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Framework for Conditional Sailing Order for Cruise Ships October 30, 2020 Update
On October 30, 2020, CDC issued a Framework for Conditional Sailing Order. This Order is effective upon signature and will soon be published in the Federal Register.
This Order shall remain in effect until the earliest of
The expiration of the Secretary of Health and Human Services’ declaration that COVID-19 constitutes a public health emergency, The CDC Director rescinds or modifies the order based on specific public health or other considerations, or November 1, 2021.  
https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/cruise/index.html

I bet they were sharing the drink package as well.
 
Just attempting to have a normal cruise board ?

I sat at the keyboard for a solid 5 minutes going back and forth on what to do. It's one of those situations where whatever you pick, it leaves a bad taste in your mouth.

A few caveats that should be kept in mind with this:
Variablity in flu vaccines is, as you noted, due to the rapid mutation in flu viruses; but also because those vaccines are made based on a best guess of which strains of the virus will be prevalent in the coming year. Genetic analysis of Covid-19 has given a very strong indication it does not mutate much at all; this puts it more into the league of viruses like Measles and Polio, where vaccines have been effective for decades with essentially zero change Much like Polio and Measles, Covid is a much more lethal and virulent disease than Influenza; I will absolutely agree with anyone who says we don't know the exact lethality of it just yet because we don't know just how many have actually been infected yet. That said, when the current lethality rate in my town is hovering around 7-9% even as we flattened the curve almost instantly, I am feeling reasonably certain that we'll find this to be a good deal worse than flu even after the final analysis is done There is some evidence that indicates severity of the disease is tied to exposure level -- a single exposure of short duration appears to lead to milder cases, while people who were exposed over and over during the incubation period and built up a large quantity of the virus in their system have the worst cases As such, I do believe a vaccine is going to be both necessary and worthwhile; provided it's properly researched and tested and not simply rushed out the door, per @Traveler's comments above.
 
I would add one more critical tool to the box for being able to safely resume -- reliable antibody testing. We already know there are many who likely have already had and gotten over Covid-19 without even realizing it. Having a test that shows a high level of antibodies present means travelers can get this test and show proof from their doctor that they are already immune, even if they haven't had the vaccine.
It also gives a means to know who should actually get the vaccine when initial quantities will be limited -- antibody test comes back negative (which should be a quick test, like wait a few minutes in the doc's examination room), and immediately get the vaccination. Then as the vaccine becomes more widely available, people who already showed antibodies can get a "booster shot" to ensure their immunity is strong and long-lasting.

Perhaps you could have taken a few minutes to verify the (easily debunked) information before posting it as hard fact online?

Perhaps you could have taken a few minutes to verify the (easily debunked) information before posting it as hard fact online?

I’m thinking this one. I’d love to know if he’s also working in closing down Joel Osteen’s mega churches. Holds 2.5x of an Oasis class vessel with a similar age makeup. 
 

The more likely situation (well, the most likely is that the Alaska cruise season is just not happening this year, but I will ignore that for this thought experiment) would be for Alaska to pressure the federal government to temporarily suspend restrictions and specifically allow Seattle based closed-loop cruises to sail without a foreign port stop in 2020.  If the ship kept out of Canadian waters then this would be an entirely US decision and simplify things quite a bit.
On a much smaller scale we've had this here in Ohio.  Restaurants providing takeout successfully lobbied the state government to allow them to offer takeout alcohol, which was previously not allowed.  Rules were drafted on which types were allowed and container requirements, and a temporary allowance was given.
So there is a way.  It would require cruising to resume within the Alaska cruise season, Alaska to make such a request, and the federal government to consider and approve the request.  Not to mention the cruise lines being on board and having the ability to make it work with crew, some of which may not have authorization to debark in the US.  So I would put the odds of it happening right around the Lloyd Christmas scale of "so you're telling me there's a chance".

The more likely situation (well, the most likely is that the Alaska cruise season is just not happening this year, but I will ignore that for this thought experiment) would be for Alaska to pressure the federal government to temporarily suspend restrictions and specifically allow Seattle based closed-loop cruises to sail without a foreign port stop in 2020.  If the ship kept out of Canadian waters then this would be an entirely US decision and simplify things quite a bit.
On a much smaller scale we've had this here in Ohio.  Restaurants providing takeout successfully lobbied the state government to allow them to offer takeout alcohol, which was previously not allowed.  Rules were drafted on which types were allowed and container requirements, and a temporary allowance was given.
So there is a way.  It would require cruising to resume within the Alaska cruise season, Alaska to make such a request, and the federal government to consider and approve the request.  Not to mention the cruise lines being on board and having the ability to make it work with crew, some of which may not have authorization to debark in the US.  So I would put the odds of it happening right around the Lloyd Christmas scale of "so you're telling me there's a chance".

Unfortunately, I think the only really useful information is to know that you have had the virus, developed antibodies and are [presumably] now unable to transmit the virus to anyone.  Even this aspect isn't really known at this time, but assuming, for now, that you will no longer be infectious after you have successfully fought off the illness.
Not sure where that leaves the rest, who have never had the virus.
Honestly, I think by the time cruising resumes, it will be a game of reducing the risks to an acceptable level.  Nothing will EVER been 100% fool-proof.  There will always be disagreement on what level of risk is acceptable, but either cruising will go away forever or the cruise lines and the public will have to accept some amount of risk.  Those are the only 2 options. 

People get it confused all the time, it's not the Jones Act (Merchant Marine Act of 1920), it is the PVSA (Passenger Vessel Services Act of 1886) that prohibits foreign flagged ships from doing closed-loop voyages that do not visit a foreign port.  While the Jones Act might get some waiver to increase commerce, it is unlikely the PVSA would fall under that as there is nothing to really gain by loosening it.
We can blame the Cleveland administration all we want, but RCCL is completely capable of flagging a ship in the US to do Hawaiian cruises.  They choose not to pay the associated taxes and hire and pay the people they would be required to with a US flagged ship.  I'm not saying they are wrong to not want to do that, I really like the international crew on most cruise ships, but they are just as capable of doing it as NCL is.  NCL just chose to do it, neither RCCL nor anybody else has at this time.
Welcome to the forum!

People get it confused all the time, it's not the Jones Act (Merchant Marine Act of 1920), it is the PVSA (Passenger Vessel Services Act of 1886) that prohibits foreign flagged ships from doing closed-loop voyages that do not visit a foreign port.  While the Jones Act might get some waiver to increase commerce, it is unlikely the PVSA would fall under that as there is nothing to really gain by loosening it.
We can blame the Cleveland administration all we want, but RCCL is completely capable of flagging a ship in the US to do Hawaiian cruises.  They choose not to pay the associated taxes and hire and pay the people they would be required to with a US flagged ship.  I'm not saying they are wrong to not want to do that, I really like the international crew on most cruise ships, but they are just as capable of doing it as NCL is.  NCL just chose to do it, neither RCCL nor anybody else has at this time.
Welcome to the forum!

People get it confused all the time, it's not the Jones Act (Merchant Marine Act of 1920), it is the PVSA (Passenger Vessel Services Act of 1886) that prohibits foreign flagged ships from doing closed-loop voyages that do not visit a foreign port.  While the Jones Act might get some waiver to increase commerce, it is unlikely the PVSA would fall under that as there is nothing to really gain by loosening it.
We can blame the Cleveland administration all we want, but RCCL is completely capable of flagging a ship in the US to do Hawaiian cruises.  They choose not to pay the associated taxes and hire and pay the people they would be required to with a US flagged ship.  I'm not saying they are wrong to not want to do that, I really like the international crew on most cruise ships, but they are just as capable of doing it as NCL is.  NCL just chose to do it, neither RCCL nor anybody else has at this time.
Welcome to the forum!

Giving your luggage to a porter is less risky than checking it on to an airplane.  Since there will only be one ship at the specific terminal there is virtually zero chance of it finding its way on to another ship, as opposed to it ending up on the wrong plane at an airport with dozens of flights leaving every hour.  While being able to speak the local language is never a bad thing porters are just putting the luggage on the carts and pointing you towards the check-in area.
That said, there are some standard tips: important medication and anything you need for the rest of the day in your carry-on.  Errors happen but those are typically of the "luggage ended up at the wrong room so will be a couple hours late" variety.  I second Twangster on the luggage tag holders, they will hold up to most anything your luggage might endure.
Welcome to the forum and I hope you enjoy your cruise!

Absolutely 100% VOOM.  200 mb is not very much data and I doubt it would be as fast as VOOM.  Can't speak for ATT but most phone companies allow you to call and text over WiFi so that you would be able to continue to use your phone fairly normally through VOOM.
So for faster and unlimited data VOOM is the undisputed winner.

I would suggest pricing a couple things at home that you might be interested in and writing that down.  There are some good deals on cruise ship liquor stores, but sometimes you will find the prices aren't that much different.  Plus if it is only a couple dollars difference is it worth hauling home?  But they might also have a brand you can't get as easily at home, so then value isn't just a dollar for dollar comparison.

Absolutely 100% VOOM.  200 mb is not very much data and I doubt it would be as fast as VOOM.  Can't speak for ATT but most phone companies allow you to call and text over WiFi so that you would be able to continue to use your phone fairly normally through VOOM.
So for faster and unlimited data VOOM is the undisputed winner.

Someone mentioned they liked old pictures of RCL ships.  Here are a few shots of the Majesty Of The Seas from our honeymoon the first week of May 1994.  We cruised from Miami on May 1st for 7 nights  - Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios Jamaica and CoCo Cay.
 
 

Did you seriously just retort by calling someone fat?  Ha, I thought creating an account just to complain about a pound fifty was something, but you certainly have lowered that bar!
Can't wait to see how you top yourself with your 3rd post.

It seems like the issue is that your plan doesn't include local phone calls.  
The website states that local charges may apply.
 

 
If it is true that few companies set up a free number and the charges are due to a phone plan that doesn't include local calling, it appears this is not something unusual for the UK. 
What am I missing that makes it 'outrageous' for Royal to act like most other businesses? 

I found a bunch of pictures from our honeymoon cruise in 1993.  We were on Premier's S/S Atlantic (one of the Big Red Boats).  We were docked at Nassau at the same time as the Empress (was it the Nordic Empress at the time?).  I just remember being awed by how big she was.  I think the Atlantic was ~30,000 tons and their S/S Majestic was ~17,500 tons.    The "Big" Red Boat is off on the right (with the life boats on the top deck).   I have no idea what the little ship on the left is, I just know my wife will never get on that ship unless it was a tender vessel....
Apologies for the non-twangster image quality, a scan of a crappy 25 year old print.

I cant see why on earth Royal Caribbean charge you for phoning them about a query with your booking or for paying for your holiday. It cost me £1.50 to pay the balance on my cruise because they would not accept payment online. I know this cost is very small compared with the cost of the holiday but I resent paying for a phone call which I am forced to make because their website is not adequate. To me little things like this  demonstate how companies  treat their customers. I wont be sailing with them again.
 

First they came for my straws, and I said nothing.
Then they came for my plastic cups, and I said nothing.
Then they came for my ocean cruises, but by then the internet had also been shut off to save electricity so I could say nothing.
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Well said.  I think it's important for anyone reading this thread understand that while we can make some good recommendations based on our own experiences, ultimately there is always a chance the person you encounter at the port may have a differing opinion.

Yeah, it's a good litmus test to see if the source you are reading/watching is good or just another "doesn't know [stuff]" wannabe influencer.