The Fun Researcher

42 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said:

The issue is there is no way to validate a previous infection or the viral load of the person. A positive test is a positive test, that is the way it is. 
Fair has nothing to do with it. I have a nurse practitioner in my office. She has worked for me for 11 years, she tested positive in June, after a couple weeks she was 100% asymptomatic, and ready to return to work. It took 11 weeks for her to be able to produce 2 consecutive negative tests. The Texas Medical Board would not allow her to return to my office until this requirement had been met. It is what it is. 
A positive test will not be boarding a cruise ship, period. 

I would not talk in such absolutes.

It is easy to show previous infection by providing the documentation of positive COVID test results.  So now we will except negative tests as proof but not a positive test?

I highly doubt that the Texas medical board currently does not allow doctors or nurses to return to work until after two consecutive negative results. That was back in June. Much has been learned since.  We have many doctor and nurse friends and they are allowed to go back to practice, after infection, as soon as they meet the CDC guidelines.(copied below)  One of our doctor friends, who was COVID positive, was back to work at the hospital 10 days after initial symptoms.

I agree that a positive test from those infected 1-3 months prior poses extra challenges.  A double negative test result within five days of sailing is also wrought with risk.   Folks could easily  pick up the virus within that timeframe and not have enough viral load to show a positive result.

As more and more of our country contracts Covid during these uncontrolled outbreaks, I think this issue will become more and more significant to those wanting to cruise and to the cruise line itself.

I will wait and see what the cruise industry determines in this regard.

Dan

30 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said:

They will not be cruising at that time, very simple

So those that are less risk of getting or giving COVID to others are not allowed to sail?  
 

I’m not up to speed on the latest rules from Royal Caribbean, but if someone gets Covid after final payment (and may very well test positive all the way up to the sail date ) will royal give them a full refund including deposit?.

It’s completely not fair to those who get Covid and have recovered to not allow them to sail.
 

Dan

What are they going to do about those who already had Covid but are far past the infectious stage but can still test positive for Covid up to three months after already having it?

Dan

17 hours ago, jean87510 said:

Agree.  Cars are the way to go.  Sounds like you did the same thing as us with karputa and 1000 steps!  Did you snorkel at the salt flats?  Many turtles when we were there.  We will be back there in January 2022 and will either go back to Klein bonaire or rent the car again.  

By the time we got to the salt flats we were starting to run out of time after all of the other activities we did that day so unfortunately we did not see the turtles. However we saw a ton of them in Curaçao the next day. It was awesome

Dan

When it comes to COVID, I believe that anyone can find an article that definitively proves their side of an argument.

Dan

On 11/2/2020 at 7:49 PM, Smartipantz said:

But it leaves out of San Juan, right?  Not sure that will work for us.  Dang!  I got my hopes up!  

 

If you need an excursion for Bonaire, I highly suggest you rent a golf cart and drive it around the island for the day.  It was THE BEST excursion and highly worth the $90 it cost the two of us.  If you need more info, let me know!  

On 11/3/2020 at 4:31 AM, jean87510 said:

Our favorite thing is renting a car and seeing more of island.  You cant do donkey sanctuary in a golf cart. Very easy and much cheaper to take ferry to klein bonaire and do your own snorkeling.  We also went to the beach near the salt flats where we saw dozens of turtles.  Bonaire is an island where you just need your snorkeling gear and a car so you can get places quicker and get more in on your day. No excursions are needed.  

We looked into golf carts but ended up renting small SUV's from Hertz at the Divi Flamingo resort, which is only about a 5 minute walk from the port.  The SUV's were air conditioned and faster than a golf cart.  We were able to drive the entire island in one day.  Started out heading west to snorkle at multiple locations (karpata, 1000 steps, etc...) then heading north to the reserve, then all the way southeast to the salt flats and old slave huts.  Had the most amazing food at kite city, a well known food truck there.  The beach out front of kite city was fantastic, and the snorkeling was great there too.  It's one of, if not THE best, day we've had in all of our cruising.

Dan

43 minutes ago, lenquixote66 said:

We have not flown in 10 years.If you can drive and you are healthy there is nothing better that a long distance drive,

To each his/her own, but I prefer not to be drained at the start of my vacation.  Driving 1400 miles one way, either over multiple days or in one long 21+ hour drive doesn't appeal to me nearly as much as a 1 hour drive to the airport followed by a 2.5 hour flight.

Dan

1 minute ago, Milwaukee Eight said:

I haven’t been in a Walmart since 2015 and that was only to buy my grandson a particular gift they had in stock. 
 

M8

I go to Walmart to check out the latest fashion trends.  Who knew that pajamas were so popular to be worn in the middle of the day?

Dan

The way COVID has exploded in the last few weeks it's hard to determine just where one picks it up.

The plane is one possibility but so are all the other potential exposures you had from the time you left your house until you returned.

Dan

Hopefully Johnny Rockets goes away on Royal Caribbean ships. Just my opinion but it’s never been an impressive venue.  Never really fit.  Subpar burger joint.  

Dan

Honestly, all of your itineraries and ships that you picked are great, except maybe the empress. It is a small older ship.
 

I think you can find what you were looking for an either of the freedom itineraries or the Odyssey itinerary.

Eastern and southern are by far our favorite, with southern being the most favorite.  

Dan

True southern ABC itineraries from Florida, Galveston or Bayonne.  Preferably on Voyager or Freedom class but anything Voyager and larger is good.

This would require 8 night minimum from Florida and probably 10 night from Bayonne.

The 9 night southern Caribbean that we did out of Miami on the newly AMPED Navigator in March 2019 was by far the best itinerary we have done and the ship was amazing after being AMPED.

Dan

12 hours ago, bigrednole said:

We call it the Redneck Riviera 🙂

Same thing we say about Branson.  I call it the redneck Disney World.  Our week was fun but it just wasn’t our style.  My parents and one of my sisters however have been back to Branson multiple times.  

Dan

It was actually our most recent cruise on the newly Amped Navigator, 9 night Southern Caribbean Cruise.  Not only was the ship amazing (and our new favorite) after being Amped, the ABC islands are also our new favorite.  Our weather was fantastic as well, and the 9 nights made for a lot of time to enjoy the cruise and chill...

Labadee, Bonaire, Curacao, and Abuba...  two sea days at the end...  our best itinerary so far, by far.

Here's my review...

Speaking of Aruba, (Which is one of my top picks), does anyone know what flight prices were Pre-Covid from Aruba to Curacao for a day trip?
 

Dan

In order of preference (I think 🙂 )

Curacao, Aruba, Bonaire  (Hard to Choose)

St. Maarten

St. John USVI

St. Thomas

On 5/27/2020 at 6:32 AM, A&L_Ont said:

loving this weather across the border here in Ontario. 

Agreed, loved the hot weather earlier this week.  I’ll take hot over cold any day, I just don’t like it with a mask on.  😂 

Dan

After wearing a mask in 88 degree heat here in Michigan today it just verified how much I would not enjoy it in hot conditions.  It’s much different in the comfort of air conditioning versus heat (and potential humidity)

Dan

Unfortunately, my answer is no.  Wearing a mask changes the whole environment of a cruise too much for me.

Dan

16 hours ago, jp2746 said:

I was told there were no options for me.  I also have a Southern Caribbean out of San Juan in August.  Even if we cruise, which I know is pretty much 0% chance, where will we go?  I just don't think any of these Caribbean countries are going to allow cruise ships in August.  

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/aruba-kickstart-holidays-july-britons-101946189.html

There is hope?  See linked article about Aruba.

Dan

We’ve only sailed Royal and Celebrity, but would be willing to try Princess.

Dan

Short answer is no.

Having said that, we love cruising.  It's our primary vacation option, and something we consider a true luxury.

The cruise lines have fixed assets that are worth real money.  The ships, terminals, private ports, etc...   I don't see cruising going away, but I can see fixed assets being sold to cover costs.  Will a new cruise line appear from an investor(s) that can buy up some of these assets at rock bottom prices?  Maybe.  That's how I see this going.  Some shifting, some change.

Cruise industry going away?  No.

Dan

I was patient, and just today our last remaining refundable item (taxes and port fees) posted to our credit card.

Details:

We cancelled two cruises (four cabins)

• Cruise 1:  3 cabins departing March 22nd
• Cruise 2:  1 cabin departing July 9
• We cancelled Cruise 1 on March 10th and 13th.
• We cancelled Cruise 2 on March 30th

We missed out on the ability to refund everything.  All that we were due were taxes, port fees and pre-purchase items (dining, beverage packages, excursions, onboard activities, etc...)

Most of the refundable items were credited to our credit card April 1st, and one April 5th.

The last remaining item were the taxes and port fees for a four person room on our March 22nd sailing.  That just posted today, dated April 26th.

So, finally all is as it should be.  I had doubts but it worked.

Dan

7 hours ago, DavidinFLL said:

 

In Nov., 2018, I cruised to the Bahamas aboard the NCL Sky.  When we anchored off Great Stirrup Cay, I wanted to go ashore, but later in the morning.  As I watched the tendering process from the deck of the Sky, I did a double take when I saw a tender coming out from the Cay.  When I realized that this tender was the Little Norway I, I actually got bleary-eyed.  I hadn't known that NCL had stationed the Norway's tenders on Great Stirrup Cay when the Norway was sent to the breakers.  I don't know if anybody has ever gotten nostalgic over tenders before, but I had ridden on this very tender to this island 23 years earlier on a Norway cruise out of Miami, and again in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland on the Norway's last crossing cruise!

 

I realize my post is rather off-topic for this thread, but I guess I can't help myself when there is talk of the S.S. Norway, which of course I introduced into this thread!  Oh well, please forgive me!

 When I was watching that video,  I wondered if those were tenders up on the top of the ship.  Definitely not the style of the current cruise ship, but really nice and self contained though. Great story. Thanks for sharing.  

I can understand the bleary-eyed-ness ( yeah, just made up that word ).   We don’t just vacation for the fun at the moment, but easily just as much for the memories.    We have one of those digital picture frames in our kitchen and I load on new pictures from each vacation as we go.  Pretty much every day I flip it on and it’s awesome to have it randomly scroll through past photos.  Love the memories 

Dan

1 hour ago, DavidinFLL said:

Yes, I did enjoy the cruise.  But the events of 9/11 were constantly on my mind.  I sailed with the Steamship Historical Society and they were a great group to sail with.

 

As far as the Norway was concerned, I should have said the "longest" cruise ship, which she was for over 40 years.  I determine the size of a ship by her physical measurements and not by the number of passengers she carries, which of course the Voyager was much larger in both respects.  After all, the larger the ship coupled with fewer passengers translates to more room per person.  The Norway, originally the S.S. France, was, I believe, the last ship of state.  She was built to carry passengers across the ocean, but was a bit late into the game...being a victim of the jet age.  She was a classic ocean liner, even with the added decks on top, and she looked the part.  The newer ships are more floating condos than liners.  When the Norway was sent to the breakers, I joined thousands of sailors who shed tears.

 

I've sailed ships both large and quite small and love them all.  Being out on the ocean is beautiful, exhilarating and soothing.  My hope is that I will be able to sail on the Empress of the Seas in Nov. 2020.  She is a pretty ship and seems to be loved by her crew and passengers alike.

 

Cruise Critic is a great place to "meet" other cruisers and discuss sailing topics.

 

So..."The Fun Researcher"....does that mean that you are a researcher who is a lot of fun, or a researcher who researches fun things?  Or both?

You might enjoy this video below, as it actually references your particular cruise during 9/11 with some interesting still photos.   The S.S. Norway/France looks like she was a real beauty.  Love the long lines.

Yeah, my screen name refers to the fact that I'm a Research Scientist who loves to have fun.  I also love researching all things vacation related, whether it's cruising, Disney World, National Parks...

Happy future sailing, whenever that comes back.

Kindly, Dan