Curt From Canada

This thread just gets funnier and funnier.  Best one in a long time.  I too would like to volunteer.  However, I think the best way to trial all of these protocols is to test them under the most severe conditions.

I volunteer to captain which ever ship is chosen.  The largest ship I have been at the helm is a 17.5 ft Norseboat.  I have never tipped it (although I have come vey close).  I honestly say I would be, by far, the worst captain in the fleet.  Still, we need to have the worst conditions at sea to really stress the systems.  I will be bringing along some help:

• Chief Medical Officer: Major Frank Burns (all you young people can look it up).
• Master Lookout:  Mister Magoo
• Anti-Piracy Watch: Jack Sparrow
• Navigator: My Mom (I loved her dearly, but she never took the same route home for our trips from Plattsburgh).

CAPTAIN CURT FROM CANADA

I think this article is a little clearer.  My thoughts above have not changed.  

https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/5666

Curt from Canada

Confusing article, there should be better accounts somewhere.  It seems to be Good News / Bad News:

GOOD NEWS:

• Protocols seem to be working.
• Ships are not becoming human Petri Dishes ... the ship was to disembark on Friday.
• The cruise line is being very conservative.
• The last cruise positives (after debark) seem to have very little, or anything, to do with the French Chartered Cruise being cut short.  Again, the article is poorly written.

BAD NEWS:

• The biggest issue seems to be the country of origin for the passengers (France).  France is suffering an extreme 2nd wave and the cruise line appears to be "blaming" that more than the previous cruise positives.

https://www.cruisehive.com/cruise-cut-short-and-seven-passengers-test-positive/42668

I still think I would be safer on a cruise ship than in my local grocery store.

Fingers are still crossed for MAY 2021 out of Southampton,

Curt from Canada

Below is the latest G7 plus Singapore data below (numbers normalized for population) ... only Japan and Singapore stand out as being in control.  Here is the good news.:

The safety protocols that the cruise ships are using (Med and Asia) and proposing in North America are well beyond almost any other country's.  I would feel more safe on a cruise ship than in my local grocery store.

I have been afraid to bring this up ... scared of the answer I might get.  Looking for information from those who may have knowledge what the early sailings are doing:

I will wear a mask ... I will stay 2m away from everyone (except my soulmate) ... I will board late and at the exact time I am told to (never happened to date) ... I will walk up every stair everyday ... I will take multiple virus tests and subject myself to multiple health screenings (regardless how much a pain they are) ... I will not set foot in the Diamond Lounge on night one (the closest thing to a "zoo" at sea), BUT:

If we can not dance ... looks like we will be waiting for wide distribution of a vaccine.

Curt from Canada

Frequent posters can skip what I have written ... it is taken from earlier thoughts I have already expressed.  For the original poster:

"One of the reasons my soulmate & I cruise so often on Royal Caribbean, is the wide variety of experiences on board their ships.  I am certain that there are other cruise lines that offer the same variety.  Still, one tends to stick with the known versus the unknown.  Below are different ways to approach cruising: 

1).  The Ship is the Destination:  How can anyone disagree that the ships are so special that passengers want to maximize their time on the ship?  The large ships offer so much that visiting no ports would probably be fine for some.  On our last trip, Harmony of the Seas was so busy there was little time for afternoon naps (we think this is necessary if you dance all night).  Even their medium sized ships are packed with on board options.  So many ships (Oasis, Quantum, Freedom Classes) have so many things to do; we frequently are stuck trying to determine what we will not do (because there is more than one event at the same time).

2).  Travel is the Main Goal:  We have spent a lot of time in Europe with self-directed land vacations.  It is a different experience and has its advantages.  One thing that is an absolute pain is packing, unpacking and travel between destinations.  When we are in “Travel Mode” it is such a treat to unpack and pack once and wake up with a new experience almost every day.  These are not necessarily restful vacations, but they are stimulating and are normally filled with many special memories.  Although these can be had on the large ships, we find that small and medium ships are better to meet this objective.  

3). Stay Connected to the Sea:  After all, this is a cruise ship.  Some ships have a strong and obvious connection with the sea.  Everywhere you go you can see the sea.  When we travel, it is never so obvious than when we are on the water … we are not in our home, we are venturing out, we are exploring.  Small and medium sized ships maintain this connection easily.  The larger ships get the more difficult it is.  We have been on Grandeur three times in the last 2 years.  Lady G does not have all the “bells & whistles”, but she has sea views everywhere.  In support of Goal 2), she taken us to many places we have never been before. She also has been the catalyst, for our main reason for cruising …

4).  Make Your Own Fun:  We did not start with this strategy, but it is becoming our primary one.  Sometimes, day to day routines can foster a complacency that turns into a “rut”.  Travel is one way to shake this up, but we think the concept is a little simpler.  By using new experiences (ship or port or sea), we “connect” better on cruise ships.  Relationship building is about shared experiences, and we find that we converse more, laugh more, dance more (and drink more too) on the ship.  As much as possible we try to travel with friends.  The more friends, the more opportunities to build deeper relationships.  It does not matter if the ship is big or small, if the number of days are few or many, or if we are in port or at sea … we make our own fun.

For 1) … we enjoy: Allure, Harmony & Anthem.

For 2) … we enjoy: Radiance, Grandeur, Adventure, Explorer & Anthem.

For 3) … we enjoy: Grandeur, Radiance & Anthem.

For 4) … we enjoy: All the above.

Regardless of how you cruise … Have a Blast.

I hope this helps …"

Curt from Canada

2 hours ago, Auto said:

Picard was a bit of pansy, always made Riker lead the away team. Kirk would throw a few punches and kiss a few aliens. Also, Capt Crunch > Capt Kangaroo. 
 

Concerning MSC cruises, I wonder if it was a one embarkation, one disembarkation cruise. They typically operate on the model that you can do a round trip from any of the ports of call (I.e. on and off in Genoa or Naples, etc). Made for an interesting dynamic on board since every night is someone’s first or last night. 

I will have to start a new thread for the Kirk ... Picard debate (that one could last for months).

I am fairly certain they picked up in Genoa and Naples.  They could very well be back on their way to drop off in Naples.  Since I really do not want to book an MSC cruise (much longer story), I have been too lazy to do any "mock bookings".

1 hour ago, cruisellama said:

Bones what's the prognosis?

First ... I prefer "Status Mr. Spock".  Bones was an emotional wreck.

Second ... I failed to mention that Pickard was the best Captain ever.  Way beyond Kirk, Crunch and Kangaroo.

Third ... MSC Grandiosa is on its final leg.  We will only know in the next couple of weeks how she really did.  Still, it was a breath of fresh air for sails robbed for far too many months.

Curt from Canada

In my experience you:

"Don't tug on Superman's cape, you don't spit into the wind, you don't pull the mask off that ol' Lone Ranger and you don't mess around with Jim".

These are the basic tenets of life.

Oh yes ... do not flaunt a Captain's Regulation (I wish that line flowed properly into that fantastic Jim Croce song).

Curt from Canada 

The next "Canary in the Cave" ... watching with great interest:

 "Second star to the right......and straight on till morning" Capt Kirk channeling his inner Peter Pan.

Curt from Canada

My Soulmate and I just met cruising friends (for the first time since the end of February) IN PERSON.  We were distanced and had lunch on our porch.  It was glorious.  It got us thinking about how many friends we have made through cruising, and how we miss them more than the ships and cruising experience.

I am afraid 2020 is a loss, and we have hedged our bets for 2021 with only cruises out of European ports.  Still, we hope that we see our cruising friends again, and make even more in the future.

• To all the people we have met, for all the funny and fascinating conversations ... thank you. 
• To all the people we have yet to meet ... we can't wait. 
• To everyone ... we hope that you Stay Safe, Stay Apart and Stay Connected.

Curt from Canada

Booking flights to Europe now (all refundable ... I am enthusiastic not crazy).  Cruises out of low case level countries will definitely be "Cruises to Watch".

Celebrity Silhouette sailings booked for APR & MAY 2021 are looking and smelling like a big bowl of poutine from Joe Patate.

Curt from Canada

Below is a link to the "canary in the cave".  I did not know about this being planned ... this could be big (good or bad).  Mein Schiff 2 set sail Friday night for a weekend cruise 1,200 on board a ship designed for 2,900.  Be still my beating heart ...

Mein Schiff 2 at Sea

Curt from Canada

On 7/24/2020 at 4:11 PM, Jill said:

We’ve got October 2021 Med on Odyssey. I feel fairly confident we will have learned to live with this virus. Heck at the rate US cases are going, I think herd immunity is getting closer each day! Honestly as long as mortality rate continues to decline (currently less than .05%) the virus will be more of a nuisance. Still troublesome for those with co-morbidities but manageable for the vast majority. 

A few random thoughts.  

1). We (maybe only Asia .... followed soon by Europe) have already figured out how to "live with the virus".  They wear a mask, physically distance, and trace and track with tenacious efforts.  There is hope as we eventually follow their example. (This one seems to be fairly clear as a path foward).

2) "Herd Immunity" is probably a long shot.  COVID 19 seems to mimic other viruses, where we develop antibodies with a limited "shelf life".  It might be more like the flu.  This is good news as we know how to defend ourselves against the flu.  The flu yearly shot is not perfect ... but compared to our current situation it is Nirvana. (Still not enough data to figure this one out yet).

3).  The number of vaccines in development is very, very encouraging.  They will not be 100% effective (like the flu shot), but they will probably be good enough. (Still not enough data to figure this one out yet ... still this is the hope, this is my dream ... I will do everything I possibly can to make this happen).

Stay Safe, Stay Distanced, Stay Connected.  I hope all of you and yours are healthy, happy and wise,

Curt from Canada

Sorry ... I stopped doing this something in March (I can't remember why).  There are only 38 data points ... still it does tell a story:

Curt from Canada

10 minutes ago, Mrs_Collins said:

I’ve been “impatiently” waiting to report my assignment! The day has finally come!!! We have officially been assigned our GTY 15 days out. 

Got them all now ... thanks to all.

Curt from Canada

On 3/4/2020 at 9:08 AM, SteveinSC said:

@Curt From Canada I believe it was you, that started that graph for GTY room assignments? Any chance you could/would want to do one for getting Royal Up bids accepted/denied? Id be interested to see that data.  Im well aware the data isnt consistent and is specific to each sailing....but I still think it would give an overall picture that would be interesting? Anyone agree? Just me? 

You have me "pegged"... I am a data zealot.  Let me have a weekend ( of dancing, a woman and songs ) and I will determine the best way to put out a call to those who thirst for the knowledge that the sciences, math and data brings.

Curt from Canada

46 minutes ago, PG Cruiser said:

I’m seriously considering bringing disposable gloves next time I visit the Windjammer.  Those “idiots” touch the serving spoons, don’t they?

I rarely visit the Windjammer because my mealtimes on cruises start at MTD at 5:00PM.  If ever I wanted to eat before that, it would be food from the deli style outlets.

 

I "buried" the lead on my previous post.  We never ate in the Windjammer once.  We were just passing through to go to iFly.

Curt from Canada

Anthem of the Seas boarding on FEB 23 had the three questions that everyone was required to be asked:

1) Been to China, Hong Kong or Macau in the past 14 days?  ... No

2) Have you (to your knowledge) been exposed to anyone from those 3 countries? ... No

3) Do you have any cold/flu like symptoms? ... No

All passengers were being funneled through these quick and easy questions.

After that, facial recognition pushed us quickly on board (no need to show passports ... you have to be set up through the APP to do this).

The bigger issue for us was a number of idiots not washing their hands when it was required.  Walking through the Windjammer wash station to avoid both the sanitizer "spritz" and the wash station requirement (there was lots of room) was the gold medal of stupidity.

Curt from Canada

12 minutes ago, FManke said:

Ok, I might be the only one, but I have no idea what this is?

For those who have booked GTY cabins, they have sending me the "days to sailing" when they get assigned their cabins.  To be clear, the "scientific method" is minimal, and I am only measuring one dimension (time to sail when room is assigned).  The "data" has been fairly consistent:

• Almost everyone gets their assignment at least 10 days before sailing.
• There is another inflection point at 30 to 50 days where they become available.
• And there are a few (just under 20%) that get them well in advance of sailing.

Any and all data is gladly accepted.

Curt from Canada

What better way to get ready to jump on a ship than to send out the "latest, greatest" update of the GTY Assignment Timing Graph.  Thanks to all that keep posting their data.

If you are cruising this week and see someone with a "scorch the floor" Swing or a "somewhat competent" Foxtrot that will be my soulmate and I.

Curt from Canada

42 minutes ago, Biff215 said:

We’re still waiting on our official notification for our April Harmony cruise, but the Apple Wallet hack did reveal a stateroom number. Crazy thing is it’s literally the cabin next to the one we stayed in last August. I assume it’s just a coincidence as I imagine it’s computers making these assignments?

Thanks for sharing the hack, it’s nice to know where we might end up!

If I had to guess on the way assignments are assigned, I would say it is a combination of:

• Harry Potter on a Colorado "high"
• Keith Richards on any day that ends in "y" (I know "children" from the 60s and 70s got that one)
• I was going to say Timothy Leary, but man that is one wack-job ... Let's go for Spaceman Bill Lee (before, during and after any basebal game).

Curt from Canada

4 hours ago, smap said:

GTY balcony confirmed 19 days out from sailing!

Thank you ... added

1 hour ago, Ampurp85 said:

Meh, I wouldn't be too worried, everything is up to chance. I got a flu shot this year and got the flu 5 days later. I wash my hands fifty-eleven times, it was just my turn.

I would definitely be, only truly worried about one illness....the Itis. With all the food choices you run the risk of falling into food comas and truly hurting yourself. 

Sounds about right.  Flu vaccines have a few drawbacks:

1).  They take about two weeks to be fully effective.

2).  They do not cover all strains.  The researchers each year have to make estimates on which strains will be the most prevalent.  There are always strains out there that we are not protected from.

Don't get me going about overeating.  My Dr. put me on a crazy diet.  In less than a month it will face the biggest test yet ... Cruising On A Diet.

Sounds like a horror movie title.

Curt from Canada

2 minutes ago, Atlantix2000 said:

Rooms can be assigned anytime from the same day you book to the day of the cruise.  There seems to be no pattern that we can see.  (It probably has something to do with how full the ship is but we don't have access to that information so it seems random.)  If knowing your room in advance is important to you, you might want to pick your own.

Undesirable locations aren't always easy to define.  Some people would hate a long walk to the stairs/elevators.  Others would love it because there would be no one walking past their room making noise.

Below is the only pattern I can see for room assignments (for GTY).  There are definitely 3 infection points (100+, 30-39 & 10-19).

We just did a GTY Balcony on a future Anthem cruise (1st time).  We received our assignment 13 days from sailing (10-19 is the last big chunk of assignments).

Not sure about noise for this GTY assignment.  We have not been on the cruise yet, but it is on Deck 12 (close to forward elevators - Starboard side).

Curt from Canada