8 minutes ago, voljeep said:

is the ED above the CD ? - what about/is a ADC , and where do they fit in ?

 Typo should have been ACD

I remember Matt O. The job of CD has evolved a lot since we started cruising in the 90's. far less of a "host/entertainer" and Stage personality and much more a manager and requiring a strong staff leadership role and the quirky out front personality more fitting to the ADC's. Reading his post which is a bit disjointed I get the impression this was a situation/example of the Peter Principle at work and difficulty adapting to the administrative responsibilities more than anything. It is indeed a sad loss. Even sadder is he appears to have burned his bridges with the industry.

A two top has ALWAYS been a crap shoot. With a completley full ship why would it be any different now???

as long as you don't save passwords, you should be okay although your cookies will show up on both

2 minutes ago, mek said:

Syncs my accounts with what?  

If its android or apple your sign up for either is the same on the phone.  Unless you turn off the sync the history carries forward. to all your devices. Even if the sync is turned off a thief can turn it on and acess it all. Thats assuming you have a data package or even something as inoccuous as google maps.

3 minutes ago, mek said:

But I don't use my smart phone for anything other than phone calls - no personal information is stored on it and I don't have any attention of ever using it for that purpose either.

I was under the impression that Medallion app on a phone was optional and a key card was still available.  I don't care if they need to track me on the ship because of covid, but not interested in tying anything on to my phone.

 

You may not but that doesn't mean your stuff isn't all on there unless you have sync turned off. Both apple and android sync your accounts so your history is available including passwords.....

 On android click on settings click passwords and see whats listed. IF they are there you can delete them

I hesitate to point out this app is the least of your problems if someone snags your phone and can get in. Click on settings and the thief can go to every site, every credit card, bank account etc you have or ever have had complete wit logins and passwords. You guys are worried about the wrong things..... Surley NO ONE swipes their real credit card for onboard purchases, but instead uses a low limit card to register and settles their account with their real card (with cashback privleges) And I can't IMAGINE anyone using apple/android pay without doing the same.....

On 5/24/2021 at 7:44 AM, gmjc2 said:

54 cruises since 1994( one coming up next month) with Colitis and P.S.C ( rare liver disease) and hubby's 9 surgeries. We have two cruise booked for next year and one more in Nov this year. Never give up!!!

On 5/24/2021 at 7:44 AM, gmjc2 said:

54 cruises since 1994( one coming up next month) with Colitis and P.S.C ( rare liver disease) and hubby's 9 surgeries. We have two cruise booked for next year and one more in Nov this year. Never give up!!!

PSC is rare (how well I and my Grandaughter know) but you might visit https://www.livingwithpsc.org/ and meet with others...

On 4/30/2021 at 10:29 AM, caribill said:

 

The liquor laws also apply to cruising out of Galveston which has not prevented that port from being the 4th busiest home cruise port in North America.

 

But a big reason for Princess (and NCL) leaving Houston is that every cruise from Houston and Galveston for 7 days or less went to the same limited number of ports accessible in that time frame. Too much competition for too few itineraries led to very low pricing and thus very low profit potential.

 

In addition, both Princess and NCL had to be "bribed" to come to Houston to utilize the "if it is built it, they will come" cruise terminal that nobody came to. Besides cash payments to come to Houston, fees were waved and the cruise companies shared in parking lot revenue. When the contracts to come to Houston expired, the two cruise companies left.

 

True but 4th largest doesn't mean much The reason those lines completley pulled still stands

On 4/30/2021 at 11:42 PM, sherryf said:

If you book 1000 people, only 50 could be non-vaccinated to stay at 95% vaccinated. 

don't forget the crew....

Keep in mind regarding state/federal rules ONE of the reasons Beyond too much fog most cruises were discontinued out of Houston was the liquor laws preventing sale of much of the ships stock of liguor on embarkation day Not to mention should you have brought any liquor on your cruise you paid tax to the State of Texas......

I wonder how this will effect children (specifically 2 we recently adopted and want to take on a Dec cruise) who can't be vaccinated?

https://s.wsj.net/public/resources/documents/Cruise Line Meetings Dear Colleague Letter_4 28 2021_FINAL.pdf    That 98% of crew and 95% of PaX being immunized might be a bit tough to meet

Its not a matter that they need the money. Its an FTC issue.  

20 hours ago, rbtan said:

Cruise industry contributed very little overall. The Biogen conference in Boston has led to perhaps over 300K infections. There you go..A Pharmaceutical co. contributing to the pandemic.

I won't argue with that BUT public perception and "Politics" defy ALL logic.....

1 hour ago, nocl said:

There were no cases on the Royal.  I was on the last cruise of the Royal prior to the shutdown.  There were cases on the Diamond, Grand, Ruby but not the Royal Princess.

Correct it was the ruby my mistake

The thing you have to remember is logic doesn't apply here. One you get past the conspiracy buffs who blame the Chinese for the Pandemic or the Democrats for a phony Pandemic, much of the rest of the country (and a few other places in the world) Blame the Cruise industry (if not Specifically the Royal Princess) fot the Pandemic. There isn't a politician or political appointee who would touch this with a ten foot pole.

I see no problem getting to seven drinks a day:

1. morning latte
2. coffee break 1 (morning)
3. coffee break 2
4. pool side refreshment sodas/shake
5. Pre dinner cocktail
6. wine with dinner
7. After dinner espresso/cocktail/crème de Menthe Sunday
8. Lounge/music cocktail or 2
9. Bed time Irish coffee

It all adds up

I suspect you are right. As folks find alternatives to cruising they may not be quite as quick to return. Long time cruisers tend to "like" sea days the best of all. There are many less expensive and with far less "hassle" ways to do that. Waiting "decisions" and crowds are now the norm. You get that on shore Cruising used to eliminate that. Indeed cutbacks such as in the dining room pushing folks to specialty dining have us anyway considering what we could do beach side for less. We will cruise again but it will be using the cruise ship as a moving Hotel to get to places we want to go.

I would bet a dollar, after hearing from some Albertan friends that the negotiations would go much smoother had the Keystone Pipeline not been summarily canceled. That was totally a provincial government project for export of Bitumen to essentially china (Bitumen is far too expensive a refining process  for gasoline etc)  The Albertan Sands have estimated reserves of a billion plus barrels. They can't build a Pipeline over the Rockies.

Could just book an inside...... The bed is centered on the inside wall.

There were some security problems that I'm not sure are totally resolved. But when having problems if you clear your cookies and cache they resolve.

There is a huge consideration financially doing too much too soon. Port charges are huge.

Another vote for the train we have flown to Rome and left the bulk of our luggage  with the departure hotel moved into smaller carry-ons making thinks much easier.  Frankly we have found it much more enjoyable  to do any touring after the cruise.