Jill

Coffee Talk is done with Vicki Freed. Senior VP of Sales for RCG. Coffee Talk is her weekly or bi weekly online chat with travel agents. Maybe @Sharlacan elaborate?

RCG did the right thing moving Odyssey. I’m super bummed about being cancelled but Italy is a mess.

Yes I know, I’m lucky to live in Florida lol. Mine is at the end of the month. If we get them, it’s normally in the first 2 weeks of October. So now I just jinxed myself and cruises will be sailing all gung ho and some stupid storm will pop up and mine will be cancelled for a 4th time.

I just moved my May symphony to October and it’s a little over $1,000 less than the May date. May be due to time of year too.

@Neesastarting Monday it’s 60 and older for Florida. I bet in less than 2 weeks after that it’ll be 50 and older. Florida is kicking butt in the vaccine department. I’m now pushed back to late October cruise. I’ll wait until 30 days prior to vaccinate. Hoping cases will be so low that vaccination won’t be needed. If masks still required on sun deck in October, I’ll cancel. That’s the one deal breaker. I’ll wear one anywhere else on the ship but not on pool/sun deck.

As long as it’s before October 23, I’m good! ? Seriously I’m thinking July 2 or September 3. Both are the first Fridays of the month. Ready for that first 3 night cruise!

This reminds me to cancel my flights to Rome and back since odyssey is cancelled. Used Air2Sea. (Hello @Sharla, I’ll be emailing you for the hundredth time this week!) Will use again to go back to Rome the following year and for Alaska.

My husband had the flu about 2 weeks before a cruise several years ago. By the time we boarded, he had that left over head congestion. (*he had been fever free for 8 days prior to sailing.) He ended up with vertigo for several months afterwards. Really messed up his inner ear. He was fine the whole time on board but as soon as were home it started. It was awful.

However, if they move to Cozumel they don’t have to deal with the CDC. They can sail whenever.

Anyone else think “something’s up?” Why have they not cancelled? Rumor mill in some Facebook groups churning up Cozumel as a new home port starting in May. We all read the news on this earlier. I wouldn’t blame Royal one bit if they moved several ships south to get them going. Only hope they’d eventually come back “home.” I’d hate to have to fly every time I take a cruise. Living in Florida has got me spoiled!

This is what I usually do. Book with refundable then move it to Sharla. @neesa I just moved my October Odyssey in the med to next October Holy Land/Best of Greece in 2022. I’m assuming she’ll head back to the states for late fall. Not sure why no itineraries yet.

@Neesaoff topic: what did you do with your May symphony? I moved ours to October 23 sailing. I backed out on final payment day and had Sharla move my deposit to October.

Well hope that changes by late October! Just moved my May symphony to October. Antigua replaced St Maarten from our original itinerary. (Although I prefer St Maarten over Antigua)

Anyone know where she’s going?

@Fred567 I was on the October 1 sailing which was 9 nights. I had @Sharla move it to October 7, 2022 to the 12 night Holy Land/Best of Greece. It’s unsure at this moment if they’ll protect the price but someone in an odyssey Facebook group was able to lift and shift a 7 night to a 9 night. Hopefully you’ll find a solution. I found out at 7:00 yesterday morning as someone in the UK had gotten the email and posted it in the Facebook group for our sailing. I had already been toying with cancelling so had my eye on that 12 night to move it to.

Our last cruise before the pandemic was a quick 3 day on Mariner the third week of October. Weather was pleasant and ocean water at CocoCay was just starting to cool down. I live in Florida so I get cold easily lol

You should be fine. If we get hurricanes in Florida in October they’re the first 2 weeks

Can’t believe they haven’t cancelled May.

Of course someone posted in my October 1 Odyssey group and I’ve gotten no email. sad but now off to find a lift and shift glad to get confirmation here

More pics. ?

Sure would be nice if a “workaround” can be found concerning PVSA https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Congress-proposes-a-solution-to-Canadas-big-ship-cruise-ban?fbclid=IwAR2T2Lo5Mv0_wouB-UbkNzVcTPZZQsJQ7GtzPDGPcU2JygdVVkcn4Ooez14

According to the article the FDA grants approval based on the outcomes of the trials. These trials won’t end for about 2 more years. Hopefully by then this dang virus will be well under control

What about their headquarters and those who work there? Being based in Miami, wouldn’t they be required to follow federal law for those employees? I realize those employees have nothing to do with ships but interesting that those working out of Miami are under our federal labor laws (I assume) while the ship based operations fall under Liberia law?

I read this as any employer cannot require the vaccine. Once it’s approved, an employer can require it but not under EUA. American Queen Steamboat line and their other line is requiring it as of July 1 and they’re an American company.

According to this article, a vaccine that has not been approved cannot be required by law. Currently the Covid vaccines are under EUA: Emergency Use Authorization. Interesting...... https://www.statnews.com/2021/02/23/federal-law-prohibits-employers-and-others-from-requiring-vaccination-with-a-covid-19-vaccine-distributed-under-an-eua/