farmersfight

12 hours ago, DSJ28 said:

I was thinking about this as well.  I think I'd be comfortable either way, but I thought I'd have them separate the beds and use the spare one for towel animals, a teddy bear I may or may not take with me (don't judge!!!), and for laying out clothes.  

I have a king at home so on a cruise ship, I'll have the beds together (to make a queen?). And, I still expect a towel animal on my bed, coming back to my stateroom after a long night of pub crawls and drinking (also, don't judge!!!).

22 hours ago, HBCcruiser said:

 

Hopefully the results of this new study (by the CDC) will help the CDC realize cruising with 100% of adults vaccinated will be safe. At least, one can only hope. 

Pfizer, Moderna COVID-19 vaccines highly effective after first shot in real-world use, U.S. study shows.

https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN2BL2UW

Unfortunately, the CDC Director herself needs to realize this. Even with the highly effective vaccine(s) and the increasing administering (shots in arms) of them by the day, she's still scared and predicts "impending doom".

On 3/30/2021 at 5:33 AM, BoozinCroozin said:

"atypical"? How is it atypical if 100% of the people I personally that have had covid had little to no symptoms at all. There are over 100 people between co-workers, family, and friends. "atypical" can only pertain to what you have been brainwashed into believing. It is impossible to have an open discussion with close minded people who have not a single ounce of common sense. For every 1 person you show me that has severe symptoms, I can show you 1000s that had nothing or very mild symptoms. That is a fact. If they put this on the media 24/7 for 6 straight months instead of the Doom and Gloom you have been watching, you would follow it like a lemming as well. For every 1 person that had severe reaction to covid, please state their pre-existing conditions that made it that much worse: smoker, obese, heart disease, diabetic, etc. All of them have at least 1 co-morbidity that made it worse. They don't brainwash that into you on the media as well. 

 

The playbook worked and has been proven. Even though it is some odd 50 years old, it worked. Feed the people information and eventually they believe it is true no matter how right or wrong it is.

It's about the power. Keeping it and gaining more. " Never let a crisis go to waste".

About 4 years ago, my one and only cruise to Alaska (Vancouver, BC to Whittier, AK) was oboard Diamond Princess. Little did I know at the time that she would become famous and for what reason.

16 minutes ago, DSJ28 said:

Excellent!  Well deserved retirement time, I'm sure!  Which cruise are you most looking forward to? I see you have two transatlantic trips planned.  There's nothing better than sea days to me - so of course, this is on my short list for 2023.  I want to fly to Europe and cruise home.  I've reached a point in my career where I can take 3 or 4 weeks off if I plan far enough in advance and with limited access for urgent business matters.  After this first solo trip, I'll know better if I am comfortable doing a TA solo.  

I have 2 TA's planned? Wow, I need to go back and look at my list; I've lost track, lol. As far as the cruise I am most looking forward to; I'd have to say the last one I booked- the Ovation OTS B2B (which will become a B2B2B). 10-day NZ cruise followed by a 17-day TP from Sydney to Honolulu. Now I need to get from Honolulu to Vancouver (the cruise that is "on my radar").

2 minutes ago, DSJ28 said:

Hi Mr Awesome Future Cruise guy! I am trying to get my list to be half as glorious as yours.  I've scheduled two trips after my solo, both with friends.  I'm looking forward to them, but this solo trip feels...I don't know... special.  Like I've got a date with my favorite person...ME!!  

"Mr. Awesome Future Cruise guy", wow, thanks (I'm blushing). All my future booked cruises have been made possible by me being retired (all that free time on my hands), my decision to make cruising my RAOC (retired activity of choice) and me being addicted to ships. Well, I recently booked cruise #12 & 13 (Ovation OTS). Cruise #14 (Ovation OTS from Honolulu to Vancouver) is "on my radar" and will be booked as soon as RCI opens up the booking calender out that far. Thanks again for the compliment regarding the length of my future (booked) cruise list!

6 hours ago, Sailing12Away said:

*runs off to check the upgrade prices to switch to Haven, just in case*

Don't forget about that magnificent 3BR Garden Villa on the Pearl for a certain group of "rodents" on a short 4-day cruise out of Miami 😉.

(I know, it's like herding cats instead of rats. But, I'm still a 👍).

5 hours ago, Sailing12Away said:

We had this book with us when we went to Maui several years ago, and it's great if you're interested in self driving tours to wander that island. https://smile.amazon.com/Driving-Discovering-Hawaii-Maui-Molokai/dp/0963682806/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=driving+and+discovering+maui&qid=1617074106&sr=8-2 The book will literally tell you "stop at mile marker 7, look for the dirt patch in the side of the road and park there. Walk through the cattle gate and follow the sound of the waterfall until you find it - you can't miss it." And it's all true. We found a cliff with natural pools that the locals used for diving into, and then 2 days later had one of those brave cliff divers as our waiter at the luau we attended. 

 

With the 2 overnight stays, definitely take advantage of those longs days/nights. Depending on if you're an early riser or night owl, again on Maui look into either a sunrise or sunset trip to Mount Haleakala. It's cold, so dress accordingly, but the views are fabulous sitting above the clouds. Get a rental car and wander the island on your own following that guide book - tons of hidden gems of private beaches to discover where you'll be the only person there. All the beaches are public and free for use, so don't be afraid to wander and discover.

 

On Hilo we did a tour outside of NCL with Ricky's Tours (google them). Went to the volcano national park, macadamia nut factory, and a bunch of other neat things for half the price of the NCL sponsored trips. In Kawaii we booked a private tour through these folks: http://www.hawaiianphotos.net/Kauaitours.htm

 

Price for a private tour for 4 of us was around $500 and we went to some amazing places that you would never get to on a tour bus. The best was a residential area where we parked in front of someone's house then walked down the street. There was a hidden beach down there with no one around except for us. Absolutely amazing, and when you're the only ones on the tour you can stay in each location as long as you like. 

 

You can't go wrong with anything you choose to do in Hawaii - what you should do all depends on what you enjoy (more physical activities like hiking/snorkeling, trying the local food and beer, cultural/historic things).

Thanks for posting this valuable information! It is really valuable when someone who has been there and actually done the things in the guide book and verifies it's true & accurate. I definitely will be buying the Maui guidebook and probably also the Oahu guidebook.

I definitely planned on renting a car in Honolulu pre-cruise (will be there 4 days pre-cruise) but really hadn't thought about renting a car during the overnight stays. Hmmm...

8 minutes ago, farmersfight said:

@BoozinCroozin, @HxFx, @boatseller, @bucfan2, @HBCcruiser, @Seany527, @BermudaBound2014, @skywonder, @CaptainHazelwood, @JamesIowa,

@Stealthdog, @Summerstravel, @kdmbluerzr, @footballbabe3,

@BoundForSea

 

Hi fellow CC members!

 

I'd like to invite you to take a look at our CC Rat Pack thread in the Floataway Lounge forum. Especially take a look at the initial post (by me) for the qualities that we are looking for to be in our CC Rat Pack.

Don't worry, no $$ involved; absolutely free. And although the original Rat Pack were all men (Frank, Dean & Sammy), our CC Rat Pack does not gender discriminate (ladies welcome!).

 

If you like our CC Rat Pack thread, please let me know if you may be interested in joining us. Thanks!

 

cc: @HuliHuli, @complawyer, @Sailing12Away, @DCGuy64, @pinkie60, @rkacruiser

@Love my butler - sorry, I left you off by accident but you are also invited to take a look at our CC Rat Pack thread in the Floataway Lounge forum. If interested in joining, let me know.

@BoozinCroozin, @HxFx, @boatseller, @bucfan2, @HBCcruiser, @Seany527, @BermudaBound2014, @skywonder, @CaptainHazelwood, @JamesIowa,

@Stealthdog, @Summerstravel, @kdmbluerzr, @footballbabe3,

@BoundForSea

Hi fellow CC members!

I'd like to invite you to take a look at our CC Rat Pack thread in the Floataway Lounge forum. Especially take a look at the initial post (by me) for the qualities that we are looking for to be in our CC Rat Pack.

Don't worry, no $$ involved; absolutely free. And although the original Rat Pack were all men (Frank, Dean & Sammy), our CC Rat Pack does not gender discriminate (ladies welcome!).

If you like our CC Rat Pack thread, please let me know if you may be interested in joining us. Thanks!

cc: @HuliHuli, @complawyer, @Sailing12Away, @DCGuy64, @pinkie60, @rkacruiser

5 hours ago, philv said:

We are on September 25 sailing. Hoping it will go. There’s a roll call if you want to participate. We looked at excursions, but think rental cars and doing our own thing fits our interests better. We are mainly beachcombers. We get our second covid shot tomorrow and are hoping CDC updates it’s plans shortly.

I hope yours will go also as it would mean mine (Oct 23-30, 2021) will also go. Don't count on the CDC to update anything shortly (especially the NSO/CSO). The CDC Director is "feeling impending doom" and is "scared". Plus, she doesn't even know what Federal agency is in charge of making the final decision to allow cruise ships to restart out of U.S. ports.

18 hours ago, DSJ28 said:

I'm pretty excited to have my first solo planned for later this year.  MSC Divina - wonderfully affordable balcony to launch my solo experience the right way 🙂

I saw your other post about this in the "POST Single supplement/Solo bargains HERE" thread (which I replied to). Again, congrats and I hope she sails!

13 hours ago, DSJ28 said:

I'm brand new to solo cruising  - just scheduled my first for Sept 2021 on the MSC Divina.  I was surprised to find the prices were so reasonable.  If I'm calculating this correctly, the balcony cabin solo cost correctly - it's 137% the cost for double occupancy.  Not bad - right? 

 

And....MSC has a Premium Plus Drinks package for $79/pp that includes the in cabin minibar!! How did I never know about this cruise line before now????  

Congrats on booking the MSC Divina (as a solo) for Sept 2021. Fingers crossed 🤞 she sails. Yeah, I'm also very interested in MSC. I'm planning way out (mainly because I'm already booked out that far; see my booked cruises in my signature block, lol) to book with MSC (perhaps the MSC Seashore) for Nov or Dec 2023.

I'd say you got a great solo deal by getting the solo supplement at only 37% (137% total double occupancy). I have booked multiple cruises with RCI because they were running their "60% off the 2nd guest" sale which effectively lowers the solo supplement to 40% (so, pretty close to your 37% with MSC).

As a matter of fact, I went to book the Ovation OTS in a studio balcony cabin (120 sq ft) but because of the sale, it was much less to book a regular balcony cabin (200 sq ft). So, a bigger stateroom (80 sq ft more) at a much lesser price. A win-win.

The Premium Plus drink package sounds great (especially since it also includes the cabin's mini-bar). Was the $79/pp per day?

MSC does appear to be "solo friendly" (good for us, eh?). I believe MSC is competing with "the big 3" (RCI, NCL & CCL) in the U.S. market and trying to establish "a foothold". That's why I think you're seeing these god deals with MSC. I hope MSC is running the same kind of deal you got when I'm ready to book with them for my Nov or Dec 2023 cruise.

3 hours ago, DCGuy64 said:

Mmm, a few sunburned spots, but nothing too bad. BTW Floridians are pretty open about the mask thing. I spent a lot of time outside and most of it was maskless. It was a great feeling!

Yeah, Gov. Ron knows how to govern! Pretty much everything is open in Florida except for cruising unfortunately.

1 hour ago, DCGuy64 said:

Unbelievable-or, on 2nd thought, totally believable. One government official says "don't blame us at the CDC, it's DOT's fault." DOT: "what are you talking about?" Good freaking grief! This is so classically government bureaucratic nonsense, it's not even funny. They can't even agree who's to blame, much less think about revising the CSO that was developed before vaccinations were even available. So the cruise lines just sit and wait. And wait. And wait. And finally decide "screw it, we're taking our ships elsewhere and sailing from foreign ports." Pathetic! I just spent a lovely week in Florida and was glad to see Gov Ron DeSantis basically tell the US government to put up or shut up. I hope Florida sues the US government over this. What in the h*** are they waiting for at the CDC? Plenty of ships have sailed in other countries during the pandemic without major incidents. Something like 10 cases out of 300,000 passengers (don't quote me, I forget the actual numbers, but it was statistically insignificant). This is incredibly embarrassing, economically devastating, and, as usual, government is to blame. Like I said at the outset, it's totally believable. SMH 🙄🤷‍♂️🤪

Way to come back with "guns a blazin", "shootin' fire"! Yeah, the CDC is a#%ho. I hope they're feeling the ever increasing pressure from the likes of Gov. DeSantis, Senator Murkowski & others. Plus, all of us mad lad CC members! Welcome back by the way. I hope you didn't get too tanned, lol.

1 hour ago, Mary229 said:

Cruise Critic just published this article.  Be sure to read the part where the Department of Transportation says we have no idea what the CDC is talking about (paraphrased, of course)

 

https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/5988/?et_cid=3417200&et_rid=176836958&et_referrer=boards_a

Thanks for posting. The CDC Director Rochelle Walensky proved that she doesn't have a clue when she tried to tell Alaska senator Lisa Murkowski that it was an "inter-agency" decision and that she "believed" the power rested partially with the Dept of Transportation.

Are you kidding me? She's just making stuff (I wanted to use the other "s" word) up. She pulled Dept of Transportation out of her arse because it has the word "Transportation" in it and it was the 1st agency that came to her clueless mind. I'm surprised she didn't also say that the power also partially rested with "the Maritime Commission" because that agency has the word "Maritime" in it and she could figure out that the cruise lines are maritime related.

The CDC needs to immediately stop this sham and pull down the roadblock of cruises restarting out of U.S. ports. Under the CSO, it says that the agency (CDC) can drop it at any time. That's exactly what the CDC needs to do.

44 minutes ago, HuliHuli said:

Thanks @mianmike for posting this video.  What it demonstrates is we have an engaged set of leaders, Florida State and cruise line industry, ready to throw the flag on the CDC for their inaction and unconstitutional act of shutting down a significant industry across the United States.  We need to collectively speak up and support them and amplify their message to our elected leaders.

 

As i posted on the thread "Exciting news coming very soon" (and as others have on other threads), we in America can add our voices to Flordia's,  ASTA and CLIA's efforts by writing our respective Senators and Representatives.  It is easy to do online now:

 

Here is the link for Senators:https://www.senate.gov/?Class=1

Here is the link for Congress: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

 

Feel free to clone the text below that I sent to all of my representatives a few days ago:

 

It has been almost five months since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued its framework for cruise lines return to sailing.  Since then, the cruise industry has been in a holding pattern in the U.S., with sailings in the largest cruise market in the world still banned, with no clear guidance on the horizon.  Meanwhile, the three largest cruise lines sailing out of U.S. ports have spent millions of their own money upgrading their ships with improved HVAC systems that virtually eliminate the spread of the COVID-19 virus through the ship’s internal environments.

 

While some lines, like Royal Caribbean and Crystal Cruise, have committed to restarting out of non-U.S. ports, and more are reportedly working to establish new home ports away from the overbearing U.S. CDC’s reach, now is the time for the CDC to lift its Conditional Sail Order that is preventing the industry from restarting in the U.S.

 

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) president and CEO Kelly Craighead wants the CDC to allow for cruise operations from U.S. ports to resume in early-July, a timeframe that is in line with President Biden’s forecast for when the country will be “closer to normal,” the group said.

 

Cruising has safely restarted outside of the U.S.—nearly 400,000 passengers have already sailed to date in more than 10 major cruise markets including Europe, Asia, and the South Pacific—proving that the industry is able to do the same stateside.  In fact, less than 50 cases have been reported during those restarts, a significantly lower rate than on-land vacations or in any other mode of transportation.  “These voyages were successfully completed with industry-leading protocols that have effectively mitigated the spread of COVID-19.  Additional sailings are planned in the Mediterranean and Caribbean later this spring and summer,” Craighead said.

 

“The outdated CSO, which was issued almost five months ago, does not reflect the industry’s proven advancements and success operating in other parts of the world, nor the advent of vaccines, and unfairly treats cruises differently.  Cruise lines should be treated the same as other travel, tourism, hospitality, and entertainment sectors,” Craighead added.  It is time to end the CDC’s stranglehold on an industry that provides millions of good paying jobs and earns billions in revenue in the U.S. market.  Stop the CDC ANTI-CRUISE MADNESS!  STOP KICKING THE CAN!

Done. Sent to my Michigan state senators.

27 minutes ago, sweetbasil57 said:

Fingers crossed hoping to set sail end of Sept... Have not heard a word from NCL. My Question is..We (and another couple) are looking at excursions.. We want to go to a Luau.. which one is the best. Should we use NCL's suggestions or find our own.Also any tips on excursions that are worth the money and great. I know we also would like to visit a pineapple plant.

 

Thanks.

Fingers crossed 🤞 that your PoA cruise sails because if it does, that means my PoA cruise will sail at the end of Oct.

5 hours ago, wdsted said:

For the rest of you, I think that reopening needs to have the caveat that until this virus is pounded into oblivion, the CDC should allow cruises to operate out of the US only for those persons who are vaccinated. 

5 hours ago, wdsted said:

The cruise lines will have to reopen incrementally anyways, so why not pack those first cruises with passengers who are largely immune and aren't transmitting the virus to others?  The vaccinated, cruise-loving market is huge and growing daily.  What we can't allow is for one or more passengers to infect dozens/hundreds of others who aren't vaccinated and, on a cruise ship, that would be guaranteed with every sailing.

I agree with you. Required vaccinations for all crew and adult (18+) passengers onboard. Negative rapid covid tests required for those under 18. This is exactly what RCI, Celebrity & Crystal is doing and they are reopening incrementally (as you mentioned).

There is no reason the CDC can't adopt these requirements & protocols as the means of lifting the CSO (effectively the NSO) and let cruise lines use the months of April, May & June to get their ships ready for a July 1st restart, out of U.S. ports.

22 minutes ago, AdoraBelle said:

 

Just because you don't like the science doesn't make him a politician. 

 

Besides, if he was a politician, it would have been much easier for mango mussolini to fire him. 

Yeah, I don't like his science. First he says, "you shouldn't wear a mask", then, "you need to wear a mask", then "you need to wear 2 masks".

O.k., maybe you're right, he's not a politician. More like a wanna be super-model posing for the cover of InStyle magazine;

"Mango mussolini", lol (I have to give you props, I've never heard that one before). Don't you mean; Orange Man BAD!!

3 hours ago, mianmike said:

The major cruise line CEO's and Florida politicians met on Friday discussing the CDC's intransigence and stonewalling with regard to working with the cruise industry on a path to returning to cruising.  I had hoped behind the scenes the CDC was working with the cruise lines on protocols for a return to safe sailing.  Apparently they were not talking.  The video below--which I started with Harry Sommer President CEO of NCL talking to the group--is enlightening.  It was good to see all the cruise lines are committed to working together to return to sailing, but in a safe manner.  Hopefully the politicians can take politics out of the equation and follow Sommer's suggestion that they invite the CDC's Director Rochelle Walensky to Florida to meet with the governor and the cruise CEOs.   

 

 

Thank you for posting this video. I totally agree with you, this video is enlightening an a real "look behind the curtain". Not to get political, but Gov DeSantis is an excellent leader and governor that is clearly on display in this video. He is absolutely doing the right thing by reaching out and partnering (public - private partnership) with the cruise line execs. But this is not just a state of Florida issue, it is a national issue (i.e. the cruise lines not be able to sail Alaska itineraries, which is not only affecting another state, Alaska, but requires national action to work with Canada). Bottom line, since this falls squarely in the CDC's jurisdiction (a national agency), CDC Director Rochelle Walensky needs to start doing her job, get off her ass and leave her office in D.C. and get out and meet/partner with these cruise line execs, like Gov. DeSantis is doing. It is very disturbing when Director Walensky states that it is under "inter-agency" review but cannot name the other agencies involved. As Gov. DeSantis pointed out, the whole entire covid picture has changed (for the better) since the CDC's NSO/CSO were issued, with the vaccines, theraputics, understanding of the virus & disease, rapid testing, etc. And, as Gov. DeSantis siad, the CDC needed to be able to "change course" when these advancements & information on the virus & disease came to the forefront. And, as he said, all the CDC needs to do is look at the successful restart of cruising in other parts of the world (Singapore, Italy, etc) with 0 covid outbreaks. I agree with the cruise line execs in this video, July 1st is the time.

2 minutes ago, rhblake said:

I prefer to let medical science professionals determine when cruising restarts, not politicians.

You mean Dr. Fauci? Oh wait, he is a politician.

2 hours ago, NikiPinkston said:

We're still hoping the POA will sail, farmersfight, but since the CDC is so arbitrary, Plan B is to postpone this cruise until March, 2022 and visit New Orleans in October (another one of our favorite cities).  Prayers & fingers crossed that our cruises will be a go!  p.s. We always enjoy popping out on our balcony to see the sights and, on POA, especially the Napali Coast & the volcano if it's active.  (On a Mexican cruise, we once saw a shark that was swimming along beside the ship!)  It gets very crowded on deck for these events, so do go early to get a good spot.  The only time we didn't use our balcony was on a Mississippi River Cruise because the bugs were as big a hummingbirds.

Yeah, the CDC is being ridiculous by "dragging their feet" and not issuing that technical guidance so cruise lines can restart out of U.S. ports. Looks like RCL, Celebrity & Crystal got tired of waiting and will operate out of Nassau, Bermuda & St. Maarten. I bet the CDC will wait and watch what happens with these cruises. If they are successful (no covid cases), I bet the CDC will finally do what they should have done a long time ago to get the cruise lines restarted out of U.S. ports.

I used to live in Houston, TX, so I am very familiar with New Orleans. It was an easy 5 hr drive from Houston. Did numerous weekend trips to New Orleans and even saw the Saints play in the Superdome multiple times. Who dat? Who dat? Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints? Who dat? Yeah, I love New Orleans also.

17 hours ago, seaman11 said:

 

That would've been the Suez Canal pilot. But, pilots are only "advisors" (except in the Panama Canal where the Panama Canal assumes full responsibility). So, in this case, the master is "on the hook".

1 hour ago, NikiPinkston said:

We're booked on the POA September 28th (4th time we've rescheduled) & we had air fare included with our first booking 3/28/2020.  We fly out of San Diego & NCL had us flying to Phoenix for an hour layover before our flight to Honolulu.  When we rebooked, I turned down included air & we'll fly with Hawaiian Airlines (love them!) as we like to fly non-stop & it just wasn't worth it to us to use NCL's free air. We also like to arrive a few days early to our destination & something else to be aware of is that NCL will only allow you to arrive 2 days prior to your cruise with their air included (for a small fee).  BTW, this is our second POA cruise & we really enjoyed our balcony last time!

Fingers crossed 🤞 that your Sept 28th PoA cruise goes. I'm booked on her for Oct 23-30, 2021. But, I'm booked in an inside stateroom. I'm hoping I guessed right in that you can't see much from a balcony since the ship sails in the evening/night (except for the time it sails past the scenic Napali coast). This will be the one & only time I book an inside stateroom because I'm like you, "I've got to have me a balcony"!