twangster

If cruise lines are exempt from litigation over virus infections. Unfortunately what will happen is a 9 year old will get the virus somewhere, parents will claim it was on a cruise and they'll seek millions using a FL based ambulance chasing lawyer. If a law that prohibits asking for proof of vaccination also removes virtually all virus related liability we'd have a winner.

SMH A lot of thoughts entered my head when I saw that but they were too far removed from cruising to post here.

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2021/05/13/florida-governor-dismisses-norwegian-cruise-line-threat-pull-cruise-ships-florida

I also was fortunate to have them waive Air2Sea fees but that all depends on timing. If you cancel the week of the cruise I wouldn't expect the $200 per person A2S fee to be waived while CWC will deal with the cruise fare portion.

Air2Sea is a good compliment to a cruise but there can still be fees associated with refundable air bookings depending when you cancel. CWC allows you to cancel up to 48 hours before a cruise but CWC is for cruise fare only, not Air2Sea bookings associated with the cruise. Call and ask them about fees for cancelling airfare before and after final payment due date or other milestones.

Presumably easing as time goes by so the initial protocols should be worst case scenario.

I'm eagerly waiting to learn what the onboard protocols will be. I'm holding off booking for now. Between the elusive possible July restart and the unknown offshore protocols something has to give.

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2021/05/12/cdc-updates-some-of-its-rules-cruise-ships

Meanwhile...

I think the media (at least in the US) is savoring the new conflict in the region. After months and months of virus coverage they have something else to focus on. With the US election over and most political coverage returning to the old normal they need something new that's "newsworthy" to shake it up. With US media broadcasting headline after headline declaring rocket attacks the optics of vacation cruising from Israel will be too tempting for the media to ignore. Throw in luxury cruise line stealing vaccinations from poor people and it's like the perfect storm for the media. Buy stock in keyboard companies because the media is burning up their keyboards getting ready for this "media moment".

Confused. Are you a TA that gets a discounted TA rate or are you saying you used a TA and are referring to the rate as "TA provided"? Travel agents sometimes get discounted rates so they can experience a ship. I could see TA special discounted rates they get not being eligible for stockholder benefits. All of my cruises are through a travel agency and Royal never modified my fare to add the stockholder OBC. They are not "TA rates", they are standard Royal fares but the booking is assigned to a TA.

Meanwhile at CDC HQ:

So many thoughts. I. Can't. Say.

What do you call a fake noodle? An impasta.

Apparently Florida's vaccination passport ban did come up in court. The judge reportedly said he'd come back "as quickly as possible".

Nice see more common sense.

Music Hall band rehearsal - Sea Surfers

The joke about the TSA limitations on liquids is that you can bring multiple containers. Fill a number of TSA approved containers with sunscreen and distribute them amongst everyone's carry on.

When I looked at Bahamasair flights in A2S it made it look like two checked bags were included. I assumed this was because of the charter flight nature. Are they not?

Not true. Once dog vaccination rates have reached 80% they might consider easing back.

CDC approves Pfizer for 12 +.

To be clear from that post the over the water cabanas are $495. Standard ($295 per cabana) Hilltop ($395 per cabana) Over the water ($495 per cabana) Beachfront ($395 per cabana)

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/11/cdcs-credibility-is-eroding-amid-conflicting-mask-guidance-ex-obama-official-says.html “I think the CDC’s credibility is eroding as quickly as the cases of coronavirus are eroding,” said Dr. Kavita Patel. “There are men and women working on the lines outside on telephone and electricity lines, and they’re still wearing masks because, in the absence of this guidance, we’re making it up,” Patel said. Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins has said her confidence in the agency is being undermined by conflicting CDC guidance. “I used to have the utmost respect for the guidance from the CDC,” Collins said during a Congressional hearing on the pandemic response Tuesday. “I always considered the CDC to be the Gold Standard. I don’t anymore.” The CDC did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment. Meanwhile, Alaska Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski has said federal mask requirements were endangering the work of fishermen. “You’re out on a boat. The winds are howling. Your mask is soggy wet,” Murkowski said during the hearing. “Tell me how anybody thinks that this is a sane and a sound policy?”

So 1%?