Ray

6 hours ago, Mike.s said:

P&O have just annouced their UK staycation sailings, passengers need to be fully vaccinated.

https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/24575-further-details-about-p-o-s-uk-coastal-cruises-emerge.html

Had to reread this to see if i had missed something but its not on this link...other reports clearly state these cruises do not dock anywhere,  they are just sailing about the coast of Britain trying to keep warm and dry lol 

10 minutes ago, Joe01 said:

Borders are reserved so it's the UK government in Westminster. 

Yet nicola was able to quarantine anyone and everyone from anywhere in the world despite uk government saying it was only 33 countries? 

Which is how the Brazilian strain entered Scotland. 

4 offshore workers flying from brazil to Scotland knew they would have to quarantine in a hotel for 10 days so they flew to paris as france isnt on englands list from there they flew to london then up to Scotland avoiding the need to quarantine.

7 minutes ago, em.down.the.rabbit.hole said:

Alas there's but 1 uk government... its a shame the 4 individual states aren't aligned at the moment, as its so confusing. 

Wonder which governing body has control of waters and borders?  Individual states have responsibility for health etc.. but no idea about security, borders, and water‽

Going by previous lockdown measures put in place by scottish government cross border movement was banned. 

Even when boris came up to visit nicola tried to stop it 

Hope they've discussed this with Nicola before releasing it to the press! 

Its ok saying we are going to cruise around the UK but its 4 separate countries with their own governments and their own covid rules.

If Nicola doesnt want it then it wont happen. 

13 minutes ago, em.down.the.rabbit.hole said:

Well the North American announcement may have been canned, but the EU is about to make travel announcement...

Stay at home lol

30 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

The best thing ever!! 
Royal’s very own Coconut Ranger Cookies.

Oh great...heres me diagnosed with a dodgy ticker and told to lose some weight and your just teasing me with pics of delicious cookies

Even Stevie Wonder can see thats not whats said!!

But hey its COMPLETELY irrelevant because whatever RC or the CDC decide we just got to suck it up and get on with it, and if we are not happy then we can hide our frown behind our masks

6 minutes ago, FionaMG said:

 

You could consider using one of the MEI travel agents who can be contacted via this site. That is perfectly above board and would give you access to North American rules under which you can make a booking with a genuinely refundable deposit. The flip side of that is your booking would be in USD (think exchange rate fluctuations and foreign currency transaction fees possibly charged by your credit card provider) 

This is who i use and i use the Revolut card for payments in $$$$ with no fees 

46 minutes ago, em.down.the.rabbit.hole said:

 

In the UK the problem they are trying to work through (as they know it'll be needed by other countries) is vaccine passports.  

BA has announced it will trial vaccine passports for anyone flying ( i think Qatar and possibly Quantas have are also implementing this) Other airline companies will follow same route

2 hours ago, twangster said:

I tried that for a number of cancelled cruises.  I wish you better luck than me.  

The amount of cruises you have booked it would have bankrupt them!

16 minutes ago, em.down.the.rabbit.hole said:

How do you tell if you have a refundable cruise deposit?  Trying to book cruises for 2022 online (Royal's UK site) in lieu of FCC arriving from cruises just cancelled...

Not sure TBH, easier to use TA located in US so you get the best deal 

1 hour ago, twangster said:

I hope it is news of a US restart. 

 

Fingers crossed we could all do with some good news and something to look forward to. 

2 hours ago, twangster said:

Even if the drink is a Bud Light beer? 

No death penalty would not apply for giving that away! However it would apply for purchasing it in the 1st place

51 minutes ago, DisneyWorld30th said:

Travel agents were informed today at 9:15AM that there is Breaking News to be announed to agents tomorrow.  Here was the message:

 

I can't contain my excitement, I have some late breaking news to share with you all! The anticipation is too much for me to wait another week to share this news so I will be switching up my previously planned Coffee Talk. Join me tomorrow Wednesday, March 17 at 12 p.m. EDT, for an exclusive Coffee Talk with some hot off the press updates. I guarantee this is a session you will not want to miss out on - I'd say this is the news we've all been waiting for!

 

Could be they are getting married, pregnant or both lol 

12 hours ago, twangster said:

  You need to be at a bar to order the drink but then you can give that drink away.  

 Pretty sure anyone found to be doing this in Scotland faces the death penalty

5 hours ago, deep1 said:

Its the part right at the top that is in play here. Vaccinated with Vaccinated... 

Yes indoors! Not outdoors!

Now do they mean indoors as in someone's house? Pretty sure they dont mean a cruiseship as further down they say to AVOID medium or large gatherings! And the last part to Follow CDC and health department travel requirements and recommendations which includes from same report 

• Take precautions in public like wearing a well-fitted mask and physical distancing

So outside on a cruiseship is not indoors so wear a mask

5 posts that in all honesty are completely meaningless!!!

As i said no amount of debating on here is going to change whats happening.

Cruiselines have the right to do as they wish and we either accept it or stay at home.

With regards CDC quote if you want to follow it word for word then you dont have to wear a mask or social distance INDOORS....... so in MDR fill your boots but as soon as you go to pool deck put on a bloody mask and and keep away from others as its INDOORS only for no mask 

22 minutes ago, TXcruzer said:

No way am I paying those prices for a mask wearing “contactless” experience. 
 

If the ship is a 100% vaccinated zone, there is no need for the masks and the no contact measures. 

Your choice just as its cruiselines choice to implement these measures it really is that simple! And right now no amount of debating will change it, it is how it is just got to either get on with it or stay at home 

1 hour ago, em.down.the.rabbit.hole said:

There's no link between blood clotting deaths and astra zeneca - needs further investigation.  Although there is some suggestion that it may be one batch of the vaccine (but again needs further investigation)

Think there has only been 1 death and 4 or 5 cases, as you say no link just a country taking measures to ensure its safe and other countries have followed. i read about the 1 batch that may have an issue, this batch can now be purchased online from Lucky lenny's online market catering for all your needs lol 

8 hours ago, deep1 said:

Todays reading found Crystal Cruises gearing Up to Base Cruises in the Bahamas Starting July. Hitting small island of Bimini and Great Harbour will set them apart

The new itineraries depart beginning July 3 through the end of October 2021, for a total of 32 “Bahamas Escapes” voyages sailing roundtrip from Nassau on Saturdays and from Bimini on Sundays. The cruises will be available for booking beginning March 18.

Under Crystal’s “Clean + 4.0” protocols, passengers are required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination prior to their voyage and proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to boarding, and mask-wearing, contactless dining and regular health monitoring of guests will take place while onboard Crystal Serenity.

Did you say a short read? 

Indonesia has already given the green light for private companies to purchase vaccine and distribute it to employees ( saves the government money) however even with permission getting their hands on it could be an issue.

Philippines has started its own roll out of the vaccine ! Hospital staff and government officials first

Guess its up to each individual country to set their own guidlines.

Thing is when you actually think about it logically it makes sense to lock italy down of easter weekend! 

18 minutes ago, JasonOasis said:

Pfizer, Moderna and J&J are all shipping vaccines all over the world, it is how Isreal was able to vaccinate more than half of their population in such a short period of time.  Also on earlier this month both the EU and Italy blocked more than 250,000 vaccines doses of Astra Zeneca which was headed to Australia Italy is one of a few EU countries still using Astra Zeneca.  On the other hand  there are other countries within the EU according to publish reports people do not want the Astra Zeneca shot. It has been reported countries like Germany, France, Spain and the Netherlands all have thousands of doses of Astra Zeneca just sitting in cold storage, while they have very few Pfizer, and Moderna shots available (the shots people want).  Keep in mind Pfizer main production plant is in Belgium not Michigan.  The first Pfizer shots that arrived in the US didn't come from Michigan they can came from Belgium flown in on a commercial aircraft with no passengers onboard. 

 

I'm not sure what Astra Zeneca did or did not do but even South Africa has stop using Astra Zeneca's vaccine and have switched over to J&J.  I'm not sure what is going on with Astra Zeneca even the German Chancellor said she will not take Astra Zeneca.  Except for the UK most Western countries seem to now be turning away from Astra Zeneca which is putting more pressure on Pfizer, Moderna, and J&J.

Norway has reported cases of blood clotting in a small number of individuals who have received the AZ vaccine, because of this some countries have suspended the use of the vaccine until an investigation can be done to see if the vaccine is the root cause of the clotting or if there are other issues which should be taken into account.

Ireland has also suspended the use of AZ 

1 hour ago, cruisellama said:

How will crews be reconstituted for the various classes of ships in these restart days?  With RCG committing to vaccinated crews, you to select from countries that have easier access to vaccinate, or does the line re-assemble crews with experience on their "home" ships and take on the task of contracting with one of the pharma companies?  We know RCL will have 2 Q class sailing and a Vision class.  Others to be announced we hope. 

Guess the only people who can answer this is the cruiselines themselves everything else is just guess work and outwith any of our control