Eaglelover

This is going to be a GREAT blog !  WOOHOOO !!!

No trash in the sea...

I would prefer a catapult system attached to the chairs. "Five-minute Warning" at 55 minutes, If you and your belongings aren't removed or renewed at the 60 minute mark, you/your belongings get launched! ?

Unless I am missing something, I find this move perplexing.  RCL stock was back to (almost) $100 yesterday - Thurstday, 25 Feb 2021 - and it was all based on trust and anticipation.  Deceptive moves (clearly for $), even in a time when $ is flowing downstream, won't help in the long run.  

Royal is doing what it needs to do to survive.  It's obvious the CDC has no intention of letting them sail soon in America.  Numerous ports have agreed to allow Royal ships to visit on the premise that everyone will be tested and everyone will be vaccinated.  Virgin Cruises is doing the same.
There is no way any Caribbean nation can tell it's people they are opening their ports to thousands while those countries haven't been vaccinated unless everyone arriving is vaccinated and tested.  That is the only way to better ensure the safety of the Caribbean nations being visited before those residents can get the vaccine.  
I realize many will not choose the vaccine and some can't get the vaccine for medical reasons.  The problem facing Royal is the very real possibility of collapse if they wait any longer.  
Boycott if you must, spend your money elsewhere if you choose.  However understand the company has to do this to survive.  

From the article:
"@RoyalCaribbean cruises is now requiring you to get an experimental vaccine to book a cruise with them. I will be boycotting the company instead." 

Unless I am missing something, I find this move perplexing.  RCL stock was back to (almost) $100 yesterday - Thurstday, 25 Feb 2021 - and it was all based on trust and anticipation.  Deceptive moves (clearly for $), even in a time when $ is flowing downstream, won't help in the long run.  

Hungry for both humans and leftovers!!

If Royal has any integrity at all, they will cancel the entire Alaska season immediately.  As for L&S, I would think that they would allow it since they allowed it for the Quantum cancellations.

Many of us take no responsibility for many of the head scratching decisions being made. Banning cruise ships essentially 13 months out...well, I would like to understand the rationale for that. An extension now...for six months I could understand based on available data.

Sadly true.
https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2021/02/04/canada-bans-cruise-ships-one-year
I thought Canadians were supposed to be nice? ?‍♂️

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! ??️?️

If you could give a little more warning we could try and sneak aboard while no ones looking.

IT'S (NOT) CRUISE DAY!!!


Longshoremen and everyone on the pier are all masked up.


WJ looking like it's be cleaned, bagged and stowed.  Balcony railing looks like it's been covered to keep the sun from burning off the varnish presumably.

Up, up and away...




Everyone is wearing a mask on board.



No idea what the packages contain.  Any guesses?

Other than the mess on the pool deck and covers removed from the hot tub shades she looks like she is in great shape.  Didn't see a lot of rust on the hull. 
I'm ready, let's go cruising!

As one of the newbies on board the same sailing, I'm hoping your experience level doesn't give you a clairvoyant edge.... I look forward to meeting you.

As one of the newbies on board the same sailing, I'm hoping your experience level doesn't give you a clairvoyant edge.... I look forward to meeting you.

Think there's a bar and distillery now.  Would just hang out at one and talk to locals.  Usually some good stories to bring back.

And the saga continues.... I'm now working on my third first cruise (living in Kentucky I haven't even figured out Fifth Third Bank).  So here I am doing a 7 day Alaska cruise - no more 9 day cruises / Covid is only dangerous after 7 days- out of Vancouver and one of the destinations is Haines, AK.  We arrive there at 7 PM and depart at 11:30 PM.  I can't, for the life of me, figure out what an old geezer like me will do in Haines, AK at that hour - oh, and that is factoring in that It will be late May and fairly light.  There is certainly, among this esteemed group, someone who will make me smarter after reading their wisdom.

There's plenty of light for any of the same excursions you'd do during the day.  Although it's been a while since I've been there, there's really nothing to do in the town itself. There's no night life, I don't even remember there being any retail or restaurants of any sort.

Haines is new for Royal Caribbean.  The community has been trying to get into the cruise scene for several years now instead of watching ships go by on the way to Skagway.  Unfortunately that means there isn't a lot of experience within the Royal Caribbean user community for this port.
Suggest you fall back to searching sites like Trip Advisor for ideas.  You are correct that the long days of summer will work in your favor for some of your stop there. 

Third National Bank and Fifth National Bank merged in 1908. Anecdotally, Fifth Third was chosen over Third Fifth because of the temperance movement.

And the saga continues.... I'm now working on my third first cruise (living in Kentucky I haven't even figured out Fifth Third Bank).  So here I am doing a 7 day Alaska cruise - no more 9 day cruises / Covid is only dangerous after 7 days- out of Vancouver and one of the destinations is Haines, AK.  We arrive there at 7 PM and depart at 11:30 PM.  I can't, for the life of me, figure out what an old geezer like me will do in Haines, AK at that hour - oh, and that is factoring in that It will be late May and fairly light.  There is certainly, among this esteemed group, someone who will make me smarter after reading their wisdom.

And the saga continues.... I'm now working on my third first cruise (living in Kentucky I haven't even figured out Fifth Third Bank).  So here I am doing a 7 day Alaska cruise - no more 9 day cruises / Covid is only dangerous after 7 days- out of Vancouver and one of the destinations is Haines, AK.  We arrive there at 7 PM and depart at 11:30 PM.  I can't, for the life of me, figure out what an old geezer like me will do in Haines, AK at that hour - oh, and that is factoring in that It will be late May and fairly light.  There is certainly, among this esteemed group, someone who will make me smarter after reading their wisdom.

It's one thing for the CDC to ban ships sailing longer itineraries due to public health concerns.  It's another matter altogether for the CDC to become involved with how cruise lines market cruises.
Someone needs to challenge this in court.  It's a government overreach and potentially violates freedom of speech.  "If you talk about cruises longer than 7 days we are going to shut you down".  
#DefundTheCDC. ? 
 

HeWhoWaits, thanks for the congrats.  She lived through 20 + moves (Army, retired) so it was more her patience than me doing something right!?️