cantstopingcruising

1 hour ago, TeeRick said:

Thank you for posting.  There are a lot of interesting comments following the actual article.

One thing to think about here is that there is still the very low risk of this side effect in women under 55.  Needs to be balanced with the risk of COVID, risk of long haul syndrome, etc.  And risk of blood clots from COVID itself.   There is a higher risk of blood clots and thrombocytopenia from contraception, excess alcohol consumption, smoking, and hormone therapies to name a few.   And maybe those risks overall should be communicated plainly and the woman should decide - not necessarily the politicians.  Many women decide to take contraceptives every day knowing there is an elevated risk of blood clots (much higher than this vaccine). Also awareness of the event in the vaccine communications should be clearly explained as the condition is treatable.  

It was explained to us that the clot from AZ is a different kind than all the others. It is much more dangerous. I don't remember all the details, but anyone interested could probably look it up.

IMO, if you are the one to get the clot, it doesn't matter if 1% or 99% get it. All that matters is that you got it. I wouldn't want anyone to be THE ONE.

1 hour ago, 4774Papa said:

My physician advises me that simple cloth masks provide little protection for people, but emphasized that when the people that have COVID19 wear masks that provides more protection for others.

 

“I think there’s enough evidence to say that the best benefit is for people who have COVID-19 to protect them from giving COVID-19 to other people, but you’re still going to get a benefit from wearing a mask if you don’t have COVID-19,” said Chin-Hong."

Because of the varients all around us, we are now double masking. A medical mask with a cloth mask over it. That is what we are advised to do.

1 hour ago, OnTheJourney said:

I agree completely, but the type of advice coming from them and the whole "listen to the science" philosphy is a hotly contested one due to the politicization of this whole affair. Never expected that somehow. 

I agree. Politicians should stick to politics and scientists and medical people should look after our health.  What do politicians know about medicine?

Unfortunately for all of us in every country, the politicians, rather than the scientists, are making the decisions. In Canada, we are seeing the third wave, which consists of several more dangerous variants. Yet, some politicians are opening up more and more, so, of course, the cases are rising more and more. Like a war, we have to attack this enemy with every means in our power if we ever want to get rid of it.

On 3/18/2021 at 1:53 PM, Ken the cruiser said:

I was wondering what the new administration was going to do with the excess vaccines we've purchased, especially if/when the FDA approves the AstraZeneca EUA. Glad they'll be going to our neighbors, Canada and Mexico.

 

Biden to send surplus AstraZeneca vaccine doses to Mexico, Canada | TheHill

And I thought you were our friendly neighbours to the south.

1 hour ago, tallyho8 said:

But it's not kosher!

7 hours ago, ipeeinthepool said:

Just another example of what happens when people who have never sailed design the ship.  Has anyone ever been on a ship with too much storage space?  Why would you design the E class ship with less closet space?

Yes, but there were lots of nooks and crannies and we managed better than I thought we would. Although, I must admit we were on for 12 nights, not our usual 21 nights.

On the S class ships, we find the over-the-bed cabinets a pain in the ***

Just read that Italy is going into lockdown again due to a surge in cases. It doesn't look promising for cruising.  Our May cruise was cancelled and the only other date with the same itinerary is in Oct. However, the way things look, we will not book it.

thanx

OMG. Were there pax on board?

I have always been midship.

Do you hear or feel vibrations in these cabins?

Thanks

47 minutes ago, TeeRick said:

We all have interesting stories about this.  Because in many (most?) states unfortunately to this day  getting the vaccine is random luck, serendipity, advanced computer skills, who you know, persistence, rising early, staying up late, or some combination of those things.  Not well organized or planned at the federal, state and county level.  Frustrating and outrageous.  In my state of PA, all of the above applies.  I have been on my county's waiting list since early January.  And on many other waiting lists too like local hospitals and my physicians' practices.  Our state has primarily relied on Rite Aid as the pharmacy partner.  And just recently CVS in limited locations.  Impossible to bag appointments with either of these.  So on to Federal. Through Biden's Federal Pharmacy Program there is a list of additional pharmacy partners.   I kept checking these daily.  Finally right place right time.  Our local supermarket chain Wegmans one day a week ago showed availability.  Grabbed two appointments for myself and dw.   Not on the same day but got them.  The availability was gone from their website in less than 5 minutes.  No availability since.  We were persistent and extremely lucky.  Is this any way to deliver critical, life-saving vaccines in the world's richest country?

Would you mind sharing what age group is having such difficulty?

Here 70 and up is going like clockwork. Our complaint is that the 2nd vaccine is scheduled 4 months later.

1 hour ago, Stu UK said:

Shame it appears there is no lift and shift option for Apex 15th May unless anyone else has found one. 

I agree.  I loved this itinerary, but it doesn't seem to exist in 2022

4 minutes ago, TeeRick said:

Let's freshen this thread up a bit.  I am now asking the question "What is the Strangest Thing that you personally have done on board a cruise ship? 😀

OK.  My sons, not me.

Years ago, when everything on Celebrity was Excellent, the dinnerware had the Celebrity logo. The tables were set so that each logo faced the same direction.  My sons thought that was very interesting and they immediately turned things around....because.....the staff immediately turned it back. This was an ongoing family joke.

In Canada, it is mandatory to wear a mask indoors in a public place. They now tell us to wear double masks.  Definitely, if I see someone unmasked (which doesn't happen here) or not wearing their mask properly, I say something. They always adjust their mask immediately. What they do once I pass them by....who knows!

1 minute ago, lyndarra said:

I remember having desks with inkwells and pens with nibs.

So do I. And I remember when a cartridge pen was an amazing new invention!

Thank you, Ken, for your good wishes. We need them!  As of now, the wait for the second dose is 4 months, which to me seems very unwise.

We wee told we would get the second vaccine 90 days after the first.

Now, in their wisdom, they are extending it to FOUR Months.

1 hour ago, Tigrou said:

 

Sorry, it wasn't Celebrity.  It was QM2.

Thanx

55 minutes ago, Tigrou said:

14-day cruise, seated at a table of 6 solo travellers, one man would only eat apple strudel.  Not for dessert, it was his full meal each evening.  On the first night when the server tried to hand him a menu he refused to take it, loudly demanding apple strudel.  When both servers (understandably) looked confused, he just kept repeating it louder.  Having ascertained that it was definitely all he wanted, they got it for him.

 

On a few nights when he didn't turn up for dinner, the servers would ask "Where is strudel man?"!

 

 

 

 

 

What ship? My DH loves apple strudel, but I don't think I have ever seen it on Celebrity

50 minutes ago, Bruin Steve said:

When I talked about my tour out of Haifa, note that I mentioned going to Megiddo...

Megiddo is the inspiration for the novel "The Source"...It is an archaeological site with 26 layers of different civilizations all one on top of the other...

...and the site is the supposed site of the last battle on earth--Armageddon...In Hebrew, "Har Megiddo" is Mount Megiddo, corrupted in translation to "Armageddon"...

I remember when we had a tour under The Wall, the guide explained about the layers and I could never grasp the concept. I guess living in the New World, it is something beyond our (my) imagination!

When we went to the Church of the Holy Sepulcre, I was blown away by the fact that people lived on the roof of the church. That was many years ago. I don't know if they still do.

We were scheduled to take the Israel cruise last Oct, which of course was cancelled. If we get to go to Israel again, I would rather fly and stay there a few weeks.

3 hours ago, Denny01 said:

Ahh Israel! So important to all of the 3 great monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam. Where so many great civilizations traipsed across to invade each other: Assyrian, Babylonian, Egyptian, Alexander, Rome, then the Islamic armies followed by the Crusaders, the Ottomans and then the British. Poor Israel and Judaea were kind of like a second thought to them. 

 

Sites of the some of the earliest Homo species leaving Africa are located there.

 

Have you read Mitchner’s The Source? 

 

OK, yeah a good cruise stop and great to also enjoy modern Israel and all it offers. I was lucky when I visited. I had an Israeli AF pilot buddy who I met up when my Carrier pulled in and he showed me what it was to live in Israel. What was important to them.

 

Need to go back again... Never enough time!!

 

Den

I read The Source the first time I went to Israel.....in the 60's.

What hit me, reading through the  different ages, is that we all are here such a short time, in the grand scheme of things.

So, let's enjoy!

52 minutes ago, rvlandandsea said:

We did a 14 nights in 2013 with Royal to Norway and Ireland.  Now booked on the Jewel of the seas for 12 nights to the Arctic Norwegian fjord summer 2022.  Also booked Iceland as a B2B. 

We also did 14 nights on the Constellation out of Dover.  .Le Havre, Cork Dublin Grenock, Belfast, Bergen Geiranger,  Olden Copenhagen. I can't remember if there was anything else. What I do remember was when we were docked in Olden, the greens were gorgeous. I told my DH if we could, I would just like to stay there and look at the scenery.

One week in the fjords would probably be fine. You can always add a hotel before and after to get more.

Like Alaska, the Norwegian fjords are best seen from the water.

We are also big fans of Greece, but to be honest it is better to spend more time on fewer islands.

Have fun planning, LGW59!

1 hour ago, LGW59 said:

And cantstopcruisng provided that to him, specifically as it relates to his hate to fly dilemma.   Are you his paid spokesperson or just a volunteer speaking on his behalf?

Thanks for your suppor!

By the way, we have taken many cruises over the years and the BEST one ever was to the Fjords

17 hours ago, missingyou said:

Once we are vaccinated and Covid is in the rear view and we are able to cruise again, we are looking to take a cruise to Alaska.   We have cruised 9 times via RCI and Celebrity throughout the Caribbean and Bermuda, but we have never done Alaska.  This would be a once in a lifetime time trip so we want to make it count.

 

What are recommendations for:

Departure Port

Ships

Length of Cruise

Balcony vs Ocean View or Inside

Ports

Excursions

Best time of year for cruising to Alaska

Anything else to consider?

 

Want to make the most of this trip as we will only do it once.  Reason being "I HATE TO FLY".  I go out of my way to NOT fly.  We live outside of Pittsburgh, PA and when we cruise, we typically drive to Cape Liberty in Bayonne, NJ or Baltimore.  We have cruised out of Florida and have taken the Auto Train and then driven to Port Canaveral or Fort Lauderdale.  With an Alaska cruise that won't be possible, but its something we really want to see.  My wife is fine with flying so it won't bother her.

 

When we cruise we aren't concerned with ship size, or upscale dining.  We primarily pick a cruise based on the ports we will see.  We are loyal to RCI and Celebrity with our last 3 cruises being on Celebrity.

 

Thanks in advance for the help and recommendations.

 

Looking forward to cruising again!

 

 

 

An alternative:  Drive to NYC. Take Cunard to Southampton. Take a cruise from Southampton to Scandinavia and back. Take Cunard to NYC. Drive home.

No flying and a gorgeous trip!