Starwalker

Let's compare this to how many covid cases there were from the flights coming in and out of Australia.
Oh right, they don't care to track that. It's just about anti-cruise bias.

Thank you so much for this information.  So happy to hear that everything worked as it should for you.  Congratulations for sticking it out and remaining unvaxxed.  🥰🥰

Every protocol that has been implemented chips away at the ability to enjoy a vacation.  Every protocol impacts the travel industry.  Some more than others and some in ways that aren't as easy to quantify.  The removal of the testing requirement for inbound international flights has created significant impact on the travel industry.  Just because planes were full before they removed testing doesn't mean there was no impact from the testing requirement for international flights.
Other protocols like pre-cruise testing impact the travel industry.  Vaccination requirements impact the travel industry.  There are people now that are not cruising because of these protocols. 
At the moment there are many new to cruise booking travel that is largely rebound or pent up demand from having minimal travel for two years.  There will soon come a time when that pent up demand has been satisfied.  The state of the economy and inflation may soon put the brakes on travel demand.  When that occurs the industry will need the folks who are currently avoiding travel due to protocols. 
Just because ships are full doesn't mean that there is no impact from the current protocols.

Not to debate this with you because it would be a political debate.  But, my antidotal evidence is that there are still a lot of people that haven't been jabbed, will never be jabbed and refuse to cruise/travel because of the jab.  So, I believe that if the jab mandate goes away, business would be even better for the cruise/travel industry. 
Going from zero passenger count to what it is today isn't remarkable.  Bookings were going up from day one, when it was required to wear a mask 100% of the time, excluding in your own stateroom and actually eating/drinking, and you had to be jabbed.  People were just happy to be out and about.  I think people would have cruised if you told them they had to wear "Depends" over their head and give urine specimens ever 3 hours.  JMHO
 

We are booked to sail on Brilliance of the Seas Jan 17th with our 85 year old mom (this could be her last cruise).  I just read that there is a new requirement to wear a mask EVERYWHERE - even in all vaccinated areas - casino, shows, concierge club, etc.....  
We were on Jewel of the Sea July 5th sailing and were required to wear a mask in public areas but did not need to in the public vaccinated areas.  This was somewhat acceptable but we would have preferred no masks.  We decided to book again because we enjoyed the 50% capacity and were offered a great deal through the casino.  
BACK to Brilliance...I don't know if anyone from Royal Carribean reads this, but we are going to cancel our upcoming Jan 17th cruise due to the burdomsome requirements of masks.  Isn't being vaccinated enough?  Is having personal responsibility of how much risk one is willing to take enough?  Personally I am tired of the CDC recommendations shutting down entire industries.  I am fully vaccinated, including a booster. I have also had covid.  I am willing to take the risk. Why is everyone being burdened to adhere to these recommendations?  RC is a private company.  Please consider changing the mask requirement back - It just won't be enjoyable wearing a mask everywhere. 
We live in Florida and live my daily life without wearing a mask everywhere I go except Dr. offices.  We have no desire to adhere to rules much stricter than we have in daily life.  
How about offering a cruise that no-one has to wear masks and people can decide if that works for them?  

There's frustration coming out of the South Africa medical community about the overreaction to Omicron since the cases they've found so far have all been very mild

This will never end

It's all conjecture at this point.  It's way too early for anyone to be making definitive conclusions about it.  It's worth noting that South Africa's big surge last fall started pretty much this exact same time.

There have already been three post-Delta variants that were a hyped as a big cause for concern but they never amounted to anything.

I am really tired of ‘the sky is falling, the sky is falling’ mentality from the press and politicians every time a new variant arises.  I know the drama sells for news sites, and allows politicians to be able to be able to hold onto unreasonable control a while longer, but so far, as contagious as this is, the cases presenting are milder:
https://nypost.com/2021/11/27/omicron-variant-symptoms-unusual-but-mild-says-south-african-doctor/
 

Covid is the new flu at this point. We will be doing yearly boosters for the rest of our life and in a few years the media will drop the circus parade amd move on to something else. Even if we had 100% worldwide vaccination this would still stick around unless extreme measures were put into place like a multi month quarantine on top of vaccination and a few other things. 
 
Could I be wrong. Sure. If so I have an old shoe to eat. But at this point these topics are beating a horse that had been dead for 6 months. Let's just bury it here and now...
 
 

Hi!  We stayed in Amsterdam before and after our "British Isles Cruise" three years ago.  We chose Movenpick Hotel Amsterdam before the cruise because it is literally located right at the cruise port.  The hotel is also a short walk to the central train station so we had easy access to most areas of Amsterdam.  The Movenpick reminds me of the Hilton Hotel chain in the U.S. by comparison.  We tend to stay in "bargain" places so the Movenpick was a splurge for us as it was somewhat expensive.  We would stay their again without hesitation if we are fortunate enough to visit beautiful Amsterdam again.  
After the cruise we spent additional time in Amsterdam but stayed at the Hotel Herbergh, out near Schiphol Airport, which was smaller and very quaint.  The Herbergh offered a small brick house, on the property, which we rented for a few days - it was adorable!  Although we loved our stay at the Herbergh we grew tired of having to use a shuttle and train to get back into the city.
I hope this is helpful and that you have a wonderful time in Amsterdam and your upcoming cruise!

Hi!  We stayed in Amsterdam before and after our "British Isles Cruise" three years ago.  We chose Movenpick Hotel Amsterdam before the cruise because it is literally located right at the cruise port.  The hotel is also a short walk to the central train station so we had easy access to most areas of Amsterdam.  The Movenpick reminds me of the Hilton Hotel chain in the U.S. by comparison.  We tend to stay in "bargain" places so the Movenpick was a splurge for us as it was somewhat expensive.  We would stay their again without hesitation if we are fortunate enough to visit beautiful Amsterdam again.  
After the cruise we spent additional time in Amsterdam but stayed at the Hotel Herbergh, out near Schiphol Airport, which was smaller and very quaint.  The Herbergh offered a small brick house, on the property, which we rented for a few days - it was adorable!  Although we loved our stay at the Herbergh we grew tired of having to use a shuttle and train to get back into the city.
I hope this is helpful and that you have a wonderful time in Amsterdam and your upcoming cruise!