K.T.B.

1 hour ago, Oceangoer2 said:

The thing I can see here going wrong on a 100% vaccinated ship, is that some will get off at ports and wouldn't know, in some cases, who they're coming into contact with who MAY pass the virus.  That is my concern....not the ship and their attempts at keeping covid off.

Being fully vaccinated should protect you for the most part (you may get sick, you may need to be hospitalized, but you won't die), BUT it won't protect those you come in contact with who have not been vaccinated.  Fully vaccinated travelling with others who have been fully vaccinated?  99.99% chance of zero issues, IMO.

4 hours ago, terrydtx said:

Both of my sisters (age 68 and 70) have been long time anti-vaxxers, never had flu shots ETC. One of them even said last year  "why worry about some virus that is 98% survivable". Both of them like my wife and I love cruising and foreign travel and do not wish to lose any more of the good travel years left to us. When the handwriting on the wall looked like vaccinations may be required to cruise or fly overseas, their anti-vaxxer's beliefs disappeared and they like my wife and I are now fully vaccinated. I also agree that it should be anyone's choice whether to vaccinate or not.  However, if that choice means that for the next few years you will have to stay home and not travel, that is your choice and the rest of us do not want to hear any complaints from you. Get stuck or be stuck at home, its your choice.

I regret than I can like your comment only once.  Well said. The 3 sentences I bolded should be the advertising campaign slogan to get vaccinated.

27 minutes ago, Fouremco said:

The updated information:

 

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-during-covid19.html

 

 

So "domestic travel" only for now.  Meaning they're still giving the middle finger to the cruise lines.  On the other hand, the cruise lines can begin to set up their new rules and protocols knowing that this is probably the direction they need to get up and running again.  Expect to be fully vaccinated, wear masks, social distancing, washing hands.  I'm good with this.

I decided to put this in this thread, so we may find out what the deal is about vaccines being required or not:   CDC cruise guidelines coming soon, Miami-Dade mayor says after call with CDC director

CDC cruise guidelines coming soon, Miami-Dade mayor says after call with CDC director.

3 hours ago, broberts said:

 

I really don't like feeling like a yoyo. One would think after a year of this people would have learned.

Charlie Brown would love to talk with you about kicking a football....

7 minutes ago, HskrCrsr said:

As we learn more and develop more effective therapeutics, that 2% figure may decrease. That 2,834,407 figure has nowhere to go but up. May the odds be ever in your favor, I suppose.

 

I must give Need2cruisesoon some credit, though. Even if I don't like the usage, the 98% figure is essentially the correct, current one, much better than those who use the number of deaths compared to the entire population and claim something like 99.9+% survivable. 🤔

You can use the entire population on any death due to a virus and probably get 99.9+%, but that's not the correct way to figure it out...

3 hours ago, dog said:

 

 

hopeully people will see I made a correction here by adding Atleast. 
my apologies 

 

don’t sweat the small stuff 

be safe. Be kind. 

Damn, and I was all ready with the pitchforks and torches!!!  Now what am I going to do with them?

2 hours ago, PTC DAWG said:

I just don't see the relevance of this....

Every time there is a slight downturn to rate of Covid infection, states open up rather than wait it out a little more to make sure.

1 hour ago, HskrCrsr said:

 

So you're ok with helping spread virus to the 2% that won't survive? Just how many people is that?

Of the 98% that survive, what percent spend significant time in the hospital? Or suffer long-lasting symptoms? You're fine with contributing to that, or not doing your part to prevent it?

 

If find it interesting that of the "Selfish stupid attitude IMO" comment, you only took issue with the "selfish" part.

 

I do apologize for any offense. That's not my intent. I really want to get on with enjoying life and cruising. Ignorance of the real effects of COVID is just going to make this take longer. Possibly longer than the 2 years you referenced earlier for another pandemic. 

2%?  Of those who have gotten Covid worldwide?  Just a tiny number of 2,834,407.

Much easier to say 2% and not 2+ million I suppose....

Nah.  I enjoy sea days, but I love going to a port.  If I want to stay in "one location", I'll do an all-inclusive resort in Playa Del Carmen.

2 hours ago, Sam.Seattle said:

So, sit quietly and never speak up?  NOT happening here....

 

Cheers!

🍷

Basically.....

4 hours ago, need2cruisesoon said:

The Spanish Flu only lasted 2 years w/o any vaccines, so I'm gonna take a hard pass on this one.

Good luck to those who have gotten the injection.

Look, just because you survived it then, doesn't mean you will this time.

5 hours ago, broberts said:

 

Two different and unrelated things.

 

The CDC already warns people about unnecessary travel.

 

The no sail restriction is as much to protect against the influx of covid as anything else.

Yeah, and people be like...

12 hours ago, jagoffee said:

I do not think any of those items that you listed are totally shut down by the CDC or any Federal mandate across all states.  Like it is for cruising?  Many things are shut down at the state or local level, but I believe those would be state and local decisions.

 

The CDC recommends against a lot of things without totally shutting them down.  For instance they recommend against  non essential travel, but people can still chose to travel.

 

I was just looking to see if they are any similar businesses or activities that have been shut down at the Federal level.

 

The CDC could recommend against cruising world wide and perhaps require a negative test for anyone departing a cruise ship in a U.S. port without a total no sail order.  Just looking for other similar examples.

The question wasn't "what did the CDC shut down", but "name five industries in the US that are totally shut down across all states".  Which is what I answered.

3 hours ago, zitsky said:

 

Can any state decide to eliminate mask mandates or vaccine rules for cruising?   Who has priority?  Local or federal?

IMO, if the CDC, which is federal, is preventing cruises from occurring, there's your answer.

5 hours ago, Roberto256 said:

 

So, how can a cruise operating from Florida require passengers to be vaccinated, with this order in place?

 

Given that, it is inevitable that there will be a shipboard coronavirus infection.

 

...when in port, ships operate somewhat as a Florida business.

They have a local liquor license and (depending on their mood, collect tax

on drinks and last morning purchases made in Florida)

 

 

 

Then they'll need to consider moving to other ports outside of Florida, not sure the state wants to permanently lose their business.

18 hours ago, jagoffee said:

For all you knowledgeable people who do a lot more research than others:

 Name five industries in the US that are totally shut down across all states. (Besides cruising)

Far more than 5.

Carnivals, state and county fairs, sports venues (yes, baseball played, but no fans.  Football had some fans, but no concessions in many arenas.), film industry complete shut down for months (open now), music venues completely shut down (which includes concessions, etc.), theaters (movies just now beginning to open, live theater still closed), convention centers....

So that's seven, eight if you want to separate state and county fairs.  The thing is, those that I mentioned affected hundreds of thousands of people.  Just look at a state fair.  All the people who work it, then you have all the food and retail vendors and the people who clean up the area all day every day.  The seven/eight I mentioned affected more people than all the cruise lines in their shut down. It trickled down to hotels losing business, gas stations losing business, restaurants, the food industry, etc., etc.

By the way, i didn't do much research.  I knew of those because they all affected me in some way last year, from losing my theater package to losing my 10-game season ticket package for minor league baseball to having to cancel my trip to the Illinois State Fair.

Yeah, cruising is big in the news because of the billions of dollars it's lost, but they're far from the only industry to still be shut down.

8 hours ago, beg3yrs said:

And I read it as K.T.B. feels that by 2023 everyone will be vaccinated and that's why restrictions could be eased. We will never get to the point where everyone is vaccinated and if K.T.B. thinks that can happen, well ....

Hey, it's up to you if you want to be a responsible human being or not.  As for me, I've gotten vaccinated (1st dose) and my wife goes in on Tuesday.  We want to cruise.  We want to be safe.  We will do what we need to do to remain safe.  If that means being slightly inconvenienced in having to wear a mask part of the time, so be it.  If that means following the rules the cruise lines put forth, I'll do it.  If by what I'm doing prevents the spread of a virus, I'll do it.  I'm not just doing this for me, I'm doing it because it's what we need to do to get our lives back to normal.  Easing restrictions too soon prevents this; being vaccinated or wearing a mask does not.

IMO, I will not sail unless I know the cruiseline is enforcing a 100% compliance in passengers and crew being vaccinated.  NO one is forcing anyone to get a vaccination, that is your choice, but cruising is not right it's a privilege.  And the sooner people realize this, the sooner they can start sailing again.  You can make the choice of either traveling or not.

10 hours ago, cruisestitch said:

We have heard from Cruises line officials that it will take between 60 and 90 days to gather staff, re-stock the larders, do test cruises, pass all engineering and health requirements and be ready to cruise.  
 

so any decision to open for business in July would need to be made around April 1, or within the next month.   Keep that timeline in mind.

 

by the time your plea reaches any elected officials, works it way through the backlog of emails and makes its way off their deputies’ desk, and they decide on any positive action, it’s pretty much too late for a US opening in July, IMO.

Focusing on the bolded part, this is why I say September at the earliest.  By July 1st the US, and most of the world, should know where the population stands in terms of being vaccinated, especially in countries where cruise lines go to and leave from.  I firmly believe by December cruising will be a "full go" with passengers being required to be vaccinated along with the entire crew.

10 hours ago, zitsky said:

 

It's funny how we have to play the browser refresh game to get an appointment.  I was watching in my area and found lots of appointments.  But when I was ready to schedule, I couldn't find any for a day or two.  I don't know what happened.

Actually I didn't need to do the refresh, I got placed into a virtual waiting room.   Finally got her an appointment though!  By May 1 we'll both be fully vaccinated and rarin' to go!

26 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Sounds like it's starting to ramp up in Philadelphia. Here's what the current Alabama plan is.

 

The COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan in Alabama (aarp.org)

Chicago (Cook county to be exact) is about to open up appointments for 25,000 doses of Pfizer in about 10 minutes or so as of this typing.  Hopefully I can get my wife an appointment!

32 minutes ago, caribill said:

 

Why masks are still needed:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/23/health/covid-cases-vaccinated-people.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20210327

The vaccines do not provide 100% protection.  Until everyone, and I do mean EVERYONE, is vaccinated, masks should be worn.  I think by 2023 they can ease those restrictions, but masks are probably here to stay for the foreseeable future.

I agree with harkinmr.  There should be a third option of "If not July, then when?".

7 hours ago, caribill said:

 

By the time these other cruises actually sail, Princess might change the requirement to needing a vaccine.

IMO, I think all cruise lines will, if only because they need to represent to the passengers and to the public at large that they're VERY serious about safety.

Yes, masks will probably still need to be worn is heavily congested ares of the ship (i.e. disembarkation at port as people wait) and social distancing will be need (albeit at 3 feet and not 6).  This is not a bad thing, regardless of the political bent it has taken.  

People want to cruise, so we need to do what we need to do to make it safe.  A little inconvenience is not a big deal.