Curt From Canada

This made me laugh so much i dropped a stitch .... 🤣 

You got me ... I hate making predictions, but this time I am compelled to (in a bid to save my sanity ... I have been cooped up too long).
😉
COVID-19 hopefully will become something like the flu.  Some will choose to get vaccinated (especially the most vulnerable), others will choose a possible infection and hopefully not become too ill.  For many years, I did not get a flu shot.  I was young and able to sweat through the 2 or 3 days.  When our parents started getting older, we got flu shots to protect others (not really ourselves).  With a 92 year old spectacular Father-in-law living with us and a newborn grandchild close by, we keep our sleeves rolled up and anyone can inject us with any vaccine they want to ... not for ourselves, so much, but for some very precious people.
From a cruising perspective, there will not be a requirement (eventually).  If there is none for flu, measles, diphtheria, polio, etc, I can not see there being one for COVID-19 ... it is just a matter of time.
A very hopeful Curt from Canada
🙂

"And if Royal ceased to exist , what would be your second choice of cruise line?"
This is "Crazy Talk".  This is what 2 years of stress does to people.  The next question will be: "Is anyone taking up knitting???"
😉
For my soul mate and I (2 very, very deprived cruisers) there is only Royal.  Value, choice (over "all" included), variety ... we have tons of fun with Royal.
Curt from Canada

You got me ... I hate making predictions, but this time I am compelled to (in a bid to save my sanity ... I have been cooped up too long).
😉
COVID-19 hopefully will become something like the flu.  Some will choose to get vaccinated (especially the most vulnerable), others will choose a possible infection and hopefully not become too ill.  For many years, I did not get a flu shot.  I was young and able to sweat through the 2 or 3 days.  When our parents started getting older, we got flu shots to protect others (not really ourselves).  With a 92 year old spectacular Father-in-law living with us and a newborn grandchild close by, we keep our sleeves rolled up and anyone can inject us with any vaccine they want to ... not for ourselves, so much, but for some very precious people.
From a cruising perspective, there will not be a requirement (eventually).  If there is none for flu, measles, diphtheria, polio, etc, I can not see there being one for COVID-19 ... it is just a matter of time.
A very hopeful Curt from Canada
🙂

You got me ... I hate making predictions, but this time I am compelled to (in a bid to save my sanity ... I have been cooped up too long).
😉
COVID-19 hopefully will become something like the flu.  Some will choose to get vaccinated (especially the most vulnerable), others will choose a possible infection and hopefully not become too ill.  For many years, I did not get a flu shot.  I was young and able to sweat through the 2 or 3 days.  When our parents started getting older, we got flu shots to protect others (not really ourselves).  With a 92 year old spectacular Father-in-law living with us and a newborn grandchild close by, we keep our sleeves rolled up and anyone can inject us with any vaccine they want to ... not for ourselves, so much, but for some very precious people.
From a cruising perspective, there will not be a requirement (eventually).  If there is none for flu, measles, diphtheria, polio, etc, I can not see there being one for COVID-19 ... it is just a matter of time.
A very hopeful Curt from Canada
🙂

You got me ... I hate making predictions, but this time I am compelled to (in a bid to save my sanity ... I have been cooped up too long).
😉
COVID-19 hopefully will become something like the flu.  Some will choose to get vaccinated (especially the most vulnerable), others will choose a possible infection and hopefully not become too ill.  For many years, I did not get a flu shot.  I was young and able to sweat through the 2 or 3 days.  When our parents started getting older, we got flu shots to protect others (not really ourselves).  With a 92 year old spectacular Father-in-law living with us and a newborn grandchild close by, we keep our sleeves rolled up and anyone can inject us with any vaccine they want to ... not for ourselves, so much, but for some very precious people.
From a cruising perspective, there will not be a requirement (eventually).  If there is none for flu, measles, diphtheria, polio, etc, I can not see there being one for COVID-19 ... it is just a matter of time.
A very hopeful Curt from Canada
🙂

You also have no idea if anyone's positive or not since Disney requires no testing either. To me, that's more alarming than someone's vaccination status these days.

I understand where you are coming from.  I don't enjoy wearing masks myself. 
Early on I cancelled cruises and booked another cruise line only to have that cruise line adopt the same mask guidance i thought I was escaping.
As I started cruising from Florida I realized it wasn't that bad.  All the mask worries I projected proved to be unfounded.  I learned it wasn't as bad as I feared. 
Each of us has our own level of tolerance for the requirements to cruise during a pandemic.  Right or wrong, agree or disagree, is subjective.  The requirements to cruise right now are not subjective.
The protocols are well known and they are not available for us to debate.  They are established by the CDC and cruise lines.  We, as cruisers don't get to pick them.  We have a choice.  The choice is to accept them or don't sail.  
Personal opinions aside, and I have many thoughts and opinions on the protocols, the requirements to sail during this pandemic are well established and well known.
It's as simple as...  if you don't like them, don't sail.  
 Your choice.  It's isn't up for a vote.  To cruise means we must all agree to the protocols, or don't go.  
The cruise lines don't have the choice to offer a cruise you seek right now.  Sorry.  

I recently sailed on Navigator when these new rules were in effect.
I shared my thoughts here: https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2021/12/26/navigator-of-the-seas-live-blog-day-2-sea-day
In reality, it wasn't that much of a change since these places are when you're also likely drinking/eating.

The reality is that presently covid is on cruise ships more then it ever has been since the restart. 
They seem to be doing whatever they can to slow it down and AVOID another shut down. 
If you aren't comfortable by all means cancel. But I truly believe this is better then the alternatives which could be no cruises. 

I have been defeated.  If I didn't have a real job, and had time to return to University for the 4th-Year Course ... "Travelling in a Pandemic 401", I think I could prepare for my Grandeur Cruise in FEB 2022.  However, the "Gods conspire against me", and this latest one has put me on the sidelines until MAY 2022 (our next cruise ... hopefully):

Given the number of emails we get sent, the number of politicians screwing this up, news outlets "flipping a coin" to determine what to say next, and science being shuffled into the background, we will be sitting on the sidelines for the next few months.  We will continue to live vicariously through the many contributors on this forum (thanks to all) ... every time we cancel a cruise, we schedule 1 or 2 more.  I feel very sad for our great TA at MEI (Jacki).  
Good luck to all ... we will be watching for now.
Stay Safe, Stay Apart, Stay Connected,
Curt from Canada and his lovely and talented Soulmate.
 
 

I have been defeated.  If I didn't have a real job, and had time to return to University for the 4th-Year Course ... "Travelling in a Pandemic 401", I think I could prepare for my Grandeur Cruise in FEB 2022.  However, the "Gods conspire against me", and this latest one has put me on the sidelines until MAY 2022 (our next cruise ... hopefully):

Given the number of emails we get sent, the number of politicians screwing this up, news outlets "flipping a coin" to determine what to say next, and science being shuffled into the background, we will be sitting on the sidelines for the next few months.  We will continue to live vicariously through the many contributors on this forum (thanks to all) ... every time we cancel a cruise, we schedule 1 or 2 more.  I feel very sad for our great TA at MEI (Jacki).  
Good luck to all ... we will be watching for now.
Stay Safe, Stay Apart, Stay Connected,
Curt from Canada and his lovely and talented Soulmate.
 
 

I have been defeated.  If I didn't have a real job, and had time to return to University for the 4th-Year Course ... "Travelling in a Pandemic 401", I think I could prepare for my Grandeur Cruise in FEB 2022.  However, the "Gods conspire against me", and this latest one has put me on the sidelines until MAY 2022 (our next cruise ... hopefully):

Given the number of emails we get sent, the number of politicians screwing this up, news outlets "flipping a coin" to determine what to say next, and science being shuffled into the background, we will be sitting on the sidelines for the next few months.  We will continue to live vicariously through the many contributors on this forum (thanks to all) ... every time we cancel a cruise, we schedule 1 or 2 more.  I feel very sad for our great TA at MEI (Jacki).  
Good luck to all ... we will be watching for now.
Stay Safe, Stay Apart, Stay Connected,
Curt from Canada and his lovely and talented Soulmate.
 
 

There absolutely is a safe enough.  Zero cases will never work as a target.  As long as there are cases on land there will be cases on ships.  At some point our society has to find the equilibrium where the level of impact is good enough compared to the impact on our lives.  We reached that equilibrium with the flu.  We need to find it for COVID.  Then it will be good enough.  
Protocols have worked pretty darn good during and before delta.  Not perfect as there were some cases on board during the peak of delta, but nothing like on land, so clearly the protocols were very effective against that variant.
Different variants will require adapting.  Had they not adapted the protocols, how many more cases would there have been?  100 cases on board instead of 50?  We'll never know.  The presence of some cases does not mean the protocols didn't work at all.  That is not proof that mask don't work.
This will continue to be an evolving process.  As new variants with different characteristics are introduced it will require new actions and protocols.
For example, perhaps the lesson learned over the past 2 to 4 weeks is that maybe they should have cancelled guest reservations as unpopular as that would have been.   Perhaps had they cancelled 10% of reservations there would have been 25 cases on board instead of 50.  We'll never know, but it stands to reason if they had cancelled 50% of reservations there likely would have been dramatically fewer cases.  Cancelling 50% is excessive.  Cancelling 0% possibly too much of an under-reaction.  Somewhere in between is a magic number that would be better while not being excessive.
One thing is for sure.  If the next variants spreads easily like Omicron and kills like Delta it will require more stringent protocols.  If the next variant is weaker than Omicron then society and governments need to avoid overreacting.  
It's also entirely possible the only reason they realized the number of cases that they did recently was because of the new first time cruises that refuse to follow protocols.  We've all seen them.  Weekend cruisers have lower protocols acceptance rates.  Holiday cruises saw more reports of "those" people who refused to follow protocols.  Unmasked kids running around.  Perhaps the entire recent outbreaks are due to those folks and the solution is mask police who kick people off ships or lock them in their cabins with a guard at the door.  

The protocols would be OK, if I would take the time to understand them.  I think their is a 4th year university course being planned (Cruise Protocols 401).
😉
 
Curt from Canada

The protocols would be OK, if I would take the time to understand them.  I think their is a 4th year university course being planned (Cruise Protocols 401).
😉
 
Curt from Canada

We have an advantage and a "restriction":
Advantage: Frequent Flyer Miles ... I really do not care where the cruise originates.  The destinations are the main draw.
Restriction: Canada ... once the frequent flyer miles run out (and they will), we are limited to Bayonne, Boston and Baltimore (I wish there were more B's) as home ports.  Flying to Florida is not that much less money than flying to Barbados (and even west coast or some European hubs too).
Deane

"Can someone send me a Cruise Compass from XYZ of the Seas?  I am going on the ship next week and I want to do some detailed planning".
This request comes up multiple times each month.  As a Cruise Planning Addict I know exactly what they are going through.  I have the "Cruise Compass" tab on the Royal Caribbean Blog as a favourite on my browser.  Last month, I stumbled on a "hack".  I hope my brothers and sisters of the "Order of Overly Organized" [OoOO] enjoy this one.
I use the Royal Caribbean phone APP that lists all of future cruises I have. Then I:
Go to the bottom of the start up screen (it lists all of our future cruises) and press the "Get more details on ships we support" tab at the very bottom. Find your ship that you will sail on ... I know all of them are not there but 23 of them are!. Select the ship you will be sailing on. Find a sailing date similar to the one you will sail on (you might have to do some digging on the Royal Website to find a similar one).  I choose the one that is sailing currently or as close to today as possible. Press Daily Planner and ALL of the On Line Cruise Compasses are available for you to view. I am looking at DAY 1 of Independance of the Seas for the NOV 01 to NOV 05 sailing right now.  I know there will be these events on these days:
DAY 1: 8:00PM Headliner Showtime (in this case Nate Weatherup) ... this was in the past.
DAY 2: 9:15PM Ice Spectaclar: Freeze Frame! (V) ... this has not even happened yet (it is 7:49PM in Montreal right now).
DAY 3: 3:30PM Name That 80's Tune Trivia (V) in the Schooner Bar
I think you get my gist. 
It is an absolute Disney World for members of the OoOO.  It is not as nicely laid out as "real" Cruise Planners', but it will definitely scratch that itch for all my brothers and sisters of the OoOO.
I hope this helps,
 
Curt from Canada

"Can someone send me a Cruise Compass from XYZ of the Seas?  I am going on the ship next week and I want to do some detailed planning".
This request comes up multiple times each month.  As a Cruise Planning Addict I know exactly what they are going through.  I have the "Cruise Compass" tab on the Royal Caribbean Blog as a favourite on my browser.  Last month, I stumbled on a "hack".  I hope my brothers and sisters of the "Order of Overly Organized" [OoOO] enjoy this one.
I use the Royal Caribbean phone APP that lists all of future cruises I have. Then I:
Go to the bottom of the start up screen (it lists all of our future cruises) and press the "Get more details on ships we support" tab at the very bottom. Find your ship that you will sail on ... I know all of them are not there but 23 of them are!. Select the ship you will be sailing on. Find a sailing date similar to the one you will sail on (you might have to do some digging on the Royal Website to find a similar one).  I choose the one that is sailing currently or as close to today as possible. Press Daily Planner and ALL of the On Line Cruise Compasses are available for you to view. I am looking at DAY 1 of Independance of the Seas for the NOV 01 to NOV 05 sailing right now.  I know there will be these events on these days:
DAY 1: 8:00PM Headliner Showtime (in this case Nate Weatherup) ... this was in the past.
DAY 2: 9:15PM Ice Spectaclar: Freeze Frame! (V) ... this has not even happened yet (it is 7:49PM in Montreal right now).
DAY 3: 3:30PM Name That 80's Tune Trivia (V) in the Schooner Bar
I think you get my gist. 
It is an absolute Disney World for members of the OoOO.  It is not as nicely laid out as "real" Cruise Planners', but it will definitely scratch that itch for all my brothers and sisters of the OoOO.
I hope this helps,
 
Curt from Canada

"Can someone send me a Cruise Compass from XYZ of the Seas?  I am going on the ship next week and I want to do some detailed planning".
This request comes up multiple times each month.  As a Cruise Planning Addict I know exactly what they are going through.  I have the "Cruise Compass" tab on the Royal Caribbean Blog as a favourite on my browser.  Last month, I stumbled on a "hack".  I hope my brothers and sisters of the "Order of Overly Organized" [OoOO] enjoy this one.
I use the Royal Caribbean phone APP that lists all of future cruises I have. Then I:
Go to the bottom of the start up screen (it lists all of our future cruises) and press the "Get more details on ships we support" tab at the very bottom. Find your ship that you will sail on ... I know all of them are not there but 23 of them are!. Select the ship you will be sailing on. Find a sailing date similar to the one you will sail on (you might have to do some digging on the Royal Website to find a similar one).  I choose the one that is sailing currently or as close to today as possible. Press Daily Planner and ALL of the On Line Cruise Compasses are available for you to view. I am looking at DAY 1 of Independance of the Seas for the NOV 01 to NOV 05 sailing right now.  I know there will be these events on these days:
DAY 1: 8:00PM Headliner Showtime (in this case Nate Weatherup) ... this was in the past.
DAY 2: 9:15PM Ice Spectaclar: Freeze Frame! (V) ... this has not even happened yet (it is 7:49PM in Montreal right now).
DAY 3: 3:30PM Name That 80's Tune Trivia (V) in the Schooner Bar
I think you get my gist. 
It is an absolute Disney World for members of the OoOO.  It is not as nicely laid out as "real" Cruise Planners', but it will definitely scratch that itch for all my brothers and sisters of the OoOO.
I hope this helps,
 
Curt from Canada

Glad to have helped.  However, be careful as you travel down the rabbit's hole.  I once spent almost 3 hours preparing for 3 future cruises.  I now know how Alice felt.
Are there others outnthere that schedule each and every Martini they drink each and every day?
😉
Curt from Canada

"Can someone send me a Cruise Compass from XYZ of the Seas?  I am going on the ship next week and I want to do some detailed planning".
This request comes up multiple times each month.  As a Cruise Planning Addict I know exactly what they are going through.  I have the "Cruise Compass" tab on the Royal Caribbean Blog as a favourite on my browser.  Last month, I stumbled on a "hack".  I hope my brothers and sisters of the "Order of Overly Organized" [OoOO] enjoy this one.
I use the Royal Caribbean phone APP that lists all of future cruises I have. Then I:
Go to the bottom of the start up screen (it lists all of our future cruises) and press the "Get more details on ships we support" tab at the very bottom. Find your ship that you will sail on ... I know all of them are not there but 23 of them are!. Select the ship you will be sailing on. Find a sailing date similar to the one you will sail on (you might have to do some digging on the Royal Website to find a similar one).  I choose the one that is sailing currently or as close to today as possible. Press Daily Planner and ALL of the On Line Cruise Compasses are available for you to view. I am looking at DAY 1 of Independance of the Seas for the NOV 01 to NOV 05 sailing right now.  I know there will be these events on these days:
DAY 1: 8:00PM Headliner Showtime (in this case Nate Weatherup) ... this was in the past.
DAY 2: 9:15PM Ice Spectaclar: Freeze Frame! (V) ... this has not even happened yet (it is 7:49PM in Montreal right now).
DAY 3: 3:30PM Name That 80's Tune Trivia (V) in the Schooner Bar
I think you get my gist. 
It is an absolute Disney World for members of the OoOO.  It is not as nicely laid out as "real" Cruise Planners', but it will definitely scratch that itch for all my brothers and sisters of the OoOO.
I hope this helps,
 
Curt from Canada

"Can someone send me a Cruise Compass from XYZ of the Seas?  I am going on the ship next week and I want to do some detailed planning".
This request comes up multiple times each month.  As a Cruise Planning Addict I know exactly what they are going through.  I have the "Cruise Compass" tab on the Royal Caribbean Blog as a favourite on my browser.  Last month, I stumbled on a "hack".  I hope my brothers and sisters of the "Order of Overly Organized" [OoOO] enjoy this one.
I use the Royal Caribbean phone APP that lists all of future cruises I have. Then I:
Go to the bottom of the start up screen (it lists all of our future cruises) and press the "Get more details on ships we support" tab at the very bottom. Find your ship that you will sail on ... I know all of them are not there but 23 of them are!. Select the ship you will be sailing on. Find a sailing date similar to the one you will sail on (you might have to do some digging on the Royal Website to find a similar one).  I choose the one that is sailing currently or as close to today as possible. Press Daily Planner and ALL of the On Line Cruise Compasses are available for you to view. I am looking at DAY 1 of Independance of the Seas for the NOV 01 to NOV 05 sailing right now.  I know there will be these events on these days:
DAY 1: 8:00PM Headliner Showtime (in this case Nate Weatherup) ... this was in the past.
DAY 2: 9:15PM Ice Spectaclar: Freeze Frame! (V) ... this has not even happened yet (it is 7:49PM in Montreal right now).
DAY 3: 3:30PM Name That 80's Tune Trivia (V) in the Schooner Bar
I think you get my gist. 
It is an absolute Disney World for members of the OoOO.  It is not as nicely laid out as "real" Cruise Planners', but it will definitely scratch that itch for all my brothers and sisters of the OoOO.
I hope this helps,
 
Curt from Canada

Glad to have helped.  However, be careful as you travel down the rabbit's hole.  I once spent almost 3 hours preparing for 3 future cruises.  I now know how Alice felt.
Are there others outnthere that schedule each and every Martini they drink each and every day?
😉
Curt from Canada

"Can someone send me a Cruise Compass from XYZ of the Seas?  I am going on the ship next week and I want to do some detailed planning".
This request comes up multiple times each month.  As a Cruise Planning Addict I know exactly what they are going through.  I have the "Cruise Compass" tab on the Royal Caribbean Blog as a favourite on my browser.  Last month, I stumbled on a "hack".  I hope my brothers and sisters of the "Order of Overly Organized" [OoOO] enjoy this one.
I use the Royal Caribbean phone APP that lists all of future cruises I have. Then I:
Go to the bottom of the start up screen (it lists all of our future cruises) and press the "Get more details on ships we support" tab at the very bottom. Find your ship that you will sail on ... I know all of them are not there but 23 of them are!. Select the ship you will be sailing on. Find a sailing date similar to the one you will sail on (you might have to do some digging on the Royal Website to find a similar one).  I choose the one that is sailing currently or as close to today as possible. Press Daily Planner and ALL of the On Line Cruise Compasses are available for you to view. I am looking at DAY 1 of Independance of the Seas for the NOV 01 to NOV 05 sailing right now.  I know there will be these events on these days:
DAY 1: 8:00PM Headliner Showtime (in this case Nate Weatherup) ... this was in the past.
DAY 2: 9:15PM Ice Spectaclar: Freeze Frame! (V) ... this has not even happened yet (it is 7:49PM in Montreal right now).
DAY 3: 3:30PM Name That 80's Tune Trivia (V) in the Schooner Bar
I think you get my gist. 
It is an absolute Disney World for members of the OoOO.  It is not as nicely laid out as "real" Cruise Planners', but it will definitely scratch that itch for all my brothers and sisters of the OoOO.
I hope this helps,
 
Curt from Canada