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Sunday, December 19, 2021
Updated Mask Protocols
Sunday, September 19, 2021
Brand New Ship!!! Carnival Mardi Gras!!
Get Ready For Six Distinct Onboard Zones Featuring Brand New Experience For Spectacularly Getting Down To Food, Drink & Fun!!
GRAND CENTRAL
On a Carnival cruise your vacation starts in the atrium, and on Mardi Gras™ that's in the Grand Central zone. By the way... on this ship the atrium's different. Don't be surprised if you step inside and the first place you want to look is upwards. Up there are high ceilings that hint at even more fun living on the three decks above! But look around down here too... you'll find floor-to-ceiling windows that really bring in the ocean views. Of course you'll be back here throughout your cruise, taking a break with a nice cup of coffee or a menu of great food choices at JavaBlue™ Café, enjoying performances up on stage, or killing time fabulously at the Grand View Bar. Just wait until the sun goes down and the space slips into evening dress, transforming into an amazing show venue after dark! In Grand Central you're never far from great dining spots like Bonsai Sushi™ and Bonsai Teppanyaki™, plus feel-good entertainment like Piano Bar 88™ and The Punchliner Comedy Club™.
FRENCH QUARTER
If "big" and "easy" sound about right for your vacation, you might just make the French Quarter on Mardi Gras™ your home zone. What inspired this area is no less than New Orleans itself… and if all this talk of NOLA has you half as hungry as we are, you’ll be pleased to hear that our French Quarter is lined with bars and eateries worthy of their namesake. For one thing there’s the spectacularly, authentically delicious Emeril’s Bistro 1396™, developed in partnership with yes-that-Emeril. Just steps away is entertainment clearly influenced by the world-renowned Crescent City nightlife — yep, The Brass Magnolia bar features not only great drinks but also hot jazz, live. What’s more, you’re just steps away from sipping mystically at the Fortune Teller bar, and definitely save time to browse some funky little shops.
SUMMER LANDING
Go ahead and call Summer Landing 'the greatest chill spot at sea'... and we'll be right there with you, any time of year! What's three letters long and goes great with chilling outdoors? BBQ, so we're building a Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse | Brewhouse™ into this zone so it always tastes like summer here with freshly-smoked faves designed by Guy Fieri and original Parched Pig® beers brewed just feet away. If you're wondering where the pool and whirlpool are, we're so alike, you and us... and that's why we're sure you're gonna love The Watering Hole, a poolside bar we're building for aficionados of backyard-style relaxation. And for military folks — or folks who just want to raise a glass to them — please report to Heroes Tribute™ Lounge for great service. We know you guys like soft serve too, so we're throwing in a Swirls™ location — one of two! And why wouldn't we? At Summer Landing, fun this cool is literally always in season.
LA PIAZZA
La dolce vita is within reach at La Piazza... and we'd know, with all the Italian seafaring spirit that's literally driving the ship. This zone stands for atmosphere and flavor, and it starts with Cucina del Capitano®, which brings your party together for an evening of Italian favorites served family-style, while Pizzeria del Capitano makes delizioso happen for you 24 hours a day atop a base of imported Italian flour and fresh mozzarella. Mardi Gras™ debuts Piazza Panini where the handhelds are hot and pressed, plus Bar della Rosa, where you'll sip authentic espresso drinks by day and classic Italian cocktails when the sun goes down. All this flavor and flair we’ve got in here may practically transport you straight to Italy… but don’t forget that so much of it can be enjoyed outdoors, where the sea breeze is just bellissimo.
LIDO
If you’ve cruised with us before, you know Lido... but aboard Mardi Gras™ this poolside zone features even more delicious and fun experiences among the familiar flavors. Evolving the classic poolside rum-bar was a tall order, but RedFrog Tiki Bar will be serving up the good stuff across two decks’ worth of South Pacific atmosphere. Also first-time-fresh is Street Eats, bringing together highlights from the world’s fast-good cuisine like kebab, bao buns and seriously upgraded fries. Shaq’s latest Big Chicken™ restaurant is here, and fan-fave spots like Guy’s Burger Joint™, the New England-inspired Seafood Shack™, and BlueIguana Cantina™ taco spot aren’t done with your taste buds yet. And for folks hoping we haven’t forgotten: yes, Lido is absolutely home to one of two Swirls™ locations, the free 24-hour soft-serve spot!
THE ULTIMATE PLAYGROUND
Don't let the name fool you — this zone is ages everybody and up. Kids, you're going to love this. And adults, the playground has grown up with you. So yay for play! Of course The Ultimate Playground starts with BOLT™, the first rollercoaster at sea, an all-electric thrill ride that puts the power of speed in your hands. But that's only the beginning — this playground has the largest Carnival WaterWorks™ ever with three huge spiraling slides, plus SportSquare™ is here featuring an entire mini-golf course, full-court basketball and a ropes course. And, of course, more. Ultimate enough for you?
Sunday, August 29, 2021
Sunday, July 18, 2021
Celebrity Cruises - Always Included Promotion
Celebrity Cruises - Always Included Promotion - Beverage Package - WiFi Package - Tips
Saturday, June 19, 2021
Getting Back To Cruising!! Updated Protocols For Traveling!!
We Are Excited To Announce The Latest Information
Available Regarding Cruises. Get Ready To Cruise!! Please Read Through The
Information Carefully. Each Cruise Line Has Different Protocols.
1) Vaccination & Testing Requirements
Vaccinated
Cruises Are Available For Guests Who Have Received Their Final Dose Of An
Approved Covid-19 Vaccine At Least 14 Days Prior To The Beginning Of The Cruise
And Have Proof Of Vaccination. Guests Will Be Asked To Confirm Their Status As
Fully Vaccinated For Covid-19 During Check-In And Provide Proof Of Vaccination
In Advance Of Boarding.* It’s Important For Guests To Come Prepared, As Those
Who Arrive At The Embarkation Terminal Without The Proper Proof Of Vaccination
Will Not Be Able To Cruise, And No Refund Will Be Issued.
Guests Must Present Proof Of Vaccination, As Well As All Required Travel Documents, At Embarkation. Acceptable Proof Of Vaccination Must Be In The Form Of The Original Vaccination Record Document Issued By The Country’s Health Authority Or Healthcare Provider That Administered The Vaccination (E.G., U.S. CDC's Vaccination Record Card). The Name On The Vaccination Record Must Match The Guest’s Travel Documents And Show That The Guest Is Fully Vaccinated. This Means That The Guest Has Completed The Full Cycle Of Required Doses For The Vaccine Administered (E.G., Received The Second Dose In A Two-Dose Series) And That The Guest Has Received The Final Dose At Least 14 Days Before Arriving Their Cruise Departure.
Vaccinated Guests Do Not Have To Be Tested For Covid-19. However, Based On
Medical Screening That Will Take Place On Embarkation Day, Testing May Be Deemed
Necessary As A Precautionary Measure, Which Will Be Provided At No Charge. In
The Event A Test Result Is Positive, The Guest And Their Traveling Party Will
Unfortunately Not Be Allowed To Sail And Will Receive A Future Cruise Credit.
In Such Cases, Guests May Have To Quarantine Locally And Carnival Will Assist
In Helping To Make Those Arrangements.
2) At This Time Carnival Cruises Is Not Allowing Unvaccinated Guests To Travel
2) At This Time Carnival Cruises Is Not Allowing Unvaccinated Guests To Travel
3) Masks Are Not Required In Common Areas Once On
Board The Ship. Mask Are Required
In The Cruise Terminal
4) Shore Excursions Must Be Booked Through The
Ship. The Guests Can Not Disembark On Their Own
5) The Countries You Are Visiting Have Different
Protocols. Your Destination Will Be Researched To Determine The Restrictions Prior
To Sailing
6) Guest Must Visit The Website Prior To Sailing To Complete
The Online Check In & Complete The Health Questionnaire
Celebrity Cruises
1) Vaccination Guidelines
We Strongly Recommend All Guests 16 And Older Be Fully Vaccinated. To Be Considered Fully Vaccinated, The Final Dose Of The Vaccine Must Be Completed At Least 14 Days Before Sailing.
We Strongly Recommend All Guests 16 And Older Be Fully Vaccinated. To Be Considered Fully Vaccinated, The Final Dose Of The Vaccine Must Be Completed At Least 14 Days Before Sailing.
At Check-In, Guests Will Be Asked To Provide Documentation Of
Their Vaccination, Such As The U.S. Centers For Disease Control And
Prevention’s (CDC) Covid-19 Vaccination Record Card. Those Who Are 16 And Older
And Do Not Have Or Are Unable To Provide Documentation Will Be Considered
Unvaccinated.
Our Unvaccinated Guests Must Undergo Additional Covid-19 Testing At Their Own Expense, And Follow The Health Protocols Described Below, Which Are Based On Guidance From The CDC.
Our Unvaccinated Guests Must Undergo Additional Covid-19 Testing At Their Own Expense, And Follow The Health Protocols Described Below, Which Are Based On Guidance From The CDC.
For Unvaccinated Guests 16 And Older, The Total Charge
From The Third-Party Testing Vendor For These Tests Is $178.00 USD Per Guest
For Celebrity Cruises. This Amount Will Be Applied To The Guest’s Onboard
Expense Account. Celebrity Cruises Will Pay The Testing Vendor(S) On The
Guest’s Behalf And Will Not Retain Any Part Of The Testing Costs. For Guests
Age 2 To 15, We Will Cover The Cost Of Any Required Testing.
Pre-Cruise- Unvaccinated Guests 16 Years Of Age And Older Will Need To Undergo An RT-PCR
Test Administered By An Accredited Laboratory Of The Guest’s Choice, And Taken
No More Than Three Days Before Sailing. We Will Require Documentation Of A
Negative Result For This Test Prior To Embarkation. All Costs For This Test Are
The Unvaccinated Guest’s Responsibility.
Prior To Disembarking - While Onboard, Unvaccinated Guests 2 Years Of Age And Older Will Be Required To
Undergo Antigen Testing Before Disembarking At The End Of The Voyage. This Test
Will Be Conducted The Day Before The Cruise Ends By One Of Our Testing Vendors.
Guests Will Be Notified Onboard About How To Register For This Test.
2) Masks Are Required In Common Areas
3) In Casino, Theater & Dining Room Will Have Areas
Specifically For Unvaccinated Guests
4) Shore Excursions Can Be Booked Through The Ship OR The
Guests Can Disembark On
Their Own
5) The Countries You Are Visiting Have Different Protocols.
Your Destination Will Be Researched To Determine The Restrictions Prior To
Sailing
6) Guest Must Download The App
On Their Smart Phone To Complete The Online Check In, The Health Questionnaire
& The Life Boat Drill
MSC Cruises
MSC Cruises Highly Recommends
Guests Are Fully Vaccinated In Order To Enjoy A Superior Experience While
Sailing With Us. Guests Who Are Not Fully Vaccinated
Will Be Required To Purchase Our Travel Insurance & Covid-19 Protection
Services And Will Be Subject To More Stringent Protocols Which Will Be In Place
By The Time You Cruise. At The Moment, These Include But Are Not Limited To The Wearing Of
Masks, The Required Purchase Of MSC Sponsored Shore Excursions In Order To Go
Ashore And Required Testing Upon Embarkation And While On Board.
1) You Will Be Required To Take A Rapid Antigen Test At The Pier Prior To Embarkation (Covered By MSC Cruises) And Test Negative
1) You Will Be Required To Take A Rapid Antigen Test At The Pier Prior To Embarkation (Covered By MSC Cruises) And Test Negative
2) Masks Are Required In Common Areas For Unvaccinated
Guests
3) In Casino, Theater & Dining Room Will Have Areas
Specifically For Unvaccinated Guests
4) If You Are Unvaccinated Shore Excursions Must Be Booked
Through The Ship. The Guest
Can Not Disembark On Their Own
5) If You Are Vaccinated Shore Excursions Can Be Booked Through
The Ship OR You Can Disembark On Your Own
6) The Countries You Are Visiting Have Different Protocols.
Your Destination Will Be Researched To Determine The Restrictions Prior To
Sailing
7) Guest Must Download The App On Their Smart Phone To
Complete The Online Check In, Complete The Health Questionnaire
& Complete The Life Boat Drill
Norwegian Cruise Line
1) Mandatory Vaccinations Against
Covid-19 On Initial Voyages
Universal Testing &
Pre-Embarkation Protocols - All Guest Will Be Required To Take A COVID-19 Antigen Test, Administered And Paid For By The Cruise Line, Prior To Boarding & Receive A Negative Result. Guest Are Also Responsible For Complying With All Local Health & Safety Requirements Which May Include Additional Testing.
2) At This Time Norwegian Is Not
Allowing Unvaccinated Guests To Travel.
3) Masks Are Not Required In Common Areas Once On Board The
Ship. Mask Are Required
In The Cruise Terminal.
4) Shore Excursions Can Booked Through The Ship Or The Guests
Can Disembark On Their Own
5) The Countries You Are Visiting Have Different Protocols. Your Destination Will Be Researched To Determine The Restrictions Prior To Sailing.
6) Guest Must Download The App Prior To Sailing To Complete
The Online Check In & Complete The Health Questionnaire
Royal Caribbean
1) Vaccination Guidelines
We Strongly Recommend All Guests 16 And Older Be Fully Vaccinated. To Be Considered Fully Vaccinated, The Final Dose Of The Vaccine Must Be Completed At Least 14 Days Before Sailing.
We Strongly Recommend All Guests 16 And Older Be Fully Vaccinated. To Be Considered Fully Vaccinated, The Final Dose Of The Vaccine Must Be Completed At Least 14 Days Before Sailing.
At Check-In, Guests Will Be Asked To Provide
Documentation Of Their Vaccination, Such As The U.S. Centers For Disease
Control And Prevention’s (CDC) Covid-19 Vaccination Record Card. Those Who Are
16 And Older And Do Not Have Or Are Unable To Provide Documentation Will Be
Considered Unvaccinated.
Our Unvaccinated Guests Must Undergo Additional Covid-19 Testing At Their Own Expense, And Follow The Health Protocols Described Below, Which Are Based On Guidance From The CDC.
Our Unvaccinated Guests Must Undergo Additional Covid-19 Testing At Their Own Expense, And Follow The Health Protocols Described Below, Which Are Based On Guidance From The CDC.
For Unvaccinated Guests 16 And Older, The Total Charge
From The Third-Party Testing Vendor For These Tests Is $136.00 USD Per Guest
For Royal Caribbean. This Amount Will Be Applied To The Guest’s Onboard Expense
Account. Royal Caribbean Will Pay The Testing Vendor(S) On The Guest’s Behalf
And Will Not Retain Any Part Of The Testing Costs. For Guests Age 2 To 15, We
Will Cover The Cost Of Any Required Testing.
Pre-Cruise - Unvaccinated Guests 16 Years Of Age And Older Will Need
To Undergo An RT-PCR Test Administered By An Accredited Laboratory Of The
Guest’s Choice, And Taken No More Than Three Days Before Sailing. We Will
Require Documentation Of A Negative Result For This Test Prior To Embarkation.
All Costs For This Test Are The Unvaccinated Guest’s Responsibility.
Prior To Disembarking - While Onboard, Unvaccinated Guests 2 Years Of Age And
Older Will Be Required To Undergo Antigen Testing Before Disembarking At The
End Of The Voyage. This Test Will Be Conducted The Day Before The Cruise Ends
By One Of Our Testing Vendors. Guests Will Be Notified Onboard About How To
Register For This Test.
2) Masks Are Required In Common Areas
3) In Casino, Theater & Dining Room Will Have Areas
Specifically For Unvaccinated Guests
4) Shore Excursions Must Be Booked Through The Ship. The Guest
Can Not Disembark On Their Own
5) The Countries You Are Visiting Have Different Protocols.
Ycour Destination Will Be Researched To Determine The Restrictions Prior To
Sailing
6) Guest Must Download The App
On Their Smart Phone To Complete The Online Check In, The Health Questionnaire
& The Life Boat Drill
Sunday, June 6, 2021
Saturday, May 8, 2021
Returning To Travel
Very Imforative Article https://thepointsguy.com/guide/reopening-soon-a-country-by-country-guide-to-coronavirus-recovery/
Sunday, March 28, 2021
Royal Caribbean Announces New Cruise Ports!
Royal Caribbean Announces New Sailings!!!
Vision Of The Seas Sailing From Bermuda Beginning June 26, 2021!
Adventure Of The Seas Sailing From Bahamas Beginning June 2021!
Jewel Of The Seas Sailing From Cyprus Beginning July 10, 2021!
When Traveling Guests Must Be Fully Vaccinated, Negative Covid Test Within Five Days Of Traveling With Proof Of Negative Results. Mask Will Be Required In All Common Areas. Bahamas Requires A Travel Health Visa At An Additional Cost Of $ 25.00 Per Person. Please Email Our Office With Any Questions.
Celebrity Cruises Sailing From St. Maarten
Celebrity Cruises Announces New Sailings!!!
Millennium Sailing From St. Maarten Beginning June 5, 2021!
When Traveling Guests Must Be Fully Vaccinated, Negative Covid Test Within Five Days Of Traveling With Proof Of Negative Results. Mask Will Be Required In All Common Areas. Please Email Our Office With Any Questions.
Iceland Is Re-Opening
Here's some good news for your Sunday: Iceland will be allowing travelers who have been vaccinated to come tour their beautiful land! Quick - Call a travel agent to start planning your trip! 
Greece Is Re-Opening
Did you know? Greece plans to open their borders on May 14th to vaccinated travelers! Now is the perfect time to book your summer trip!
Friday, February 19, 2021
Here's What May Push Cruise Lines To Mandate Passenger Vaccinations
Feb 16, 2021,06:21pm EST Written By Suzanne Rowan Kelleher
Here’s What May Push Cruise Lines To Mandate Passenger Vaccinations
Ports of call may push large cruise lines into vaccine mandates for passengers. Most major cruise lines are planning to resume sailing at the end of April or soon thereafter. One of the most pressing questions is whether passengers will be required to be vaccinated.
The industry’s reboot is possible under the CDC’s Framework for Conditional Sailing Order, which charters a pathway for cruise lines to resume sailing through adhering to a set of strict Covid-19 protocols, including a rigorous testing regimen. The order was announced last fall, months before the vaccine rollout began.
To date, only three small-ship cruise lines have announced that they will require passengers to be vaccinated for Covid-19 before setting sail.
The first, UK-based Saga Cruises, announced last month that it will require all cruise passengers to receive the Covid-19 vaccine at least two weeks prior to boarding.
In North America, Indiana-based river cruise line American Queen Steamboat Company and its sister line, Victory Cruise Lines, announced a similar directive that will take effect July 1. The rule will be in place for American Queen’s four riverboats and the three vessels operated by Victory Cruise Lines.
“I think it’s the new norm,” American Queen Steamboat Company CEO John Waggoner told Cruise Critic, the cruise review site. “If you had the ability to cruise on a boat knowing that everyone was fully vaccinated or that only 90% of the people were vaccinated, which would you chose?”
Many cruise enthusiasts appear to be on the same page as Waggoner. In a recent survey of nearly 3,000 Cruise Critic readers, a hefty majority believed vaccines will be important to the restart of cruising. More than eight in 10 (81%) respondents said they would cruise if a vaccine were mandated prior to setting sail. Only 5% said that a vaccine requirement would deter them from cruising, while the remaining 14% were unsure.
So far, no major large-ship cruise line has said that it will mandate passengers to provide proof of vaccination, but that could change in the coming months.
Colleen McDaniel, editor-in-chief of Cruise Critic, says cruise lines have done an admirable amount of heavy lifting during the almost year-long pause in cruising since last March. “They have spent much of that time really learning and putting in place new protocols designed for health and safety,” she says. “But what seemed like the best approach back last April is not necessarily the best approach now. It’s truly an evolving process.”
Two major cruise lines have committed to requiring their crews to be vaccinated. Royal Caribbean Group, which owns Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises, has said that it will require crew members to receive the Covid-19 vaccine before returning to work on their ships. And on a Zoom call in December with a major cruise seller, Frank Del Rio, CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line, the parent to Norwegian Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises, said that the line would have a crew vaccine mandate.
While no major cruise line has announced a similar requirement for passengers, an increasingly realistic scenario might nudge them to impose such a directive.
“What we might see is that the ports that the cruise ships visit might ultimately dictate whether or not passengers need to be vaccinated,” said McDaniel. “If some of these ports are coming out and saying, ‘You can't come into our country if you have not been vaccinated,’ well, that's going to make the decision for the cruise lines and for the passengers.”
A handful of popular cruise destinations have already announced that they are dropping quarantine requirements for travelers who have been fully vaccinated.
Consider that Celebrity Cruises, Regent Seven Seas and Norwegian Cruise Line all have fall itineraries slated for a stop in Limassol, the largest port on the island of Cyprus and a popular stop for Mediterranean cruises. Next month, Cyprus will begin allowing travelers who've been fully vaccinated to enter without having to go into a two-week quarantine or provide a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival.
In Iceland, both Reykavik and Akureyri are ports of call on scheduled 2021 summer itineraries with Celebrity Cruises, Oceania Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line. Beginning in May, Iceland will let fully vaccinated travelers from European Union countries (plus Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland) skip the otherwise-required quarantine and sidestep the negative PCR test requirement.
Visitors to Estonia can skip the 10-day mandatory quarantine in place for arrivals, with exceptions for a handful of European countries deemed low risk, as well as evidence of a negative PCR test taken within three days of arriving. Several cruise lines — including Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Celebrity Cruises — have summer sailings scheduled with a stop in Tallinn, whose spectacular old town is just steps from the port.
Right now, Poland allows travelers from EU countries to skip the 10-day mandatory quarantine if they can provide proof of vaccination against Covid-19. The alternative is to provide proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken no more than 48 hours before arrival, which could be very tricky for en-route cruise passengers to pull off. Gdansk, formerly Warsaw, is a port of call included on several summer sailings with Princess Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Viking Ocean Cruises and other cruise lines.
Since January 18, Romania has allowed travelers from permitted destinations who have been fully vaccinated from Covid to be exempt from quarantining upon arrival. Visitors must show evidence of receiving two doses of the vaccine, the second of which must be administered at least 10 days prior to entering the country. Bucharest is a popular port of call for Uniworld, Viking and other river cruise lines.
Further afield, the idyllic, sunk-kissed Seychelles has also joined the growing list of destinations to drop quarantine requirements for travelers vaccinated against Covid-19. But even inoculated cruisers will have to wait until next year to visit. Last spring, Seychelles announced a ban on cruise ships in Port Victoria until 2022.
For the U.S. cruise market, the question of whether passengers must be vaccinated may hinge on whether popular Caribbean ports of call begin rolling out vaccine mandates of their own.
On the bright side, the Biden administration is on track to surpass its goal of 100 million U.S. vaccinations by the end of April, according to the vaccine tracker from the Brown School of Public Health.
Friday, February 5, 2021
Saturday, January 16, 2021
VOTE NOW FOR TRAVEL AGENCY OF THE YEAR
Concierge Cruises Is Excited To Announce Our Nomination For Travel Agency Of The Year! Please Take A Moment To Vote For Our Travel Agency!
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