skridge

On 6/9/2021 at 10:45 AM, MistyRo76 said:

I saw a few others getting the promo that actually makes Cheers a good deal a couple weeks ago and eagerly checked my promos only to find I still had just the RU9 promo that actually makes it more expensive than if I just purchased Cheers ala carte. But my cruise roomie, got the jackpot Promo in her VIFP profile! We were able to get our booking repriced using her promo code which includes Cheers for just $130 per person! To buy Cheers separately for our 5 day cruise, it would have cost $306 per person, so this is a savings of $175 per person and more importantly makes it worth it for my roomie, who doesn't drink much, to get Cheers. I was afraid that i was going to have to pay for drinks ala carte  because Cheers just doesn't make sense for her. So this is going to save me a TON of $$$$! So excited! 

How do you check for a promo?  Is it in your cruise manager on the website?

7 hours ago, Bgwest said:

And here I thought NC was full of friendly people. 

I was being friendly to our friend from the North.

3 hours ago, kdr69 said:

I think i'll wait for the Courts or the Govt to decide whether Cruise ships fall under Federal or State Jurisdictions.  No offense but....

Good call.  I hate you have to endure the condescending comments from our second largest state.

5 hours ago, tm_aw_love said:

It is unfortunate that Carnival is no longer a 'family' cruise line. 

Let me get this straight.  A business that has been unable to bring in any revenue for the past 15 months makes the decision to start back under the guidelines set forth, and that somehow makes them not a family cruise line.  They are just trying to get back to sailing and if it means a few passengers have to be left out until the regulations change then that is what they are going to have to do.  I am pretty sure as soon as Carnival gets the go ahead the crumb crunchers will be allowed back on the ships.  BTW I have a December cruise booked with a 10 year old child sailing with me.

9 hours ago, Tippyton said:

8 months in I still have effects, but I blame nobody.  It just is, and is one of the many obstacles life we have to navigate.  I wasn't overly careful, but at the same time I wasn't careless either.  I chose to live and carry on with life.  Would I go back in time and lock myself in for a year or restrict myself more than  I did to avoid covid?  Hell no!

You have made your point.  There is nothing this virus could have done to make you bow down to the "oppression" of simply putting on a mask and social distancing.  I will try not to tread on you.  I know it's triggering for you to talk realistically about a disease that has killed over 600k people in our country and more than 4 million across the world.

7 hours ago, TNcruising02 said:

Have you looked up the stats for people under age 45?  Their risk is so low.  Yes, many high risk people died BEFORE there was a vaccine.  There is a vaccine now so each person can protect themselves.  Just like people who don't want to get the flu choose to get a flu shot to minimize their risks.  People who have had covid have immunities.  People seem to forget natural immunities.  The majority of young people who get covid have mild to no reactions.  

Covid may never go away.  At some point people have a right to live again.  Those people in strict lockdown states just don't realize that the rest of us have been living life for months and are just fine.  We have been going to concerts, hotels, all inclusives, restaurants, events, and are just fine.  It's ok if everyone doesn't get the vaccine.  It's the people who are more likely to die from covid who need to get it. 

My wife is under the age of 45 and has been suffering from long Covid for 10 months with new symptoms popping up all the time.  She is not over weight and has been perfectly healthy all her life.  The people should just live your life crowd have zero arguments for that.  But I am sure they will try.

5 hours ago, TNcruising02 said:

Thankfully, we live in a country where we are all free to choose whether or not we want to receive an emergency use vaccination.  It seems to be completely ignored that people who have had covid develop immunities that may or may not be better than the vaccine.  There have been studies that suggest those covid infection immunities may even last a lifetime.  There are other studies suggesting people who have recovered from covid don't need a second dose of the vaccine.

Whatever people choose, it's their decision.  That angers people who want to control everyone because they believe their opinion is the only opinion.  They believe only they should have the freedom to decide and their decision should be forced on everyone.  Anyway, live and let live.  People are free to protect themselves in the way they see fit.

I actually think the mask police people are disappointed that they can't scream at people to wear masks anywhere now that things are opening up.  It must be frustrating for them to see people being permitted to be free.

My wife is a long hauler and so far hers and many others Covid symptoms are seeming to last a lifetime.  

44 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

How many persons onboard do you get when you add the crew to those passenger numbers?

I actually count the crew when I am speaking of capacity of a ship.  Many just see them as the help and don't include them in the count.  I am not infering that anyone on this thread believes that I am just going from comments written to John Heald and other comments I have seen on these boards and Carnival Cruise posts on the other sites.

7 hours ago, Saint Greg said:

Royal lists it as 5500 double 6800 max. Not that this really matters. Most ships aren’t that big so it’s just ridiculous to talk about 10k  people on cruise ships like it’s a common thing.

The Symphony of the Seas is the world's largest passenger cruise ship. Measuring 362m (1,188ft) long, the ship has a capacity of nearly 9,000 passengers and crew, features 23 swimming pools and 18 decks.  I said up to 10k.  It is amazing how people on these boards pick the most ridiculous things to argue about when they are so very wrong on the main points.  I guess when you are wrong about everything else you have to point out things that don't really matter to make yourself feel better.  The above is copied from the BBC.  I hope my sourcing is good enough for you.  SMH. 

14 minutes ago, Saint Greg said:

I’ve been on all of the carnival classes except spirit and I don’t think I’ve had 5k on a ship yet. I know RCCL claims oasis class is the largest cruise ship in the world and they list double occupancy at 5600 and max capacity at 6600.

 

I can go off to other countries and do whatever I want. All the cdc requires is a negative COVID test within 48 hours of my return. That’s what it should be for cruise ships. A negative COVID test within 48 hours of the return or you don’t get off the ship. The ship can have special quarantine rooms just like the resorts do.

Symphony of the Seas is 8,880.  I am so sorry I exaggerated my number so much.  There is a huge difference between going to a whole other country and being trapped on a cruise ship eating and drinking with the same people for a week or more.  Apples and Oranges.  It's amazing how I get steamrolled for writing completely sensible common sense things.  It is so tiring arguing with people who are saying the equivalent of the sky is purple, but I will not agree to disagree with someone arguing the sky is purple.

4 hours ago, BrotherCraig said:

 

Didn't say anything of the sort.  I said when Texas decided to reopen a few months ago, national news went crazy and said it was a huge mistake. The President said Texas was full of Neanderthals because they reopened the state after over a year being closed and having strict mandates.  Their doom and gloom forecast was a bust.  Numbers continued to spiral downward.  Right now, the 7 day average is at its lowest points since March 2020.  We had many days with ZERO deaths.  That is a good thing.  Nothing to "SMH" about.  Something to applaud.  The media was saddened by the good news and downward trend.

What a bunch of junk.  No media was sad about the numbers going down.  They are spiraling down and I am on record that vaccinated people should be cruising.

3 hours ago, Saint Greg said:

 

I've never been on a ship with 10k people. They could've allowed reduced capacity and they haven't. Other countries have done reduced capacity cruises. I've been at a resort for a week. I've been at a hotel for four days. I've been on an excursion in Cozumel. I've been on packed airplanes. I've been in really packed security and customs lines. The CDC could've worked with the cruise lines and they haven't.

I agree that now we have vaccines we should be cruising ASAP.  Oh wait that's right they are starting back In the next few weeks.  I don't know what ships you have been on, but they do have ships with 10k.  The CDC is working with the cruise lines right now exactly when they should be.

35 minutes ago, Saint Greg said:

 

I've been vaccinated for two months. I've been in hotels, airplanes, restaurants, bars, resorts, sporting events, and most recently a packed football stadium for a high school graduation and I haven't had to show proof of vaccination to anyone yet. I haven't even been asked if I've been vaccinated. The law is to prevent that from being required. I think there should be an exception for  someone who willingly shows proof of vaccination to get on a cruise ship. I think that's different than a restaurant requiring me to show proof of vaccination to eat there or a department store denying me admission without showing them a part of my medical records. That's what this is really about. The cruise industry just gets caught up in it because the CDC has their foot on it's throat. But the people with cruise ship tunnel vision that think this is anti-cruise...And the CDC isn't treating the cruise lines any different than every other business in the country is ridiculous. If anyone should be blamed it's the CDC.

They are treating the cruise industry differently from other businesses because the cruise industry is different from every other business.  No other business in the world packs up to 10,000 people on a boat where the customers are at bars and restaurants singing and dancing and laughing all of which are easy ways to spread an airborne virus for a week or more at a time.

11 hours ago, Shih-tzu said:

Interesting.  Wonder what all it entails?  Just COVID info/vaccine status or other things?  I know just before the total shut down last March they were turning away diabetics (even if only on pills and not insulin) and a host of other pre-existing conditions.   I don't want to book airfare to travel clear across the continent onky to find out some in our party may not be able to board.  

Hopefully it is one question.  Do you have proof of your Covid Vaccine.

8 hours ago, crisstyd said:

We won't get into MIA until 1:30 and wonder if purchasing FTTF is worth it. Any suggestions?

Normally we are much earlier for the cruise. I see it available on the website for purchase but not sure if I should go ahead since we wont get to the port until about 2:30-3. 

No way.  It is not worth it under any circumstance for me.  I am always on board the ship about 10 minutes after the FTTF people with a bunch of extra money in my pocket because I didn't pay for FTTF.  The only time I might see it being worth it is on a cruise that had multiple tendering ports.

On 5/20/2021 at 3:54 PM, BrotherCraig said:

  Telling people our secrets, huh?  I like going to that bar and nobody being there.  Don't mess that up.  HA HA!  🙂

That Blanton's on the rocks after a long day of drinking by the pool is amazing.  You are right I should keep my  secrets better.

Don't try to use the self serve wine in the library.  That cost me almost 30 bucks for 2 glasses.  You live and you learn.  Go to the Steakhouse bar at night for the best wine by the glass/ bourbon selection.

47 minutes ago, BrotherCraig said:

  My wife and I didn't have any symptoms at all from the vaccines so we are thankful for that.  Gets everyone differently.  We do have a few people at work that had COVID and they still haven't been the same.  Two of the three got their taste and smell back but every smell makes them sick.  Every food makes them sick.  They said every food smells like death.  The other person got most of their taste and smell back but it hasn't been the same.  His favorite food - pizza and bacon --- can't eat again.  He said it tastes and smells terrible to him.  Crazy crazy!  Glad I never got it.  Thankful. 

My wife still has long hauler Covid symptoms.  She was always an avid walker pre covid now she has trouble walking upstairs.  Her mouth constantly tastes like an ash tray and she doesn't smoke.  She has brain fog to the point that she is transposing numbers forgetting our kids birthdays and once forgot how to get somewhere she drives all the time.  She is 43 years old so not exactly a seasoned citizen.  Long Hauler covid is scary and there is really no telling how many people have it because no one is really tracking it.  

1 hour ago, jfunk138 said:

I think you need to provide more details to draw any conclusions here. 

 

I suspect that a fully vaccinated 85 year, obese person remains more likely to be infected with a severe case of Covid than a non-vaccined 20 year old, healthy BMI.

 

If they really want to avoid any cases of "severe Covid", restricting people with the known comorbidities, is truly the best way forward.

Eliminating fat people from the cruises will be a bigger hit to Carnivals bottom line than the elimination of the anti vaxer  don't tread on me crowd.  If these boards are any indication the possibility of a vaccinated low BMI cruise is almost impossible.  For the record I am a high BMI person and am using the high obesity rates in the US and anecdotal evidence from past cruises.

3 minutes ago, TNcruising02 said:

Exactly!  Yet it was fine to fly untested and unvaccinated this entire time.  Just put on a flimsy mask and all is well for your four hour flight.  Don't worry about the contact in the airports with international travelers. To shut down the cruise lines and let people fly like covid won't spread at airports or on airplanes was ridiculous.  I don't know why the cruise lines were shut down for a year, but all I can think of is that they aren't paying up in some way.   Other countries have more common sense than the US when it comes to cruising.

It is time for the cruise industry to get back to cruising because the vaccine is working.  That doesn't mean we should have been cruising this entire time.  Trapping a bunch of people on a cruise ship in the middle of a pandemic would have been assanine.  There are many on these boards that wanted to do just that...

1 hour ago, Mariketa said:

There is literally no other thing being treated like the cruise industry. It's ridiculous. Such a gross overreach.

There is no other industry like the cruise industry where up to 10 thousand people are on a boat together eating together indoors in bars together indoors and stay on the ship for 7 days or more.  It would have been gross negligence for them to allow the cruise industry to continue operating in the middle of a pandemic.

57 minutes ago, Mariketa said:

I normally post in RC, but since I might be swapping over to Carnival, I figured I'd post here as well.

 

The parties in the lawsuit have been ordered by the judge to enter mediation, to be resolved by June 1st.

 

And, the CDC now says you only have to get tested for COVID after a cruise if the cruise is longer than four nights. We all know it's the 5th night that the COVID can get you. 🙂

 

I wonder how many people have to get tested after four nights at a Disney hotel? Or four nights at your local casino? Or four nights in to your business trip?

 

Wait, none. That's right.

People aren't trapped at sea possibly locked in 192 sq ft cabins at Disney resorts like on a cruise ship during an outbreak.  

On 5/8/2021 at 8:22 PM, nina_930 said:

I saw a program discussing the things that may or may not be sticking around after Covid.  One of the things that was stated was that there would be an app for the fun times instead of the paper ones.  The app is convenient,  but I love the paper ones.  Has anyone heard any truth to this?  Just curious.

John Heald has taken many polls on this on the other site and it always comes up that many still want them on paper.  I don't know why.  I would imagine for the foreseeable future they will be cutting down a lot of trees to continue printing the Fun Times.

4 minutes ago, kirtihk said:

The below is ridiculous:

 

"The CDC also suggests as a best practice that face-to-face interactions between crew and passengers be reduced "to the extent possible." - aren't crew humans, too?  It's not enough for them to work 12-or more-hour shifts without day off for 6 months, but now they even cannot communicate (worse than in a prison!).

I said I think we should be cruising with vaccinated people ASAP.  Make sure everyone is vaccinated and I say #letuscruise

2 minutes ago, Buckeyefrank100 said:

Everyone wants it to be over, but WHEN is it over??  the bar has changed 100 times..... 2 weeks to prevent the spread, until we can get ventilators.....  then it's to protect the elderly who are immunocompromised.... then we need to wear masks to protect others......   in Ohio the goal is now under 50 cases per 100,000 residents and then we can take our masks off... eventually it'll be moved again to zero cases....  it'll never end unless the American people say it's over!

 

At this point, everyone in my state, has access to the vaccine if they want it.  Those that choose not to take it know the risks (on both sides).  Open up the freaking country and let the ones who want to take the risk, take the risk.  It's time.

 

The reason it was never over is because the spread was completely exacerbated by the people who refused to follow the basic advice of the scientists in the name of freedom.  The people that choose not to take the vaccine are screwing the rest of us out of herd immunity in the same way the screwed us by spreading the virus with not wearing masks or distancing.  It's time to get to herd immunity.