RCVoyager

The logic and reasoning used by the entire country defies science and data for an illness that has taken .1% of the population, the vast majority of which were in bad health anyway.  Wash you hands, don't touch you face, and when the shot is available, get it.  Let us live our lives.

I appreciate and agree with your sentiment.  It is a compliment to my wife that the two times she's chosen to leave home in 12 months was to have dinner with her.
I think the "what country is this" portion of my comment was probably related to my own frustration with the situation.

My wife had dinner with a friend this week.  She and her family are so petrified that she has been off her property exactly twice in the last 12 months (both times to have dinner with my wife).  Both parents are working from home.  Their 7 year old is being home schooled.  All groceries are delivered.  The husband has left home a few times when it was absolutely necessary.  Upon return he removes is clothing in the garage, the clothing is put into a trash bag for two weeks before it comes into the house to be laundered, and he sprays down with disinfectant before coming into the house.  Of course all deliveries are handled appropriately too.
What country is this?

Good to see politicians trying to move the needle, but thus far it is clear the CDC does not really care about what any politician says (except perhaps the President, as evidenced last fall with that alleged tug of war with extending the no sail order).
The fact technical instructions haven't been delivered and it is now March (from when they were supposed to be given in October) is absolutely ridiculous. Talk about not being an honest broker.
The fear that the Conditional Sail Order is the No Sail Order with a different name is accurate, and it is absolutely absurd this has gone on this long.
I'm not saying cruises should  have been able to restart 6 months ago. Just that clearly the cruise lines have demonstrated a lot of self restraint, and they know more than anyone, the importance of operating safely given their very public and media-unfriendly coverage.
If the CDC is willing to say vaccinated people can all hang out and be merry together, explain to me why, at VERY least, those same people can't be hanging out, on a ship, with these multiple layers of precautions that have already been defined.  It really defies logic at this point.

I thought you were going all Bronx on us for a moment there. ?
As for your friends, that's simply the way they're dealing with it that helps them cope.  Some people are serious germaphobes and it's a way of coping that allows them to feel as if they have better control of a situation that gives them great anxiety.  I am very close to one myself, and his routines have nothing to do with "this country".  Just continue to be kind.  

My wife had dinner with a friend this week.  She and her family are so petrified that she has been off her property exactly twice in the last 12 months (both times to have dinner with my wife).  Both parents are working from home.  Their 7 year old is being home schooled.  All groceries are delivered.  The husband has left home a few times when it was absolutely necessary.  Upon return he removes is clothing in the garage, the clothing is put into a trash bag for two weeks before it comes into the house to be laundered, and he sprays down with disinfectant before coming into the house.  Of course all deliveries are handled appropriately too.
What country is this?

My wife had dinner with a friend this week.  She and her family are so petrified that she has been off her property exactly twice in the last 12 months (both times to have dinner with my wife).  Both parents are working from home.  Their 7 year old is being home schooled.  All groceries are delivered.  The husband has left home a few times when it was absolutely necessary.  Upon return he removes is clothing in the garage, the clothing is put into a trash bag for two weeks before it comes into the house to be laundered, and he sprays down with disinfectant before coming into the house.  Of course all deliveries are handled appropriately too.
What country is this?

The logic and reasoning used by the entire country defies science and data for an illness that has taken .1% of the population, the vast majority of which were in bad health anyway.  Wash you hands, don't touch you face, and when the shot is available, get it.  Let us live our lives.

I appreciate and agree with your sentiment.  It is a compliment to my wife that the two times she's chosen to leave home in 12 months was to have dinner with her.
I think the "what country is this" portion of my comment was probably related to my own frustration with the situation.

My wife had dinner with a friend this week.  She and her family are so petrified that she has been off her property exactly twice in the last 12 months (both times to have dinner with my wife).  Both parents are working from home.  Their 7 year old is being home schooled.  All groceries are delivered.  The husband has left home a few times when it was absolutely necessary.  Upon return he removes is clothing in the garage, the clothing is put into a trash bag for two weeks before it comes into the house to be laundered, and he sprays down with disinfectant before coming into the house.  Of course all deliveries are handled appropriately too.
What country is this?

I appreciate and agree with your sentiment.  It is a compliment to my wife that the two times she's chosen to leave home in 12 months was to have dinner with her.
I think the "what country is this" portion of my comment was probably related to my own frustration with the situation.

I appreciate and agree with your sentiment.  It is a compliment to my wife that the two times she's chosen to leave home in 12 months was to have dinner with her.
I think the "what country is this" portion of my comment was probably related to my own frustration with the situation.

My wife had dinner with a friend this week.  She and her family are so petrified that she has been off her property exactly twice in the last 12 months (both times to have dinner with my wife).  Both parents are working from home.  Their 7 year old is being home schooled.  All groceries are delivered.  The husband has left home a few times when it was absolutely necessary.  Upon return he removes is clothing in the garage, the clothing is put into a trash bag for two weeks before it comes into the house to be laundered, and he sprays down with disinfectant before coming into the house.  Of course all deliveries are handled appropriately too.
What country is this?

The logic and reasoning used by the entire country defies science and data for an illness that has taken .1% of the population, the vast majority of which were in bad health anyway.  Wash you hands, don't touch you face, and when the shot is available, get it.  Let us live our lives.

The more I look at it, the more ridiculous the CDC ban is.
Consider allowing each of the big three cruise lines to sail with two ships right now at 50% capacity.  Use 3,000 per ship as a high number (not all ships are Oasis class).  That is 18,000 guests per week.  Double it to account for secondary brands also sailing with two ships.  That's 36,000 guests per week.
The US population is ~328M.
Those 36k guests equal 0.01% of the US population.  
The CDC is banning a restart that involves 0.01% of the population.  
If allowed to sail and using CDC protocols those 36,000 guests each week would require a PCR test to reach the port and an antigen test to board the ship.  On board they would be subject to protocols established by the CDC as best practices.  Daily temperature check.  More antigen testing.  Masks.  Distancing.  VACCINES!  To debark the ship they need an antigen test.  All of the things that aren't taking place on land in communities around America.
Instead the CDC has decided that it is much better to prevent 36,000 Americans from using CDC best practice protocols each week.
Instead the CDC wants Americans running loose in their home states were the CDC has no jurisdiction and can't control what state or local governments set as requirements.  Many states are opening up.  Many states are letting protocols go.  Yet the CDC thinks this is better for Americans over the CDC's own best practice protocols.
The CDC doesn't want people using their own protocols.
The CDC doesn't want people to be tested.
Given the options facing the CDC, the CDC chooses an option to ban cruise ships and prevent Americans from being tested frequently and using CDC best practice protocols.
How many Americans are we talking about?  Just 0.01% of the population.
All of this for just 0.01% of the population.
Somehow the CDC has determined that stopping 0.01% of the American population from using CDC best practices on a weekly basis will somehow save America.  
The logic and reasoning being used by the CDC defies science and data.  

I've thought a great deal about the hatred/ignorance of the cruise industry.  I think the answer may be in Twangster's post about the CDC.  Only 15% of Americans have ever taken a cruise.  That means 85% have not.  While many claim they don't want to vacation on a floating petry dish, I think it's something different.
 
I would be willing to bet that most either can't afford to cruise, think they can't afford to cruise, or just never taken the time to book a cruise.  All of their excuses(hatred and jealousy) serve to blame someone or something other than themselves.

I've thought a great deal about the hatred/ignorance of the cruise industry.  I think the answer may be in Twangster's post about the CDC.  Only 15% of Americans have ever taken a cruise.  That means 85% have not.  While many claim they don't want to vacation on a floating petry dish, I think it's something different.
 
I would be willing to bet that most either can't afford to cruise, think they can't afford to cruise, or just never taken the time to book a cruise.  All of their excuses(hatred and jealousy) serve to blame someone or something other than themselves.

I've thought a great deal about the hatred/ignorance of the cruise industry.  I think the answer may be in Twangster's post about the CDC.  Only 15% of Americans have ever taken a cruise.  That means 85% have not.  While many claim they don't want to vacation on a floating petry dish, I think it's something different.
 
I would be willing to bet that most either can't afford to cruise, think they can't afford to cruise, or just never taken the time to book a cruise.  All of their excuses(hatred and jealousy) serve to blame someone or something other than themselves.

I've thought a great deal about the hatred/ignorance of the cruise industry.  I think the answer may be in Twangster's post about the CDC.  Only 15% of Americans have ever taken a cruise.  That means 85% have not.  While many claim they don't want to vacation on a floating petry dish, I think it's something different.
 
I would be willing to bet that most either can't afford to cruise, think they can't afford to cruise, or just never taken the time to book a cruise.  All of their excuses(hatred and jealousy) serve to blame someone or something other than themselves.

I can say without reservation of any kind, I WILL NEVER SAIL THE REGENT SUN AGAIN.  
I was on her in 1995.  She sunk in 2001.

I can say without reservation of any kind, I WILL NEVER SAIL THE REGENT SUN AGAIN.  
I was on her in 1995.  She sunk in 2001.

I used to think the same way about fins.  My brother said, you're in the Caribbean.  There's no current to speak of.  Just bring your mask and snorkel.  You don't need fins.  He was right.  I haven't traveled with fins for 20 years.

I can say without reservation of any kind, I WILL NEVER SAIL THE REGENT SUN AGAIN.  
I was on her in 1995.  She sunk in 2001.

I can say without reservation of any kind, I WILL NEVER SAIL THE REGENT SUN AGAIN.  
I was on her in 1995.  She sunk in 2001.

I can say without reservation of any kind, I WILL NEVER SAIL THE REGENT SUN AGAIN.  
I was on her in 1995.  She sunk in 2001.