Toofarfromthesea

2 hours ago, ldubs said:

 

Well, I agree except for your emphasis on "ALL".  Gov't waste & too many consultants are lining their pockets with taxpayers dollars.  

More likely, corrupt foreign leaders divert a good chunk of it to their own off-shore accounts.

1 hour ago, TYinPalmSprings said:

To get a better understanding of debits and credits, best to check with your accountant.

 

No, some of us already know that a deduction and a credit are not the same.  Maybe you are the one who needs to check with your accountant?  

14 hours ago, bluesea321 said:

 

Yes but only up to your gambling gains which are taxable, i.e., you cannot deduct more losses than your gains.  If you win $100 and then lose $100 your net tax is zero.  If you lost $100 you are stuck, no deduction allowed.

That is a deduction, not a credit.  Not remotely the same thing.

17 hours ago, TYinPalmSprings said:

Not all who cruise are affluent. Some may have saved their lives for this, some may be aged and have that last wish before they go, have a family member getting over a serious illness or family death, or have dreams of that cruise for a milestone birthday, or anniversary. It may have been a pinch for them to do their cruise, and may not be able to  try again. With your misconceptions that all who cruise are affluent, I can understand why you made the comment. The affluent only cruisers are a thing of the past, People burned by this may never consider this acceptable option for the future unless there is remedy. 

Or maybe we just have a different view of affluent.  By world standards most Americans are affluent.  And Americans who cruise come from the upper end of our population.  People throughout our country and the world are going to take economic hits from this thing.  Recompensing people for vacations should be like priority 27 on the top ten areas that need economic relief.

1 hour ago, TYinPalmSprings said:

Time to write your congressman/congresswoman. 

A large chunk of the cruising public are seniors, yet we are told by the US government NOT TO CRUISE, and if we dare to do that then we may be on our own. The cruise lines are still selling our cruise dates to destinations in the short term, yet, at the same time, say they will not let you board if you have been to, or through, those destinations they are sailing to/from or stopping at (or encountering people who have). Also we must remember that governments that have initiated a lockdown of their region or country (Italy for example). So, what if at your port stop, Rome, for instance, if you try to re-board and  they stop you? You're stuck. They may also not let you board if you look ill and you may not be able to get a flight out as flights have just been suspended.  This is a HUGE disconnect. We are now hearing from people stuck in countries that they cannot get out of due to this disconnect. Sure, some lines will let you take a credit for a limited time ,or implore you to a new book with promises you can use the CREDIT in the future for a limited amount of months...but only on the booked subsidiary, that is, you cannot use a Royal Caribbean branded cruise credit on their Celebrity or Azmara divisions.  For most, they will not return your money even for the cruises they do cancel. Then we have the cruises and airlines who are allowed to cancel or change their flights on the spot. The large market of us seniors have a dramatic impact on the business volume of these industries. The US president and vice president are meeting with the cruise line and airline execs to help THEM through this, but no one seems to be helping us. While we initially may be stuck and lose money spent on airfares, cruises, and related travel costs (like hotels) there could be relief for us if the Federal government, perhaps,  would introduce a Federal tax credit for the amount we have lost. If they can do it for gambling debt, they sure as heck should do this for us. It's time to write your congressman/congresswoman. If there is no relief, many seniors may refrain from chancing our money on cruising and rethink leisure travel.  That will have a rippling effect on the cruise and air industries, the economy as a whole, and the future of how we look at travel. 

Yes, by all means, with the vast array of needs faced by the government they should rush right out and give tax credits to affluent people because their vacation was ruined.

6 hours ago, Ava79 said:

Lol perfect 🙂
Btw maybe it's not right to tell this but people who live in huge tourist destinations can sigh with relief without big noisy crowds of tourists now

And moan in suffering, because without that big noisy crowd of tourists some of them will have a much harder time feeding their families.  

Just remember, no matter what encouragement you get from people here, if you take a prohibited substance on board and against all odds it blows up in your face, it will be YOU facing the possibly serious hassles, not the cruisecritic cheering squad.

3 hours ago, That sinking feeling said:

Information isn't. 24 hour  media news chammel  frenzies are. Dont you think the media is loving this?.

Just imagine the public reaction if they reported on the flu the way they do for the Wuhan virus.  Every day reports of thousands of new cases.  Every day reports of hundreds of deaths.

3 hours ago, GlamorousGirl said:

It spreads in crowds. That’s how it spread in China. I’m in Atlantic City, and going to NYC, before my cruise on the 15th. I feel no more safe in the crowds of the casinos, and will feel no more safe on the crowded streets of NY, than I will on the ship. I wiped down my hotel room just like I will my cruise cabin. The only way to guarantee safety is stay home, hermit like, and have your groceries delivered by mail. If I wasn’t already booked on this travel, I wouldn’t book it now because frankly the feelings of paranoia are putting a damper on it. But it’s either go out and live or lock myself at home and have contact with no one - which is nearly impossible. Frankly, singling out cruises does people a disservice, thinking they’re safe in other crowds. I don’t see anyone else wiping down the machines in the casino or staying 6 feet away from strangers. I’m just going to do everything I can to avoid catching it - which I’d have to do everywhere...

It is not a question of safety, it is an issue of consequences.  If you are home and get the virus you self quarantine, and unless you are one of the ones with health issues and it hits you seriously, that's it.  But if you are on a cruise ship, if *anyone* is infected a lockdown/quarantine is imposed on you that is much more severe than home quarantine, plus your odds of getting infected go way up.  

4 hours ago, navybankerteacher said:

1918-1919 was pre-social media — and it is now generally acknowledged that the many millions of deaths were largely the result of people not being made aware of what was going on.

 

Oh yes - information is the enemy.

I saw something that, if true, startled me.  We had more deaths in ww1 due to illness than due to combat - primarily due to the Spanish flu.

4 hours ago, Cee_Jay said:

I certainly thought that air was circulated throughout at least parts of the ship so thank you for a good explanation of how it actually works.

As an aside to just above do you think the toilet paper and beans related???  🙂

Yeah, if you stock up on the latter, stocking up on the former seems advisable.

What I don't get are the people stocking up on water.  Our taps will not run dry and I've heard nothing about the virus spreading via the water supply.  It is as if they are operating off a list of what to stockpile for an anticipated hurricane.

16 hours ago, Cee_Jay said:

Do not see why the U.S.  or hopefully the U.K should be any different....what worries me is what the heck is happening in Italy!

In some localities, China, South Korea, Italy, Iran, the virus seems to have 'bloomed' while in others the spread is much slower.  Policies, procedures, and competence are different from country to country.  There is a vast gulf between panic and bravado.

7 hours ago, sayanne said:

 

Oblivious, don't hold your breath. This is consistent with his behavior about major issues for 3 and a half years.

The issue for US travelers may be as this goes on we really are the ugly Americans and we face restrictions elsewhere. S Korea for example pumped out a huge number of tests that they executed within a very short time. The US officials still can't say how they are going to get out count of test kits up to snuff, let alone do the testing. FWIW, the US did much, much better in prior outbreaks in this area. So it would be easy to find surprising.

This is every bit as obnoxious as the people who insist on talking about politics in the MDR.

On 3/5/2020 at 3:03 PM, riredsox said:

Thank you!  I will try this.

Once you get offers, vet the TA.  The site I use links to their BBB page.  Plus I search on the TA's name everywhere I can.

14 hours ago, WonderMan3 said:

There's a very easy way to solve that issue; don't allow cruise ships to board or debark any passengers at any U.S. ports for a month while this virus gets sorted out.

So every ship now at sea that would disembark in the US is stuck there for a month?  Not my idea of a 'very easy way to solve the issue'.

19 minutes ago, sptrout said:

Luggage Forward is not really "Luggage Valet" as the OP asked about. LV is free for one big difference, and is offered by most cruise lines in FL. Luggage Forward is a commercial luggage forwarding company and while may be useful is some cases it is very expensive. However, the costs may be offset by any luggage fees that an airline may charge. Worth considering, but LV is much better (IMO) than LF for most US travel.

Maybe things have changed, but luggage valet was free in Seattle but in Miami we had to pay for it.  Well worth it.  Alas, I don't think MSC participates.

1 hour ago, exactorman51 said:

Hoping a couple companies go broke. They have been ripping off their customers for years.

That's OK, I'm sure their thousands of employees won't mind being thrown out of work because you wanted lower prices.

SMH

7 hours ago, Markanddonna said:

The Singapore government also posts the address of the patients and the place where the virus was spread.  I guess we would have to suspend the HIPPHA laws in the US to do what Singapore is doing. Personally, I think it is good to know the age and if the person had pre-existing health issues. A healthy thirty year  old dying of it is very different than an elderly, ill nursing home resident. 

Well hey, N. Korea shot a government official who broke quarantine and shot their first confirmed case, so their strategy might be even more effective - if it weren't for that whole inhuman thing.

Totally agree on the usefulness of demographic data on cases and deaths.  It would also be useful if cases/deaths were reported by whether they are folks who were infected outside the country and came back, or if they were 'home-grown" infections.

7 hours ago, Byairorsea said:

WOW!  Getting far more feedback than I anticipated on this.  If a person takes orally (drops) or uses as cream/lotion on the pain areas of lower back or hip - that wouldn't be problem flying or going ashore from a ship.  ???  I'm assuming a dog in airport isn't going to stop someone from the smell on them?   Certainly the ship or destination police aren't going to make someone pee in a cup to see if they are a user?   I'm reading between the lines and guessing the only problem would be in HAVING the product (CBD oil or lotion) in their luggage?  Again, not me, and my friends have already decided not to cruise this year.  Will wait until next year and see how he feels, and if anything has changed in having this in his possession (checked luggage or his cabin).  Thanks

Depends on what you mean by problem.  Getting caught?  Breaking law/rules?  Dealing with fall-out if caught?

I'm a medical marijuana patient in CO and I vape THC oil.  I have no doubt that:

1- I could easily get it on the ship as it is highly concentrated and doesn't smell, and

2 - I could easily vape it in my cabin and no one would know because vaping thc or herb doesn't leave any residual smell.  In my apartment you could be in the other room while I Vaped and you wouldn't have a clue.

But I am too old (64) and have too nice a life to put it at risk by doing 1 and 2.  I suck it up, put up with the aches and pains, don't enjoy eating as much, and drink wine more than usual to help with sleep.  Getting entangled with law enforcement is on my anti-bucket list.

1 hour ago, Joebucks said:

 

You are correct. It is a different experience.

 

But my point still stands that it is not a savings.

You're right.  And buying a BMW, is not a cost savings over buying a Ford.  

17 hours ago, riredsox said:

I have been searching for a TA for MSC (my regular TA won’t deal with them) and the one I used didn’t give any incentive and getting info from them is like pulling teeth!

I use a site that lets various TAs compete for my booking and I get multiple offers with perks at varying levels - but I need to get at least 8-10% to pull the trigger.  There are plenty of TAs out there that are happy to book on MSC and offer perks.  I've booked 3 MSC cruises with 3 different TAs, since I am a disloyal SOB, and got good perks in that range every time.

15 hours ago, Charles4515 said:

With the latest cruise ship outbreak it is time to suspend cruises for the time being. As we can see because of the financial commitments many have made booked passengers are hesitant to lose the money they paid without assurance of a refund. Also there are a few lunatics who think it’s a great time to save money. 

Suspending cruising YOURSELF is completely within YOUR power.  Maybe other people have other opinions.

3 hours ago, Markanddonna said:

The medical community recommends that those who are ill wear a mask if they have to go in public. Such a trying time for those who have to deal with coughing year round as part of a medical condition.

 

And they recommend NOT buying and using masks for routine use because they are needed only for infected people and medical personnel.  

4 hours ago, cruizergal70 said:

I don't want to derail the thread but is it appropriate to talk about which loyalty perks you are getting that makes being loyal more attractive. 

That would be an interesting discussion, but I doubt it will get going buried in this thread.  You should consider starting a new thread.

42 minutes ago, chipmaster said:

 

It is the WHO always a day late and a dollar short, they are a politically mindful organization and puppets.

I pay no attention to what the WHO says about this because they have been unduly influenced by China for a long time.  I look to CDC and NIH for far more reliable data and conclusions.  IMO, the only people who take that WHO 3.4% mortality rate figure seriously are people looking for a reason to panic, or trying to spread panic.