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Showing content with the highest reputation on 04/29/2021 in all areas

  1. One unvaccinated person infected on a ship will blow up in the media and end up costing cruise lines hundreds of millions should the CDC step back in and declare them closed again. Just the bad press from a claim of an infection from a cruise will cost all cruise lines a hit to stock prices and a drop in bookings. That's a direct hit to their bottom line. The absolute last thing any cruise line can afford is a case or claim of a case aboard a ship. I respect everyone's individual choice for or against getting a vaccine. I also respect a business having the ability to establish policy to protect itself from a crazed media eager to see it fail. To that end I hope cruise lines establish a vaccine requirement. They need to do so to protect themselves. I'd really like to see a common sense policy of 100% vaccinated crew and guests with masks only required until you step your first foot onboard the ship. At that point the mask comes off and the party begins. I understand this will impact families with members that can't or choose not to vaccinate. Unfortunately until this virus has moved past society that is an unfortunate outcome. Once protocols are no longer used anywhere on land they can be removed from ships as well. At that point all are welcome back on board just as they will be everywhere on land. Cruising is NOT a constitutional right and businesses must be free to take whatever steps are necessary to operate and protect their brand. For those that choose not to vaccinate, including friends I have, that choice comes with consequences like not being to enjoy a cruise. That is your right to choose, don't take this personal, it's not meant to be an attack but I'm ready to cruise and the safest way to make that happen as quickly as possible is to require a vaccine.
    14 points
  2. Key part of the article... Based on industry feedback, the CDC landed on five clarifications to its additional guidance issued April 2 to allow a resumption of sailing: Ships can bypass the required simulated test voyages carrying volunteers and jump to sailings with paying passengers if 98% of crew and 95% of passengers are fully vaccinated. CDC will review and respond to applications from cruise lines for simulated voyages within 5 days, a review previously expected to take 60 days. CDC will update its testing and quarantine requirements for passengers and crew on sailings with paying passengers to align with the CDC's guidance for fully vaccinated people. So, for example, instead of taking a PCR lab test ahead of boarding vaccinated passengers can take a rapid antigen test upon embarkation. CDC has clarified that cruise ship operators may enter into a "multi-port agreement" rather than a single port agreement as long as all port and local authorities sign the agreement. The CDC has clarified guidance on quarantine guidelines for passengers who may be exposed to or contract COVID-19. For example, local passengers may be able to drive home and passengers who have traveled to cruise may quarantine in a hotel.
    7 points
  3. I have to admit, the thought of watching an unvaccinated getting busted in a cruise terminal with a fake card is oddly appealing to me. Too late to use Cruise With Confidence. You literally lose the entire cruise cost.
    6 points
  4. I hope things are back to normal by November 1st. Any chance of the CSO being extended past Nov 1st? Or is that just crazy talk? We are talking about the CDC here...
    6 points
  5. Good to see this... fingers crossed. https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2021/04/28/cdc-cruises-could-restart-july/4883450001/
    5 points
  6. Because of those that refuse to vaccinate that otherwise can, this thing will stick around longer than it needs to. I made my choice to vaccinate and I comply with mask requirements even though I know they exist largely due to those that refuse to vaccinate.
    5 points
  7. I'm waiting for the... "July X we sail" announcement. Until that is made it's all just more of the same CDC sleight of hand.
    5 points
  8. If we are all forced to wear masks because some choose not to vaccinate or a cruise is forced to end early and every one must quarantine in their cabin because one unvaccinated became infected.
    5 points
  9. 90 or so responses and I can't remember ever seeing as much negativity as I just have? We got what we want! Now there is an avalanche of overthought, baseless, "what ifs" and could be's and.... Were supposed to be pumped. We knew all along that masks and vaccinations would be part of the deal and now the moaning surfaces? I thought this group was supposed to be steadfast cruisers. A week ago you didn't mind the masks and vacs but today you do? Stay on the beach if you wish but I'll be on an upper deck waving bye bye...
    4 points
  10. Yep. I said a long time I am getting vaccinated to get the CDC out of my life. They have been living rent free in my life and the quickest way to get them gone is to vaccinate. I'm there. Fully vaccinated. Now I'm still stuck dealing with the CDC living rent free in my life and I have to wear a frickin mask to go grocery shopping for no reason.
    4 points
  11. My take is different, I'm vaccinated so I'm not worried if the person next to me is or isn't. If you aren't and you get sick, I don't want to hear your whining ... you made a choice.
    4 points
  12. 4 points
  13. The 98% crew vaccination is the easy part. The 95% guest vaccination part needs more clarification. The premise is that they can skip test cruises if 95% of guests are vaccinated. On which sailing? Just one sailing? All sailings? Until when? It's not like guests board a ship and live there forever like its a nursing home. Three days later those guests get off and another 3,000 get on. What happens if the first sailing for a ship has a 96% guest vaccination rate but the 2nd sailing has only a 93% vaccination rate? Does that mean they have to stop and do test cruises before cruise #2 can depart? Or do they need to cancel cruise #2 since it fell short of 95%? If they do sample cruises can they then sail with 0% of guests vaccinated? If they have to cancel any cruise that falls short of 95% guest vaccination that leads to a high degree of uncertainty. When do they cancel? The day of the cruise? A week before the cruise? Two months before the cruise? When will guests know if the magic number has been reached? If they cancel a Florida cruise because not enough guests were vaccinated does that put them at odds with the Florida Governor DeSantis EO that says they can't require guests to be vaccinated? Are they violating the Governor's EO simply by asking if a guest is vaccinated? So many questions.
    4 points
  14. Nowere as far as I know I just thought about the cruise crew who comes from different countries , some get the Russian vaccine , some the Chinese , some get the Indian one and some can not get any. I wonder how the cruise companies will be able to admit the vaccine to their crew. Thinking about it even the AZ which is widely admited in Europe is not yet FDA approved...
    4 points
  15. Ampurp85

    ODDS OF JULY SAILINGS

    @Tarheel0907I would disagree, having a 95% vaccinated cruise is a totally reasonable expectation. It is a way of absolution. We must keep in mind that having a negative test at one juncture does not mean that person is covid free. However, having been vaccinated means the chances are a lot less.
    3 points
  16. I am glad I live in a state that does not nanny me to death. I do not / have not worn a mask. I go to restaurants / shopping and they do not require me to wear a mask. Some ask if I will and when I refuse, nicly of course, they do not push the issue. I have not, but might get vaccinated the jury s still out on that. This has not been needed fo any of the other COVID times. The vaccine is not fully tested for any long term side effects. I am not saying that like some people I know that the govername of Bill Gates has ill intents on this but it is, and no one can argue that the vaccines are not long term tested.
    3 points
  17. As usual, you are correct. I will take it one step further. The only reason I care at all whether others get vaccinated is because I know that the CDC/Politicians/Private businesses will keep all current restrictions in place until the cases and hospitalizations drop to zero. Vaccines will hasten that process.
    3 points
  18. I don't need a mask yet I'm required to wear one to enter a store right now. Not because I am a risk. Not because I am at risk. Because unvaccinated folks are a risk. Their actions are causing requirements to be imposed on the rest of us just as they will be with cruising. There will be no need for me to wear a mask on a ship but if unvaccinated are allowed to sail I'll be required to wear one.
    3 points
  19. Bayley commented on the vaccine culture of the crew. Royal has long offered but not mandated flu vaccines. Crew adoption of flu vaccines is historically mid-90% he stated. They recently surveyed crew about their thoughts on COVID vaccines. Bayley has suggested the responses follow flu vaccine acceptance trends which he attributed to the long time flu vaccine culture that crew have demonstrated. Basically this is a crowd that tends to accept vaccines. Now that vaccines are available on a walk up basis securing them for crew will be a matter of which one do you want?
    3 points
  20. Getting crew vaccinated is a no-brainer at this point. Once you arrive for your pre-contract quarantine, get vaccinated. Supply is not a concern anymore.
    3 points
  21. HeWhoWaits

    Corny Jokes

    What’s the difference between the bird flu and the swine flu? One requires tweetment and the other an oinkment.
    3 points
  22. HeWhoWaits

    Corny Jokes

    Why did the man get hit by a bike every day? He was stuck in a vicious cycle.
    3 points
  23. I'm cautiously optimistic this might come to be something big but we've been lied to and misled by the CDC so many times it's hard to commit any level of believing this might be an actual restart. They've lost all credibility in my eyes, so... Waiting to learn more before I jump on the bandwagon.
    3 points
  24. Hmmm. Searching business records I don't see that Royal Caribbean International is registered as a business in Florida. The corporate entity (RCG) is registered but they don't offer cruises. Several instances of former related companies are showing inactive. Celebrity Cruises Inc with a place of business in Miami is listed. However in the shipping world its well known that each ship is a shell company on its own. I don't see any ship "company" registered with the state. This makes sense. Could you imagine the paperwork involved with registering every ship in every jurisdiction they visited? Any experts in Admiralty law? Given the complex corporate structure of shipping companies, particularly with respect to foreign flagged ships, are they considered a Florida business entity? They don't pay Florida business taxation like an otherwise normal Florida business does. So does this bill impact cruise ship operations?
    2 points
  25. The CDC can't mandate a vaccine. But as we saw from that report, they sure can make it a PITA if you don't want to have a mostly vaccinated cruise.
    2 points
  26. Besides, how would an unvaccinated know the secret handshake they taught me? ?
    2 points
  27. Or, possibly worse, getting on board, then testing positive, and then they find out you have a fake card. I'm going to imagine there's potential for a civil suit in addition to criminal charges.
    2 points
  28. Based on how slowly / poorly the sailings on Adventure and Vision are selling, I think that’s a fairly sold, “Nuh uh”. Even at 50% capacity cap, there is still a ton of inventory available.
    2 points
  29. Not to mention you are gambling a multi-thousand dollar investment on a $2 card from China bought on eBay. College kids trying to get into a bar with a fake ID is one thing. It's almost a right of passage. Worst case you are rejected. Getting rejected in a cruise terminal with no legal recourse = priceless. (Go ahead and sue, then show your fake card to a judge)
    2 points
  30. 588,569 dead Americans is hysteria? come on man. Do your part so we can all be safe. Unless you have a medical condition that prevents getting the vaccine, get it so we can all be safe. If you have a medical condition that prevents getting the vaccine, then you may want to talk to your doctor before you book a cruise, a flight or a vacation to any congested resort. Just saying
    2 points
  31. You guys down under did it right because you followed the science. We followed an idiot who knew more than the doctors and the scientists - NOT. I have stayed home and avoided crowds, worn a mask, and am now fully vaccinated. I followed the science and stayed healthy.
    2 points
  32. Celebrity has said they are training staff to spot fakes and will pull guest aside for a deeper review should a fake be suspected. We won't know what that means until we see it in action.
    2 points
  33. We are fully vaxxed up and are used to wearing a mask while moving about in public spaces already. Since we don't spend too much time catching the rays on crowded poolside chairs, we can deal with wearing a mask here and there if that what it takes to get back to cruising on our late Sep/Oct B2B on Symphony.
    2 points
  34. That people fail to remember we are all sharing this vacation. Respect common courtesies. Don't get on a crowded elevator with your phone or bluetooth speaker blaring loud music. Speaking of elevators, let people get off before people get on. It works alot better that way.
    2 points
  35. And they may have a point. According to The Economist a 15 year old male who tests positive for COVID-19 has under a .01% chance of death and a .6% chance of hospitalization. See how age and illnesses change the risk of dying from covid-19 | The Economist But I don't want to drag this into covid politics, so I won't comment further.
    2 points
  36. Ampurp85

    Corny Jokes

    What do you get when you put droids in charge of road construction? R2-Detours Which punctuation mark would win a race? The dash What do dead batteries cost? They should be free of charge
    2 points
  37. Another huge caveat to this is the source is the CDC Maritime Unit, which so far has been much more optimistic about restarting cruising than the parent organization
    2 points
  38. I'm guessing that the 98 and 95 percent will allow for some with legit medical exemptions. The problem would be children under 16. They are currently ineligible and would certainly not work with those percentages.
    2 points
  39. twangster

    Corny Jokes

    What’s orange and sounds like a parrot? A Carrot
    2 points
  40. steverk

    ODDS OF JULY SAILINGS

    I think it's real progress. And given the rumors of hotels full of cruise workers in south Florida and the reports of 2 Carnival ships heading to Galveston to prep for cruises, I believe the cruise lines are committed to making it work. In other words I went from hopelessly pessimistic to an incurable optimist in about 2 nanoseconds!
    2 points
  41. Considering that a journalist there just resigned and publicly declared on Twitter that her reason to quit was because she was forced to write a probably false story, I wouldn’t treat USA Today as any more valid or reliable than the National Enquirer, or Daily Mail in the UK. It’s become a tabloid rag.
    2 points
  42. In other news my cabin on the 11/15 sailing dropped $20 last night.
    2 points
  43. So many... yet so important. I am happy to hear about how frequently the meetings are now occurring between the CDC and cruise lines, it was about time. I think with continued engagement and development of solid plans and adhering to certain aspects of the CSO, there is a path forward, which is what the FL governor wants. He is in some sort of contradiction though when he wants cruises to return but doesn't want cruise lines to require vaccines. It doesn't work that way, Ron.
    2 points
  44. Where you getting non FDA approved covid shots in the States?
    2 points
  45. Vaccine mask booster vaccine another booster (if necessary) sign me up! ? Anything to get on the ship!
    2 points
  46. Celebrity Beyond is. Well Beyond my price tolerance. Single balcony is $500+ per night. I've had SilverSea bookings that were cheaper solo. For just a little bit more I've got Star Class solo bookings. Single balcony on Beyond or Star Class on Oasis class? Hmmm. The good news is that RCG will recover all losses from the pandemic in a single year from Beyond bookings.
    2 points
  47. After sailing Q class a bit I went on Symphony and immediately noticed the layout of cabins isn't as good on Oasis class. Symphony has new decor for sure, but the basic layout including the bathroom is the same as her sisters. The bathroom layout on Q class is the best bathroom I've seen, non-suite of course.
    2 points
  48. OMG, how did you know? You must be psychic!
    2 points
  49. I saw a billboard for a professional who claims to know the answer to all questions. She uses a crystal ball and charges by the hour.
    2 points
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