U.S Dept of State - (STEP) Safe Travel Enrollment Program

[euroguy]

@Kendall James-Vargas yes im already booked through 2024 and now eyeing feb-march 2025 and aug-oct 2025. Sounds like Aug or Sept might be good for Canada out of NY. And flights will be easier/cheaper to NY from California. Also more direct non stop flight options as well. 

[Kendall James-Vargas]

@euroguy Nonstop flights are the best. Unless the layover is quick and the price is right, I'm pretty much only flying nonstop now. If you miss your second flight it ruins your entire trip. I have had this happen too many times due to flight delays and the risk just isn't worth it. I think the August-October 2025 window for a Canadian/New England itinerary would be ideal. The other months may be a bit too cold, and being in the warm pool is certainly a perk to cruising. I never thought about it, but on your Alaskan cruise, were people getting in the pool? I know it was summer time, but I'm so used to in cruising very warm, tropical weather. Anything below 80 degrees Fahrenheit sounds too cold for outdoor pool time!

[Tootie]

I can't say when we began using STEP but it was long ago. The State Department is the only place I know of to layout our trip plans and it has served us well. We have seen quite a few Level 4 reports but none to any place we go. I'm not sure about Jamaica right now but it was Level 3 in our last 2 or 3 trips. 

Based on many recent reports, Jamaica may be Level 4 or about to become that rank. That will surely have an effect on cruising both for cruise lines and the cruisers. Some of the reports are a bit scary in describing serious crimes and that might force Carnival and other lines to reconsider travel there much like Red Sea routes have been suspended. While crime is a far cry from war, its prevalence in ports is something we follow closely with STEP. 

While there is likely no way to disguise ourselves as locals rather than cruisers, you try to play down any affluence - rings, watches and other "flashy" jewelry, it is equally important to maintain awareness of your surroundings. Always take a wide view and be ready to respond immediately. 

[euroguy]

@Kendall James-Vargas I think I'm certainly going to really look at Canada for September 2025. on my recent trip to alaska we stopped at Victoria BC and i really enjoyed the stop even though it was only 4 hours. People were really nice and was a beautiful city. I would have loved to have arrived earlier and longer to experience it more.  

Regarding the non stop flight yes I agree and wish one from Northern California to Florida existed, but I did make sure that I was flying out a day earlier, the connecting flight was in the northern portion of the United States (texas) in this case to avoid the snow zone and lastly if my connecting flight was delayed or canceled that I had addition flights available to get on and still make it in time to get on the ship. In this case I have 11 different flight that I can catch out of Austin TX that would save me. 

As for the pools during the Alaska cruise the luminosa has a dome that covers the lido deck and it was really warm inside. I didn't try the pool but did see others enjoying it.

[euroguy]

@Tootie I'm so happy to hear that you have been using the STEP program, it really is a useful resource and is the only place to register your travels and provides all official outlets know your travel plans and gives one a level of security or stream lined ability to get out of country or help if needed.

Last year i did travel to mazatlan which was level 4 (highest level) due to the drug cartels bombing cars kidnapping and other bad apples creating caous for would be tourist. Being ex combat vet, and knowing how things can go side ways in a blink of an eye, I opted to briefly get off the ship to pick up a couple tshirts in the secured port area and then promptly returned to spend the day on the ship. I was amazed how people on the ship just blindly journeyed out on foot to other city areas beyond the secured area as if taking stroll through a park in U.S. suburbia. More over I was really surprised that #1 the ship completed the stop #2 not even a peep from the ship letting people know or to be safe etc. It's like the ship turned a blind eye to the state departments extreme warning. 

I wish more people used and read about STEP Thus the reason I started this post initially as you can not count on the cruise ship to look out for you and we as travelers need to lookout for ourselves and make educated choices.

By the way it was wonder having a mostly empty ship to myself, got a great deal on a massage, restaurants available, jacuzzi with noone else. 

I am 100% agreement with you... leave the flashy jewelry and high end watches on the ship, you are only asking to become a victim. 

[3Sisters]

@euroguy I just registered with the STEP program for my upcoming cruise and I feel so great about it. It's a super simple process, and takes barley any time at all. More guests should use this when traveling to areas with level 3 advisories. Thanks again for sharing this with everyone. It's peace of mind for a new cruiser or even a seasoned cruiser like myself. Dressing low key is the way to go. Making minimal purchases and not coming off as flashy or an easy target is important. Remember, you can be in danger anywhere, even in your neighborhood. It's important to always have your guard up and be cautious in an area. Make eye contact with predators and let them know you see them and are paying attention. Obviously avoiding or shying away (acting nervous/scared) will make you an easy target. Be bold and keep yourself safe. No one else will keep you safe. You are your best advocate! 

[euroguy]

@3Sisters I'm so happy that you found the STEP process easy and worth while. I'm really glad that I could share something new and of value to yourself and others. 

regardless of advisory level i recommed to file your itinerary for every foriegn trip. Its just another layer of protection and we never knkw when things might change and they will send alerts directly to you if something changes and provides valuable info if you need help. Best part is it's 100% FREE.

[euroguy]

I bet you're getting excited about your up coming trip.... I know I am

[Cruising Caribbean]

@euroguy Where will your next cruise adventure take you? Will you be cruising somewhere new on your upcoming cruise itinerary? I have only used the STEP program for Caribbean ports, and I will hopefully be trying using it on a transatlantic adventure in the coming 1-2 years. There are so many transatlantic options, but not all of those options are reasonably priced. Have you received an offer from CCL for a transatlantic sailing? 

  

[euroguy]

@Cruising Caribbean Sept I will be on the Firenze out of Long Beach 7 days. I'll be going to Puerto Vallarta, Cobo, and Mazatlan. Ive been to all 3 many times. The reason for once more is two fold, 1. It's close to home, 45 minute flight and super easy  2. I really wanted to try the new Italian Fun Ship, I always consider a ship as a destination. 

Feb 2025 I'm booked on the Horizon 8 days out of Miami going to Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao. These will be new ports for me. Besides being another new ship and locations for me I really liked how the trip was set up, i.e. 2 full sea days on front then 2 full sea days on back end v. Only 1 sea day on the back. I always feel on a 7 day cruise only one sea day on way home seems so short. 

As for my CCL offers all my cruises are free balcony cabins, which also includes transatlantic,  journey cruises and Australia. I think I could take a total of 66 free cruises for any lengths from 7 to 22 days. Basically I have hundreds of choices, ugh. I wish I had more time available, I would be on back to backs and jump from 1 ship to the next. 

All the offers expire in May which generally CCL renews the current offerings and will also add some new offers appear. I'm hoping to see free suite v. free balcony. The other great thing is I receive free drinks everywhere on the ship, which includes everything g except fresh squeezed oj and full bottles of wine.

[Cruising Caribbean]

@euroguy I love the close to home aspect. That makes everything so much easier. Do you typically just Uber from the airport to the cruise port? This ship will certainly be worthwhile, and I will be very interested to read how you thought it compared to a typical CCL ship. That's a huge total! Instead of 66 cruises, I was thinking maybe 5 options. I would love a lifestyle like that. Surely that's something you would take advantage of at some point if you love cruising enough. It sounds like May will be a deciding factor for you! Are the offerings annual or do you receive offers that are two years out as well? You have higher standards than I. I would be taking all the balconies I can get, but I think you are a CCL high roller now!

[euroguy]

@Cruising Caribbean the offers I receive are usually good for 2-3 months to which I can book usually atleast 1-1.5 years out... might be 2 years out but I've never looked that far out as ships and itineraries seem to change frequently, so I try to book no more than a year out. I literally have hundreds and hundreds of cruises to chose from for the free balcony cabin. It comes down to how much time I can take to go on them which limits some of my choices for now 😆 

Yes I do take advantage of the free balcony cabins every time but I'm hoping maybe I will receive a free suite offer v. a free balcony offer in May. If I only receive more free balcony offers that's okay with me and book them, as it's hard to say no to free balcony cabin lol 

And when I say free ... I do have to  pay port fees and gratuities for cabin steward, usually around $200ish for 7 day cruise and $250ish for 8-9 day. But I do get that back in the form of onbaord ship credit... so yeah I guess it's still free 😆 🤣 

I do feel very fortunate to have the offers I get, the benefits I receive on ship and having a CCL personal assistant for all things cruising on CCL. I do get treated very well by CCL which is one of the main reasons I cruise only CCL. I highly doubt another cruise line would do the same for me immediately, which would make me feel like I've stepped backwards. 

[Cruising Caribbean]

@euroguy That makes a lot of sense! Thanks for answering all of my questions. I find your cruising perks/selection so intriguing. A suite cabin is obviously better than a balcony cabin so sometimes waiting is worth it. I would imagine CCL waits to release those suite offers until closer to the sail date, leaving many of them available for other guests. I know your perks stem some from your impressive casino skills. Are you expected to play at the casino while onboard or is it alright for you to skip it sometimes? Also with these offers do you get casino incentives? It would make sense since CCL knows it's something you enjoy! You have such tenure with CCL I would imagine it could take some time to prove yourself and establish with another line, but it wouldn't be impossible. That's how CCL keeps you coming back for more!

[euroguy]

@Cruising Caribbean yes i receive incentives from the casino like free specialty dining, free play $, specialty perks like premier and ultra cruise offers which are only for casino players, tournament cruise offers etc.  It's sometimes a bit of a blur about the free drinks everywhere on ship and free balcony cabin offers as to if it's casino or CCL.  I suspect both are directly tied to the casino but I'm not always sure as I also receive some less rewarding offers from the casino. As for not playing in the casino...good question, I'm not sure but I suspect that if I didn't play in casino I would still get offers as they would want me to return... hmmm that makes me think maybe I skip the casino and then they would up the ante by offering a suite to lure me back 🤔 

[Cruising Caribbean]

@euroguy Free play money is what I was talking about! It gets you in the casino showing off you skills every itinerary I'm sure. I can imagine with the free drinks everything just goes by too quickly! What is your drink of choice in the casino? Do you have a typical time of day you prefer to play? I would only be able play with a glass of wine in the evening, otherwise I would likely choose the pool lounger instead. I like that strategy! It could potentially work if you if you opted out of playing rigorously one cruise, and then the line would lure you back with an unbeatable offer. That may be your key to a suite "sweet" offer. I wish there was someone to ask who has tried that method before. I wouldn't want you to get less offers for playing less; that's the alternative!