After the test, the next stop was the "departure lounge" in the terminal, where we had to wait for our test results - we were told this would take 20-30 minutes, but my test came back negative in just over 15 minutes. At that point we could go to a check-in desk to confirm that all was in order, followed by security screening and immediate boarding. Social distancing was poor in the initial line and a little better in the departure lounge, but excellent after that.
- Roughly 40% occupancy; masks required everywhere except in cabin, out on deck, while seated in a restaurant or the Platinum lounge (not sure about bars), and briefly when consuming drinks during trivia etc. Anecdotally I saw ~98+% compliance.
- One itinerary change (Vigo dropped but replaced by a 2nd day in Cherbourg).
- As this was a 14-day cruise. we also had to take 2 additional Covid tests - one roughly a week into the cruise, and the other a day or 2 before disembarkation.
- No gift of a mask, but several locations had paper masks available for free (shop was selling cloth masks for $10-12); Muster drill, turndown service, and crew attitudes were the same as above.

The other major difference for me was the use of Princess's Medallion instead of a room key. This could track everyone on board, so that contact tracing could be easily done if anyone came down with Covid. I would be very leery if this technology were to become standard in everyday life (too Big-Brother-ish for me), but on vacation in the current circumstances I was OK with this.

Have been on two Carnival cruises, one in September and late November. Health questionnaire well before cruise. 3 day prior to cruise for September cruise, 2 day prior for November for Covid testing. Routine onboard was pretty normal except masking required in all enclosed spaces except while dining or drinking. Employees stationed at every stair/elevator landing with masks for those who weren't compliant along with reminder to mask up. Employees fully masked in all indoor settings and if memory serves some bartenders were unmasked at outdoor bars but not 100% sure on that point. Mandated lower passenger load made things more enjoyable as did having fewer young ones aboard. I realize Covid is a concern but willing to take some risk to live life as normally as possible.

Our TATL on Celebrity Apex in October was a bit different. Testing before boarding in Barcelona, mid-cruise, and at debarkation. Some ports did not allow self-guided tours, but there were some inexpensive ship-sponsoerd walking tours, so it wasn't a big issue. Masks were required as long as we were in European control - once we left the Canary Islands, masks were optional. At that point, we really only wore them in the buffet. There was only one unvaccinated person on board (under 12). Started the cruise with 1200 people and ended with 1000 people. We unloaded 200 people in Tenerife because they were not U.S. nationals, and thus could not enter the U.S.

On debarkation in Fort Lauderdale, masks were required in the terminal. One woman loudly declared, "We're from Florida, and we don't need masks." She and the person whom I assume was her husband were detained by CBP. Some people just don't realize that state rules don't apply in federal facilities.

We have taken three cruises since the resumption - two on Carnival and one on Celebrity. Vastly different experiences between them, but all excellent. In general, we felt safer onboard than we would have eating out in Florida. I still tested before work for two weeks after each cruise, because I work with a particularly fragile population. The new muster process is fantastic, I'm a big fan of the improved app offerings, and we of course loved having fewer passengers aboard.

In particular, we were overwhelmingly impressed with Carnival's new ship, the Mardi Gras. So many food and beverage offerings, the neighborhood theming was well implemented to break up the enormity of the ship, and the staff was superb.

We're holding off on booking more until we have a little more data on Omicron. My work keeps me pretty cautious, even though we are personally very low risk. Carnival kindly offered us some absolutely spectacular casino deals in exchange for a couple hundred bucks lost apeice, so hopefully we hear that 'boosted' individuals have a suitably low chance of transmission soon.

Mardi Gras is a beautiful ship, was on its 5th cruise. Biggest problem was deciding where to eat given so many choices.

Got off the NCL Joy yesterday in Miami after a 7 day Mexico/Belize/Honduras cruise. Similar experiences to others:

- Booked last minute and got a really cheap solo cruise fare for a balcony and upgraded for $40 to a club balcony;
- Ship sailed with about 1,600 passengers (about 30-35% capacity);
- Pre-departure antigen test at the pier covered by NCL and all crew also tested weekly;
- Embarkation / debarkation the most efficient I've ever had;
- Crew all masked;
- In ports all locals masked even outdoors, far more than we see in Canada/US;
- Crew quite happy, few small glitches (e.g. getting internet plan working), but overall very smooth cruise;
- PCR test provided for free on board on the last day of sailing for my flight back to Canada.

Overall a great time and went off very well.

Have been on one Royal Caribbean cruise on Odyssey of the Seas at the end of October, and have another cruise booked on Seabourn for end of March. The Royal cruise was a last minute out of Miami (I got a new job, had a week off in between, and figured why on earth not!), we put in a crazy low bid for a Grand Suite and got it! PCR tests were done here in NYC at a lab prior to our flight to Miami, and no issues getting on the ship at all. Since the cruise was round trip Miami, no need for another COVID test to get off the ship.

Actual COVID protocols were....strange. Vaccinations and a COVID test were required for adults, and technically masks were required anywhere indoors. That said - there were ABSOLUTELY crowds of people without masks on in places like the buffet, bars, theater and elevators. "Social distancing" was hit & miss, definitely easier to do off ship than on, even with the low capacity. Coco Cay, for example, was fantastic. Mask enforcement was hit & miss with some people embracing the chin strap life. But - in terms of what we had to do for their regulations it was all pretty simple.

I think we would have been miserable if the ship had been at full capacity, we've just been too spoiled by other cruise lines. But - at 40% capacity it was pretty great.

Our cruise in March will be a bit more complicated with us flying into Barbados, out of Aruba, and needing PCR tests for Barbados entry, to get on the boat a few days later, to get off in Aruba (I think? Maybe not since we're vaxed), and to get home. I haven't started figuring out details yet because who knows how things will change by then, but I'm anticipating needing to find test places in Barbados and Aruba.

Nearly identical experience on the NCL Jade, Oct 31st-Nov7th, Greek Islands. Boarding went very smoothly, with staff to guide you through what otherwise would have been a bit confusing (the antigen testing ritual). Ship at about 50% capacity. No waits at restaurants, beautiful weather, crew seemed happy. Masks everywhere (required on-board except when eating or drinking, and I didn't see this abused). Never felt unsafe in ports, even Santorini, which had had issues earlier in the season.

In Athens before and after the cruise, vaccination cards were required more often than not. No issues not wearing masks in wide open areas. It seemed very, well, practical. By the way, this was our first-ever cruise. An excellent experience.

Welcome to the addiction.

I hope not; it's a pretty expensive addiction that isn't sustainable. It was something on my wife's bucket list, something I said I'd never do because I don't like the idea of being trapped (on a ship) and have associated cruises with being floating virus factories (norovirus etc). How ironic that it takes Covid 19, with all the safety measures employed because of it, to make me feel safe on a cruise ship. :-) And the trapped feeling? Not an issue with a port-intensive cruise.

Thankfully, I'm immune to the desire to seek status on NCL. Oh. Wait. I'm not. They offered a 2 extra points/night deal as part of their Black Friday non-special (the rest of the offerings were just different ways of offering what's been available for some time, with many prices actually being higher). So I've got a deposit on a 9 night cruise out of Copenhagen that visits St Peterburg. And on the way, Sweeden and Finland, two more places on my wife's bucket list (she was some Swedish heritage and you can guess some of mine).

If you're willing to save your cruising for off and shoulder season, and can content yourself without suites or luxury classes, you might find that you can keep a low-key addiction sated without breaking the bank. Similar to all inclusive resorts, there are always last minute sales when they're under capacity. Enjoy your next one!

Yes, I've been watching the fares, close-in vs otherwise, and clearly you can get some pretty phenomenal deals on last-minute unfilled cabins. I've done pretty well with that strategy for organized tours, and generally don't know the location of our November vacation until about 6 weeks ahead of time. The killer deals for cruises appear to be a bit closer-in though.

Our initial cruise was booked early August for Oct 31 departure. I benefitted from full payment being required just 60 days prior to sailing and was able to get the pricing adjusted lower a couple times and ended up with a much nicer room than I'd thought possible (Aft Penthouse mini-suite, which, on the Jade, included Butler and Concierge service. I had no idea what to do with a Butler. Poor guy wanted to do things for us, but we had no expectations.

I've now got a $250 deposit on a Baltic cruise and debating between the "larger balcony" cabin I've booked mid-ship and upgrading a bit to an Aft, which have become available for about $150 p/p more ($2200 p/p). But what if I lose the 2 extra points per night? :-)

Even on full-capacity cruises, it's pretty easy to find quiet places on the ship (both indoors and outdoors).

Baltic's great - it's like sailing on glass. Just be aware the port marked "Berlin" is about a three or four hour bus ride away (a bit quicker by train). Just enjoy Warnemünde.