ehw51

The 1st step was approval of the vaccine.  Now we need as a country and world to distribute it and get it into our arms.  The federal government's goal was 20M doses administered by year end.  As of today 2.1M have been administered or 0.6% of the population.  At this rate it will take years.  As a country we are at 10% of the YE goal.  A score of 10% on any exam in school is an F.  A CEO of a public company would be fired for achieving 10% of the key financial goals.
The new administration is taking a different approach. Instead of leaving the logistics to the states, they will use the powers of the federal government to make it happen.  It has to work.  It will be a huge effort that.  It will take everybody's effort.  Why can't cruise lines have their medical staff help administer the vaccines?  It has to work.
But the vaccine also has to be rolled out in Canada, the UK, Germany, China, India, Egypt and Morocco for it to be safe to travel globally.  On a cruise ship, a plane, train or theatre or neighborhood restaurant there are people from all over the world.  If they were not vaccinated, you are not safe.  
It will take leadership.  The US  has traditionally provided that leadership. 
The buck stops on the President's desk.  
My guess is that it is way to early to say when it will be safe to travel.  In the meantime, wear a mask, social distance, stay home, be smart and watch videos of past vacations.

I got my first vaccine  about 10 days ago.  Not one reaction, didn't really even feel the injection itself.  2nd one next week.

Got the Pfizer vaccine today. So far so good. 

Awesome, that's interesting and exactly the info I was looking for. 
I'm an essential employee myself, not as important as an EMT though of course but my job is essential. They mentioned something about getting us vaccinated but that was a few weeks ago and haven't heard a thing since. I'll wait my turn as it much more important for others to receive their vaccination first. 
My timeline that I'm hoping for is 2nd shot by June, first in May and second June. I'm reading it might be earlier now. 
Good luck to you. Please tell us how your experience good, any side effects. Thank you again for the info. 

I am a Firefighter/EMT and I was notified by my county Health department by email. I had to register and fill out a health questionnaire. Once you complete that process they let me choose the time and date that I would like to get the Vaccine. The time frame only went out a few days because of the Holiday's so I choose my next day off which is tomorrow to get the Vaccine. I know plenty of others that have received it and so far no issues. 

I'll get mine whenever our state gets to Phase 1B.  I have zero trepidation with getting it.

As much as I really, really, really want to cruise again, I want even more to start putting this pandemic behind us.

Any super powers yet?  3rd eye?

Here's hoping!

I get my Covid 19 Vaccine on Wednesday. I feel cautiously optimistic about cruising starting up in the 2nd quarter of next year. At least a few ships at least. It looks like by April anybody in the general public should be able to receive the vaccine. Lets just keep our fingers crossed! 

I thought same thing!

Hi again!!! I have some questions regarding the Cape Liberty Cruise Port. We are sailing on the Anthem in February of 2022. We have cruised from there multiple times since it’s pretty close to our home in Delaware. Even though it’s close, we like to stay at a hotel the day before so we don’t rush to board the day we set sail. We have stayed at a few places before and tried to find some hotels that offer cruise and stay packages for free parking and shuttle. It’s a great amenity but the hotels we have stayed at that offer the program were not the best. Any suggestions on hotels that offer the free parking? Also I know @WAAAYTOOO said that getting to the Star Class section of the terminal can be a headache with the shuttle, so we are looking at hiring a limo service to take us to the terminal from the hotel. Would this be any better? Any suggestions on a service in the area? Trying to pre plan everything now because it gives us something to look forward to. 
 
Thanks, 
Drew 

If you are looking for somewhere just to sleep and possibly leave your car, I like Embassy Suites in Elizabeth, NJ. I wrote about it in my Anthem blog in 2018.
https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php?/topic/5780-anthem-of-the-seas-march-9-17-2018/
However, we actually like staying in Manhattan when sailing out of NJ and for that I love the Intercontinental Times Square (disclaimer: I tend to gravitate towards Intercontinental properties). I blogged about hotel that in my Anthem blog in 2019.
https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php?/topic/13683-cruising-with-greatness-–-anthem-group-cruise-–-july-4-13-2019/
Both times that I sailed out NJ, I did not find the port area to be too crazy. But we got there early around 10am both times. While we did not sail Star either time, signage was clear and easy to find for star. Genies were also visible receiving guests both times that we were there. 

We stayed in Manhattan pre and post cruise... pre cruise we stayed at the Conrad Downtown and post cruise Trump International Central Park.  Both properties were close to desired amenities.  More about these properties can be found in my live blog. 
https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php?/topic/16651-first-time-star-class-8-night-holiday-bahamas-cruise-anthem-122019/
I had considered staying at Hyatt Regency Jersey City pre cruise but ultimately we decided to stay in Manhattan. It was a challenge to find hotels to accommodate 3 without 2 double beds. 
We flew into JFK and we used NY City Limo 134 + tip each way for a full size SUV with a driver meet and greet included at airport.  Had we not had so much luggage, the cost would have been considerably cheaper.  Very reliable. Would definitely use again. 
From Conrad to Liberty cruise port we used Dial 7 $119 + tip + toll each way. Full size SUV. Very reliable. Would definitely use again.  
We sailed on Friday Dec 20th and had a hotel pickup at 9:30am. Traffic was light and we arrived within 35-40 minutes.  Be sure to follow @WAAAYTOOO advice as the pier staff attempted to redirect us a couple times. I told our driver to keep going to star class banners. All was good! 
Hope this helps! 
 
 
 

I think your Star Class challenge in Bayonne may rest with the local traffic folks just trying to get every vehicle to the curb without any awareness of suite or steerage.  The baggage handlers just see a bag, not suite or steerage so they'll be trying to grab your luggage.  The trick with Star Class is getting through the gauntlet of terminal workers just trying to do their jobs.  They aren't Royal employees, they do every ship and cruise line using Cape Liberty so you are just another face in a sea of faces. 
Getting your stuff down to where the Star Class banners are is perhaps where you'll have to be adamant and direct.  Leave my bag alone!   

Congratulations, @Drewtastic86on Star Class.  It is an amazing experience.
We have only stayed in a hotel in the NY area once and that was due to the very first COVID-related cruising mishap (the first for Royal, at any rate).  Our cruise was delayed by 3 days so we had to stay over and wait for them to determine that there had been a false alarm on a possible COVID case on the previous sailing.  I cannot recommend any particular hotel but I can definitely steer you CLEAR of anything in downtown Bayonne.  We had to make a spur-of-the-moment decision while riding in the back of a taxi and we chose poorly.  We normally go against all of the experienced wisdom and fly in on the same day for cruises out of Bayonne.  We simply took Uber from our [awful] hotel to the port once the cruise finally started.  Sorry....no help at all on the question of hotels and rides.
The Star Class area is Zone 6 in Bayonne. The problem is, as I recall, that they (those directing traffic) were limiting who could take that right hand turn and go down to Zone 6.  I don't think they were allowing the cost sharing rides to make that turn so we had to get out on the corner and walk ALL the way down the embarkation gauntlet to get to the SC check-in.  I would say that whatever ride you take, just make SURE that they know and are able to get to Zone 6.  Even once you get to Zone 6 they will try and take your bags so RESIST !
If you have ever sailed out of the suites area of the new terminal in Miami, you will most certainly be underwhelmed at the suites/SC waiting area at Bayonne.  It's small and in no way special.  One good thing about embarkation in Bayonne (Also true at the new terminal in Miami), Star Class (and perhaps the other suites as well...I cannot remember) have a special boarding ramp.  Because I asked for our bags to remain with us throughout the boarding process, we had the porter take our bags right with us in the "private" boarding ramp when it was time to board.  I don't recall there being anyone else boarding with us so I think that ramp may have been for staff and SC only. One interesting thing about keeping your bags with you during boarding.  The bag handlers in Bayonne are Longshoremen (Union) so we had to have 2 different porters during that boarding.  Ship personnel are not permitted to handle bags in the Terminal so we had 1 handler that took our bags from the waiting area up to the ship and a ship's porter take the bags onto the ship and to our Suite.  It was kind of a nuisance, to be honest.  When we did the same process in Miami, someone from the ship came and got our bags in the waiting room and took them all the way to our suite and up the stairs.  It was much nicer.  If you want someone to take your bags upstairs for you (and all of the SC rooms on Anthem are 2-story) then I recommend keeping your bags with you.  If you have them delivered via the normal SC luggage handling process, they will be dropped off downstairs and you will have to schlep them up the stairs yourself.  Not cool.

Not Miami but Bayonne several times, I agree, it's this little corner behind a wall blocking you off from the main open seating area. I believe you're correct about the ramp being for suites only. 
Besides the porter we've had staff inside the terminal shuffle us along in the wrong direction. Let each staff member assisting you know you're in a suite & keep an eye for suite signage.

Following as well. Star class on Anthem out of Bayonne March 2022 - counting the (hundreds) of days... we will just drive to the port that day (we live about 90 minutes away), but I love all of these tidbits about how to do star class right!

Totally agree with this point.  But boarding is quite efficient there, makes up a bit for the lackluster suites area.

Hi everyone this is my first post on this blog.  I've been sailing with Royal Caribbean since 2008, I have sailed on other cruise lines as well but Royal Caribbean is the best in my opinion.  
I do agree with he is saying, I moved both of my 2020 cruises to late October (Symphony of the Seas) and November (Odyssey of the Seas) 2021 and we moved a European cruise to late May (Odyssey of the Seas) 2022.  I 100% believe the cruise industry has been unfairly targeted by the CDC and health organizations around the world while airlines and hotels have been allowed to make up the rules as they go along, having said that I do think people on booked on earlier cruises in 2021 will be in for a few surprises.  I work in the travel industry and the thing that is coming up now for 2021 is vaccination requirements in order to travel especially internationally. In most countries from what I'm hearing the vaccine should be widely available by mid-summer 2021 any one thinking of international travel before then not a good idea.  To reopen and jumpstart tourism and salvage some part of the 2021 busy season I'm hear a lot of place will require visitors to show proof they've been vaccinated.  Call me crazy but I think in time this may migrate over to the cruise industry, I think once the vaccine is widely available cruise lines may require all guest to show proof of vaccination before they are allowed to set foot on any cruise ship. Testing is good and testing is a great way to restart the industry but I don't think it will end with just testing I think requiring all passengers be vaccinated is coming by fall 2021.

I completely agree. We´re just going to ride it out and see what happens, if it´s safe we will cruise, if not we won´t. But we are not going to stay home because we have to wear masks or wash our hands (we are already used to washy washy) it´s part of life now. We´re lucky we have our cruises booked for Nov, so we will have time to see what is going on, if we get canceled we´ll just rebook.  Watch out 2021, lord willing, we will be looking for sun and fun at CoCoc Cay.

I completely agree. We´re just going to ride it out and see what happens, if it´s safe we will cruise, if not we won´t. But we are not going to stay home because we have to wear masks or wash our hands (we are already used to washy washy) it´s part of life now. We´re lucky we have our cruises booked for Nov, so we will have time to see what is going on, if we get canceled we´ll just rebook.  Watch out 2021, lord willing, we will be looking for sun and fun at CoCoc Cay.

If you by measures and restriction you mean masks (we wear them so often now we don't even notice it), less crowds, more open areas and more staff per patron I'm all in. Let the "I'm not going until I can wave my freak flag when ever and where ever" stay home and I and my spouse will enjoy ourselves. We have four cruises booked throughout 2021 and I'm in-line for the vaccine as soon as it is available which will be soon here for my group in Texas. Will have our card and passports stamped "COVID-19 Inoculated" so we can enjoy life, the beach and other ports of call. Watch out 2021, here I come! ??️?️

I also think the longer cruises out of NJ simply haven't been posted yet. I'm watching for Anthem's TA out on NJ which I think is going to be a 12-nighter on 1st May 2022 and that's not been posted yet despite the calendar space and start/end ports indicating that it is likely to happen. 

Gary's one of my favorites.  I hope he's wrong, but he's pretty sensible.  He's also from the U.K. where things are getting worse (not worse than here, just worse for them).

Common sense really, if you are happy to cruise with measures and restrictions in place then book a cruise for 2021, if you dont want so many restrictions in place then dont book it for 2021 leave it for 2022 and hope things are back to some sort of normality by then ? 
One thing he missed out though, if you book a cruise for 2021 and dont enjoy it due to all the restrictions dont bloody moan about it lol