uniongodess

I plan to use my FCC on a cruise for June 2021.  I reserved it late last year, so it doesn’t have to be a new reservation.

Us too, 4/4-4/16

I live in MD, wife is a teacher. Spring break is now make up week. So no cruise for us that we had scheduled for a year. 

If Grandeur departs Baltimore on May 9 - #stillgoing

I think that is what we are seeing people cancel because of more than the virus but the fear of being quarantined.  Many people cannot miss work or work from home for 14 days.  This is a personal decision for everyone and only you know your health, family and work situations.  The great news is you dont have to rush to make the decision.

We always got the booklet for our son.  It is much safer, he is on his 3rd and he is 12.  You never know when you will need it.  We don’t even travel that much.  His current passport has no stamps, but we used it last year for the Alaskan cruise.

The Flu is under reported in the US and it's BIG business here.  Drug manufacturers make billions of dollars from the flu.  No wonder there isn't a permanent cure, big business doesn't want the flu eliminated.  
This is why the CDC estimates between 14,000 and 36,000 have died from it in the US so far this flu season but they don't really know.  Think about it... is it 14,000 deaths or 36,000 deaths?  That's a huge difference.  Plus the data they do estimate from is extrapolated from just 8.5% of the US population.  So take CDC numbers with a huge grain of salt because they have very low accuracy.    
As such a developed nation we really don't do a very good job of tracking or handling the flu.  Doctor's are not required to report it.  Most people who get it go to the store and spend $20 - $50 on OTC flu drugs.  Everyone who is infected with the flu is allowed to wander about and infect everyone else.  Can't miss church or work, better spread this virus around.  Ride the bus with the flu?  Sure!  Why not?
At the moment there is much greater reliability in COVID-19 reporting and tracking in China then there ever has been of the flu in the US.  Flu statistics are just a little better than throwing a dart at a dart board.
For this reason you can't compare the numbers of flu versus COVID-19 that is available on the internet using a google search because the flu numbers have such terrible accuracy.
From the CDC website:
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/preliminary-in-season-estimates.htm
This web page provides weekly, preliminary estimates of the cumulative in-season numbers of flu illnesses, medical visits, hospitalizations, and deaths in the United States. CDC does not know the exact number of people who have been sick and affected by influenza because influenza is not a reportable disease in most areas of the U.S. However, CDC has estimated the burden of flu since 2010 using a mathematical model that is based on data collected through the U.S. Influenza Surveillance System, a network that covers approximately 8.5% of the U.S. population (~27 million people).
 

Doctors in the US don't want the flu eliminated either.  Those 12,000,000 -17,000,000 (that's millions) of doctor visits are each billable events, more than the simple co-pay most of us pay, that's just the amount we pay, not the amount the doctor bills. 
The graphic above is a poster for buying stock in the US health care business.  
Bottom line:
Want to get sick?  Go to your doctor during flu season.  Do you see them sanitizing those magazines in the waiting room?  How about the door knob for their office?  Or the arm rest on the chairs?
Want to reduce the chances of getting sick?  Go on a cruise.

Ugh I just checked cruise planner and I have about 239 for my next RCC. I am 60 days away for my first ever Carnival cruise. I didn't book it, its a birthday cruise my brother's friend planned. But the great thing is that after that all my cruises until 2022 are on RCC and within 104 days of each other.

I am 45 and 494.
Monday- edit spread sheet, Tuesday- print luggage tags, today- fold luggage tag and find those plastic holders.
I packed most of the clothes in packing cubes in suitcase, ordered a new garment bag for the formal wear, iron clothes and put back on clothes rack, check prices on excursions and ship purchases to make sure prices haven’t dropped, print out all confirmation, Review/memorize ship decks.  Watch YouTube, check the forums here.  Gotta stay busy!

We always got the booklet for our son.  It is much safer, he is on his 3rd and he is 12.  You never know when you will need it.  We don’t even travel that much.  His current passport has no stamps, but we used it last year for the Alaskan cruise.

I am 45 and 494.
Monday- edit spread sheet, Tuesday- print luggage tags, today- fold luggage tag and find those plastic holders.
I packed most of the clothes in packing cubes in suitcase, ordered a new garment bag for the formal wear, iron clothes and put back on clothes rack, check prices on excursions and ship purchases to make sure prices haven’t dropped, print out all confirmation, Review/memorize ship decks.  Watch YouTube, check the forums here.  Gotta stay busy!

I am 45 and 494.
Monday- edit spread sheet, Tuesday- print luggage tags, today- fold luggage tag and find those plastic holders.
I packed most of the clothes in packing cubes in suitcase, ordered a new garment bag for the formal wear, iron clothes and put back on clothes rack, check prices on excursions and ship purchases to make sure prices haven’t dropped, print out all confirmation, Review/memorize ship decks.  Watch YouTube, check the forums here.  Gotta stay busy!

I am 45 and 494.
Monday- edit spread sheet, Tuesday- print luggage tags, today- fold luggage tag and find those plastic holders.
I packed most of the clothes in packing cubes in suitcase, ordered a new garment bag for the formal wear, iron clothes and put back on clothes rack, check prices on excursions and ship purchases to make sure prices haven’t dropped, print out all confirmation, Review/memorize ship decks.  Watch YouTube, check the forums here.  Gotta stay busy!

I am 45 and 494.
Monday- edit spread sheet, Tuesday- print luggage tags, today- fold luggage tag and find those plastic holders.
I packed most of the clothes in packing cubes in suitcase, ordered a new garment bag for the formal wear, iron clothes and put back on clothes rack, check prices on excursions and ship purchases to make sure prices haven’t dropped, print out all confirmation, Review/memorize ship decks.  Watch YouTube, check the forums here.  Gotta stay busy!

It would be heavy to carry on but wine is in glass bottles so I cannot understand why they wouldn't let you.  Miami has been the only port we had issues where they were very strict about the limit of 12.  When going out of a port we can drive to we have been able to take bottles of our local iced tea with us exceeding the size they state.

I haven't tried any glass soda bottles but I regularly bring on glass bottles of wine and would be surprised if you'd have any issue. All experiences I have had with bringing beverages on has been pretty lax (no one seems to be counting beverages or inspecting them too closely). Curious though if anyone knows for sure.

Parents are needed again.  My niece couldn’t board the ship without my sil or bil.  She was 17 staying at adjacent cabin with her sister.

Parents are needed again.  My niece couldn’t board the ship without my sil or bil.  She was 17 staying at adjacent cabin with her sister.

6/27/2021- Harmony 
Mediterranean here we come!

6/27/2021- Harmony 
Mediterranean here we come!

6/27/2021- Harmony 
Mediterranean here we come!

6/27/2021- Harmony 
Mediterranean here we come!

6/27/2021- Harmony 
Mediterranean here we come!

I save $3 on my internet total 12 days and $2 on stuffed animal.

I love how he wants you separate it and only bring what you need.