Just Cruises Plus

Looking for a holiday gift for someone special in your life? Struggling with something unique to get a loved one for their birthday? Considering ways to recognize your employees with something a little different?  Trying to find new avenues to raise money for your non profit organization?  A Just Cruises Plus gift certificate is a wonderful way to recognize those who are special to you with a gift that you know they will enjoy.

What are some ideas for use of a gift certificate?

–  A great gift for all occasions including birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, holidays, retirements, mother’s/father’s day and graduations

–  Terrific raffle, door prize or silent auction item for your non-profit organization

–  A creative gift solution for the person who has everything

–  A thoughtful gift to delight someone who has limited resources for traveling

–  A valued perk for employees (sales bonus, performance, longevity)

–  A contribution towards the trip of someone who is already booked with Just Cruises Plus

How much do they cost?

Certificates are available in denominations of $25, $50, $100, $500 and $1000 (can also do custom denominations).  They can be purchased using cash, check or major credit card.   There are no additional fees.

How do they work?

The certificates can be used as payment towards any cruise, tour or land package purchased through Just Cruises Plus.

Anything else I need to know?

–  Certificates cannot be redeemed for cash or credit.

–  Certificates are not replaceable if lost or stolen.

–  If the package purchased is less than the gift certificate value, we will issue a new certificate for the remaining value.

Call us at 215.364.3310 when you are ready to order this memorable gift!

Late last week, the CDC recommended that people avoid cruises regardless of vaccination status.  Are they right?  The CDC has a checkered past regarding previous recommendations.  Therefore, we must examine the latest recommendations regarding cruise ships with some caution.

The cruise industry has been at the forefront of creating safety protocols. Major cruise lines are requiring that all passengers be fully vaccinated and tested prior to boarding the ship and some test at points throughout the cruise. Cruise lines have been transparent in their reporting. No other industry has implemented such stringent rules.

According to the Cruise Lines International Association:

“The decision by the CDC to raise the travel level for cruise is particularly perplexing considering that cases identified on cruise ships consistently make up a very slim minority of the total population onboard—far fewer than on land—and the majority of those cases are asymptomatic or mild in nature, posing little to no burden on medical resources onboard or onshore. No setting can be immune from this virus—however, it is also the case that cruise provides one of the highest levels of demonstrated mitigation against the virus. Cruise ships offer a highly controlled environment with science-backed measures, known testing and vaccination levels far above other venues or modes of transportation and travel, and significantly lower incidence rates than land.”

CLIA adds that “many of our members have announced additional measures in response to the Omicron variant, including strengthening testing, masking and other requirements, as well as encouraging booster vaccine doses for those eligible.”  We at Just Cruises Plus have witnessed first hand the protocols that cruise lines have put in place and which they evaluate and adjust on an ongoing basis.

If you are already booked for a trip, we are keeping you updated on safety protocols. If you’d like to plan a trip and have questions about the current safety protocols in place for a particular cruise line or travel company, please give us a call at (215)364-3310.

We wish you a happy and healthy 2022!

Cruising has been shut down for over a year and a half and cruises are finally underway. If you’re ready to cruise but are reluctant to fly, here are some suggestions for 2022 cruises out of Cape Liberty. We hand-picked the following cruises because they have great itineraries as well as special discounts.

Get Warm During the Winter Cruises

January 9th – Anthem of the Seas – 11 nights –  San Juan, St Martin, St Kitts, Barbados, Antigua

January 20th – Anthem of the Seas – 11 nights – San Juan, St Martin, Antigua, St Lucia, St Kitts

January 31st –  Anthem of the Seas – 11 nights – San Juan, St Martin, Antigua, St Lucia, St Kitts

Spring Cruises 

May 4th – Summit – 9 nights – Newport, Charleston, Bermuda

May 13th – Summit – 10 nights – Newport, Charleston, Bermuda (extra night in Bermuda)

May 23rd – Summit – 10 nights – Newport, Bermuda (2 nights), Charleston (overnight)

June 2nd – Summit – 10 nights – Charleston, Bermuda

June 12th – Summit – 7 nights Bermuda

Summer Cruises (Think Cool Breezes)

June 24th – Oasis of the Seas – 7 nights – Port Canaveral, Nassau, Coco Cay (Oasis is almost twice as wide as Summit and Anthem)

July 17th – Summit – 7 night Bermuda

September 1st – Adventure of the Seas – 9 nights – Boston, Portland, Bar Harbor, St Johns (Newfoundland), and Halifax, Nova Scotia

Requires flying but  worth the hassle

July 17th – Solstice -7 night Alaska from Seattle

August 7th – Summit – 12 nights from Cape Liberty to Reykjavik, Iceland with stops in Halifax, St Johns, Newfoundland, Qaqatog, Greenland, Akereyri, Icland, Isafjordur, Iceland (Exotic itinerary)

August 12th – Millennium – 7 nights from Seward to Vancouver (Glacier Route)

October 27th Adventure of the Seas – 11 nights from Cape Liberty to Galveston, Texas – Labadee, Falmouth, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Cartagena, Columbia, Colon, Panama, Puerto Limon, Costa Rica, Roatan, Honduras, Cozumel

We’re sure we can get you a discounted price on these cruises, however some of the cruises have very limited availability so you should not wait. Call Just Cruises Plus at 215-364-3310 or respond to this email with your preferred accomodations – Suite, Balcony (a must for Alaska), oceanview or interior.

From now until September 23^rd, Celebrity is offering a 20% discount on most of their cruises. Exceptions are Galapagos and Alaska Cruise tours.  In addition to the 20% discount, you will also get drinks, Tips and Wi-Fi. We think this is a pretty spectacular deal from Celebrity Cruises.

If you’ve already booked a Celebrity cruise with us, we’re in the process of checking whether this promotion reduces your price. If you know someone who has booked directly with Celebrity, remind them to call Celebrity to have their price lowered (the price adjustment is not automatic). Keep in mind that this promotion is in effect until September 23^rd and is valid for sailings between October 11^th 2021 and December 31^st 2022.

A consumer survey conducted over the Memorial Day weekend found that more than 80% of likely cruisers want to be on a ship where everyone (crew and passengers) is vaccinated.

Current Vaccination Requirements for Cruises in 2021 (these requirements and additional costs for testing do not apply to children under 12 years)

Alaska Cruises (All Cruise Lines) – All passengers must be vaccinated. Ships will not have to make a stop in Canada to meet the “Jones Act” requirement that states that foreign flagged ships (most cruise ships) must make a stop at a foreign port when carrying passengers between US Ports.  Senator Mike Lee has introduced legislation to get rid of the Jones Act permanently (good riddance).

Hawaii Cruises – All passengers must be vaccinated.

New York, Bayonne and Baltimore Departures  – All passengers must be vaccinated.

Florida and Texas Departures – Have laws that allow unvaccinated people to sail.  Most cruise lines departing from Florida and Texas ports are insisting that unvaccinated passengers submit to testing to be paid for by the passenger.  They will sit in a separated section of the dining room and the theater. Furthermore, they will not be able to enter the casino and they won’t be able get off the ship in ports that require vaccinations.

The following sailing start dates are subject to change:

Starting dates for Alaska cruises

From Seattle (Alaska Cruises) July 23, 2021 – Celebrity Millennium kicks off the season with ships from Holland America, Princess, Silversea, Carnival following

Starting dates for cruises from New York City and Cape Liberty, NJ

Sept 5th 2021 – Oasis of the Seas (Royal Caribbean Cruise Line)

September 26th 2021 – Norwegian Breakaway (Norwegian Cruise Line)

November 7th 2021- Anthem of the Seas (Royal Caribbean Cruise Line)

November 26th 2021 – Queen Elizabeth 2 (Cunard)

May 4th 2022 – Celebrity Summit (Celebrity Cruises)

Starting dates for cruises from Baltimore 

September 4th-  Enchantment of the Seas (Royal Caribbean Cruise Line)

November 21st – Carnival Legend (Carnival Cruises)

After being homebound for more than a year, most of us can’t wait to travel again. Domestic travel is not a problem but cruises have been virtually non-existent. Now that is about to change for the better.

Cruiselines have been given a plan by the CDC that will lead to the safe opening of US ports to cruise ships. The plan calls for either of the following:

1. A ship may sail if 98% of crew and 95% of passengers are vaccinated OR
2. The cruiseline must successfully complete test cruises monitored by the CDC

Celebrity Cruises is one cruiseline electing to go with the first option. Celebrity will require all passengers to be vaccinated on the Celebrity Edge scheduled to cruise from Ft Lauderdale on June 5th. All subsequent cruises will require vaccinations at least through the Alaska season and possibly beyond.

Royal Caribbean is an example of a cruisline that will follow the 2nd option – they will have a test cruise on the Freedom of the Seas on June 20^th.  If that cruise meets CDC requirements, Royal Caribbean ships will be able to sail without a vaccination requirement. We expect Carnival Cruise Line to follow this path.

If you’re anxious to cruise in 2021, you’re in luck.  Schedules are just opening up so there are tons of availability.  This is not true in 2022.  Many dates are totally booked up, particularly in the summer, so you must call now if you want to cruise in the summer of 2022.

Why aren’t cruise lines offering deals? The simple answer is that many 2022 cruises are close to sold out and the cruise lines don’t have to offer “deals”. The reason is twofold. First, cruise lines stopped sailing in March of 2020. After more than a year without a vacation, there is huge pent-up demand.

Second, when sailings were cancelled, many cruise lines offered generous perks to passengers who maintained their booking. For example, if you had a cruise booked that cost $1000, some cruise lines offered a voucher worth $1250 that could be used on any cruise before September 2022. This is why space is scarce in 2022 — especially the summer of 2022.

If you want to cruise in 2022, we urge you to book now, especially if you are looking for:

– Summer Sailings
– Alaska
– Hawaii
– Europe – limited space on some itineraries
– Sailings from New York, Bayonne (Cape Liberty) and Baltimore
– Cabins that can accommodate 3 or more
– Cabins that are adjacent/connecting or if a particular location on a ship is important to you

Give us a call or send us an email with the itineraries and dates you are interested in and we will help you navigate availability!

Breaking News! The CDC is giving clearance to the cruise lines to begin sailing from US ports beginning in mid-July! While we await the specifics, come learn with us at a virtual event with Celebrity Cruises.

Celebrity will host the virtual event on Tuesday, May 4th, 4-5 PM ET. This event will focus on post Covid19 sailings. The event is for selected travel agencies and their clients. There will be an opportunity for you to ask questions of the Celebrity staff, so we encourage you to attend. Join us and learn with us as Celebrity shares its future.

Registration is by invitation only. Celebrity has reached out to us and we in turn are reaching out to our clients.

NOTE:
– When you register, please list Just Cruises Plus as your travel agency.
– You may leave the captain’s club number blank during the registration.

Click for More Information and Registration

Going “Stir Crazy”?  Can’t wait to cruise again?  We have good news and not-so-good news. The not-so-good news is that the US government has still not given permission for cruises to leave from US ports. The good new is that Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises have scheduled ships departing from Bermuda, the Bahamas, St Martin and European ports beginning on June 5th.

Royal Caribbean

Vision of the Seas is sailing round trip from Bermuda. This 7 night cruise sails to Cococay and has an overnight in Bermuda.  Current schedule – June 26th to  August 28th

Adventure of the Seas has a 7 night round trip from Nassau with stops at Cozumel, Freeport with an overnight is Cococay. Current schedule – June 12th to September 11th

Jewel of the Seas 7 nights from Cypress – Itinerary to be announced shortly

Special Covid-19 rules for Royal Caribbean cruises –  Passengers 18 years old and over must bring proof of Covid-19 vaccination and have had a Covid-19 test within 72 hours of boarding.  Under 18, must have Covid test.

Celebrity Cruises

Millennium sailings from from St Martin –  June 5th until August 21st.

June 5th – St Martin, Curacao, Aruba, Barbados, St Martin

June 12th – St Martin, Tortola, St Lucia, Barbados, St Martin

Subsequent itineraries alternate between the two above

Apex sailings from Athens – June 19th until September 25th

6,7 and 8 night cruises.  Itineraries (ports may include the following depending on date selected):

Santorini

Mykonos

Limassol (Cypress)

Rhodes

Ashdod (for Jerusalem)

Haifa

Herklion (Crete)

Chania (Crete)

Special Covid-19 rules for Celebrity – Back to Back sailings are not allowed at present.  Only suites and verandas will be available on these cruises.  Passengers must bring proof of Covid-19 vaccination and have had a Covid-19 test within 72 hours of boarding.

For more information about these or any future cruise, call Just Cruises Plus at 215-364-3310 or 800-783-7489 or email us at just-cruises@comcast.net

– Photo credit to The Daily Beast

The Max8 has been cleared by the FAA to resume flying following two crashes that killed 346 people. Is the Max 8 a safe airplane and would I fly on one?

Boeing was a storied aeronautics company which built the most advanced, safest planes in the world, until the “bean-counters” took control of the company from the engineers. Great engineering was sacrificed for the bottom line. The result was the Max 8, an obsolete plane that needs computer software to fly safely. As 346 people found out, the software did not always work. This plane was the result of the “bean-counters’” quick fix which enabled Boeing to compete with Airbus on the cheap.

Concluding an 18-month probe in September of this year, the final House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s 245-page report found that “Boeing failed in its design and development of the MAX, and the FAA failed in its oversight of Boeing and its certification of the aircraft.”

I will not fly on a Max 8 because I believe that, although the software fix has been extensively tested and probably works very well, the “bean-counters” are still in charge and the company remains ethically challenged and I prefer to give my business to ethical companies.