Joe01

Here’s an article that clearly states how ineffective cloth masks are...
https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/5/4/e006577?fbclid=IwAR10n4XuIqgKFZQDEItYH73EhB0qLO78nid8PmRXeKHJ-1U2p9il5feY830

There are obviously morons who would call COVID a hoax or are anti-vaxxers anyway but there are some who have reason to be skeptical of the vaccine and as a result, that could create issues in months to come.

I admit to really disliking masks as it is and actually feel that they are of negligible benefit at best in day to day life, especially if people are rummaging through their pockets to get one for going into a shop or onto a train etc. 
I am fortunate not to live in a country where it is required to wear face coverings outside. I could understand wearing one indoors such as at the buffet or in the promenade but all outdoor areas is taking the michael in my opinion especially if physical distancing is involved. I don't understand why and it would be a detriment to my cruise enjoyment if I'm being honest. We've had a lot of outdoor gatherings in the UK such as protests and gatherings on beaches and they've made basically no difference to case numbers so it just seems dictatorial to make people wear them outside.

It's a commonwealth idiom - basically means that they are making a fool out of something. In the context of what I'd said in the earlier post, I feel that they are making a fool out of actual rules to prevent COVID by mandating outdoor mask usage.

It's a commonwealth idiom - basically means that they are making a fool out of something. In the context of what I'd said in the earlier post, I feel that they are making a fool out of actual rules to prevent COVID by mandating outdoor mask usage.

Could I wear a mask on a cruise?  I could.  Do I want to wear a mask on a cruise?  No.
The bigger issue for me is not being able to self explore.  If I can fly somewhere and I'm allowed to be a tourist (while wearing a mask) why can't I on a cruise?  
The requirement to only take ship excursions and never leave the ship otherwise makes the mask question irrelevant to me.  That is not how I want to travel on vacation.
?  Welcome to the Hotel California.  You can check in any time you like but you can never leave.  ?
 

I admit to really disliking masks as it is and actually feel that they are of negligible benefit at best in day to day life, especially if people are rummaging through their pockets to get one for going into a shop or onto a train etc. 
I am fortunate not to live in a country where it is required to wear face coverings outside. I could understand wearing one indoors such as at the buffet or in the promenade but all outdoor areas is taking the michael in my opinion especially if physical distancing is involved. I don't understand why and it would be a detriment to my cruise enjoyment if I'm being honest. We've had a lot of outdoor gatherings in the UK such as protests and gatherings on beaches and they've made basically no difference to case numbers so it just seems dictatorial to make people wear them outside.

I admit to really disliking masks as it is and actually feel that they are of negligible benefit at best in day to day life, especially if people are rummaging through their pockets to get one for going into a shop or onto a train etc. 
I am fortunate not to live in a country where it is required to wear face coverings outside. I could understand wearing one indoors such as at the buffet or in the promenade but all outdoor areas is taking the michael in my opinion especially if physical distancing is involved. I don't understand why and it would be a detriment to my cruise enjoyment if I'm being honest. We've had a lot of outdoor gatherings in the UK such as protests and gatherings on beaches and they've made basically no difference to case numbers so it just seems dictatorial to make people wear them outside.

If they require the flu shot, then I'm out of cruising for the foreseeable future. Never had one in my life and I don't believe that it's even for free on the NHS for people of my age group. They've never required it before, why now?

If they require the flu shot, then I'm out of cruising for the foreseeable future. Never had one in my life and I don't believe that it's even for free on the NHS for people of my age group. They've never required it before, why now?

So all 3 of the Freedom Class ships are being stuck on 3 and 4 nighters from Florida??
I was hoping to sail one of them again in the not too distant future, nearly 9 years since I was last on Indy. 

FABULOUS news!! ? 
Miss Rona can't defeat us after all, back to cruising we go.
Any cheap flights from Scotland-Singapore?

FABULOUS news!! ? 
Miss Rona can't defeat us after all, back to cruising we go.
Any cheap flights from Scotland-Singapore?

Kill it?  No.  Just put it to bed for a while.  
It will be back.  

I have a soft spot for the Inverclyde and Ayrshire part of the country plus it's near Glasgow which works for me. I haven't spent much time in Greenock but it has 8 rail stations so there are plenty of ways out even if you don't drive! ?

Same! I love the idea of doing Oasis from NJ (it's what I would have done this year). Great ship especially post revamp and we much prefer sailing from NJ than Florida coming from Scotland. Shame about this year as I reckon she would have been a definite 'hit' with the NJ market.

Same! I love the idea of doing Oasis from NJ (it's what I would have done this year). Great ship especially post revamp and we much prefer sailing from NJ than Florida coming from Scotland. Shame about this year as I reckon she would have been a definite 'hit' with the NJ market.

We're now in September and they should eventually be announcing deployment in the next few months.
I don't feel confident predicting anything given recent events but I imagine that the worst will be long gone by then and cruising will probably be resumed as normal.
Where do we think they will send the ships?
I wonder if Allure will do summer in Europe before coming to Galveston in Nov 2022, I believe that the terminal is supposed to finish in Sept so it would work. They need to have 1 Oasis class doing summer in Barcelona and she seems like the most likely. Harmony & Symphony seem to have appeared on St. Maarten bookings so they'll probably stay in Canaveral & Miami respectively whilst Oasis may return to NJ again. Seems like UK has Anthem again.

Hi all. As I’m Glasgow based, I’ve decided to go and get some pics of the 3 ships up here in Glasgow. On the bus there as we speak.
 
Back soon!

It's the exact same in the UK - our media is crazy, full of scaremongering headlines and our government also fudged the death figures - those who had tested positive for COVID at any point and had died of other things (including as a result of being run over by a car) were listed as COVID death figures. The US isn't alone in that regard, however fact remains that deaths are much lower over here - I live in Scotland where we've had 2 deaths in the last 6 weeks.

I don't even see why cruise lines are being so unfairly targeted when several flights are taking off and landing every day. I also use trains very frequently, also quite risky , especially since they are getting busier now.
If anything, cruise ships were definitely very ahead of their time with the handwashing stations. That was never a common thing on land, and indeed, probably should have been. There was a study carried out finding out that many McDonalds touchscreens were absolutely filthy. Definitely a huge risk to the public. Not the case on a ship.
I imagine that the hand washing stations will become commonplace in the future post COVID but it's by no means a new idea.

It's the exact same in the UK - our media is crazy, full of scaremongering headlines and our government also fudged the death figures - those who had tested positive for COVID at any point and had died of other things (including as a result of being run over by a car) were listed as COVID death figures. The US isn't alone in that regard, however fact remains that deaths are much lower over here - I live in Scotland where we've had 2 deaths in the last 6 weeks.

How about basing one up in Glasgow, Scotland, since the Azamara ships are now parked there? ? 
Imagine boarding right next to IKEA. What a way to start a vacation!

Just saw this on the first page:
https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2020/08/26/royal-caribbean-will-keep-grandeur-of-the-seas-the-fleet
Yay! Hopefully they can keep her and her sisters around for a bit longer. Now begs the question - where will she go? Enchantment seems committed to Baltimore now and I doubt that they would want to lose the extra capacity by putting Grandeur back there. Maybe she'll head to Europe?

YES!!!!!!
I'm hoping @Matt is right about her staying in Baltimore.  Here's the key difference between her and Enchantment ..... The specialty restaurants.  Enchantment only has Chops, While, my beloved Lady G also has Giovanni's Table, and, my favorite, Izumi ---- which sits on the backside of the VCL ---- amazing views from there (pictured).
In a year of shitty news, we really needed this.