B-52

3 hours ago, Junkhouse said:

When the press and public realize that more people die from the common flu then this virus, and that most of the deaths hit people that are diabetic or have a BMI of over 30.

I want to believe this is no different than the common flu....
But come to NY/NJ where I live...this is not like anything that has happened before.
Hospitals full to capacity, temporary hospitals being set up in parks, convention centers, and now hotels.
Volunteers coming in from out of state.

Military involvement.

This IS NOT like the common Flu....and it is getting worse everyday.  People, other than those who are elderly and in top health are being hospitalized, and dying.
Scary thing is no one knows what to expect how this is going to play out, and for how long.

There are predictions, and many say the 2nd wave will hit with next flu season just when we get a handle on the current crisis.

I am a essential health care provider.....everyday I leave the house is playing Russian roulette.

We are Diamond Plus...I come to these boards to get a pulse on what everyone is feeling....We have a cruise booked, going to cancel before final payment and forget about cruising for a while.

13 hours ago, handbellplayer said:

So many here are saying, "I'm not going to cancel; I'll just wait for the cruise line to do it so I'll get FCC."  Am I the only one that's concerned about the cruise lines going into bankruptcy and losing my deposit?  If I had 28 cruises booked  I would be very concerned about losing that much $$.  We only one cruise booked at the moment (Oasis in November) and we will probably cancel in the next few days. Am I being unreasonably pessimistic?  I don't know a lot about business, but how can the cruise lines survive with no revenue for months (maybe many months)?

Absolutely Not....People are ignoring this fact. There is no bailout for the cruise industry.  Declaring bankruptcy is a common business practice to protect them selves from outstanding Debts...meaning US!
Leaving everybody screwed with their worthless FCC
FCC is only there to keep $$ in bank, delaying inevitable.  If everyone cancelled today, they would go bankrupt tomorrow.
I can always re-book at a later time.

I would like to believe this is nothing more than what happens with the standard flu....I am in NJ, near New York.

What is happening here is NOTHING like the usual Flu. It is NOTHING like what has ever happened before, other than the 1918 Spanish Flu, which did not have the medical Technology for treatment we have today.

It is surreal, like a movie. Its hard for the mind to accept, but it is here for all to see.

And is not just the elderly, although that is the highest percentage, it is happening to all ages.

And getting worse.

This is not Fake news...if anything, fake news would down play it

And how long will these unprecedented times last?
Even when cruises continue, we can, and will still be under a threat.

We may start to get back to normal, but this threat will go for at least a year easily. In waves they say as the Spanish Flu in 1918
So, someone getting ill in October, months after cruises resume (possibly) can still be subject to current times

On 3/27/2020 at 1:19 PM, Biker19 said:

Kinda out of the way to use Cape Liberty for something like that, unlike Brooklyn.

Not really....911,  I was part of a team to set up tents, arrange transportation, etc,  to receive patients here in NJ....personnel, supplies and transportation to take 1000 if needed.

Feeling was New York hospitals would be overwhelmed.

Got it all set up by the end of the day.

Sadly, it never happened.

But here we are again, with the fear New York hospitals will be overwhelmed.

Current talk is to transfer non-infectious patients out of the city, that way not spreading the virus.

We are waiting till last minute before final payment, take the $$ refund, loose deposit.

This pandemic is going to be around for a long time. Sure, we will get a handle on it, contain it and minimize the spread. But there are so many countries involved. Until there is a treatment to cure, and a vaccine to protect., travel to and from countries will be restricted and hot spots will continue to flare up.

They are saying 30-90 days, but that is for life to start getting back to normal. But they are also saying we won't get through this for 18 months to a year.

I'll make my final decision a day or 2 before final payment.

We have a suite booked, so to cancel means I will get 5K back, lose a $500 deposit. 

I have a friend who has a trip to Ireland planned this month.

Her TA was laid off, and the agency is on life support because of all the travel restrictions. 

FYI, cruise ships fly under a foreign country flag....not the USA.
Only thing USA can do is close ports.Only control USA has.

Also, I heard it mentioned last night during and after the Presidents speech, as to whether or not the USA should bail out the cruise ships along with airliners, etc.
Cruise ships are not USA companies. 

Most topics are people concerned about being infected with the Virus.....what about others on the ship. They may have Flu like symptoms, not necessarily the Carona Virus.

Then there are issues of quarantine, or ship being denied access to certain ports.
CDC also advises close social contact....on a cruise ship? Really?

I'm mostly concerned about my cruise being interrupted.

Also, as a side note...looked at my Container of Lysol wipes, which are maybe 1-1/2 old, and Corona is listed. So this is not a new thing.

We've always stayed on deck 10, always had those glass panels......the negative is, when sitting, the top of those panels is eye level....annoying.

Just jumping in so I can follow this thread....

We will be on Adventure this August out of Bayonne.

It is our 2nd time on Adventure, the 1st was out of San Jaun

We have sailed out of Bayonne 5 previous times, when the Explorer was there.

We've also sailed on the Mariner 2-3 times out of Florida, so it is easy to see this is our favorite class ship 

It has been our experience, when we are entering our room for the first time, the room steward usually comes around and introduces him/her self. (we keep the door propped open as a welcome)

It is then we make all our requests which usually get done before turn down the same day.

Slipping a cash tip on the first meeting doesn't hurt either.

We've been to Barefoot Beach  many times....long before there was a pier....

We rented a Cabana once. It was Ok, but we did not like it. I felt "detached"

Much more pleased with chairs...early enough you can get one under a tree

But that's just us...the cabanas sell out fast!

We Are Diamond + and have always booked ourselves directly online......However, I usually follow up with a call the next day or so to ensure I did get the best price, only to find we were not getting a discount or two we were entitled to.

Always booked through the website. Like the feeling of being in control.

Although I do not like the new website design at all. I believe they are purposely making it difficult to access some areas.

As was previously stated......

We have MTD, but then have a standing reservation for two., same time each night, always first sitting time. We are some of the first people seated.  (except when going to specialty restaurants or if shore hours run into the evening)

We have always had a table for two at a window, same table, same servers.

Our very first cruise with RCI was in a GS...our next cruise we chose a JS.

Few days before the cruise we got a FREE upgrade back to a GS.. (we didn't ask, and were not informed. Discovered the change when I went to print my Cruise Docs)

We have stayed in a GS ever since.

I told this to a Hotel Director on  one of our cruises...he smiled and said those "Marketing people sure know what they're doing"

We like a GS, as previously stated, simply for the roominess, closet space, etc. More like a hotel room than a cabin.

Don't care so much for the perks, hardly ever use the Concierge lounge. The reserved seating can be nice and we take advantage of that. Bridge tours, sometimes.

The double points were also nice, probably how we became Diamond + so quickly.

But again, it is because of the space

We always book about a year out, pick the room cat and location we want.

I have found that as the time goes on, and the cat starts to sell out, the price always goes up.

Supply and demand.

(we always book a GS)

Wee are Diamond +, but have not sailed with RCI in a few years.....is this a new procedure across the board? Or just anthem. 

Used to Gert out cards at check in.

Does not bother me one way or the other.

Also, it was mentioned being checked in by some with a I-pad, tablet.  This is happening everywhere in the travel world. 

At  Disney you are met as soon as you step off the bus. Then get a Text when your room its ready, along with your room #

But do you still go to a counter, show your passports, credit card?  It was then that we used to get our sea pass cards.

We're sailing out of Bayonne next summer.

We have not sailed out of Bayonne in years, when the Explorer was there.

At that time you parked on a open lot, walked to check-in, then took the buses to the ship.

We have a cruise booked out of Bayonne next summer.

Sounds as if everything has changed.....a parking garage? Multi-level (No more over spray)

I knew they have a real terminal now, can see it from Liberty State Park

I am going to do a search to learn about the new facilities.

May do a drive to the 911 memorial to get a up close look. (take it you can still do that?)

I take it they have handicapped parking.

Are there any electrical outlets in the bathroom?

We like to use a water pic / flosser.

We are staying in a Penthouse Suite.

The cruise line we normally sail on did have one outlet. Also had one outlet near each bedside end table.

We Booked the "Old Lahina Luau" on our first day in Maui.

Is very highly rated, some people say  it is possibly the best Luau in the State of Hawaii.

We are renting a car, will explore Maui on our own eventually ending in Lahina. From there we will go to the Luau, afterwards drive back to the airport to return the car before they close at 11pm.

13 hours ago, AlohaCathy said:

We spent very little cash when we went earlier this month. I just don’t feel safe taking large amounts of cash on holiday anymore. Credit cards were accepted nearly everywhere, you get insurance with your purchases too - we just took a little cash for additional tips eg tours, ice creams etc. We’re from the UK and have organised credit cards that have no charge for foreign transactions, we can also withdraw local currency from cash points without cards as well. A great find, I wish we’d discovered them years ago. 

 

We made sure we had a lot of change and small notes for tips, vending machines, luggage carts etc 

Thank You

WE would use a credit Card also, just needed to hear that it was not a problem, perhaps many local vendors oreferred cash or not.

General question, for those who have sailed POA, with few days in Honolulu pre-cruise perhaps,  excursions, exploring the islands, etc, etc.

How much cash did you bring?

Was it enough? Not enough?  Find yourself looking for a ATM?

Thanks in advance

We will have the same suite on our upcoming cruise....

Question. I would like to hold a reception in our suite for the Roll Call people.

Do you think, Between the Steward, Butler and Concierge, , they would help setup, supply snacks and drinks??

Also, were you contacted by the Concierge before your trip??