hobbyfarmer2

We were b2b on the Sky TA Nov 2019.  The Sky has 2 large pools beside one another.  One was noticeably warmer than the other which was quite cool due to weather, especially at the beginning of the cruises.  I assumed the warmer one was slightly heated.

On 12/10/2020 at 1:40 PM, Kamloops50 said:

We don't plan to take the vaccine until 12 to 18 months after they have done a most people.

We would only take the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. The others use a Agevant Agent that is know to be problematic. In the 1970"s the Swine flu vaccine used an Agevant Agent . They pulled it off the market because a large percentage (5% large for a vaccine) ended up on a ventilator . My wife's was one who got the vaccine and ended up on a ward with other on a ventilator because of the vaccine.

I assume you mean an adjuvant.  Most vaccines have this added ingredient as they would hardly work at all without.  There are a variety of adjuvant from a rare tree bark extract to aluminum compounds that work to make vaccines effective.

Watched it this afternoon.  Seems the Diamond was under Japanese government control after it docked in Yokohama.  My view is that the Japan administration bears a lot of the responsibility for the debacle mitigated somewhat by the general lack of knowledge surrounding the virus at the time.  Princess apparently employed their std response to a spread of norovirus but that response was not effective against the coronavirus.

We also got cancelled on the TA leg out of Venice Oct 16.  Rats.  Was really looking forward to this one.

Rats.  Just had our Pacific Princess Renaisance Explorer TA out of Venice cancelled next October.    That brings cancellations up to 7 so far.  Nothing left booked now.

We just cancelled a 20 day b2b on Sky leaving Mar 20, 2021.  No vaccine yet and our guess is it would most likely not sail anyway.  Made me pretty sad to do it.  We really enjoyed our b2b TA on Sky a year ago in Nov 2019.

10 hours ago, cheone said:

The stock price high today was $19.86 or up 44%.  The good news from the Independent Committee that is studying the Pfizer vaccine is the reason the stock is up.  The Pfizer vaccine will be approved by the FDA in the next 10 days, followed by Moderna and Johnson and Johnson.  Thanks to Operation Warp Speed, 300 million doses have been purchase and will be available in December.   

Pfizer was not part of Warp Speed.  They developed on their own dime with some money ($445M) from Germany.  Good for them.

We are on our 3rd bottle this week of Robert Mondavi Private Selection Bourbon Barrels California Cabernet 2018 right now and we both think it is drinking rather nicely.  Went out today and bought a case.

On 10/15/2020 at 10:07 AM, CineGraphic said:

We like to bring our own wine & champagne on board.

Here's two of our faves.

 

 

We used to drink the "old lady" Veuve a fair bit as well but it kind of got quite expensive at about $100 CAD.  We now tend to drink some very nice French Cremants and some excellent Italian Proseccos which have really improved in the last 10 years or so.

5 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

I hear you, but I pretty much limit it to when we have Thai style food.  Otherwise, I don't get excited over it on its own.

 

Coincidence.  We only drink Gewurtztraminer when we have takeout Pad Ki Mow from our fave Thai restaurant.

On 10/15/2020 at 3:59 PM, Hlitner said:

Chateau Petrus (by the glass) would make me happy.  

 

Hank

A Petrus would bring the dead back to life.

7 hours ago, nini said:

I think the Seghesio is $20.00

Thrak - I love Gewurztraminer. I think the Fetzer label is the one I enjoy.

Just checked out the Seghesio Old Vines zin at Total Wine.  It goes for $34.99 USD which is around $48 CAD.  My wife and I also enjoy the floral flavors of a fine Gewurtztraminer as well......

2 hours ago, nini said:

Cruise Raider- thank you for the Chardonnay ideas! About ten years ago

I swore that I would NEVER drink a Chardonnay... guess what? I love them

buttery, oaky and smooth.

 

XBGuy- I, for one, enjoyed your thoughts and education regarding OVZ. IMHO, it was not pontificating at all.

I belong to a FB page that is all about wine and the Zinfandel wine I spoke about purchasing

through them was really touted as so wonderful and the description was lovely.

I just purchased the Oak Ridge Ancient Vines Zinfandel at Total Wine. We will see.

I did drink the Cline Ancient Vines Zinfandel and it was SO much better than my crummy online

purchase. I can get the Seghesio at Costco and give it a try.

 

triple7tahoe- I love that the bartender remembered you!

What does the Seghesio go for at Costco in the USA?  It is a rare treat for us here in Ontario, CA at $57.95 CAD a bottle.  I love a good Zin or a Chateauneuf Dr Pape.

Right decision IMO.  We have had 3 cancelled as well for 2020.  We gave a 20 day b2b on Sky in March which I am quite sure we will cancel as well.  We are hopeful for a TA out of Venice on Pacific in Oct 2021 but nothing is certain for 2021 or even early 2022, I think.

On 9/30/2020 at 12:17 PM, cruzsnooze said:

It's being fast tracked by taking short cuts that undermine it's efficacy and safety.  It's stated the vaccine will be given to those most vulnerable, health care workers and seniors and those with underlying conditions so why wouldn't you want to use those participants in an equal representation in the trial. 

Exactly, it is being fast tracked.  What normally takes years is being compressed into months for over 50+ vaccines.  We will not even know which of the vaccines are the best ones, if any, for more than three years after the data for millions has been collated.  I really do not understand what you are expecting when we do not really know enough about the virus and our immune system's reaction tonite.

A shuttle was provided in Barcelona by the port.  It was free.

On 9/2/2020 at 7:31 PM, Janet-S-K said:

In 2018 we cruised with Princess and did online registration.  It wanted me to scan passports for Medallion program.  I was concerned about doing that and completed registration without that step, we went thru normal check in and was issued Medallions at time of boarding.  Sure enough they were hacked and who knows how many people were affected!!  But besides that I show an entry on Princess that said the Medallion opened your cabin door which provided extra safety in this era of Covid since it was contact free....WRONG!!  The door is unlocked but you still have to use the door knob to enter the cabin--that is not contact free.  Also since the device was new when we had them not all areas had device to read it-such as ordering drinks at dinner.  They just asked cabin number and name and didn't even ask to see the medallion--since your name is posted outside your cabin on the screen I can not tell you how many times we had to go to Guest Services to have an FRAUDULENT DRINK ORDER REMOVED FROM OUR ACCOUNT!!  When this terrible virus threat is over I will still not scan my passport and when boarding will insist they remove our names from screen outside the door.  Sometimes technology is not your friend 🙂

Medallion has worked perfectly for both of us for our last eight or so cruises.  We have had two bogus charges honour account and both were pre-Medallion.  The server probably wrote down a wrong folio number which I think was a reasonably common occurrence.

Hope not.  We have a TA booked on her in Oct 2021.

Too bad.  I was looking forward to saluting the portrait of his lordship in the starboard  corridor across from the Wheelhouse this Oct but the Panama cruise was cancelled.

We cancelled our Oct 31 Panama Canal on the Coral on Jul 21 just a few days before Princess issued their Dec 15 sailing notice.   Our deposit was refunded to credit card on Jul 24.  Fairly quick it seems.

We have had 3 bookings cancelled so far including one where final had occurred.   Refunded in full after 90+ days.  We have 3 segments booked for 2021, 2 in March and 1 in Oct.  Not hopeful for March but our Oct TA from Venice on Pacific Princess might happen.  We would like to sail this baby ship before it is sold.

No problem with any of yourv17 points despite waiting for a refund.  We will sail after vaccine has been distributed.

Pretty sure Royal class ships have 3 banks of elevators with 6 at midships.

Rome is chock a block full of great hotels in great locations.  We like staying in San Piedrini near the Trevi and Pantheon.  So much to see and do within easy walking distance.  Why confine yourself to Princess hotels?

The final payment date is 60 days now but the cancellation fee dates are not and depend on the length of the cruise.

https://www.princess.com/plan/cruise-with-confidence/cancellation-final-payment-policy/

https://www.princess.com/plan/standard-cancellation-refund-policy/