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Re: Updated Travel Ban ?

[ Edited ]

@patbz  Good to know, thanks!  The only thing is there are 2 tests.  One is the "rapid test" which the hotels probably are offering (not as reliable) and second is the PCR Covid test which takes 1-2 days to get back from the lab.  The Ship I'm going on

requires the Covid PCR 4 days prior to boarding.

 

(And I think as of July 1, they will require all passengers to be vaccinated).  I think we will see more and more of vaccine requirements for future travel.

 

Glad you just got vaccinated.  I got mine last week too.  Now feel comfortable getting on a plane, yay!

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@Pink123 : What cruise line are you on; where are you going?  We aren't going out of country until 2022.

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@patbz  American Cruise Lines.  Brand new beautiful ships

with 190 passengers like Viking Cruise Line in Europe. American law let them start up ships with under 250 people including crew. They were allowed to start up this weekend at 75% capacity though which is fine. Very expensive but really nice!!!  2 ships from their fleet which one  we are going on are brand new and have been docked for almost a year.

 

You have probably heard about them.

 

 

 

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Royal Caribbean is going to start cruising in June out of the Bahamas and St. Maarten.  They are requiring everyone 18+ be fully vaccinated for Covid and if you are under 18, you must have testing done.

 

I'm not sure what the ship capacity will be.  People on Twitter are having a fit and calling for a boycott of RCL because they don't want to be forced to vaccinate.  I say if you don't like it, stay home until  you can find another cruiseline that doesn't have those requirements.  Those are your choices. 

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I wonder if this will apply to those coming in on private planes. I think this will be hard to enforce. A lot of my close friends have children overseas, some who have married men/women from those countries. None of them is planning to travel to see them soon. One has a company connection (private plane).  

I know my friends are hurting because of this.  

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@Lipstickdiva wrote:

Royal Caribbean is going to start cruising in June out of the Bahamas and St. Maarten.  They are requiring everyone 18+ be fully vaccinated for Covid and if you are under 18, you must have testing done.

 

I'm not sure what the ship capacity will be.  People on Twitter are having a fit and calling for a boycott of RCL because they don't want to be forced to vaccinate.  I say if you don't like it, stay home until  you can find another cruiseline that doesn't have those requirements.  Those are your choices. 


@Lipstickdiva  I share your sentiment. I have a feeling all of the cruise lines will follow suit.  Personally I would feel more comfortable traveling.

 

The cruise ships have been sitting docked for a year now.

They have to bring back passenger's somehow and this is the way to do it in my opinion.  

 

 

 

 

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Re: Updated Travel Ban ?

[ Edited ]

@Pink123  I did see an article about American Cruise Company's (?) new ship - the Countess I think (I personally thought they should call it Duchess as a sly reference to our real American duchess!) The article wasn't very descriptive about WHY it could cruise and what precautions it was taking.  I assume rules are different because it is so small vs the mega cruise ships.  Do you know if that's the difference- the size?

 

edited to add - the Delta Queen was my uncles most favorite ship EVER!

 

Anyways, the pandemic didn't really stop ship building, with many new ships coming in the near future.

 

***

Royal has been cruising out of Singapore and, I think, Israel (although it's possible Israel hasn't started yet.). Just read that they have transferred 100,000 passengers so far, with only10 positive Covid cases, which they were able to accommodate with little to no disruption to the other passengers.  Mayor of Miami Dade sent CDC a letter, but I guess the CDC said they aren't the main people holding it up.  In the meantime, as mentioned above, I think it's great that Royal is getting ships in the Caribbean with the restrictions it currently has (including masking and only being able to take cruise line excursions to keep in the bubble).  They need the money and people are selfish for wanting Royal (and Celebrity) to keep bleeding money.  NCL cancelled all cruises until July and I haven't heard much about Carnival.  But at least Royal is getting something in the water. I imagine other cruise lines will follow with similar restrictions.

 

Also edited - although I have no interest in going on a cruise, I did check Orbitz and a flight to Nassau is 2-3 times more than Florida.  People are also concerned about the price, as demand may really push it high.  But, again, ship in water.

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@Alter Ego wrote:

@Pink123  I did see an article about American Cruise Company's (?) new ship - the Countess I think (I personally thought they should call it Duchess as a sly reference to our real American duchess!) The article wasn't very descriptive about WHY it could cruise and what precautions it was taking.  I assume rules are different because it is so small vs the mega cruise ships.  Do you know if that's the difference- the size?

 

edited to add - the Delta Queen was my uncles most favorite ship EVER!

 

Anyways, the pandemic didn't really stop ship building, with many new ships coming in the near future.

 

***

Royal has been cruising out of Singapore and, I think, Israel (although it's possible Israel hasn't started yet.). Just read that they have transferred 100,000 passengers so far, with only10 positive Covid cases, which they were able to accommodate with little to no disruption to the other passengers.  Mayor of Miami Dade sent CDC a letter, but I guess the CDC said they aren't the main people holding it up.  In the meantime, as mentioned above, I think it's great that Royal is getting ships in the Caribbean with the restrictions it currently has (including masking and only being able to take cruise line excursions to keep in the bubble).  They need the money and people are selfish for wanting Royal (and Celebrity) to keep bleeding money.  NCL cancelled all cruises until July and I haven't heard much about Carnival.  But at least Royal is getting something in the water. I imagine other cruise lines will follow with similar restrictions.

 

Also edited - although I have no interest in going on a cruise, I did check Orbitz and a flight to Nassau is 2-3 times more than Florida.  People are also concerned about the price, as demand may really push it high.  But, again, ship in water.


@Alter Ego  It's called American Cruise Lines and I'm not sure as they have new ships and cruise itineraries all over the

US from West to East. The new are American Jazz and American Melody but there could be more like you mentioned.

 

Oh yes, it's because of the size and number of passengers on board.  The mega cruise ships which carry thousands of passengers is a big difference than under 200 hundred and at 75% capacity.  All the regulations we follow on land here must be followed on board. 

They've got it worked out believe me.

 

It's a step closer to getting life back to normal thank goodness!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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This is a pic of their newer fleet of ships. No casino's on these ships.

 

@Alter Ego 

 

image_x_32 american melody.jpg

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I just looked back at the article I was reading. I was incorrect- it was about the similar company,The American Queen Steamboat Company, which just christened the Countess in NOLA.

Your ship is gorgeous!! I’m really happy that you are able to go. It’s good to have some normal back, even if there’s a few inconveniences to get there.