Iris5383

On 3/16/2022 at 4:30 PM, VermeulT said:

Truly ANYTHING can happen.  True story in 2017 - on the flight to FLL the day before the cruise, a person suffered a possible stroke so we made an emergency landing in Charleston.  The day before we returned was the shooting at FLL that closed the airport.  My sister had to rent a car and drive home (to GA).  My flight to SWF somehow left on time but there was a lot of snow at home and hubby couldn't pick me up so I spent a night at the airport motel.

My DH and I flew into FLL the day before that shooting. Our cruise was scheduled to leave the following day in late afternoon. Our departure was delayed until late that night waiting for passengers who were at the airport during the shooting and for others whose flights were delayed getting into FLL. It was a stressful start to the cruise. 

Re the verandah light, can you turn it off? 

11 hours ago, Mandalay1903 said:

I'm aboard the Koningsdam today, and the MDR is offering the following entrees on their "Indulge" menu section with an upcharge. All others menu food items are no extra charge. We have not asked about whether they charge for a second helping.

 

JUMBO SHRIMP COCKTAIL* $8.50
dijon aïoli, lime
5oz. FILET MIGNON & 5oz. LOBSTER TAIL * $30
grilled asparagus, baked potato, garlic butter
PRESIDENT’S CUT 36oz. TOMAHAWK BONE-IN RIB EYE * $75
shallot confit, aged balsamic, green peppercorn, baked potato, creamed spinach
16oz. USDA PRIME DRY AGED DELMONICO STEAK* $40
shallot confit, aged balsamic, green peppercorn, baked potato, creamed spinach

Do they still have not-so-fancy steak and prime rib on the menu without added charge? Are all lobster meals an upsell now?

Thanks for posting! I love reading about your excursions and life on the Rotterdam. I think that may be our next ship.

Thanks for the beautiful photos!

5 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

The number of isolations has probably dropped considerably, and perhaps no one wants to talk about it. Remember Cruise Critic is a very small percentage of cruisers. I know when we sail in two weeks, I won't be posting about isolation, or positive tests.

 

Somebody mentioned a couple days ago about numbers of positive tests on KDam doing multiple tests to meet Hawaii's requirements. It was sort of a "I know, but I am not talking, just teasing info" sort of post.

@CruiserBruce Would you post from onboard if you tested positive and were put in isolation? The threads by (I think these were the names) RiversEdge and NMCruiser, who were in isolation, and another thread by the person not allowed back onboard for the second leg of a B2B, gave helpful and pertinent information to everyone with cruises planned and to those of us holding back from planning for now. 

3 hours ago, CafeBruno said:

I am on the Rotterdam now (boarded 2/5). Last week in the Ask the Captain session in the World Stage, Captain Timmers was asked how many people on board were in the Covid quarantine cabins on decks 4 and 5. He said there was ONE person onboard, to great applause. I have no reason to doubt him. Also he said there were around 1700 pax on board. 

@CafeBrunoThat's what I wanted to know! That is very good news. Thank you. 

3 hours ago, TiogaCruiser said:

I can’t imagine there NOT being some isolations and quarantines due to Covid. It’s still quite prevalent. And no ship is just going to let people who are known positive or symptomatic run loose. 
 

For that matter, isolation and quarantine have always been a possibility aboard ship. They would never knowingly allow someone with Noro to run around during a contagious period. Or measles. Or a host of other things.

 

Are you concerned people infectious for Covid aren’t being identified and isolated/quarantined? Or that they are being identified and isolated?

I was wondering if Covid is still as prevalent onboard as it seemed to be when Omicron first started. There is no question that those with infections need to be isolated. I want to know if there are many people being isolated now.

1 minute ago, 12cruise2 said:

Really?  Honestly, if you and DH aren't ready to cruise, it's certainly not the time for you to cruise.  Just because we WISH covid were over doesn't make it over.  Do we need more threads re isolations, or someone writing about being in isolation and lastly, incentives offered to mention isolation?  If y'all are not feeling comfortable cruising, it's time to wait to plan any cruise vacation.

Why are you scolding me for asking the question? In case it matters, DH and I are more than ready to cruise, we've had two vaccines and the booster, but he is on meds that weaken his immunity. Cruising is not worth dying for.

I wasn't asking if incentives were offered to mention isolation, I was asking if they were offered to NOT mention it.

In order to plan, yes, we do need threads that talk about isolation, if it is still happening.

A few weeks ago there were (at least) three conversations about Covid isolations on HAL. Two were onboard and one where passengers forfeited the second leg of a B2B in FLL. I haven't seen any more since. Is it because 1) there aren't any more isolations, 2) nobody isolated wants to write about it, or 3) incentives are offered to not mention isolation.

I hope the Covid infection rate has dropped to zero onboard and DH and I can start planning a cruise, but I'm not optimistic enough to believe that.

22 hours ago, SML123 said:

 

Hang on and it will all flesh out soon. Omicron is running its course. Hey didnt Pfizer create a pill and even get it approved that lessened Covid illness and death by 90% when taken in the first few days??? What happened to those??? 

Those pills were approved for emergency use in December and as of last week are still being studied for general use (from a quick internet search). Hopefully, they are a game changer.

Linda - I was supposed to be cruising on the Zuiderdam the same time as your cruise. We cancelled it.  Reading your posts made me glad we hadn't thrown the dice and got on the ship. In the better days ahead, it would be nice to meet you on another 'Dam ship.

Laura

Thanks for the "Almost Live" posts and for your blog. I enjoyed both. Safe travels home!

2 hours ago, nanlaur said:

We chose to cancel partially because of the protocols, not because we "don't want to engage in safe practices", but because three weeks of masking in the tropics would make it a very expensive, non-vacation experience for us. Our choice.

 

As it happens, I am currently waiting out the quarantine time after contracting Covid from the assisted living facility where we sat with my sister last weekend as she died. (They had at least one resident with Covid.) We were to leave on Weds. to drive down to FLL for the cruise, so would have had to cancel anyway. 

Exactly the reason we aren't cruising now. I agree with the protocols, just don't want that kind of cruise experience.

Sorry about your sister's death. These are difficult times.

I've been following you since the beginning and it all seems so sad😢. It's not the vacation you looked forward to and planned for. It's good that you're talking with the other balcony people. I wish there were other icons to choose from besides "like" or "thanks" and the other one, (a "laugh" maybe?) to respond to posts on cruise critic. We need icons for hugs 🤗 and sad 😢 and a caring heart ❤️ for your posts. I'm sure Saturday can't come soon enough.

On 1/24/2022 at 11:09 AM, OlsSalt said:

 

The official narrative about "covid" is changing, regardless of one's own personal reactions. Bi-furcated cruises does not mean co-mingled cruises. 30% still remain injection-free, so they would be the group willing to cruise together without this particular mandate.  

 

Some of us can imagine cruises with no strict protocols because so far the current restrictions are not particularly effective as we hear every day.  We also learn more every day about those with acquired immunity due to past infections.  

 

One size no longer fits all - as we follow the accumulating trial and error data. 

I think that if the scenario you describe was carried out, it would prove whether the world is being overcautious about Covid or not. The results would be interesting and enlightening. 🤔

It seems strange that so many are planning items to bring on their next cruise based on the possibility of isolation. We SO need this virus to be controlled! @Riversedge, wishing you a great meal at Tamarind! Hope all in your son's family all have a quick recovery. 

On 1/15/2022 at 2:45 PM, OlsSalt said:

 

A bifurcated hospitality industry may be the answer - offerings for those who still demand zero tolerance.  And offerings those who have learned to live with, or return to,  the uncertainties of travel and its potential disease exposures.

 

CDC dedicates an entire webpage to "travelers" in regards to standard infection exposures and precautions.  Travel has never been zero tolerance and worry free. 

I can't imagine cruising on a ship where vaccines were not required. It would be like early 2020, where no port would allow docking and with people getting deathly ill. What crew members would want to be assigned to such a journey?

10 hours ago, Julia McCoun said:

 

I remember your photo! I read all your posts too. I think all the quarantine/isolation posts are helpful to us all, so we know what to expect in that situation and know what to pack to be prepared. 

8 minutes ago, zelker said:

Hey, Laura!  Happy New Year! Yep, RT San Diego at the end of February to Hawaii and French Polynesia.  It's been pretty touch and go with all the restrictions for both places but the Polynesian gods are finally shining down on us so we "should" be good to go!  We're doing it again in October with a slightly different island mix and 45 days instead of 35, also on Zuiderdam and also RT San Diego.  You should come!!!  Barb

Barb, I wish! I've been looking at the 35-day in Feb 2023. If the virus clears up though, who knows, maybe we'll try for Oct 2022.

Laura

13 hours ago, zelker said:

@Btimmer Hi, Tim. We’re booked to board Zuiderdam 5 weeks from today for the 35 day Hawaii/South Pacific sailing.  Can you ask how many passengers are currently booked for that one please?  Thx.  Barb

Hi, Barb! Seems like forever since that trans-Pacific cruise! Is your Zuiderdam a RT from San Diego? I'm hoping we do that in 2023.

Laura

On 1/22/2022 at 11:49 AM, Btimmer said:

If you want more words, check out my daily blog.  Thanks for following along.

Yep, I've been reading that too. Thanks!

@RiversedgeHow is the weather? Both times we cruised to HA, it was cold across the Pacific. Glad you have a real glass for wine! 

In a perfect world, DH and I would be on this trip as well. We had to cancel though, circumstances won't let us cruise now. I'm following every word with interest and a bit of sadness. Thanks for your posts!

Well, crap. Is your cruise a Circle Hawaii? When we did that one, it was 5 days over, 5 days in Hawaii and 5 days back. By those calculations, you will miss the islands. I don't blame you for walking, even though it's a short course. There seem to be a lot of us following you. Hope that helps. Keep smiling!