K.T.B.

1 minute ago, verizon said:

Sorry Celebrity I won't cruise with you as long as AI is involved.

 

AI?

32 minutes ago, cdcummings said:

Hello, does the passage below from LLP’s email convey that we MUST book flights through Celebrity and that we will not have the option of booking flights independently?

 

“Take advantage of special air and sea pricing offering exceptional savings on all Summer 2021 St. Maarten sailings starting at $1,999* per person for a veranda stateroom. The offer applies to new bookings and flights must be booked through Flights By Celebrity and prices include airfare taxes. No promotional code is needed.”

 

What are your thoughts?

Not an issue for me if I was to book this cruise, I've booked airfare through Celebrity before and it was great.  You can even fly in a day or 2 earlier if you want.

7 hours ago, wowzz said:

Surely Norovirus is normally transmitted through surface contact?  Not sure why mask wearing would have any bearing on reducing outbreaks.

Again, not concerned.  

2 hours ago, beg3yrs said:

Just kind of out of the blue here, but if everyone is vaccinated, it seems you're more likely to get Norovirus than COVID-19 ... and people do die from that too.

Considering masks will most likely need to be worn in many common areas, I'n not concerned.

If the crew isn't wholly vaccinated, then why start cruises again? The lines will just open themselves up to being shut down again, possibly permanently.

13 hours ago, USCcruisecrazy said:

I think most everyone on this page is in total agreement that we want to see all cruisers and all crew get the vaccine before anyone starts hitting the high seas once again.  

I do!!!  I want everyone, crew and passengers alike, to remain as healthy and as safe as possible!

On 3/11/2021 at 6:37 PM, jangor said:

I, like many other cruisers, are sorry that you cannot get one of the COVID-19 vaccines.  But to be totally honest, until herd immunity has been firmly established, I hope that you will not be allowed on a cruise.  Please do not misunderstand.  I do want you to cruise again and enjoy everything that cruising has to offer, but not at the expense fo my own health.  Are any of the three vaccine strains less susceptible to allergic reactions?  The reality is that lots of people cannot travel for various health issues unrelated to Covid.  I sincerely hope that future research will enable you to join us,

Currently there are 3 categories  of vaccines, only 2 in the US though.  The 4 categories are whole virus, protein subunit, viral vector and nucleic acid.  Pfizer and Moderna are the 4th type.  As I said in another thread, the odds of anyone being allergic to all of those is basically the same as winning the lottery while being struck by lightning while getting a hole in one on a par 5 all at the same time.

And the US is nowhere near herd immunity.  That would require 70%-90% of the entire population to have either had the virus and/or vaccinated.

53 minutes ago, Gracie115 said:

 

The next part of that statement says the same thing about the J & J vaccine.  So I guess you would need to find out EXACTLY what's in each vaccine before taking it.  I don't know any who have done that.

I have, or rather my doctor has for me.  She's very well aware of what I am able to take, allergic to, etc.

So now you know one.

Oh, and I shouldn't take J&J, but I'm fine with either Pfizer and Moderna.

53 minutes ago, larry_s_taco said:

P&O announced today that they are requiring vaccines to cruise. Looks like they are falling in line one by one.

Considering they're owned by Carnival, that's huge.  I suspect we'll be seeing things like this as the lines get closer to sailing.  And I still say September.

46 minutes ago, Covepointcruiser said:

Even the most allergic passengers can get one of the three vaccines.    Health care workers who had allergies requiring an Epi Pen did receive the Pfizer vaccine but were under medical supervision.    Anyone who doesn’t want to take the vaccine should stay off ships and planes.   It’s probably better if they forego travel until things return to normal.

Agreed 10000000%.  People need to realize that traveling is a privilege and not a right.  I know we can get back to traveling and cruising before this year is up IF people just get frikkin' vaccinated.  Heck, we can get back a lot of things by July.

So whenever I see people use the "oh I'm allergic" excuse, we all know they're not.  They just don't want to be a responsible human being.  There are 3 different types of vaccines out there (just 2 in the US for now), with more on the way.  The odds of anyone being allergic to one of those is basically the same as winning the lottery while being struck by lightning while getting a hole in one on a par 5.

1 hour ago, beg3yrs said:

This is terrible logic. I certainly hope you aren't condoning the thieves taking visible objects from a car.

Well, if they were invisible, no one would see them!

It is going to be rough seas for the next 2 years.  Not only to deal with all the new safety regulations and rule, but to provide a product that people feel confident that it's safe.  IMO, cruising is back 100% before the end of the year in terms of itineraries, but probably sailing with reduced number of passengers.

On 3/13/2021 at 10:59 AM, DirtyDawg said:

Does Disney know more than Celebrity?

Of course they do.

I little talking mouse told them.😉 

 

A Minnie Mouse..?

A year ago (well, actually, a year plus a week as of this typing), I started working from home.  I was also in the middle of planning our 25th anniversary cruise on Island Princess this upcoming May.  I ended up cancelling it in August of last year and had another cruise booked for October of this year on Celebrity Millennium.  Also, the birthday cruise for my wife in August got cancelled (not a surprise) and, shockingly, we got our refund & FCC rather quickly.  As 2020 wore on, I suspected that October cruise was rather iffy and I booked a "back up" cruise for February of 2022 on Ruby Princess "just in case".  I should point out that all 3 cruises were going through Panama Cruise.  At the end of 2020 I cancelled the October cruise and we're sticking to the February cruise.  It just means celebrating our 25th on a ship is slightly delayed is all.  Though I must admit I'm sort of considering booking another "back up"....  lol!

But here we all are a year later and there are numerous vaccines available and there's hope.  Things are looking up.

16 hours ago, nbsjcruiser said:

This is certainly a complication I hadn't thought of. OP, perhaps you may not be allergic to these new mRNA vaccines. I hope that's the case so please investigate before you give up. 

 

This issue does highlight the worry I have about cruising. Once I get vaccinated, I'm confident that I'll be safe from serious illness if somehow I manage to contact the virus but if I'm on a cruise ship and there are others on board who didnt get vaccinated, either by choice or like OP here, what happens when the inevitable happens and there's a breakout? If the cruise lines are going to allow non-vaccinated people on board, they're also going to need to have a plan that is going to allow them to dock in their home port at a moments notice and disembark the ship. Without a plan like that, I cant put myself in a position to be floating around aimlessly for weeks while people on board are seriously ill or worse while the rest of the passengers are confined to their rooms.

I had a severe reaction to a flu shot many years ago. I've been reluctant to try again.  I asked my doctor if I could safely take any of the Covid vaccines. She let me know that I should have absolutely no issues in taking either of the current mRNA vaccines.  So people with allergies to certain types of vaccines can definitely get a Covid vaccine, there will be 3-4 types eventually.

2 hours ago, jagoffee said:

Pick a Meijer’s in Lake county and register, you might be surprised. (Assuming you are over 65 years old. ). Or sign up at the Hospital group that you use.  Many vaccination locations across the state do not have residency requirements,  Walgreen’s is another that you can monitor.   Since I live in Lake county and I have been fully vaccinated, I do not share your exact experience.  I registered everywhere that Accepted reservation and monitored vaccination sites a across the state.  I have been offered appointment/found appointments at multiple locations.  

Sorry, I just feel that your belief that Cook county residents are being discriminated against all location sites across the state (within a few hours of cook county) based on when they live is hard to believe.  The exception is the vaccination site at the United center.   May be true at some County run sites, but not the pharmacy/hospital run sites.  I just think you are mistaken.
 

I have two friends from Lake county who had their vaccine shots in Cook county and another who receive their shot in Wisconsin at the Advocate Aurora location.  
 

i

I flat out refuse to drive that far.  From where I live that's a 60-90 minute drive one way, depending on the traffic.  Seriously, I have 3 Walgreens, 2 CVS's, 2 Mariano's, and 2 Oscos all within a 5 mile radius of me.  ALL are administering the vaccine.  I will not travel hours.  Period.

3 hours ago, ipeeinthepool said:

 

Sorry but you missed the context of the discussion.  Children will not have a vaccine by the fall.  Nothing will change between the summer to the fall relative to vaccinations for children.

Honestly, there is absolutely no way of knowing this.  A lot can change between now and, say, June 1.  

Considering Biden is essentially telling/ordering the states to open up to all adults to be vaccinated beginning May 1st, this is a good thing.  I was assuming June/July before that happened.  If there are enough people vaccinated, cruising/traveling can begin again. I was thinking October, I may adjust that guess to August now.  There's a miniscule chance that there could be a 6-week Alaska season then, assuming Canada allows it.

That May 1st date is huge in so many ways, so here's hoping the states do it.  MANY people who are not yet eligible, like me, want to be vaccinated.  I know there are those who don't (not going to get into that discussion if you're one of those, this is NOT the place for it), but there are enough that will get their shot that covid won't be the big bad Bogey man any more.

I think Disney sees this and they're getting ready to be the first.

4 hours ago, jagoffee said:

This has certainly not been the case. You can get appointments at Walgreen’s and Meijer’s  across 

different counties.  Same for Advocate Aurora Hospital group. Other locations as well.   I know people who have appointments in different counties just this last weekend.  I did read recently that the site set up at the United center has been changed to  allow only Cook County residents.  
Good luck getting your vaccine.

Not near the Chicago area.  DuPage, Lake, Grundy... if you're not residents of those counties, forget it.  They realize people living in Cook are being "held back" from the rest of the state.  I'm not going to travel 4-5 hours one way to get vaccinated.

Posting this only for information, not anything politcal:  https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/11/politics/joe-biden-one-year-covid-address/index.html

1 hour ago, paulh84 said:

 

In the southern part of Illlinois many of the pharmacies chains will vaccinate people from anywhere. Many from Missouri have come over since their own distribution 'plan' left Kansas City and St. Louis metros out in the cold.

It depends on the pharmacy.  Walgreens won't, Osco will.  Unfortunately, Osco has no appointments, while Walgreens does.  Again.... frustration.

Also, CVS is not following Illinois being at 1b+, they're "stuck" at 1b.

I opted for "Other, explain below....." only because I have a cruise booked in Feb. of 2022.  However, I fully intend on going to the Illinois State Fair this year if it's held (August).

22 hours ago, nocl said:

In California the pharmacies like CVS are not requiring you to be resident in the counties in which they are located have you tried to get an appointment at one in Kane, McHenry, or Dekalb county for example.

 

 

In Illinois, if you do not live in that particular county, you cannot get a vaccination.  Mainly because people who live in Cook have tried travelling there to get vaccinated.  Doses are limited, so they're making sure locals get it first.  However, Cook has more than enough to go to 1b+, but it's not for some odd reason.

I'm incredibly frustrated and pissed right now.  Walgreens by me (actually 3 within a few miles) all have appointments available, BUT since I live in Cook County (Illinois) I'm not eligible.  Illinois has move to phase 1b+, but not Cook, noooooo....  They're still stuck at 1b. The one pharmacy that is ignoring the county and going with the state doesn't have appointments.   {insert a few choice 4 letter words}

This is ridiculous.

Happy anniversary!  1 year ago today the W.H.O. officially designated Covid-19 as a pandemic.  With vaccines out and becoming more and more available to us, here's hoping next anniversary we'll all be "celebrating" on board of a cruise ship!