smokeybandit

Scrapping a 200 gt new build. Ouch https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/27676-second-genting-newbuild-to-be-sold-for-scrap.html

The one that gets emailed to you is the preferred thing to have anyway.

So it seems the only thing to do on that ship is eat and sunbathe.

Twice I've been able to use not-yet-received FCC to book a new cruise. They just put a hold on the reservation until you get the FCC, then you call them back and they apply it.

Taxi. Just make sure you get the driver to tell you the price before you leave (rates are fixed by zone) because they're known for scamming on price.

The US federal employee mandate expires June 20. Obviously that's not at all related to cruising but it does show a shift is happening.

You still may not be actually boarding until closer to 12pm

I would never live in Florida Signed, guy who could see himself moving to Florida after retirement to make it easier to cruise more.

For your first cruise, I'd always go with itinerary/price over ship, especially without kids.

The menu is just a feature menu, not a limitation of what you can order.

The effectiveness of either will always be of debate, but maybe the compromise protocol is vax or test, you pick.

I think if/when they do get rid of mandatory testing they should encourage voluntary testing and keep the protections that testing positive within 2 days of a cruise allows currently.

There were new crew in Adventure Ocean in Serenade last week and I got the impression there were new crew elsewhere on board, too. I believe there were new crew doing their 3-day onboarding quarantine during the cruise, too

Testing isn't required if you opt out of the CSO. But we all know that'd be a poor move for any cruise line.

We did a 3rd party whale watching in Juneau. Great trip as we saw at least 12 whales including 5 orcas which the crew said are rare to see that time of year.

Admittedly, on the post cruise survey referenced in the article I responded that there were too many protocols, but it wouldn't stop me from cruising again with the same protocols.

This will never stop. Just as people with colds and other contagious bugs get on ships every day. The big question is how to deal with covid cases on board. The next step is to get rid of the quarantine floors and just let people recover in their rooms like we do everything else that just requires OTC meds and rest to shake.

If cases are increasing, it's only mirroring national trends (which are starting to decline as the surge is ending in the northeast), not anything specific to cruise ships.

I believe these have all been covid casualties. Meal with an Officer is now "Officer briefly says hi while you're eating a meal" At least Top Tier events are back

The open bar is a big leg up.

Saliva PCR tests weren't trusted early on, but I think we're long past the point of that type being frowned upon

October 2019 it was advertised that it was going to happen in spring 2020. Unless the poster googled the ship since then and didn't look at the dates

You're thinking too hard. Just take the test any time within the 2 days prior to the cruise (assuming your cruise is leaving out of Florida) and your timing will be fine.

So you just decided not to go and you're upset at RC?