Goodtime Cruizin

On 8/5/2020 at 5:53 AM, TheMastodon said:

Scientists got it wrong in the beginning and majority of USA locked down too late - that ship has sailed.  
 

And if USA were the size of New Z, Taiwan, South Korea, and Singapore we would have been just as successful containing the virus.  What’s easier to manage - 100 head of cattle or 10,000? 

I might add... personal health. If as a nation of people, we was not overweight, over medicated, obese, under exercised, & fast food junkies... we'd probably be a bit more successful w/ the COVID virus as well. 

On 8/8/2020 at 7:47 AM, PhillyFan33579 said:

The simple solution is to increase the cruise fare. Of course the big unknown will be how many people will pay higher fares. The longer cruise lines remain grounded, the more likely cruise lines will have to increase fares to survive and start paying off all the debt they have accumulated. I can see cruising no longer being affordable for the majority of people like it has been for a long time. 

I see it the other way around. We're diehards. We're on this board because we enjoy cruising as a passion. But the industry as a whole has lost a huge amount of their paying cruisers worldwide. Many former cruisers won't be even thinking about getting on a ship out of fear. Many others will not have the funds to cruise. I don't think increasing prices will be the answer. I see cost cutting but via re-negoiating existing contracts for supplies, food, even the port fees will be in play. If you think about every dollar spent to every supplier of goods and services, many will offer discounts to sell their respective products or services again.  We may end up seeing discounts just to fill ships and get the industry rolling again. I also see some Cruise Lines suffering and going under. Alot of merging may take place. 

1 hour ago, ownedbypets said:

 

He was a guest and he caught me off guard the first time he asked. After that we told him it was none of his business but that didn't stop him from asking.

Me:  "Run along and get us drinks. She's having a Chardoney, and I'm having a Scotch. Please hurry."

On 7/15/2020 at 8:39 PM, Iamcruzin said:

OMG....Too Funny

It may be funny for a few, but it is far from the truth for many.  

22 minutes ago, Missusdubbya said:

 

It doesn’t matter if you think that COVID “will go away” by the US election and that you believe spreading of a virus is politically and financially motivated - US citizens are not permitted to enter the EU.
 

This is because the leaders of the EU believe that US citizens pose an unacceptable health risk to EU citizens due to the quite obvious rapid unchecked spread of COVID through the US. 
 

I am saddened at the plight of the US. 

I wish this could be done straight up for Texas too. 😜 

I'm not sold on anything from NY.  NY has had the largest spike in thw world. It's too early to say it won't re-occur. 

46 minutes ago, hftmrock said:

California did NOT follow the CDC and government guidelines on when to open which included 14 consecutive days of downward movement in cases and other qualifications

 

they opened too soon

 

 

So what do all these have in common? Opening creates spikes. As I stated earlier, it isn't going away. Spikes are going to be with us until a vaccine is developed. We just need to learn how to manage to live our lives and open up as well. It's trying. It's hard. But it's also necessary. We just have to learn as we go and be smart about it. 

38 minutes ago, hftmrock said:

for anyone thinking more testing means more cases.. here is NY stats to prove that wrong. A picture is worth a thousand words. Done right... more tests means LESS positive cases

 

 

You're assessment is not correct. If 6/28's test count were performed on 4/5 this picture would look different. More testing will give you results of a 'less' of a percentage of positive tests, but there is no doubt that the more you test, the more total positive test counts will be found.

5 minutes ago, hftmrock said:

lets look at the charts...

 

May 15: DeSantis announces that on May 18, Florida will enter what he calls “full phase one” of reopening. That includes allowing gyms and restaurants to operate at 50% capacity.

 

June 3: DeSantis announces that Florida will enter phase two of reopening starting June 5. That means bars, tattoo parlors and other establishments will be able to reopen

 

I think what you're missing is in between those two dates was Memorial Day travel and beach vacations galore. Many from the NE trying to escape the CV and crap and heading south to what was a 'safe' place. Only they brought it with them. 

4 minutes ago, Dinglebert said:

I believe they are well informed and will leave it at that.

OK, cool. No worries. Believe as you wish and I'll do the same. 😉

17 minutes ago, Canadianmama3 said:

Again this just isn’t true.  You don’t have higher cases just because you are doing more testing.  In every other country as testing increased cases went down because they were able to contact trace and test close contacts to contain infections.  This hasn’t happened in the US.  And deaths are not going down.  Deaths are increasing and hospitals in some areas of the US are running out of space.  If cases continue to soar like they are there will be no space left.  And it’s not just the death rate.  People who don’t die are getting very sick.  Some could have permanent effects. 
 

I’m sorry but people need to stop making this a political thing.  It’s not.  This about people’s health.  The US needs to wake up.  

I don't believe you're properly informed and will leave it at that.  

2 hours ago, SRF said:

 

Let's see, more than 3 times the number of cases per day than in April?  That qualifies for hot spot status.

 

But many countries are also having record new cases.

I have to disagree. Having more cases isn't necessarily to mean 'hot spot', but rather more testing. And then we have situations that the test numbers are inaccurate & flawed. And while we're hearing of more tests being positive, we are seeing far fewer deaths. So if it has to be called a 'hot spot' , I'll take more positive tests w/ less deaths all day long.  

2 hours ago, SRF said:

 

Let's see, more than 3 times the number of cases per day than in April?  That qualifies for hot spot status.

 

But many countries are also having record new cases.

As soon as countries, states, counties, cities, open up, the 'new' cases occur. This virus isn't going away. Shutting down may slow it down. But it's waiting patiently and we know (well most understand) that we just can't stay 'shut in' or shut down forever. It just can't happen. We have to be very smart about fighting this virus. We already know that older people & people w/ health issues tend to be the weakest in the populations to fight it off and are the largest percentages in the death columns. So we have to do whatever is possible to protect these individuals. Unfortunately, the majority of cruisers of the ships fall into this age group. Including me. My health isn't bad, but it isn't as good as a 30 yr old either. But I decided to get out. Enjoy what I can but I also am mindful of the necessary protocals needed to do this. Will it be enough? I don't know yet. But I do know that I can no longer sit in my house as the world goes by. But that's me. 

29 minutes ago, OnTheJourney said:

Works for me too. Sad, however, how some of our local businesses have totally disregarded the masking mandates. One store manager I talked to told me that I need to "educate myself about the virus and the science behind masking", and also that "a mandate is not a law".

 

The overall politicization of the virus that we've seen is disappointing, unfortunate, and counter-productive, and will very likely extend into the use of vaccines as well, which will be viewed by some as being just another encroachment on their "rights" to do as they please. So while the cruise lines (or rather CDC) will 'require it", don't expect whatever enforcement procedures might be put in place to go smoothly and not be contested. Tis' the nature of things nowadays. 

It's to be expected. Nobody trusts our government. In fact, the very foundation of this country was designed with the thoughts of distrust to all forms of governments. My point is, no one, including me or you have any 'right' to make others fall in line based on government mandates. Full disclosure, I wear a mask when entering any business establishment. 

Me personally... let's see do I want to board a ship w/ people that have been vaccinated w/ a proven vaccine or do I want to board ship w/ people that hasn't had a vaccine? I'm going w/ the ship that requires a vaccine. 

So w/ a proven vaccine, yes they'll require it. I mean I get that they want every cruiser dollar possible. And w/ a proven vaccine, they'll be able to drop social distancing stuff and have the ability to cruise w/ a full ship. It's always about the dollar. More people, more dollars. 

Covid... what we know today will change tomorrow. If it doesn't, some form of the media will attempt to change it. Today we're being told that the US is a hot spot. Next month it could be Italy again. Who knows. There is a real good chance that each of us is going to Covid or have already and don't even knowe it. IMO, it's just a matter of time. In fact I think I've had it. I had a very deep chest cold in January. It lasted well over a week and then went into a regular type of cold. The wife's had the same but her's only lasted a couple of days. Anyway,  yesterday I had a blood work up to determine is I now have antibodies that have developed since then. I was told I'd know within a week. I hope I have. I want to just move on. 

For those that are worrying about cruising w/ Covid still out there... it won't happen. It's time everyone understands this. Cruising is not going to happen until a vaccine is developed. 

1 hour ago, Iamcruzin said:

Well he lives in Texas which is a hot spot right now.

I find this interesting.

Yesterday I had a Doctor's appointment and as a new patient to the office I requested to fill out an onslaught of forms. You know the usual stuff but also included was a 'new to us' form regarding Covid. My wife accompanied me and as avid cruisers we found this one form to be interesting. I wish I could post an image of the questionaire but alas, I can't. So i'll transcribe.

1. Have you been exposed to someone who has traveled to any high-risk areas or countries in the past 20 days?     Yes or No

High Risk Countries

*  Cruise Ships

*  Iran

*  United Kingdom

*  China

*  Ireland

*  Brazil

*  Most European Countries

My wife & I literally laughed out loud. For we have had to cancel a cruise to the Greek Isles. We have since scheduled a future cruise to the British Isles via Amsterdam. 

2 hours ago, Milwaukee Eight said:

Just as long as the weed smoking is outside. 😇

Of course! Even when I smoked, I didn't use the casino. 

Which brings me to full circle.... to asist in the endeavor of over crowding, for HH I propose free drinks at the bars and free weed in the smoking areas. This will assist greatly in crowd control nicely.  

14 hours ago, zekekelso said:

Presumably it would be a lot less crowded without the free booze. 

I gotcha. I was just referring to the Diamonds that justify hanging in the DLs because they enjoy the company of others. It's about the free booze. Always has been. Always will be unless they go progressive and introduce weed. LOL 

On 7/10/2020 at 7:49 AM, Milwaukee Eight said:

3 drinks, 5 drinks, unlimited drinks??  What is ever enough?

 

Royal has a LOT of profit in alcohol. If they don’t get it from alcohol, they’ll find another way to get it. 

Just how many drinks and one pound down during the HH??  Would you go to the Diamond Club if they didn’t serve alcohol?
 

M8

Not us. Not only is it crowded, the top tier liquor is also restricted. So we buy the packages and only occasionally do we visit the DL. Now when we get a suite, we'll visit the CL a little more often. 

Brittish Isle cruise in Sept 2021. Flight from Hou to Amsterdam has not been booked.

6 hours ago, Dennis#1 said:

With those numbers of new Covid-19 cases, I am surprised that they opened up Disney in Orlando.

Disney knows what's up. 

1 minute ago, Another_Critic said:

 

A negative test today can be a positive test tomorrow.  4500 negative tests today can become many many positive tests tomorrow = major outbreak.

The way the testing is going... you can test positive today and it be actually negative.