By Sharon Whitley Larsen
“You can be our guinea pigs!” veteran cruise friends exclaimed to my husband, Carl, and me when we told them we had recently booked an eight-night cruise on the Celebrity Millennium. The cruise would take us from our San Diego hometown up the coast to San Francisco (docked overnight), then on to other stops in Catalina and Ensenada — including a few sea days, which I always enjoy — before returning home.
What especially appealed to us was that we live just a 15-minute taxi ride to and from the pier. And no airport hassle!
We have been on 25 cruises around the world and normally take a couple each year. In 2020 we had four cruises booked — and you know what happened with those plans. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a couple were canceled with full refund, and we were given a 125% future cruise credit on the others. We decided to do this one along the California coast since we would not be far from home and were covered with ample trip insurance.
During the pandemic, we both had read the page-turner “Quarantine! How I Survived the Diamond Princess Coronavirus Crisis” by Gay Courter. After finishing this ultra-dramatic story, I wondered if I would ever have the nerve to board a cruise ship again. Cruising had become one of my favorite things to do.
Two cruise friends related that their new, young physician recently warned them to stay away from ships: “If you were my parents, I would tell you not to cruise,” he said. “Ships are like petri dishes.”
But Celebrity kept us informed via their app and emails of the newly established health protocols, which included that “all guests 12 and over must be fully vaccinated prior to sailing and must provide documentation of full vaccination prior to boarding.” Passengers also had to have proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 48 hours of boarding. And the popular self-serve buffets were now manned by gloved, masked staff members who plated the food.
The day of departure, we strolled into San Diego’s cruise terminal and were warmly greeted. We had to wear masks while checking in but could remove them once on board. However, the ship’s vaccinated crew had to wear masks at all times. Signs throughout the ship, including in the elevators, reminded passengers to socially distance.
“We can’t be 6 feet apart,” one woman pointed out as several of us squeezed into an elevator. “But at least we’re all vaccinated!”
There were mostly baby boomers onboard, and I spotted only two small children.
The Celebrity Millennium (which was the first ship to sail with passengers from North America in June 2021) normally holds up to 2,400 passengers, but this time there were only 950 (and 820 crew, about 100 fewer than normal). Passengers ranged from those taking their first cruise (including a woman I met from Canada) to Bill from San Diego, who was awarded the honor of being on his 80th Celebrity cruise.
As Carl and I have been to San Francisco and Mexico many times, we opted to relax on board those port days having massages in the spa. We looked forward to our stop in Catalina, as Carl had never visited and I hadn’t been there since 1978.
As we sailed out of San Diego, enjoying the gorgeous sunset harbor view, we met Monica and Chris Holicky from Minnesota. This was their second cruise and first visit to California.
“We both felt extremely comfortable on the ship knowing everyone was vaccinated and pretested,” Monica said. “I can’t say enough good things about Celebrity. The staff is amazing — professional, warm, friendly, hard-working, always ready with a hello and smile. Entertainment and food exceptional, cleanliness top notch. I just love the cruise world — it’s like a small village. I highly recommend cruising to everyone at this time.”
Chrysanne and Craig Timm of Michigan, who have taken several cruises, also noted that this was their first post-COVID-19 cruise, selected since they had never been to San Francisco, Catalina or Ensenada.
“We really enjoyed the itinerary — especially the overnight in San Francisco,” Chrysanne said. “Perhaps the most moving experience there was walking through Muir Woods as a soft rain fell. The whole experience felt truly primordial.”
While Carl and I waited for our spa treatments the first day of our San Francisco port stop, we chatted with another passenger who told us that she was a court stenographer who lived a few miles from the pier.
“I feel like I should go home and check up on things and get my mail,” she said, noting that we’d be in her hometown port overnight. But it was an idea she quickly discarded.
“That’s why we’re here, isn’t it?” she continued. “To forget life’s hassles.”
WHEN YOU GO
For further information: www.celebrity.com
The Celebrity Millennium lies anchored off the coast of California’s Catalina Island. Photo courtesy of Sharon Whitley Larsen. The Celebrity Millennium sails into the sunset from the San Diego pier. Photo courtesy of Sharon Whitley Larsen. A masked waiter serves cruise passengers at a Captain’s Club event on the Celebrity Millennium. Photo courtesy of Sharon Whitley Larsen.
Sharon Whitley Larsen is a freelance writer. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.