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I handle the pickpocket situation old school. Put my passport card, a credit card, and a couple larger bills of the local currency in a sandwich bag in my shoe.

 I'm heavily into simplifying my life. No way I'd want to get involved with a drug trial, because there's a hell of a lot of extra effort and downside to it. It's not like this covid-19 is the bubonic plague. I can wait until a safe and effective vaccine comes out, which shouldn't be too much longer.

I'm not going to be first in line to get a vaccine just so I can go on a cruise. Maybe, after it's been out there for a little while to demonstrate that there's not any significant adverse reactions, but to hurry hurry hurry to get on a cruise will not be be the primary factor in my decision making process.

It may be much simpler just to fly to what would be the primary destination or two of a cruise, stay at the hotel of your choice, eat at a restaurant of your choice, and go on an excursion of your choice. Being on a cruise ship is nice, but for now, may not be worth the uncertainty and hassle. 😐

Their cruise line, their choice. My money, my choice.

I get that everybody here would like to be cruising as soon as possible, but it's not going to happen until a safe vaccine is widely available, which won't be until at least sometime mid- to later next year. I'm just going to take a deep breath and relax, because it doesn't pay to get all worked up about things that are totally beyond my control. I consider myself blessed in many respects, and if a holiday delay is the worst thing that happens, life isn't too bad.

We just received formal notification from HAL, which is offering two times our deposit as a FCC. While we're going to opt for a refund, what are your all thoughts about the FCC offer?

The only reasonable explanation is that Holland America is trying to grab as much money as possible. It's not a very ethical way to operate. My wife and I are fairly new, coming back to cruising after several years, and this experience is definitely a turn-off.

Noticed that HAL hasn't cancelled my October 17th cruise because they're still trying to gobble deposits from good-faith cruisers when final payment isn't made... 😬

Our October cruise on HAL is shot; I'll wait until they formally announce the cancellation before requesting a refund of the deposit. Our next cruise isn't until later 2022 and we're not going to make any other cruise plans until things become much clearer. Probably will take a non-cruise holiday or two next year instead.

How safe is Seattle? Just asking...

People can also wait or go somewhere else...

As long as things improve, cruisers won't staid at home! Happy Friday... 😀

(Hopefully!),  we'll be on  a HAL cruise in October. Fingers crossed that the new leadership of the line helps make it an enjoyable cruise.

 It's been a long time since I've cruised, but you folks sure seem to know your stuff! Frankly, if our planned cruise in October even takes place, I'll be happy.

Personally, the point where I'd start forfeiting money to a cruise line would be the point where I'd stop even THINKING about cruising for at least a couple of years until the whole cluster*@#^ got sorted out.

Unfortunately, that seems to have a lot of truth in it. 🤨

Can't speak to other cruises or the demographics, but have chosen a HAL seven-day cruise in October along the California coast, which sure fits our pistol. Just hope it's not canceled!

I take anything that I hear or read with more than a grain of salt. There was a  poster on this the thread just over a week ago who claimed that HAL was canceling all of their cruises for this year, which is as of this date is obviously bogus information. Furthermore, the media doesn't necessarily portray an accurate reflection of what's actually going on with covid. Simply Google the populations of New York, Florida, and Texas, then Google the number of covid deaths in these three States. Basic math shows the numbers of civid deaths per 100,000 in New York to be three or four times that of Florida or Texas. You would NEVER get that impression by listening to what the lamestream media slops out.

I have no idea if or when a vaccine may be developed for covit. However, life goes on and I'll enjoy it as much as possible, whether it includes cruising or not.

I've never been on HAL, but have a HAL cruise scheduled for October. At least it has some chance of not being canceled. If it doesn't go forward then it doesn't. However, if it does take place, then at least I'll be able to judge HAL's relative quality!

Mid-October California coast, but figure it'll likely be canceled.

For my October HAL Cruise, the final payment date is August 18th. However, folks who would want to book the cruise now have now have a final payment date due in just a few days. I know that they can't change my agreement on my final payment date, but it is interesting that they want to collect money ASAP from other people. Doesn't sound much like a cruise guarantee promotion; more like a grab the money before they cancel the cruise promotion.

I've got two cruises booked, one for this October and the other in the Fall of 2022. If they HAL cancels out the October cruise, I'll hold off on booking anything more until after 2022  taking my holidays just by air/land. I don't want to deal with cruise lines playing games just to grab money.

For anyone in a higher risk group, there's no reason to risk taking a cruise this year. Even for those others willing to assume the risk, anybody who' cruise booked for this year will probably have it canceled. I've got a cruise on HAL scheduled for October, and figure that it's maybe got a 1 in 3 shot at best of taking place... but who knows?