JeffB

They clearly did. I just read the ruling at the link. If I understand this it was Justice Thomas that got involved on the basis that the case was likely to be heard by the SCOTUS. I may not know the correct terms but he directed that the 11th COA's granting of CDC's appeal was unjustified on multiple grounds all of which parallel Judge Merryda's findings in his ruling. I'm not sure of this but it seems to me as of right now, the CSO is unenforceable in FL and probably TX. The Thomas ruling does not speak to Merryday's July 18th deadline for the the CDC to rewrite and resubmit the CSO to comport with their lawful authority to issue it.

My take is close but a bit different than @dswallow. I believe the correct way to phrase this is FL's suit filed in April with the Middle Court of FL was based on 5 claims. The law suit asked the court to enjoin the CSO, Merryday heard oral arguments, allowed that FL won on the merits then stayed the requested injunction pending submission of a re-write of the CSO by the CDC for his approval. CDC didn't do that and instead filed an appeal of the Merryday ruling with the Merryday court and it was referred to the 11th USCOA. The 11th USCOA voted 2-1 to stay the Merryday injunction (and the requirement to submit a re-write of the CSO). FL then appealed. That appeal is pending a review by either the full panel of judges that sit on the USCOA or SCOTUS. A "preliminary injunction" is an injunction that may be granted before or during trial, with the goal of preserving the status quo before final judgment. Back to the question at hand ..... As I understand where things stand, a ruling in favor of FL in Judge Merryday's trial court (Middle District Court of FL) will only provide relief in the form of an injunction against HHS/CDC preventing them from enforcing any provisions of the CSO within the state of FL. Alaska initially filed a motion to join FL's law suit but withdrew it when their legal team was concerned about the threat that the CDC made that a win (enjoining the CSO) would upset the applecart with respect to the bill passed by Congress and signed by the President that authorized ships to sail from US ports, through Canadian waters, without stopping in a Canadian port (required in the ancient Jones Act). That's a convoluted outcome that I won't go into. TX filed a motion to join the FL suit also. https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/59804600/26/state-of-florida-v-becerra/ The decision on that motion was referred to a Magistrate Court. As far as I know, it was approved. TX alleged that it had different interests than FL (technical in nature involving the process of opening Texas ports compared to FL ports but they are still seeking relief from the CSO) so, I suspect they had to list those before the magistrate. I'm assuming those were approved. The net result therefore is that if Merryday rules in favor of FL, whatever interests TX listed in it's motion to join and whatever they are seeking as relief (I assume it is enjoining the CSO) would apply to TX as well. But that's it. TX and FL. To my knowledge no other ports or states have filed motions to join and they would have to do that to get immediate relief from the CSO and at the same time FL gained it. I would think a state that wanted to be relieved from compliance with the CSO could file to get it based on FL obtaining a win in their law suit after the fact but I'm not sure about that. What I have stressed in my posts on this topic is that a win by FL (and TX by joining) will have little impact on our cruise experiences from FL or TX ports. There will be no impact whatsoever on the other ports that RCL is sailing from. The CSO will apply, the two pathways to resume sailings will remain, the reporting and contract requirements will continue. That the cruise lines have basically complied with the CSO and some have already started sailings from US ports under the provisions of the CSO, as cruisers we may see some tweaks to our onboard experience but I think the greatest relief is for the onerous contract and reporting requirements that the lines have to deal with. I actually believe that in some form even without the CSO cruise lines would have done training sailings to work through the HSP protocols that the lines voluntarily implemented aboard ship before restarting revenue sailings. I also don't think things would have moved along any quicker than they have. To me, and I've posted this, a FL win strikes a blow to the concept of the administrative state that the US has dangerously become. As in the actions of HHS/CDC in issuing the NSO/CSO an executive agency of the US government, unaccountable to anyone including voters, made quasi laws usurping law making authority from the Congress, executive agencies besides HHS/CDC have done likewise. That needs to be curtailed.

To confirm with @luvstodansyou'll need a passport if your cruise is from a foreign port that will require you to enter a foreign country. Just using my fingers you might squeak in the October 21 cruise. You can figure out exactly if your expiration date of the passport is inside 6 months of your return date of the cruise. I don't know if the State Department has reinstituted the expedited passport process. Last time I looked it was suspended except under specific circumstances. You should check their we site that has a passport section. Your options are limited here.

Your post is a fair one. It's on topic re the courts so I'll respond and let the chips fall where they may: TBC, Judge Merryday absolutely has the authority to tell the CDC to "submit" a re-write. I didn't use order but even then pretty sure he can do that too. In his courtroom he has sweeping powers. Can he put someone in jail on the spot for say, contempt? Without a hearing, without due process? You bet he can. Asking the CDC to rewrite and resubmit their crappy CSO is several rungs up the ladder of easy for him to do. I also find it hard to understand that you didn't see that my concluding paragraphs speak exactly to your concerns about a "harm" that might come if Merryday rules against the CDC. I can imagine no harm that is done by this. In fact, I can imagine a ton of good. You may disagree and that's fine with me. What good that I think is at stake in all of this, and why Federal Judges are probably looking at this entire case very closely, is that it DOES have the potential to curtail the creeping administrative state this Republic has become and produced what I consider to be the unlawful NSO and CSO. Shutting down an entire industry - in this case the cruise lines - because the CDC knee-jerked into doing something that looked good? Come on. Please. A win for FL will have sweeping precedential effect beyond the narrow scope of the 5 parts of FL's claim. The CDC is in the cross hairs where a FL win will take away the authority of HHS and CDC administrators to make quasi laws that don't comport with the powers granted to them by Congress and/or impinge on constitutionally guaranteed freedoms - even in a PHE. A win for FL will reestablish a strong precedent that will apply to the entire spectrum of Federal agencies that have grown bloated and more powerful and presently their policy makers have no accountability to the voters. The forefathers are likely turning over in their graves and have been for several decades. A FL win will reestablish both proper oversight of such Federal agencies and prohibit further law making usurped by any of them restoring it back to Congress where it belongs

I warned you the grim reaper would come calling and, lo, here he is. ? Good show.

Mask debates are going to get this thread that talks about important legal actions affecting our cruise experiences going forward shut down. Matt will be here soon if it doesn't stop, if he's not already seriously considering it.

Good call @AshleyDillo. It's a possibility........ the pressure point though for the CDC is going to be FL's position re, first, the appeal of the lifting of the stay (to reinstate Merryday's July expiry date for the CSO) ongoing in the 11th Circuit USCOA and next the reality that Merryday ruled that FL won on the merits and then stayed the injunction. FL wants a favorable ruling on this (set aside the lifting of the stay) bad. There are no defaults for either party, as has been noted previously. There are two ongoing and unresolved court proceedings - one in the 11th Circuit of the USCOA not yet resolved where its removal of the Merryday' stay is being appealed by FL and one yet to be resolved (the original FL Complaint) in the USDC Middle Court of FL (Merryday's court). Here's how this is going to go down: The 11th Circuit USCOA will consider FL's appeal of the lifting of the stay - there are various options all the way up to the USSC of how this is done that I won't go into but one way or the other that ruling will either stand or be set aside. Whatever the outcome, it really has no bearing on the yet to be resolved FL complaint before Merryday's trial court. A ruling by the 11th Circuit USCOA that sets aside the lifting of the stay ruling in favor of FL's appeal would however sink the enforceability of the CSO in it's entirety. That is because Merryday's ruling that the CSO becomes recommendations only and is unenforceable stipulates that will happen on July 18th. That date has passed. Therefore his ruling becomes effective immediately. Once the appeals court resolves its matters at hand, either way, the FL suit is yet unresolved and Judge Merryday will reconvene to listen to what plaintiff's and defendant's attorneys have to say. At issue is the CDC's failure to submit as Judge Merryday stipulated, "the revised version of the CSO," that you mention. Guess who has the final say on whether or not the revisions submitted by the CDC are acceptable? FLs friend Judge Steven Douglas Merryday. The CDC does not have carte blanch to ride off into the sunset claiming "they did do something." First, as Merryday demanded, they have to submit a rewrite of the CSO that comports with existing law. Second, it will be up to Merryday if the rewrite is good to go and it's pretty clear he doesn't like the HHS/CDC attorneys who will be presenting the CDC's re-write and arguing their position before him. I think that potential hit for the CDC team has been pointed out too. The potential outcomes in the USDC that Merryday is presiding over are this: (1) Merryday lays the hammer on the CDC, tells them to go pack it and the CSO as it is currently written becomes unenforceable recommendations. (2) Merryday accepts a rewrite and it's over. The rewritten CSO that Merryday approved goes into affect I don't think there is any question that its around 40 to 20 with FL in the lead in the late third quarter and they have one quarter left to score three TDs while holding FL to no points and win. I don't think they can do it. I also don't think there is a worst case scenario for FL. I'd opine that they are in the driver's seat here. The impact for us cruisers and as it relates to our cruising experiences going forward is about zero. The outcomes are: The existing CSO remains in place - something the cruise lines have adapted to and, for the most part, complied with ...... or a potentially better CSO for the cruise lines that they can turn into a better guest experience emerges. I think the cruise lines have really played this smart. They didn't sit on their hands waiting for the outcome of the FL complaint. They reportedly worked with the CSO to get ships sailing in a way that satisfied the needs of both sides. The most significant outcome from the Merryday Court's final decision is that either way he decides on the FL claim, irrespective of an appeal by the CDC - and they will appeal - the CDC is being told in no uncertain terms that it acted unlawfully with both the NSO and the CSO. The net result will be legislative action - exactly where it should be - to curtail the powers of the CDC in a PHE. It was those executive powers, usurped from Congress, that allowed them to wrongly interpret that they had the power to issue the NSO and CSO. They will also face much more stringent oversight of all their powers in a PHE not just those embodied in U.S.C. 42, Section 264 dealing with maritime issues and free pratique.

Just finished my check in for a last minute booking on Equinox departing PEV on August 1st. Its the front end (I just added the sailing in the W. Caribbean) to B2B, then E, Caribbean. The back end of this thing was booked a year ago and L&S with price protection from a cruise originally booked for August 2020. That one was an 8n sailing subsequently reduced to 7n as Celebrity rearranged operational plans for their ships. I got a credit back on my CC for that lost day. Celebrity wasn't doing the "everything included" pricing when I booked and then L&S'ed it so, it was a great deal back then. Two points: (1) The price of the add-on booking was 2x that of the price of the original booking I made for the same itinerary. Part of the price increase involved me taking the "everything included" package. But some of it is the "sticker shock" fares we're seeing lately. This wasn't a capacity thing either. There were plenty of available cabins in the class we wanted (1A Veranda) and, surprisingly, we were able to book the same cabin (9157) on the front end add-on as our second sailing of our B2B - a hump cabin with the bigger balcony. (2) Earliest check-in for both cruises (before I had booked the add-on) was 2:30pm. So, its not that I'm late to the party and am getting a seat in the back row, it's that this is what Celebrity is doing - delaying check-ins to apparently well after 2pm and delaying departures from home ports to after 7pm. On the "everything included" strategy that Celebrity has embarked upon. Well, it's consistent with LL-Ps marketing approach to brand Celebrity as a luxury line. I get it. I've already tried it on the Apex sailing of last week. The downside is that you're paying for beverages and internet that I get as a perk with my Captain's Club status - Elite Plus. We relied on those perks and never purchased Bev or internet pkgs and frequently got free grats as an incentive perk. Yes, there's more access to bevs and it's full time internet, but those previously granted perks (3 bevs at any bar from 5-7p, no charge for Al Bacio bevs and sweets and 240 min. of internet time - both plenty for us) are now devalued. The up-side is it's nice to have all access, all day to bevs (classic pkg) and internet. I've played around with the math and our bevs consumption levels and it is clearly a much better deal to purchase the "everything included" cabin fare than it is to purchase the no frills cabin and buy grats, bevs and internet separately .,,,,much more expensive that way. Celebrity is clever like that. They've been really good getting extra cash from you without you feeling bad about it. Apparently lots of Captain's Club members complained about this devaluing of their Elite and Elite Plus perks (I was not among them) because, just recently I got a nice letter in the mail from Celebrity thanking me for my loyalty and letting me know they'd made some changes, nay, they've really improved and expanded our perks. Not really. They did tweak some stuff but not much. https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/cc0ce13c#/cc0ce13c/1

Dunno .... I posted in another thread that there are plenty of voices pushing back on the larger issue, that includes FL v. Bacerra, on administrative agencies, like HHS, usurping the authority of the legislative branch to make laws that potentially infringe on constitutionally guaranteed freedoms - i.e., the inappropriate powers of an administrative state. That is what Merryday said the CDC was doing and slammed them for it in a scathing written opinion. There are other grievances involving government overreach when it comes to restricting personal freedoms by fiat beyond what the CDC has done. The political will to reinstate and/or continue significant mitigation measures in the face of a largely manageable (despite what the press says and implies) infectious disease (SARS2) is lacking. We're seeing this lack of political will to do that along with public pressure in the form of protests when local governments try to re-impose closings and restrictions on mobility globally. In that this is primarily now a pandemic of the unvaccinated, a disease burden being born by the unvaccinated, there will be strong voices in countries with high vax rates arguing that those that have been vaccinated are being curtailed in their personal freedoms by citizens who have declined to receive the vaccines when they are able to do so. This is not a condemnation of those that make that choice. The choice is theirs and I am pro-choice in this matter. It's a rendering of the impact of the mood of the people living in democratic states tired of this thing. Therefore, I feel pretty confident the ground swell of public and political pressure to not re-impose restrictions on our daily lives is going to continue to mount. We're already seeing it. The CDC knows the CSO and all that unlawful action contained in it is on life support. They will be very reluctant to continue with it under the howls of protestations if the try to extend it. JMO, YMMV.

Just completed a Celebrity sailing on Apex from Athens that stopped in Limmasol. We saw Jewel at the same ports Apex called on. First, this area of the world is absolutely the best. It's hot but dry and the waters surrounding the Greek Isles are beautiful. Nary a cloud in the sky. The ports are great. Pretty sure you'll have the same - Rhodes, Santorini, Crete, Mykonos. A point on required participation on ship shore excursions. Excuse me if you already know this but it relates. First, visitors over 12 have to be vaxed or show a negative molecular (PCR) test completed within 72h of your visit to enter. Make sure you have all your documents in print form or stored on your phone. You won't have internet in the terminal immigration area to download these docs. Hopefully you've completed your PLF (one per family) and you have the email notification you completed it on your phone. If you have the email confirming your registration or the actual approval that's good enough. On my Android phone the email I received from the Greek government has a link to the approval form and that is stored in the email. So, you can access that without internet. Greek immigration authorities are very strict and check your vax card, PCR test results (if required) and PLF several times as you enter. The entry process in Athens was very well organized and quick - I assume you'll be entering in Athens then going on to Cyprus. If not, I can't comment on Cyprus immigration. Since the start of our cruising in 2001, I've not booked a single ship's tour. Because of COVID, and not because I was required to, I booked ships excursions in Limmasol, Cyprus and Rhodes we just walked around the others. The tours we had (and I expect RCL is sourcing their tours from the same vendors that Celebrity is) were outstanding and reasonably priced. I highly recommend that you take advantage of these at the 50% discount. You do not want to miss any of the Greek Island ports. Rhodes is particularly interesting from a historical perspective. I think your kids are a good age to appreciate the history. Take them and use the ship board excursions ..... or you can leave them at the pool aboard ship.?

I think this view, even expanded to most human activity, is representative of the general mood at least here in the US and in other countries where vax rates are fairly high. Facts on the ground indicate the control of the virus measured in appropriate metrics - and that is not new case numbers! - is decent (manageable) if not perfect (virus eradication). @Jill's story about her husband's medical care as a now recovering COVID patient are not singular. We just never hear about this yet the strikingly improved life saving medical management of patient's admitted with COVID is another encouraging, mostly unrecognized in the media's fear narrative, contribution to the reasonable control of the virus I speak of. It is this kind of realty, this kind of pushback against the re-imposition of past mitigation measures that has the potential of preventing policy makers from re-imposing them. Frankly, of all settings where more than a handful of people will gather, the facts on the ground bely the scientists', virologist's and epidemiologist's often strident views about the risk of cruise ships as dangerous congregate settings that are disease spreaders. They clearly aren't and hats off to the cruise lines for this remarkable accomplishment. The risk to our enjoyment of cruising though is very real. The CDC does not want it's capacity to act, without the slightest oversight, in a PHE and they are fighting hard to keep the status quo. The good thing is that I don't think the political will to go back to any kind of full-scale restrictions that might impact the cruise industry is there. Although we may be biased here and I for one acknowledge that I am, serious questions about government's authority to curtail personal freedoms and economic activity are being raised by FL v. Bacerra. Just re-read Judge Merryday's 124 page opinion in this case and set aside all the distracting appeals process to get an idea of that reality. Read Governor Deasantis' comments he made on Monday about his intent to appeal the appeal asking, "how can a government agency have the authority to shut down an industry?" That we have many voices in government like Desantis asking these questions bodes well for our continued enjoyment of the cruising life. I remain reasonably confident that the smackdown Merryday gave the CDC will carry the day in one form or another. That will ultimately curtail the kind of intrusive government abuse evidenced by that of the CDC during this pandemic.

I've had two itinerary changes on Celebrity sailings in Europe. One, our Athens sailing, had minor changes and I was not offered an option to reschedule. I just completed it. The changes were so minor as to be inconsequential. The other is upcoming in October - a W bound Translant crossing from Barcelona. I was notified about a month ago that the sail date was moved up two weeks and several ports were replaced with another or a previously scheduled port call became a sea day. I was offered a refund or a price protected lift and shift. This despite this sailing being lifted and shifted once already. I'm in agreement with @Atlantix2000. RCL is going to be fair to the extent that is reasonable. Sure, there will be people who feel like they got screwed. Not much RCL or anyone else can do about that group who is comprised of people who are hard to please anyway.

I only searched for ships home porting in SJ. These are port calls. But it still seems that SJ may open by August 1st for transients.

@cruisellama thanks for reading my tome. I love to write about many things here, especially cruising and cruise reviews. I posted somewhere that I had a 7n Equinox booking out of PEV on August 8th. I just booked the preceding cruise on Equinox to make a 14d B2B, W. then E's Caribbean. I have some worries that the CDC may flaunt it's appropriated and unlawful behavior (endorsed by the Appellate Court granting a stay of the Merryday slammer) and ordering cruising from US ports to stop. You know, rising case numbers, danger of congregate settings and all that BS. That may be an unwarranted fear but I'm going to "make hay while the sun shines."

I was uncertain about what agencies are making COVID related PH policy in PR. It's not the CDC. PR has it's own PH Department and PH officials that are independent from the CDC. Not that that makes any difference but CDC policies apparently don't play in PR. Having said that, PR is an island. It is ideally suited to pursue a zero COVID or elimination approach by strictly limiting who comes into the country. I think that is what is at play here. Many don't think that congregate settings, what cruise ships are generally classified as when it comes to infectious disease, are a threat for disease spread. But, PH official trained in these matters think they are. I just looked over the JHU COVID data for PR. When vaccines started to become more available in April, new case numbers plummeted. Now, like most places on the globe, they are rising again. I've argued case numbers are not a good indicator of what is probably the most important metric in assessing viral control - disease burden. That I think this doesn't mean there are a good number of trained epidemiologists, doctors and scientists that believe increased case numbers presage increased hospitalizations and deaths (disease burden). I understand this view, Data is not sufficnet yet to step back from it and that's what these guys rely on. I believe that position though does not take into account facts on the ground. I also believe awareness of the effectiveness of vaccines - observed facts on the ground that often aren't considered scientifically good data- is beginning to shift the pros views more toward accommodative strategies and less toward zero COVID or elimination strategies. I can't say what this means regarding the date certain PR will reopen to cruise ships but PR's economy depends on tourism. I'm sure both government and PH officials are getting pressure to ease travel and leisure restrictions. Despite this, I just did a search of all cruise lines that are scheduled to depart SJ PR going forward 3 months from today and only one line, RCL, shows up and that sailing is Vision on 5 September. That tells me that is the earliest any cruise might originate from SJ PR. It's probably too late to shuttle a cruise ship inot service from there before September. I know Celebrity usually bases a Millennium class ship out of SJ. There are no Celebrity sailings form SJ through the end of March '22 - I didn't look any further. RCL predominates in that market through March with Silver Sea and NCL showing up there in November '21 and January '22 respectively. Anyone booked on an RCL cruise starting with and then after September 5th is probably good to go ..... baring any changes and that happens a lot these days!

Interesting. The Supreme Court is not in session. I'm not familiar, you may be. Can the USSC take up a case, in this case one that Justice Thomas has jurisdiction over, so he would rule emergently and independently? I'm not familiar enough with the legal precedents involving a matter like this but it seems to me this case is not high enough on the list of things that the SC would jump into for such an emergency order to be issued. I say that regardless of my previous posts that outline the enormity of this seemingly small time case. I do think Judge Merryday's ruling correctly reflected his understanding that how he ruled was going to have far reaching implications. I actually thought his ruling was so succinct and so on point that he intentionally wrote 124 pages to make it nearly appeal proof. So, maybe, these guys at this level do understand and could move the case forward rapidly delivering a win for the concept of less government and more oversight of what Judge Merryday called the egregious presumption of authority by the executive branch of government to make what was essentially law that the CDC did not have. Your thoughts?

Wanted to provide a post on my recent experience sailing on Apex for an 8n Greek Isles itinerary that just concluded on Saturday. I think this sailing will be representative of those from other EU ports. Greece has been supportive of all cruise lines, especially US lines, of a restart. Therefore this cruise might have been a bit easier to get through than from other more restrictive EU ports, Amsterdam for example. Travel: I booked with Celebrity air for this trip and for obvious reasons. At first glance the R/T routing from Miami that passed through Newark and JFK looked good. I'm not fond of either of these assigned carriers, United or American, but the pricing was good - $600pp R/T and that's about $150 pp less than standard fares that I find between the US and Europe (there are sale exceptions but you have to be quick and grab them - they are usually gone within hours) I also booked same day travel. I rarely do that and I have never done it with cruises from European or Asian ports. But with Celebrity responsible for getting you there it seemed worth the risk. I doubt I'll do that again even though we made it if not nearly 7h late - an 8:50am arrival turned into a 3:40pm actual. The East coast traffic control is always a mess and made worse by outcomes from the pandemic (lay-offs by the carriers, airport staff and ATC). We were delayed nearly 4h in Miami, most of it after boarding and/or on the taxiway and another 4h leaving Newark. Part of these delays were due to TS Elsa that was just underneath most of our flight routing and affecting the NY area weather. But most of it was due to ATC's inability to handle heavy traffic when arrivals are under instrument flight rules or IFR. When under visual flight rules or VFR more planes can be admitted to the traffic control pattern - these are very limited in number when it's IFR and more so, I am told, due to the pandemic staffing levels. Anyway it was pretty awful. We spent 7h of butt time not associated with actual flying time. I also think United made some questionable operations decisions. I won't go into that accept to say think twice about book United and any routing through JFK or Newark. The arrival in Athens was unexpectedly smooth. It's a new and modern airport terminal. Luggage was there and waiting on the carousel when we got to baggage claim - directions all well marked in English and Greek. Immigration was a breeze but only if you had all your entry documents in hand. I recommend both phone records/pictures and printed hard copy. You won't have internet available in the immigration area so you can't count on getting back to download docs. There were 300 some pax on the Boeing 777-200 but the lines moved especially fast and we were through immigration (no customs) into the main terminal area about 30 minutes after deplaning, about an hour after landing. Fortunately, as we booked transfers (I rarely do that either but did due to COVID), Celebrity staff were highly visible. We checked in with our host, waited about 10 minutes and were taken to a bus. I heard from guests that arrived in the morning that they waited a long time to get on a bus to Pireas. I think there was some confusion about how long the hosts should wait as the delays they were seeing in ours and other flights from the US were incremental at their end. The bus trip from the Athens airport to the port of Pireas took about an hour in heavy traffic. There were only a few people on our bus and no-one was ahead of us in the check-in area (a tent but a nice one with OK AC). All the benefits of technology in the touchless check in incorporated in the Edge Class ships were used by Celebrity at Pireas. Again, have all your docs ready and in hand. You'll have to show them at multiple points as you move through check-in and you won't have internet to retrieve anything. Celebrity requires a rapid antigen test prior to boarding even though you have to be vaxed to board. This was accomplished really smoothly by a company (Trust 1)that Celebrity has hired to do this. If you enrolled on-line per Celebrity's instructions received by email and used the Trust 1 downloaded app, you would have a QR code that was emailed and texted to you by Trust 1. No matter if you didn't they'll give you one there. You get a nasal swab, go to a waiting area and wait for your number to pop up on a big flat screen TV - took about 15 minutes. You then took your number to a Celebrity staff who then gave you an envelope with your test results in it - I think the Trust 1 app is still a bit shaky and issues are being worked on but overall this entire antigen testing thing went smoothly. The late boarding (around 4p - the ship didn't depart until 8p) wasn't ideal as we like getting aboard early and looking around. However, the Ocean View Cafe was still open - a nice accommodation for late arrivals - they usually end lunch service at 2:30p. The ship: Absolutely beautiful. We've sailed on Edge in January last year and Apex took that and made it better with Apex. Beyond, the next Edge class ship, will build on Apex. Cabin: We booked a "port hole" Veranda. There are not a lot of these but they are considerably less expensive than the "Infinity" Verandas. The balcony is small and is surrounded by steel that is open to the sea in the shape of a big port hole. These cabins are about 20 sq ft bigger inside than the Infinity cabins because you get that back from the small veranda. It was fine for us. I'd do it again. Cabin access is keyless and the lighting is controlled though one controller as you enter. It's pretty cool and techy. The bath is quite large and showers had big doors - bigger than Edge's and we had an inside cabin on Edge. It was fine too. Dining: WOW. This is one of the Edge Class ship's big upgrades. Dining venues also include the addition of Eden which is aft with widows facing the sea. Eden occupies two decks (5 and 6) and also contains one of the specialty restaurants, a big bar and performance area. There are 4 complementary main dining rooms that are stacked one on top of the other, port and starboard on two decks. These are right forward of Eden. I recommend anytime dining so you can sample all 4 if you like. Each has a different theme and a few dishes particular to each. Also be careful to reserve your table at the time you want at the place you want as soon as you are aboard. You can do this on the app or call 7000 on the cabin phone. If you select a fixed seating you'll start in one of the 4 restaurants assigned by the staff. You can move but you're at the end of the line among anytime diners who have reserved times and tables if you want to do that in another restaurant. There are 6 specialty restaurants on Apex. They are pricey but, IMO, absolutely worth it. I recommend purchasing in advance a package of 4 if you are so inclined. You'll save some money. Again, book as soon as you can at the times you want and the venue you want. Lunch seatings are available and at a reduced cost with the same menu. I recommend Le Grand Bistro. If you don't want to pay the premium, the 4 complimentary restaurants are terrific especially with reduced guest loads. Service felt like specialty restaurant level. That will end as pax loads increase and they will by October. Sie note: Ship's crew have been onboard since early April and have not left the ship. Not one of them! Bars: Lots of them but Edge class ships are missing one of my favorites, the ice martini bar. They say they have one (not ice) and it's in the center of the ship within the Grand Foyer. It's too small and lacks the ambience of the Silhouette class ship's martini bars. There is also live entertainment during bar hours in the same area and it's too loud for my tastes. Entertainment: Spectacular but not everyone likes this stuff. There were two production shows in the main theater all the way forward. The production dancers do several other shows in "The Club" - a more inmate theater arrangement and in the performance area of Eden. The unique thing is that if you grab good seating, you are just feet away from the show's performers. Pretty cool. The main theater production shows are Las Vegas spectacular. Two of the shows were debuts and being tested out to see how guests likd them. For me, these shows join the Fine Cuts steak house in my Apex top two. Fitness: I'm a cyclist (I just spin these days). I was surprised the fitness center (forward on deck 14) was doing group spin classes. They did. I did 4 of them and I was the only one spinning in two. Still great calorie burns! The fitness area is otherwise big and well equipped with the standard equipment. There are 3 Peloton bikes. They're reserved for suite guests but I could have used one if suite guest didn't have them booked. They didn't. That will change. Apex debuts F24 - it's HIT training in a specially equipped studio. There was quite a bit of interest in these classes. I can't do the pounding/hi impact associated with them these days. They looked cool if you are in to that sort of exercise. Yoga classes, meditation (also Tai Chi) and stretch classes too. The spa has the usual over-priced treatments but, hey, its a vacation cruise. Splurge! Debarkation: Organized as usual except you get an antigen test (for re-entry into the US for US citizens - non-residents need a PCR (Molecular) test and you'll get one at Celebrity's expense if your home country is other than the US too). You leave the ship via a gangway and walk about 600 yards to the Pireas port terminal where your baggage is picked up like it usually is - bags are arranged in lines based on your assigned departure number that you attach to your bag the night before port arrival. You never left Greece on this cruise so no customs or immigration required when returning to Pireas port. It was Saturday and the return trip by bus took just over 35 minutes from the ship to the Athens airport. There were Celebrity staff at the airport as you got off the bus to direct you to your carrier's check in counter (nice touch). Check in went smoothly as long as you had all your documents and tickets organized and in hand. We traveled back to the US on American Airlines. Check in was well organized and quick. We arrived nearly 3h before departure so had lots of time to sit. American flys a newer version of the B777 Dreamliner that was a lot nicer than United's; food and beverage service was better too - complimentary wines! We arrived on-time at JFK, picked up our bags and went through immigration and customs quickly. If you don't have Global entry, get it. That speeds up passing through US ports of entry like JFK quickly. But after that speedy experience, what looked like a good choice with American turned sour. Again we were delayed at the gate for 4h. Supposedly because our aircraft arrived late from London. It did arrive late but I suspect there were operational factors, not weather or other reasonable reasons for the delay at play. Won't go down that rabbit hole but I know how this goes and I also know you'll never here the real reasons for any delays. You may have heard about this but a Senate select committee has recently asked what the airlines did with the $54b in pay-check protection program (PPP) aid they got. Reportedly, instead of keeping employees on staff, the majors laid off 43,000 employees over the last 14 months and are only now calling them back. They are getting grilled for what looks like a money grab that didn't support air travel consumers interests. No surprise there. Accordingly there are all kinds of personnel shortages from Pilots to ground crews and desk agents. This is is most likely causing these ridiculous delays. I think delays are happening all over but if you can avoid JFK and Newark (i.e. most of the East coast traffic), possibly Miami, you may be better off getting to European destinations. Get to Atlanta and you can usually fly Delta direct to most European airports. Athens was one of them and I wished I had flown from Fort Lauderdale (where I live) to Atlanta and then flown direct with Delta to Athens avoiding JFK and Newark completely. It might have cost more but I'm never flying to Europe through Miami, JFK or Newark again! Despite the unpleasant air travel, this was a great cruise X10. The Edge class ships are amazing. They do cater to a niche of travelers without kids who want to pay top dollar for suites - some of them ridiculously expensive, IMO. Apparently people are booking them. There are plenty of value cabins and I've been a Celebrity cruiser for decades and never felt like I was second class because I might have booked an inside cabin. The Retreat looks nice but I can do without the exclusivity nicely provided there so you don't have to be near the "riff-raff." Don't get me wrong. That's fine for many and you can get it delivered on a silver platter on a Celebrity ship - all of them.

I'm booked on Equinox out of PEV on Sunday August 8th. Just checked in this morning and the earliest available check in time was 2pm. I thought it was because I checked in 3w prior not the usual 90d or as soon as it opens. I guess not. I agree with @LifesEz. I think the ships are taking their time making sure everything is completely sanitized. Sure, touch transmission of SARS2 is not considered as a primary means of transmission but, from what I've seen on the cruise I just took out of AThens Greecec on Apex, they are hyper cautious and attentive to infection control. I'm fine with that.

I'll relate the question on why Delta variants matter or don't matter to cruising. Here are the facts: The Delta Variant is more transmissible Rising case numbers globally and regionally are being attributed to growing percentages of Delta Around 90% of new COVID cases numbers are among the world's unvaccinated cohort. 99% of new COVID cases that result in deaths are among the world's unvaccinated cohort. Generally, deaths and hospitalizations from COVID (serious illness) have remained steady. There are regional exceptions and increased disease seriousness tracks inversely with vax rates - the lower the vax rates, the higher the prevalence of serious illness and deaths. OK, fine. How do I relate these indisputable facts to cruising? My take is that the SARS2 pandemic is being successfully controlled and managed by a combination of immunity gained from previous exposure to COVID, from vaccinations and from responsible SARS2 mitigation measures that look at the cost of such measures versus the PH benefits derived therefrom. What else matters in this equation is the remarkable growth in the capacity of doctors to manage the disease of admitted COVID patients and promote recovery. That is a stunning and mostly unrecognized contribution to the effective management and control of the virus. But, no. The media insists on creating a false narrative of catastrophe. Because of this, I favor an accommodative approach to new case numbers (Great Britain and others) rather than an elimination through lockdown approach (Australia and NZ). I'll acknowledge both have their place depending on circumstances. Nevertheless, all forms of media are trumpeting a rise in case numbers as signaling dire consequences, end of times and a resurgence of the pandemic. IOW, things are out of control. IMO, they are not. We are where we should be right now in nations that have secured vaccines. Where nations have not done that things aren't so good, and that needs to be and is being addressed. Given the media narrative, the potential for the imposition of stricter mitigation measures by policy makers in government is high. Never lose sight of that threat. Sometimes the imposition of mitigation measures is not based on the science or facts on the ground but rather on political pressures to "do something." Cruising is high on the list of targets for imposition of them and that is regardless of the facts that cruising resumed over a year ago and the incidence of cruise ships contributing to the spread of SARS 2 is non-existent. Do you think that will matter? I don't.

From the local Sun Sentinel: Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday vowed to seek — to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary — a reversal of a Saturday night court ruling that allows a federal health agency’s authority over the cruise industry to remain in place while the state pursues its lawsuit seeking to overturn that authority. DeSantis said the state would seek to reverse an order issued late Saturday night by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in Atlanta that prevented the lifting of restrictions on the cruise industry imposed in spring 2020 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. DeSantis on Monday said he was confident that the full 12-member appellate court or even the U.S. Supreme Court would side with the state and reimpose the injunction sidelining the CDC. I'm anxious to see the US COA's ruling in print. It appears FL's lawyers have seen it and think an appeal is worth it and not just theater. In case you're confused, here is a timeline set in Cliff Notes format: In April FL sues HHS and the CDC. There are 5 elements in the suit. One of them is that the CDC exceeded it's authority when it issued the NSO and subsequently the CSO. On May 13th, the case is heard before Judge Merryiday in the Middle District Court of FL. He refers the case to arbitration and to get back to him in 10d. Subsequently, Several motions to delay are submitted by the CDC. Motions to add Texas and Alaska to FL's suit are filed (Alaska later withdrew because of conflicts between congressional legislation authorizing ships to sail from US ports without porting in Canada [Jones Act] and the FL suit) Arbitration fails and both sides provide their arguments before Judge Merryday on June 13th. Merryday issues his ruling on June 18th that FL wins on the merits but stays the order enjoining the CSO for 2w pending a rewrite of the CSO that comports with existing laws. The CDC files a motion to stay (extend) his order to enjoin to July 18th. Merriday denies that motion. On July 16th, the CDC files an appeal to Merryday's denial with the 3 member US COA. The US COA rules 2-1 in favor of the CDC's appeal on July 17th. That stops the enjoining of the CSO on July 18th. According to the news above, FL is appealing the US COA's decision in favor of the CDC to the 12 member Federal Appellate Court There are now two court proceedings tracking along: (1) the original trail court that Judge Merryday is presiding over - the one that he ruled in favor of FL - and (2) the appeal process involving the US COA's ruling - in favor of the CDC - that reverses Merryday's decision to deny CDC's request to stay his order. OK, take a breath. If the US COA's reversal of Merryday's denial of the CDC request for a stay of his order is successfully appealed to the 12 Member Federal Appellate Court or, if necessary, the USSC the appeals process ends and the CSO immediately becomes a set of recommendations only. Of course I'd expect the CDC to appeal if FL prevails at the 12 Member Appellate level. That takes the case to the USSC ...... which is not in session and won't be until October. If it comes to the USSC, FL still has a chance to make a statement before the CSO expires in November and/or make a renewal of the CSO by the CDC on December 1st impossible. Does this matter in the short term to us cruise fanatics? Not really and I've explained why up thread. But this case is enormously important going forward and FL's appeal makes that clear. Desantis is a dedicated supporter of less government in our lives especially the power that springs from the abuse of executive orders and actions by the president's executive branches such as that taken by HHS/CDC. You can agree or disagree with his politics but the outcome of this case will either increase or decrease the capacity of the executive branch of the US government to establish laws without being responsible to the voters and increase or decrease the role of the Legislative branch, that is responsible to the voters, in making those laws. Right now, the US has become over time what is essentially an administrative state meaning that the executive branch, including the president (although laws more clearly limit his powers) has been given too much power by the courts and the legislative branch has failed to reclaim it. A return to a more powerful legislature is at stake in what is seemingly a small time case. It's not.

First, I've read some of the literature on the efficacy of a "normal" two dose regimen of the mRNA vaccines and a booster with the J&J product. For certain cohorts it is believed that this approach is promising. The thinking is that it boosts your immune response and protects against reinfection by existing and future variants. It's not for everyone. Let me be clear. Don't go out and seek a third shot. If you think you might have had a muted immune response due to an exiting medical condition, talk to your health care provider about your concerns. Let them make the call. MrMarc, if I were you, I'd just present the vaccination record for your two Moderna shots. Don't even mention you have had a third. Maybe you were just joking about confusing staff who are checking vaccination records but if you weren't your concern that they might be confused is entirely legit.

Not exactly sure what "it" is but I'm assuming you mean the conundrum the cruise lines face in implementing sometimes widely varying sets of pandemic rules. I think it goes without saying that the US government was unprepared for the SARS2 pandemic and reacted to it in a confused and chaotic way. Recall the "swine Flu" epidemic and 911. Did government agencies learn from these chaotic or poorly informed responses? There were plenty of post mortems that resulted in moving the deck chairs around. I do think the 911 Commission did some good in preventing another 911 type event on US soil. As far as it goes with pandemics, there was a lot of stuff done relating to preparedness after the Swine Flu thing but successive administrations gutted the public health services that came up with those preparations and wrote them into contingency plans. To my knowledge, those plans went unused and, left on their own, state and local governments reacted poorly with little coordination across neighboring state and county lines and inconsistent mitigation measures that often differed between counties and even streets. I wouldn't rely on Congress to do anything in the short term or useful in the aftermath of the SARS2 pandemic. There could be exceptions. As it relates to the HHS and CDC, I think there is momentum and the political will to rewrite legislation that more fully limits the powers of the executive in a PHE.

As a related comment on masking, I just returned from an 8n Greek Isles sailing on Celebrity Apex out of Athens. Sailings from Greece fall under Greek PH policy and require guests to mask indoors. Similar to the US, once seated in a restaurant you can remove your mask. However, there is no distancing or capacity limits in bars and restaurants in Greece. Greece has a 35% vax rate, over 65s pushing 70%. The outdoor masking requirement was suspended just 2w prior to our cruise but is being reconsidered with rising Delta variant new cases. Greece has similar masking requirements in transportation hubs like the US does. If you are in an Airport, public transportation, cruise terminal and so forth, you have to mask. Lines sailing from foreign ports will comply with the home country masking and distancing policy that they are sailing from. Greeks have been largely compliant with mitigation measures but only to a point. There were angry demonstrations about 2 months ago demanding the government ease all restrictions and they did ease some. OTH, the Greek government has been very supportive of the travel and leisure industry in Greece. They've been open to travelers (with restrictions) since June 2020 and with practically none since May of this year. Foreigners have to be vaxed to enter the country and this was strictly enforced with multiple check points checking your documents passing through Immigration. Even though Apex reportedly had 99% vaxed out of 800+ guests (the 1% were kids under 16), guests were required to mask indoors but not outdoors. No staff that I observed were telling people to mask. Once that became obvious, I'd estimate that masking anywhere on the ship indoors dropped to around 60%, maybe lower. I did feel guests were sensitive to distancing and if it could not be maintained (e.g., elevators) people masked out of politeness (yes, there are polite human beings!). Restaurants aboard (not bars) had distancing but not capacity limits; that is being controlled by limiting the number of passengers to start with. Because there were so few guests, productions shows in Eden, The CLub and the main theater were easily spaced. There were reminders in all three of these venues to "Do Your Part and Stay Apart." Seemed to work without enforcement. Given that, it was easy to space in those places - everywhere actually. There appeared to me to be some dependence by Celebrity of taking responsibility for your own COVID behaviors. Not only did I like that approach but it seemed to work pretty well throughout the ship[ Celebrity is trumpeting that using their pandemic related health approach on Apex sailings out of Greece, basically using the HSP recommendations and, i.e., without the CDC breathing down their necks, has sailed 4X carrying 2000 guests and another 5000 crew without having a single COVID+ test and these are administered to guests once before boarding, once before debarking and any time a guest or crew member presents to medical with URI symptoms. Pretty amazing but not at all surprising.

There are two factors that impact mask requirements aboard RCL branded cruises: (1) The cruise lines policy regarding masking requirements. (2) The masking requirements established by local authorities for home and call ports. There is no simple answer to your question. The best way to understand all of this is to be informed of the latest information then keep checking the RCL web site for the most recent health policy updates. I don't think there have been updates to this post. If there have been and others know about them, please provide a current link. https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2021/07/05/face-masks-not-listed-royal-caribbeans-august-health-protocols IMO, masking on cruise ships in some form or for specific people is going to be with us for a while. Waiting for a date certain when, across the fleet, no masks will be required is going to stop you cold from cruising. My advise is accept it and comply. Arguing that masks aren't effective or that the lines should follow this or that guidance instead of having us all be inconvenienced with mask requirements isn't worth the time and/or energy. Be grateful cruising has resumed. YMMV.

It certainly does bother me. If you've been following my posts on the subject of government overreach you know I'll push back when I see that sort of thing. The CDC, having, IMO and that of Judge Merryday's, clearly exceeded their lawful authority with the NSO and the CSO. Having said that, IMO, the arguments about the validity of the CSO and it's status quo circumstance at the moment have become irrelevant for me. I'm leaving the outcome of whether or not the CSO was lawful to the involved federal courts in anticipation that Congress, the rightful authority here, will rewrite the current laws to insure executive powers in a PHE are limited. What is relevant to me is exactly what you mention going forward. I would love the US COA, and if it makes it there, the USSC to uphold the Merryday ruling that slams HHS and the CDC and if that happens, great. But for us cruisers, my "so what" position reflects that it looks like we may have to live with the CSO and what it has wrought until it expires and as it pertains to the stuff we and the cruise lines will have to put up with. IOW, I'm sanguine with whatever outcome in the FL case prevails. That is mostly because and to reiterate, I believe the US Congress will act to limit executive powers during a PHE going forward. YMMV.