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I'll start. I am now fully in LOVE with InstaCart (and similar services) !!! I realize that they had been around for a while prior to this madness, but since the plague, I have realized what a WONDERFUL service this is. I no longer have to go to the grocery story and I LOVE IT ! Today I was able to get 3 cases of beer, 2 bags of potting soil and nifty new slicer/shredder (oh....plus some food) delivered. Only in America !!! I intend to keep using this service even after the plague has subsided. What an awesome example of good old fashioned Yankee capitalism ! We WILL get through this, stronger than ever.

It finally posted today to my CP. I’m able to take advantage of the great sale prices which left me with $400 left over! I decided to get The Key for $20. I originally got the DBP with VOOM but since VOOM is included with The Key, I rebooked just the DBP. Also did Ultimate Dining and CocoCay Beach Club. I still have $225 left and still have $100 to add for stock holder OBC. I may splurge on a spa thing or buy really good champagne! This one (October Symphony) better sail! Lol 🤞🤞🙏🙏

I got 2 months closer to retirement for free! 150 working days left!!

MASSIVE LAND ATTACK Allies launch all-out invasion MICHAEL BAYLEY says war will end 'decisively' WAR IN THE CARIBBEAN MIAMI -- President of Royal Caribbean Michael Bayley announced last night that he had ordered his Cruise ship commanders to "use all forces available, including ground forces," this includes passengers, to secure the beaches looking for secluded sites that would accommodate the Suite guests, not forgetting about those Pinnacles. The announcement came about 10 hours after Barbados ignored Mr. Bayley ultimatum to start withdrawing from beaches by noon yesterday. The actual date and timing of the ground war had been tentatively decided for some time, Chief Marketing Officer & Senior Vice President Jim Berra said later, but had been subject to change depending on the weather or developments on the diplomatic front. The preparations would have been stopped had Barbados complied with the deadline set by President Bayley on Friday, the secretary said. Senior Vice President, Marine Operations Greg Purdy stated that he knows of the secluded location because he awoke from and all-night rum drinking binge, with no one is sight for miles. Mr. Purdy stated that he knows how actor Tom Hanks feels when shooting Castaway! It wasn’t until a fishing party spotted him on the beach and directed him to safety some 500 meters away. Palm trees and local vegetation had blocked his view from seeing Liberty OTS at the port. Mr. Bayley said the decision to launch a ground campaign had been made "only after extensive consultations within our coalition partnership (Celebrity Cruise Lines)." As the map indicated the island of Barbados is under heavy bombardment from RCI ships, with Liberty OTS dropping the ground forces at the port. Note…Rhapsody is miles from the fight, but none the less bringing up the rear. Rhapsody is the ship in the far left, all by her lonesome.

I still believe that this was much ado about nothing. All of the consequences, including the extended loss of cruising, are the result of the overreaction and the senseless political battle that this all has become.

MEI is awesome ! They are a full-service Travel Agency and actually began as Disney specialists so they handle all kinds of travel and service all of the cruise lines. I use Michelle Cunningham [email protected] 703-986-0661

I'm shutting down this thread, as the discussion of what Richard Fain said is long past, and this is entering "yet another political debate" thread.

I've lost 10 lbs since my last cruise 😝

There are a lot of first responders out there on the front lines that wear masks. Let me know when you want to go up to the firehouse with me to tell the firefighters that real men don’t wear masks.

So here’s the update. I called at 9:59 am literally, and 10:01 one got through to a agent, but it took an hour for her to get someone at RC, but all set. Saved $457.

Article from today’s WaPo discussing the realities we need to face around the likelihood this virus is NEVER “going away”. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/05/27/coronavirus-endemic/?utm_campaign=wp_post_most&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_most The article rightly points out we already have 4 coronaviruses today, which cause the common cold and which have never been stamped out. Vaccinations will help with managing this virus, but we have to stop looking for a quick-fix solution to “get us back to normal” and understand that the presence of COVID-19 is the new normal. I don’t think for a second this means that we’re all going to be isolated for the rest of our lives, or that cruising is done as a form of travel and vacation, or that we’re done for as a species. But I think it does mean we really should stop saying things like, “Things will be back to how they were once 2021 comes around”, and start planning on lives where this new virus is going to be a thorn in our side for at least the next decade. Hopefully our favorite cruise line and all the others are already taking that long-term view.

In that other thread you posted a graphic showing that 35% of all cases are asymptomatic. These people don't know they are infected and never show any signs of the infection but carry the virus and spread it to others. The other use case involves presymptomatic individuals. These are people who have become infected but they haven't shown any symptoms yet but eventually do. The source for the graphic quoted can be found on the CDC's website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/planning-scenarios.html Asymptomatic carriers, overall 35% Presymptomatic carriers 40% - with a mean time to show symptoms at 6 days. For 6 days days people in this category have the virus and are capable of spreading it but have no idea they are infected. The purpose of wearing the mask is to slow the spread from asymptomatic and presymptomatic carriers. These are the individuals who don't know they are infected. We need to reopen, we all see the devastating impact of shutting down the economy. The virus isn't over so how do we reopen while the virus is still aggressively spreading? The wearing of masks is a simple action that allows us to move forward and reopen more safely while taking steps to reduce spread resulting in fewer deaths.

Some incredibly funny memes ..... yeah, there's something good to come out of this.

Ok I've gained the "Covid-19"!!!!

In the county I live in we have a population of 292,406 people. Our Health Department has posted that there have been less than 5 people hospitalized for COVID-19 during last three weeks. Yet we are still stuck under what amounts to house arrest by our Dictator Governor. None of this makes any sense anymore.

Is it still allowed to bring service animals on-board? Mine’s well trained, I promise. 😂

The amount of people who are ignoring their own health because the media has them terrified they will catch covid are astonishing. Worked on a woman last week who had a stroke but was to scared to come into the ER when her symptoms first presented. She said the news said she would be a burden on us if she came in. It's heart breaking. The truth of the matter is the hospitals in my state were not overun or at the brink of collapse at any point of covid 19. The media scared people to death when they shouldn't have been scared. And now my governor is changing his tune saying quarantine wasn't just for hospitals 😑 Fauci goes back and forth with what he thinks covid will do in the fall and even with quarantining or not quarantining No one knows what will happen and some people we have in power are just trying to save face at this point. It's disgusting. I feel for all those who are ignoring their own health and who may very well die from soemthing that couldn't have been treated all bc of being worried about covid 19

The biggest recommendation I can offer for a big ship rookie is to recognize up front that you will not be able to do everything. Pick your high priority activities and be prepared to be flexible. It will be so exciting for you. The first time you see one of the big girls, it's stunning...and that is nothing compared to the first time you step inside and realize the awesomeness.

Sigh. I just want to live in a world where this isn't our every day talk. I'm fine with a new normal. I'll wear masks if I need to. I'll learn to not touch my face as much. I just want to have this not be every topic of conversation. @JLMoran I don't mean to be a jerk on your post. This is valid information and I'm not directing my jerkiness at you.

I was randomly assigned Kathy Geiger from my inquiry and I couldn't have been happier with the service she provided! 😁👍

Enchantment of the Seas, August 21, 2020 (fingers crossed as it is my very first cruise)

That big, honking pair of pants that my wife bought me for Christmas....

More time with family. My wife and I are essential workers but our college and high school kids have been home since end of March! We also took up kayaking, does that count?

I can focus on my passion projects and hobbies. I am actively writing again. I really wanted to be a writer when I was younger but life got in the way. I have been lucky enough to write a short story every now and again over the last decade. But to write when inspiration strikes has been amazing. Since I am working from home until 2021, I might even be able to finish my children book and collection of short stories. I guess also that the color scheme I chose for my living space is on point......you would think slate grey and grape candy colored walls would be detracting but its quite soothing.

Time to call a travel agent and let them take care of it for you!

Well, absolute worst case scenario is the company goes out of business and your money is probably lost. Is that likely to happen? Probably not. Bankruptcy doesnt necessarily mean out of business. The airlines have made declaring bankruptcy into an art form at this point.

Here's the best analogy I've heard. You're at a nudist camp and need to pee. If you're 6 feet apart, you won't pee on anyone and no one will pee on you. If someone has on pants, even if you're less than 6 feet apart, less pee will get on them, and if they pee, less pee will get on you. If you both have on pants, no on gets much pee on them.

Pre-plan more than usual, especially shows/entertainment. It's free and makes things much easier on you.

You can do everything it just means that by day four or five your wife and daughter will hate you because you ran them ragged. I speak from experience ✋

I'm no sheep and I'm tired of hearing this. I have a family member who works in a hospital and sees a lot of death. I have a friend whose job the last few months was to tell people they were positive. Both of them have seen a lot of death. Death from people who were supposedly healthy. This is my issue with people like you - just because I believe something doesn't mean I'm a sheep. Just because you disagree doesn't mean you're wrong. Stop calling people like me a sheep and I'll refrain from calling people like you something worse. Wear the damn mask or don't and deal with the consequences. OR DON'T. Disagreeing is one thing - name calling is another. I just don't understand why we can't disagree with respect.

Yes, they can absolutely handle other travel.

A little Freudian slip there @coneyraven? Wishful thinking? I would say that at this point, very few ships are "for sail" relative to the number that are for sale.

My take on this is as follows. Being a frontline health care worker, I can definitely say I would have no problem wearing a mask, and would definitely welcome RCL enforcing people to wear masks while scientists try and figure out a vaccine. I'm sure this will get some people charged up, but if a person is not wearing a mask they are just being selfish and unnecessarily putting others at risk. I'm saying this, because of what we know of how the virus easily spreads now, there is no reason for people not to be wearing a mask. I mean, what's the worst that could happen? You die prematurely, right. The virus has been shown to cause other medical problems for people. Amputating limbs, etc. etc.

Not good enough. A high percentage of steel in the hull has to be US steel. That was an issue when NCL acquired and subsequently lengthened what would become Pride in Germany where she was finished. She started at a US ship yard for a different line but the owner went bankrupt and she had to get a special exemption to qualify as US built since technically she isn't. In short you can't just stick a flag on a ship and call it US built. While 90% of what governs so much of US based itineraries involves the PVSA, the Jones Act does continue to be a factor and that is where percent of US steel comes from. They've both been codified into US law so technically neither PVSA or Jones are the technical articles in play, everyone still refers to them. At any rate, % of foreign steel in the ship and the number of staff who are US citizens plus the flag on the ship (registration) are all factors and it doesn't stop there. Technically the Pride doesn't qualify since too much foreign steel is in the ship, but completely embarrassed by the total failure of a US shipyard being able to build the ship, a waiver was provided.

Haha, I bet all their ears are burning right now! 😂

I think we need to keep perspective here. This isn't the first pandemic, or even the worst pandemic we've faced. Most recent one I remember is the Hong Kong flu of 1968/69. It is remarkably similar to Covid in many ways. The US death toll was 100,000, which on a percentage basis is worse. How did we respond then? We put men on the moon and celebrated with a ticker tape parade in Times Square. We held Woodstock. Royal Caribbean started sailing just a few years later. A vaccine was in development, but the virus burned out before it was available. I expect something similar with Covid

When I first went with MEI, I just filled out the form and was assigned Sharla; she's definitely been fantastic! I was trying to move my Thanksgiving cruise from Anthem to Harmony this year due to a change in my availability and location for that week, and she spent 80 minutes on hold just for me...and got it done without any fuss! I honestly don't think you can go wrong with any of MEI's folks, based on all the stories I've read. And as for them being full-service, I think they're a go-to for RCCL/Celebrity/Disney simply because of their extensive experience with those cruise lines, leading to a bit more specialization. While I haven't tried to book a cruise with one of the other "Big 3" cruise lines through MEI, I certainly see no reason why they wouldn't be able to help you!

Sharla was recommended from this site and I have found her to be super attentive and she continually checks for price drops without asking.

Heather Coursen is our TA from MEI and I am surprised she has not dumped us after all my emails and questions etc. I recommend her services to family and friends.

I use Sharla and she puts up with my endless emails! 😂 Seriously she’s been great. She’s got our group of 4 couples for Odyssey Italy/Greece next year and she’s been very attentive through all this cancellation mess with FCC’s, OBC’s etc.

Mine too! Hubby took the time to replace our 40 year old shed leaving an 8x8 patch of dirt in the backyard. I am attempting to turn it into a garden. Only 3 problems: crappy soil - not enough sun - a gardener with a black thumb! I try🤷‍♀️

Jewel of the Seas, December 22, 2020

I always take my passport off the ship in a foreign country. Like the Boy Scouts say, be prepared. For these ports, I wouldn't actually take it off the ship for any port. Puerto Rico and St Thomas are US Territories, so I can fly home without a passport. Coco Cay and Labadee are foreign countries, but I think chances of being left behind at private islands is nearly non-existant.

We are wearing masks for exactly the intent you referenced in the article. To prevent you from getting others sick. You may be an asymptomatic carrier or you may be infected but don’t have the symptoms yet. It’s not to protect you it’s to protect everyone else.

Since testing is not widely available the death toll is the most viable measure of how the virus is progressing. It's not a contest to determine a Guiness record of lives lost or a means to trivialize it compared to cancer, car crashes or suicide. It's pointless to compare death counts to other causes. The flu kills 40k per year, COVID-19 did that in a month and only slowed because of actions taken. Lives lost in WWII make everything seem inconsequential and that was a man made event. Deaths from car crashes, or gunshots or being impaled by a pitch fork while sitting backwards on a tractor on a Tuesday are all irrelevant as a point of comparison. Every life lost has the potential for us to learn something even if we choose to prioritize the economy. This won't be the last pandemic the world faces, at least next time we will better understand and have better modeling to guide future decisions. Stay at home and close restaurants, 4 in 1,000 die. Do nothing and let the virus go, X in 1,000 die - we'll have a better idea in a couple months time what X equals. By this time next year we'll have the clarity of hindsight which is always 20-20.

I save two hours a day on commuting

Saved about 250 miles worth of gas per week between our two cars. Not as much benefit as it would be for some because one is a hybrid getting 50+ mpg.

Crossed off several home and farm projects. Well mostly hubby did! Lol Also my youngest came home for Spring Break for a few days and it’s turned into 3 months!

That 100,000 American dead in just 3 months (WITH a self quarantine in place) is still being thought of as an over reaction is astonishing.

After FIRST dinner or after SECOND dinner?