Cruising is not going to be the same. In the last year these Cruise Lines have shot themselves in the foot repeatedly trying to placate our CDC, by putting extra burdens on themselves to please the CDC.- Tom
The CDC doesn't know what they are doing. In NYS the schools came out two days ago and said no more masks and wrote the CDC to confirm. Because the CDC never answered they had to backtrack, until they answer, and who knows what they will say. It's a circus.
Sort of like the old line “I wouldn’t want to belong to a club that would have me as a member.” First, ain’t nobody’s business and 2nd, I don’t need a shot since everybody else is now protected from the dreaded 0.04% mortality rate deadly illness. Done cruises and by the 2nd day I’m antsy and ready to do something. LOL! I’m a crappy sitter arounder.
Capt. Tom thank you as always for posting the latest news in the cruise industry.
I’ll check back to this thread later in order to weed through the usual mindless drivel comments by people who have no interest in cruises in the first place but seem to take pleasure in insulting those of us who enjoy cruising to hopefully find a few nuggets of useful insights to help me make sense of this complicated situation.
We recently returned from an American River Cruise a month ago - a week before leaving, the cruise line said we all had to be vaccinated in order to board - I hadn’t had the second shot yet and neither had my son, the rest of our group was fully vaccinated.
I expected to get a full refund at that time, we’d already been delayed a year - the cruise ship then said a negative PCR COVID test was required 48 hours before boarding (cost me $150) - and everyone was required to take a quick, 15- minute COVID test immediately before boarding.
I understand their concerns, the cruise ship industry has been hit hard, the crew on our ship kept mentioning how they were glad to get back to work after a year- and most of the passengers were elderly, including many disabled.
I appreciated that it was only 50% capacity and everything was kept spotlessly clean - I did not enjoy the strong smell of bleach on everything, though.
14 weeks and counting, after 2nd shot of Moderna vaccine.
Absolutely zero problems both for me at age 81, and my spouse, a cancer patient.
Overwhelming majority of seniors and most adults over age 40 are now vaccinated. I expect my cruise in middle September to be fully sold out.
We booked a balcony cabin for the first time just in case we get quarantined or some shyt so we are not cooped up in an inside cabin. Never had a balcony cabin on any of our 36 previous cruises. Inside cabins are so much cheaper and we rather spend time outside of cabin except to sleep & shower.
With a little bit of timely and gentle persuasion, I got our local Makerspace to adopt a no mask for immunized (vs no mask for vaccinated) rule.
Immunized includes people with antibodies from the jab as well as from having had and recovered from COVID.
At this time I don't think they're scrambling for a vaccine solution, rather a government solution. For better or worse some lines have adopted a vaccine requirement. Personally I think a private business should be able to do that. Though the CDC doesn't require it, they seem to be in favor, and it impacts the mobility of guests onboard. Florida bans private vaccine requirements, essentially making it illegal for the lines to operate. Can't satisfy the CDC without breaking Florida law. That seems to be the impasse. Personally not exempting cruise line from the Florida ban strikes me as foolish, not only due to the economic cost, but the fact that they're involved in international transportation dealing with the laws of a multitude of states and nations. Should a truck line require vaccination I doubt FL bans them from the state. Same for the US Navy, which if it hasn't yet has stated vaccination will be required. How about airlines, should they adopt a requirement? Can't land in Florida.
Should have added these are matters for the courts, which is an obvious negative for the cruise lines due to the potential delays, along with the fact it means lawsuits against two governments whose approval are required. Moving out of Florida to other ports works for a few ships, but the port capacity isn’t out there.
They keep ignoring (either intentionally or ignorantly) the fact that millions who have had Covid are immune...WITHOUT the vaccine. My wife and are in that category. Aren’t vaccines supposed to make you immune? Just like getting the actual virus? Yeah...thought so. Even so, it is none of their business as to whether we have had Covid or the vaccine. If you have the vaccine, you should not have to worry about others who have not. Wear a mask, social distance, stay in your cabin, do whatever you have to do to protect yourself.
Needless to say, until the cruise lines drop all of their silly Covid rules, we will be traveling using other means.
Screw em.
Bought a motorhome.
Americans are very welcoming.
As Carnival requires vaccines for cruisers, (TX Gov) Abbott to sign ban on ‘vaccine passports’
Houston Chronicle ^ | June 7, 2021 | Cayla Harris , Austin Bureau
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3965841/posts