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I did it folks. Just like I said I would. I went to a bar, drank a beer and ate a grilled mahi sandwich. In retrospect reading CDC guidance I realize my life is now over. I didn't wear a mask for the entire meal. I ate bite after bite, drinking swig after swig of glorious food and beverage indoors at a bar. Even though I'm fully vaccinated and even though I left a nice tip my life is over per CDC guidance. Apparently I vaccinated for no reason. In case I am whisked off tomorrow and placed on a ventilator you'll know why I haven't stopped by the message boards.

Just checking in. Day 2 after my brush with death by visiting a bar. So far no symptoms but we all know that means nothing. The CDC has me convinced I may have contracted the common bar variant. No symptoms, no infection, no spread but a sudden urge to run free without a mask. Fearing an outbreak of the bar variant that would result in large numbers maskless with no risk to anyone except the CDC budget the CDC has created a bar task force to determine how to subtly kill the bar industry. CDC technical instructions expected in 200 days for phase 1 & 2 bar guidance.

I'm vaccinated, I have a greater risk of dying traveling to the cruise than dying on it from covid. Benjamin Franklin once said: "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." I love me some Ben! 100 years from now Benjamin Franklin will still be quoted, the CDC, not so much.

You can be Passenger 57. The guy who refuses to wear a mask

As a fully vaccinated individual I understand your position but disagree they should be required everywhere. There are valid reasons not to vaccinate. No need to get into them here, they exist. We need a common sense approach that allows both vaccinated and unvaccinated to participate that allows for individuals to arrive at their own conclusion without placing undue protocols on those at lower risk. Unvaccinated should consider their risk level as they make choices but don't make all of society have to endure protocols for the choices of unvaccinated.

CDC has put out new guidelines that Covid only transmits in a straight line and Zig Zag patterns confuse and dissipates The Covids.

The minute that happens is the minute those same entities can discriminate against you for any reason they want.

Some have expressed that they think the test cruises are a good approach… I totally disagree. One thing I learned over a 40 year career as a government contractor is that you never let a government civil servant get into your domain/backyard if you can legally avoid it… they are there to find fault.

For me, if I have to mask indoor areas (walking to dinner, hallways, etc) -- I can deal with that. If I have to mask while sitting on the lounger near the pool -- I'm out. And I am not sure there will be many folk who will sail on a Caribbean Cruise that requires masks OUTSIDE on SOCIALLY DISTANCED chairs ..... #Science

Do the math... October 30, 2020 Update On October 30, 2020, CDC issued a Framework for Conditional Sailing Order. This Order is effective upon signature and was published in the Federal Registerexternal icon on November 4, 2020. May 5, 2021 Update On May 5, 2021, CDC released the next two phases of the Framework for Conditional Sailing Order (CSO) for cruise ships operating or seeking to operate in U.S. waters. We've been waiting 188 days for the phase 1 and 2. 1 8 8 D A Y S Seems about right considering the CDC was completely asleep for the first 6 months

Well, they've lost my trust already. Whenever I see an article that mentions "CDC" in the headline, I immediately assume that it is false, overstated, or most likely alarmist. Also, why do we treat CDC guidance as gospel this year? No one has had a problem with medium rare steaks or eggs over easy before, and CDC guidance has been against those for years!

I think that is the plan. No one at the CDC is happy the pandemic happened but they are taking the opportunity presented to purge cruising from the US.

Have you seen ANYTHING lately that would indicate that the CDC doesnt have its head up its ass? Have you seen the CDC guidelines for Children's Summer Camps? Science no longer lives at the CDC address. Politics moved in and kicked it out

Hopefully masks won’t be needed for much longer. Those that like them can continue to wear, just like in the past.

Before I begin. I am fully vaccinated because of my wife's profession. We are still talking about an Emergency Use authorized vaccine. There are still questions out there short term and long term about side effects just look at Johnson and Johnson disaster "handled by the FDA/CDC". The government is contributing to vaccine hesitancy the way they handled the J&J vaccine and messaging regarding what vaccinated people can do. Its insulting to lump everyone into one bucket who has their own reasons for not getting the vaccine and call them an anti-vaxxer. The CDC is driven by politics no

This isn't about proving protocols work. Everyone knows they work. It's about training crew how to implement the protocols and subsequently it gives the CDC observers an opportunity to grade the crew on their performance. Did the crew implement the protocols as they said? Yes, here is your certificate. Did the ship fail to implement the protocols properly? Fail, go back and try again another day. They want only vaccinated volunteers to reduce risk as they test the ship's ability to implement the protocols. Scenario: Passenger 142 pretend you have COVID. How does

Sailing in a Zig Zag manner takes much control. The space debris is uncontrolled. You comparison to straight line omits the variable of entropy. The second law of thermodynamics is deceiving. Ultimately none of this discussion would be relevant if Royal Caribbean really prioritized safety and scrambled all of their vessels above the 42nd parallel. I will have a hard time sleeping tonight. P.S. It seems that Wall Street traders are following this blog and are factoring in the chances of a collision. RCCL stock is down 4% which is the percent of the fleet one of Royals 24 ships

Wow vaccine apartheid! Incentives and coercion should not be pushed! In fact once the 'at risk' groups are fully vaccinated there should be no need to vaccinate everyone. Have you researched the actual risks?

PM: “Guys, shape the fire pit into a circle!” Stone crew: “What’s a circle?” PM: (annoyed) “Looks like a big zero. The same big zero I’m gonna pay you if you don’t [email protected]#ing get it right TODAY!!”

A nurse walks into an art store and asks, "Do you have any boxes of crayons that are all red?" The clerk says, "No, they only come in assorted colors. Why would you want all red crayons?" The nurse says, "I need them for work. I draw blood."

I can be Passenger 142 ... I will pretend I'm one of the majority of people who get COVID and never know it so I'm just going to keep sitting at the pool bar enjoying the simulate scenery

Why did the invisible man turn down a job offer? He couldn’t see himself doing it.

The world has gone bonkers over a disease that has a survival rate of 99% and where pretty soon most of the adult population will be vaccinated. I just don't get it???? I'm beginning to believe the conspiracy theorists are more credible than the leaders of this world!

Please use the roll call section to trade CDC test rolls

Sorting this section by title will make it alphabetical.

Why did the writer make so many mistakes? He was a typo personality.

You're not banned, you're unable to go. I'm in the same scenario with my kids. My thoughts are initially, I'm not going to worry too much about any possibility until we see something more firm in terms of a plan. I also recognize these are extraordinary times, and I really believe protocols for cruises in July 2021 are not necessarily going to be the same as September, November 2021 or into 2022.

Now, if only the $18 deluxe beverage package would make a comeback!

They lost mine after about a week of the pandemic, but I guess some people are more trusting of "scientists" than I. Anyway, I was responding to a post that asked what their motive could be. I only speculated. I'm sure the CDC has convinced itself that they have our best interests at heart. Who knows? Maybe they do! I've just come to the conclusion that they are deluding themselves.

Yes, but it might confuse the space junk gods that control such things! I think we should all make appropriate sacrifices to the space junk gods so they will have mercy on our ships. I've just ritually burned my Carnival Triumph 18ct gold...and plastic...ship on a stick!

Consumers are not going to get vaccinated to cruise, then go on a vacation that treats them as if they haven't been vaccinated and restricts them to the level the CDC is expecting. Cancellations will mount quickly if these requirements remain for fully vaccinated passengers. Every time the CDC releases guidance the cruise lines get closer to homeporting outside the US. If the CDC continues on this path without intervention from the Federal Court hearing Florida's (Alaska, Texas) case it's a guarentee they will choose to homeport the majority of their ships outside the US/CDC jurisdiction

CDC is the source of their angst.

Both Disney and Universal Studios just announced that they will no longer require temperature checks. I'm sure that the mask mandate may fall by the wayside soon as well. I still don't believe that what DeSantis is doing is going to affect the cruise lines. He has no control over them. I'm still saying that cruising from Florida will start up in mid July.

Please do not debate the efficacy of vaccines. Keep this to the CDC and cruise ships.

If the volunteers have to show proof of being fully vaccinated what’s the point of doing these simulations? Why not just skip to real cruises. They are pretty much making you go this route anyways.

Earth is 70% ocean. I think James made the right call. He is probably nervously watching his Doppler screens. Any action is better than inaction (unless you are the CDC)

My understanding is that skipping the simulated voyages still requires cruise lines to follow these requirements in what's being called "Restricted Voyages" under the CSO. It is also my understanding that these are required even if the cruise lines meet the 95/98% vaccination requirement. IMO, some of these are not possible (at least not with a full ship), and others essentially diminish the cruise experience to the point of it not being worth it. If you travelled to a city where 95%+ of the people were vaccinated and you still had to do these things I think we'd all call that absolutely

Isn't that that truth? I am not sure where they have been for the last year? In their ivory tower avoiding the impending doom?

I think it should be understood that when the CDC made the initial announcement publicly a few weeks ago and then provided more information publicly yesterday, the cruise lines/CLIA had advance information ahead of both announcements. I think it's also a good guess that the lines have been preparing for a restart well before the press got wind of the CDC's recent public airing of restart protocols. Having said that, I simply cannot imagine what RCL's & Celebrity's Operations Departments are dealing with trying to build into their operations the protocols the CDC is requiring. Or,

Texas has entered the chat https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2021/05/05/texas-joins-lawsuit-against-cdc-get-cruises-restarted

I think they are hoping to have CDC guidance (actual meaningful guidance not the BS sent out so far) so they can conform to it as much as possible and then point to it as an example of being compliant. It would also make it an easier sell to US customers to say "see we are CDC compliant just like back home". Unfortunately the CDC doesnt seem able to get its head out of its ass so my guess is Royal will just have to publish what they think makes sense after waiting as long as possible.

People! You are trying to understand and make sense of this CDC stuff? STOP. Pray for a favorable Judgement in State of FL v. HHS on May 12th. If that doesn't happen here is my plan: Volunteer for a "test cruise" as soon as I can do that. Quietly board as if I'm playing along. Find a CDC monitor and laugh in his face. I'm booked on Apex out of Athens, 8n Greek Isles. Enjoy that cruise from a country that doesn't have to deal with the idiocy of the CDC. Wait for this to sort itself out and sail on Equinox out of PEV in August.

Think of it this way... How to get a job Phase 1 - Go to college and attend lectures Phase 2 - Take exams to prove knowledge Phase 3 - Apply for diploma Phase 4 - Spend endless hours searching for a job, cold calling, endless interviews, take job at coffee shop to pay ridiculous student loans. Enter the magical College vaccine If you get the College vaccine you get to skip taking exams. Phase 1 - Go to college and attend lectures Phase 2 - Free vaccine pass, proceed to Phase 3 Phase 3 - Apply for diploma Phase 4 - Spend endless hours sear

Maybe this is like the CAS update a few weeks ago where it wasn't fully ready to be published but they put it out there anyways. I bet the CDC cruise ship team is celebrating May 5 at a bar, maskless, gathered around a phone reading our comments and laughing their butts off.

I remember seeing something about them posting the covid procedures at 30 days out. That would be 5/13 so we will hopefully see something then if not before. I have prepared myself for whatever they are doing.

I thought this was it. My bad.

Health Canada (our version of the FDA) just approved Pfizer for 12+ this morning. Bring it on. Now I don't have the leave my kids behind in the dust, but I totally would have

I'd like to see 100% vaccination mandatory for adults At this point in the US you are choosing to get COVID if you choose not to take the vaccine and that's fine with me, just sit on the sidelines so we can all return to living. Have a 50 year old in the ICU today...if they ever wake up I bet they'll wish they got vaccinated.

If children are eligible for the vaccine, and Royal / NCL / etc say that all who can be vaccinated must be, then yes. You’ll be locked out until such time as you feel it’s safe for your kids to get vaccinated. It is your choice to not have your children vaccinated with an emergency-approved novel vaccine, and I totally understand your reasons. It’s easy for me to make the choice because all of my kids are 17+. If they were younger, I might well also have reservations about rushing to give them a vaccine the second it was approved. So I’m in no way passing any kind of judgement here; ever

Why don’t skeletons ever go trick or treating? Because they have no body to go with.