wordell1

JJ is readily available and requires no 2nd shot.

I am assuming that we will be free to do our own thing on the upcoming cruises from Bahamas and Bermuda. I have a RC excusion booked but I generally prefer private excursions, or just get off and walk around the port. Is there an area to walk around at the port? If so, is it worth it? Any beach destinations? - I lilke to have a lounge chair and umbrella and preferably a waiter to bring food and drinks. Any other destinations I should consider? We are pretty open to site seeing if there is something worth it.

Colored wrist bands - easy to show to staff that may be checking for masks.

This is really the best way forward for now.

This is 100% right. It was a very good day, even if they haven't changed the CSO yet.

They see it as a high risk situation because we are "trapped" on the ship. Its ridiculous. Being on a cruise is no different than staying at all all inclusive resort, or to your point, a casino. There are ways to deal with the unlikely event that someone does come down with Covid. The cruise lines have a great plan for this.

They equate cruise ships to prisons and other institutions.

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/11/cdcs-credibility-is-eroding-amid-conflicting-mask-guidance-ex-obama-official-says.html This is notable because it is coming from a former Obama official and from a network that is aligned with the Biden administration. Political pressure is what will cause the White House to force action by the CDC.

I would never order an appetizer and dessert at a restaurant. I love getting to try new things.

Yesterday, Dr Fauci said we should be "almost " back to normal by next Mother's Day. This may take a while.

I can't speak specifically to Symphony, but the 12 to 17 year old group typically has a space set up for them. They have organized activities at different times throughout the ship but are not restricted to any area.

They probably think my email has covid and are putting on 14 masks, a hazmat suit, and rubber gloves before they even read it.

It seems like RC and other cruise lines will have to expansion their "foreign" cruise concept in the short term. Hopefully they can expand their operations in the short term and offer reasonable travel to the embarkation ports in places like Bahamas, St Martin, Barbados, Mexico, and others. The CDC is being obstinate and the only solution is to work around them and show the Washington politicians that people safety make their own decisions about their own health. The truth is that at this point, we don't need them anymore.

No response at all so far. Their actions don't even follow their own guidance on similar activities so how could they be defended?

The CDC isn't going to give up control unfortunately. Hopefully, the Biden administration becomes convinced that this is bad politics. I have my doubts as to whether that will happen.

Unfortunately, the issues are very different. The executive branch has very broad powers when it comes to international affairs and very limited powers when dealing with domestic affairs. Since the ships are foreign flagged, it will be considered an international issue and the executive branch will likely prevail in the absence of direct legislation by congress.

I sent in a question using the "contact the CDC" page on their web site. Here is the text. We will see if I get a response. "I have a question as to why you would require such draconain restrictions for people who are already vaccinated? Requiring masks outdoors at the pool area violates your own guideance on mask use outdoors by vaccinated individuals. The requirement for wearing masks during an "extended dinner" is laughable, and not followed in any US state even by those who are not vaccinated. It is silly to put out there a plan for cruise lines to have 95% vaccinated cruises and make no distinction between those cruises, and those with non vaccinated people. Please get your act together and as you always say, "follow the science""

The cruise lines should just get 1 or 2 ships certified and then use it as a shuttle from the FL ports to the Bahamas. I'm guessing it could leave in the morning and arrive same day. Check in could be done in US and then just move everyone from ship to ship in Nassau or Grand Bahama. Publicly tell the CDC to F themselves, and then set some reasonal restrictions for both vaccinated and non vaccinated cruises. Let people choose which one - masks/social distancing on non vaccinated, no masks on vaccinated.

All of the parts about the pool deck violate the CDC's own guidance on mask use by vaccinated people, which was itself a total joke. The parts about "extended" meals isn't followed at any resaurant in the US.

I feel like i'm in a Monty Python sketch.

I thought that was just for the "test" cruises

Ok, I probably read it wrong.

Was there any direction on protocols for the 98/95% vaccinated cruises? There was a lot about the test cruises, but if it was there, I missed it.

They are supposed to approve Pfizer for 12-16 year olds next week and 2-12 by mid summer. With Pfizer it is 5 weeks from first shot to fully vaccinated so it very possible to have 12 and up vaccinated by July and the rest vaccinated by Sept. I hate to say it, but the anti vaxer will have to wait until the cases drop to nothing before the CDC will let them do anything close to normal. Ironically, they are preventing that from happening as quickly as it could.