kefthecruiser

The Carnival Vacation Protection Plan includes medical (up to $10,000) and emergency evacuation coverage. See https://www.carnival.com/about-carnival/vacation-protection if this is what you bought. As I recall, the Plan reimburses expenses, so you need to pay the provider at time of service. Also, as Seniors, you likely already know, if you have Medicare here, it does not typically cover claims outside the USA. (Medicare Advantage may be different, refer to your provider.)

@Judith austin Perhaps we all need to take a breath here. Haiti and the Dominican Republic are distinctly different countries with little in common. Yes, they are both on the island of Hispaniola and have a common border, however, even in 'normal' times there is limited travel between counties. The DR maintains a border patrol. People write about 'levels'. The only levels I know are the travel advisories issued by the US Department of State https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/ SO, Haiti is 'Level 4 - Do Not Travel' and the DR is 'Level 2 - Exercise Increased Caution'. (To finish out the levels, Level 1 is 'Exercise Normal Precaution'; Level 3 is 'Reconsider Travel'.) For fun, I looked up some other cruising paradises. Coming in as Level 2 are Cozumel, Costa Maya, Bahamas, and Belize. Level 3 includes Jamaica and Honduras. Certainly, not all-inclusive; use the link to check any country. You won't find Puerto Rico or St Thomas listed (they are not foreign countries).

@Cruising Caribbean I did laugh about this article, I guess there's something I'm missing! I've had periods where I went on multiple cruises from FL ports, doing bookings last minute at low prices, in a year. But, I procrastinate. Those last minute bookings just don't exist now - too much demand and too high prices. I need to start planning further ahead. Well, maybe I'll start tomorrow.

Woohoo! Who knew? https://www.cruisehive.com/new-findings-reveal-the-best-cruise-destinations/126599 Maybe I should check it out, Oh wait, I live there. I did chuckle that they highlight the distance to Orlando (Orlando is closer to Port Canaveral); and not something like our fabulous Gulf Coast beaches! Just needed to gloat a little today....

@3Sisters Your liver thanks you. BTW - I drink to enjoy, not to compete with or outlast anyone else. We all have our own limits and need to respect them.

@euroguy I don't disagree with the travel warnings about Haiti, DR, and Jamaica. However, the Mahogany Bay Port I'm familiar with is on the island of Roatan, Honduras. Is there also one in Jamaica? BTW - Honduras is not all that stellar of a country either. I think this comes from 'Hill Street Blues' - Be Careful Out There!

@jeana I'd say @RoadTravelled covered "the waterfront" for you. I do believe you get some charges refunded, perhaps someone else who is knowledgeable on that can reply. I hope you were able to salvage something of a vacation here in the Tampa Bay area. As a long term resident, I can confidently state this area is a tourist destination all by itself, with the Pinellas beaches ranking high on many lists, Too many other things to do to list here ..... Seems to me your original flights back are tomorrow, so safe travels.

Not to sound paranoid, but I also wouldn't put much faith in a security force manned by locals. There's also no "fence" to keep the gangs from coming by boat / raft / canoe, etc.. Seems to me the prudent choice for RCI is to divert away from Labadee until things stabilize.

@LukeJ Exactly! I doubt many towns are pining away to be the next Nassau or Cozumel. I believe we will continue to see a trend among destinations restricting cruise ships in some way.

First there were smartphones and I've forgotten how to use my camera and cd player. Then there were smart TVs and I have trouble finding my local news station among the hundreds of channels. Now there are smart elevators that we all need to be retrained on how to use. All this smartie tech just makes me feel dumb!

Plan on taking a taxi between ships. There is about 4 miles between the two docks. MG uses CT3 dock and Vista will be at CT6 dock, basically the two extremes of Port Canaveral. As I recall, it's not practical to walk it (no sidewalks). Unless, of course, you can somehow get Carnival to take you.

Bow Wow. I once called and asked if I could bring my support pet Fluffy on my cruise and they said NO, no pythons. I was heartbroken... On a more serious note, the cruise lines should charge for each pet as a passenger, including the daily gratuities fee. Each pet gets a bag of dry food per week.

@FJB I agree. My 2 cents @PaulB, is this. Yes, Key West, ‘the Conch Republic’ is a Caribbean Island, however it is part of the USA and connected to the rest of Florida by a 4 lane, divided highway. It’s a 3-hour drive from Miami (Been there, done that). The average home price exceeds $1 million and average income exceeds $100,000. More tourists arrive by plane or car (and stay longer) than cruise ship passengers. How many Caribbean Islands come close to all that? In 2020, CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) released a report on visitor impacts to Key West. Interesting information included: over one million of the 3 million visitors arrived by cruise ship. Cruise visitors spent $73 million of the $1.2 billion total for all visitors. So, a third of the total visitors spent 6%. Hmmm A typical cruiser likely gets off the ship, walks around Duval Street, stops at Sloppy Joe’s Bar for a few drinks, takes the ‘trolley’ or ‘tour train’ around the island, buys some lunch and gets back on the ship where the food is free and the drink package available. Is Key West dependent on 6% of their tourist revenue? Nope Will I speculate what the governor will decide? Nope, that’s politics involving one of his big donors…

It's safe to say this mega monstrosity is someone's photoshopping exercise of a nightmare. @Cruising Caribbean You are absolutely correct, this 'design' would tip over, unless there is a rather deep keel, making it completely impractical to dock anywhere. As long as we are 'crystal balling' the future, @Kendall James-Vargas you are way too conservative. I say go double the ICON Class with 15,200 guests! They can name it "Village of the Seas". Even today, weld two ICON Class ships together side by side, add some connecting passageways, and create the world's largest catamaran. Woohoo! Someday, there will be a practical upper limit. Technology is not the limit here.

@FJB Well my friend, I'm sorry to say the last coal burning, ash spewing cruise liners have sailed into the sunset. Oil burning ships are lining up to follow.