S.Marie

In the meantime, reach out and give your TAs a virtual hug. With round #? (I lost count) of cancellations, redeployment of ships, and all other craziness, their jobs could not be any harder right now. 

I think TA’s should have the option of sailing on these “test” cruises so they can let all their customers know how the protocols work and what to expect. I mean they are the ones helping to sell these cabins! @Sharlaaren’t you ready for a free cruise? 

I am glad that Mr. Fain is remaining so positive. That gives some hope, but again, they have to know by now which ships will NOT be sailing in November so I am disappointed that RC has not revealed at least that much information to its customers yet. I have other sailings to look forward to for 2021 but my November 2020 trip was the biggest one yet that I had planned for my family. I need to know if I should cancel all of the ancillary plans/bookings (hotel, car rental, etc.) I have related to this cruise but I’m not canceling until RC has said that the November thanksgiving Oasis cruise is a no go.

I am glad that Mr. Fain is remaining so positive. That gives some hope, but again, they have to know by now which ships will NOT be sailing in November so I am disappointed that RC has not revealed at least that much information to its customers yet. I have other sailings to look forward to for 2021 but my November 2020 trip was the biggest one yet that I had planned for my family. I need to know if I should cancel all of the ancillary plans/bookings (hotel, car rental, etc.) I have related to this cruise but I’m not canceling until RC has said that the November thanksgiving Oasis cruise is a no go.

@JeffB, as "Chief Science Officer", I just want to say thank you for that clear and straightforward explanation. Much more concise than I could have managed. ? 

To be clear, COVID-19 is the disease that presents through infection with SARS-CoV-2. While SARS-CoV-2 is related to the common cold in that it belongs to the family of coronaviruses, it is markedly different, hence the term novel coronavirus to identify it. The main difference is how the virus attaches to human cells, predominantly in the respiratory tract but also others.
So far, studies of the novel virus indicate it isn't mutating. This and the novelty of the virus and particularly the spike protein that is the mechanism for attachment to the host cells, makes it a strong candidate for a vaccine that will be highly effective. While studies underway demonstrate that a COVID-19 vaccine will work and that side effects are mild (the typical arm soreness, some mild fatigue). We do not know yet how long an immunized person will be protected. However, it is known that the virus is not mutating, would not require new vaccines to address that, but rather booster shots.
There are different types of vaccines in development but not yet FDA approved to prevent COVID-19. All of them target different features of SARS-CoV-2 to prevent it from replicating inside host cells or that prompt an antibody response so that humans have a head start when exposed to SARS-CoV-2. The common cold has no such novelty and attempts to promote immune responses to prevent a cold have not proven to work.
Influenza, on the other hand, is susceptible to vaccines even though every season produces new, mutated flu strains. There are two ways influenza vaccines work. The first is by using an inactivated (killed) virus whose presence when introduced to the body by an injection, prompts a robust immune response. The second is by injecting a specific protein analog that prompts a human immune response. These vaccines are not always perfect protection but studies demonstrate that if it does not prevent symptoms, it lessens them often in significant ways. Neither of these types of vaccines give you the flu.
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/misconceptions.htm
Bottom line: get a flu shot and in the pandemic circumstance this is a doubly important public health preventative measure. Also, when vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 become available, especially if you are at higher risk for serious complications from COVID-19, avail yourself of it. The importance of getting a COVID shot in contributing to herd immunity and allowing a return to social and economic activity is absolutely essential.       

I'm driving down to Matt's villa and I'm going to hide in his pantry.
That way, I get to eat his foo....okay, wait - I'm gonna hide in his 
liquor cabinet, then I'll be among the first to know if we're sailing!
And if we are cancelled, I'll be too over-Krakened to care.

100% Spot On!! I knew this was going to happen. Like many, I cancelled everything into next year and should something give by year end, a last minute booking would happen. Otherwise, it certainly looks like 2020 is a bust!!

I certainly agree with you.  We're scheduled Nov 1 and I'm sure that won't happen.  But it's just over 3 weeks and it's ridiculous that they keep avoiding making it official.  And people with Thanksgiving cruises probably need to change their plans.  It's very unfair and shows a big lack of customer consideration when I think Royal's customers are some of the most loyal in the world.

Good on NCL for not dragging their customers along when their sailings were less than 30 days out.

In summary, here is how I feel about cruising right now:

@twangster and @JeffB I personally really take notice when the two of you post your insights and predictions. I applaud the both of you for communicating with respect for one another and devoid the venom some on this venue spew. A huge thank you allowing me a ton of really educated information. 
We will continue to be loyal to Royal and look forward to our next cruise, having this back and forth helps me to have a better idea of the goings on outside of my bubble so to speak.  Kudos to you both, looking forward to safely sailing soon.

November isn't looking good, honestly.
 

I really don't think that even December will happen at this point!! RCG should be making an announcement soon as history has shown.

If that’s the case and they only have a small slate (based on what they e said before, short cruises, etc..) then cancel the others. 7 night sailings don’t look probable for November so let those people know. 

We have two cruises booked yet this year and the cruise planner prices jumped today. I got some items before the sale was over but waiting too long on others.

@WAAAYTOOO yes- last year’s Black Friday/cyber Monday deals were not worth the time I spent hoping for good deals. But I am fine letting go of these sales if Royal (and the CDC) say that cruises are a go in November!
 

@Neesa I really wanted to do the thrill and chill too! If Oasis is not one of the ones that will resume sailing in November, but Mariner is, I will likely be switching over to Mariner ?
These cruise planner prices, especially on the cabanas at Perfect Day, are just too good to pass up!

We live in North Carolina and always drive to Florida when we cruise. It's a two day trip, but we have friends we can visit in Fl for an overnight visit and stop in Savannah, Ga or Charleston, Sc on the way home for a few days. Flying doesn't work for us.......someone ALWAYS overpacks and brings way too many shoes.....and it isn't my darling wife. I had to say that because she reads what I post and I bruise easily. ?

Well, I finally called the C&A department at Royal looking for updated info concerning my Nov 1st Harmony cruise.  It is pretty much what @Matt has written about - No One Knows.  While I have received my "Guest Ticket Book" pdf file, Royal has not yet published any documents describing the requirements or rules for me to follow on my sailing.  In addition, they cannot provide any information on port status or my itinerary.  Their best advice is to wait to see what happens.  I hope they publish some guidelines and/or make some sort of announcement soon... 

It was our 7th wedding anniversary and we decided to take the 2019 holiday cruise on Mariner since we never had a honeymoon. We had so much fun but one of our favorite things is the unlimited dining package! We are foodies so we tried every restaurant. We went to Izumi Hibachi twice because the food was soooo good! 

We have no idea what we are going to do. We are traveling with our 3 kids and while my husband and me would prefer to fly, the cost to pay for all of us to fly to any of the Florida ports is high and we are not ready to do any flying with the kids just yet. On the other hand, I like the control we have with our driving bubble although we are not looking forward to an 11 hour drive with the kids (I’m sure we will be pulling our hair out with stops and bored kids...), being tired before the cruise starts, and having to get a rental car so that we can comfortably fit all of us for a long distance trip. 
 
So we are holding off on making a decision until we have more concrete info about when and how cruising will resume.

We have no idea what we are going to do. We are traveling with our 3 kids and while my husband and me would prefer to fly, the cost to pay for all of us to fly to any of the Florida ports is high and we are not ready to do any flying with the kids just yet. On the other hand, I like the control we have with our driving bubble although we are not looking forward to an 11 hour drive with the kids (I’m sure we will be pulling our hair out with stops and bored kids...), being tired before the cruise starts, and having to get a rental car so that we can comfortably fit all of us for a long distance trip. 
 
So we are holding off on making a decision until we have more concrete info about when and how cruising will resume.

It was our 7th wedding anniversary and we decided to take the 2019 holiday cruise on Mariner since we never had a honeymoon. We had so much fun but one of our favorite things is the unlimited dining package! We are foodies so we tried every restaurant. We went to Izumi Hibachi twice because the food was soooo good!