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I’m sure surgeons don’t like wearing masks either. Maybe there should be a consent form. Doctors who feel masks are useless should not be forced to wear them. I mean maybe only 2% will die of infection. Insurance can cover that. I mean, open heart surgery already carries risk. What’s a little more give or take?  Yeah sure.

44 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

They continue to run TV commercials here encouraging vaccines. I assume that is because interest is waning. 

I think there are historical reasons why some are hesitant that are valid but can be changed with information and support.  I think some people only like alternative facts as opposed to plain old facts. I think some people aren’t internet savvy and can’t figure out how to get an appointment. I think some people are waiting until their friends get it and confirm that it’s okay; kind of a herd mentality instead of just immunity.  And I think some people embrace and hold tight to their biases that are simply political and illogical. 

Got my 19yo his 1st Pfizer this weekend at a mass event at a local stadium. The vaccinators said anybody in the same car could also get it so long as over 16. Anybody. In. The. Car. Get yourself vaxxed so we can cruise. 

I received my vaccinations fairly early on thru work. Our company provides specific specialist care to a large population of people with a chronic condition that is highly susceptible to adverse outcomes if they get COVID. I received the card as shown earlier. Recently when I went to my personal care provider with no affiliation to my company, she immediately had access to my vaccination records and it included the COVID vaccination information.
 

Also last year upon acceptance to college, my kid had to provide a vaccination record under an official seal which we easily requested online and had emailed directly to the college RN. 

I suspect some of us will have an easier time of this and others will attest it’s impossible to their last breath. 

Yes if all are vaccinated including the entire crew. 

8 hours ago, Laminator said:

That is not true. The CDC is not collecting this information. 

IIS | Contacts for Immunization Records | CDC

You linked a site about children’s vaccination records. Not equivalent. 

There is already a CDC database containing the ID info including names and addresses and vial IDs of anyone who receives a COVID vaccine. I would think they will create a window into that system for travel providers (and others) similar to a No Fly list where names are matched. 

The pics of Rapa Nui are stunning. What an amazing sight to see.

Re Covid vaccine charges; depending on insurance, if you receive a charge, the charge will most likely  be for the administration of the vaccine, not the vaccine itself. Different insurance providers are saying different things but the most likely fee will only be for the administration. 

43 minutes ago, SouthAltaCruisingFamily said:

Our teens prefer HAL over RCL.

They hated the rock climbing wall, the flo rider, and the hype of RCL.  They couldn’t wait to get off the 7 day cruise and spent almost all of their day in their cabin.

They thoroughly enjoy HAL cruises.  As an example on their 17 day Christmas cruise from Sydney to Auckland...not a single whine or complaint.  Chillin by the pool, excursions, dive in burgers, music, shows, scenery watching, and making friends from across multiple nations.  Rarely in their room and never “bored”.

Hands down HAL is preferred. They never want to see another RCL cruise ever again.

Just their perspective.

Same here. My teens thought the ice skating show on RCL was fun but other than that...nope to the rest of it. 

If your teens really are like your post says, they will be fine. Mine went to one Carnival teen club once and it was “one and done” and they never went back on any cruise line. HAL was a good fit for us. Mine enjoyed the ping pong table (beating mom) and visiting the ports.  On sea days we walked, watched videos, and looked for dolphins and birds off the side of the ship.  Half Moon is truly lovely. Sigh.

On 1/16/2021 at 11:15 AM, mame42 said:

Ochsner Louisiana cancelled thousands of appointments for next week when zero of the expected number of doses materialized this week.

My mom was cancelled too. We used the website and found availability in Houma and drove out there and got the Pfizer 1st dose last week. There were even appts available on Napoleon Ave for Moderna last week but she had preference for Pfizer due to smaller shot volume. If you haven’t gotten it, check the website multiple times a day as appt availability goes up and down constantly. 

1 hour ago, mame42 said:

I have managed to get an appointment because apparently my radiologist is in the Ochsner system.  Who  knew???

Great news! 

On 1/10/2021 at 11:36 AM, mame42 said:

Exactly.    Ochsner is the largest health care provider in the state.  Of the 74,480 doses of vaccine so far distributed in Louisiana, 61,575 have gone to Ochsner of which 30,325 have been actually used. 

 

Ochsner has prioritized those patients seen within the last three years regardless of how minor the complaint.  Although a number is listed for non patients, or patients like me who have not seen an Ochsner physician recently, when one calls the number one hears a recorded spiel, then the line hangs up.

 

Other outlets for the vaccine such as pharmacies throughout the state have received less than 100 doses per location.  The most common way to obtain a vaccination occurs at the end of the day, when an in house message notifies employees at other hospital or clinic locations that unused doses are available.  Naturally, those employees immediately sign up and call parents or other elderly relatives.

Hello. You need to sign up for a MyOschner account. Once you have an account, you should be able to set up a “visit” and choose COVID vaccine. It helped me get my mother an appt. and her doctor is not related to Ochsner. In fact, they schedule 2 appts at that time. Please try.

Oh great! Thanks for replying. Very helpful!

We booked the V+V BOGO for a Europe cruise with 1 person in the inside cabin. If only 1 person, will they add hotel services charges for 2 (double occupancy room type) or just charge for the actual 1 person in the room? I forgot to ask on the call. 
 

Thank you.

Yep. But I’ve been to Pinnacle and I’m not a fan. I just did not care for the EE service. Canaletto is okay; it is what it is. So I kind of know what I’m getting. This is the first time I’ll be on a ship with Tamarind and I would trade the $50 for something different but as it is “free” we cannot look gift horses in the mouth.

Thank you! The Signature package was included "free" with a promotion. It does not include Tamarind. The Distinctive package does. I wonder if you can upgrade by paying the difference?

***Based on logging into my booking.

One more question if I may (never booked with this before)- what about Tamarind on ships that have that restaurant? It’s not mentioned in the screenshot above.

Got it for an existing booking which was on the Have it All promotion. Now we really have it all. No change in price. 

I’m sure some people will switch from the Volendam to the Westerdam or Nieuw Statendam. 
I am booked on the Westerdam in Oct 2021 but it was a toss up with the Zuiderdam when I made the booking. There is capacity there for suites and balconies. 

3 hours ago, Hlitner said:

I would remind you that just a few short months ago it was the CDC who warned that wearing masks could be dangerous.  And about a week ago it was the CDC who said that folks who were near folks with COVID no longer needed to be tested....until they reversed that decision today and now say they should be tested.  So put simply the CDC recommended testing before they recommended no testing before they again recommended testing.  And with masks they recommended not wearing masks before they recommended wearing masks.  So perhaps you get the picture.  And I would add that WHO has even done the same thing as they also recommended not wearing masks before they recommended wearing masks.

 

So the reality is when you want to look for COVID advice you need to consider whether you want to follow what they said yesterday, today, or what they will say tomorrow (which will undoubtedly  be different then what they said today.  By the way, for mask wearers (count me in that crowd)  what kind of mask is adequate?  N95, KN95, nothing 95, etc.  

 

Hank

I work in healthcare. We don’t follow the guidance of political appointees. We follow the guidance of our doctors and scientists. Directives have not changed since March for us in our offices and clinics. Masks are required. Period. There has been no confusion. I’m sorry for anyone who believes in politicians. N95s are great in a clinical setting. In an office, social distancing, temp checks, and masks which are now readily available in club stores, pharmacies, and dept stores are accepted but our team tends to find masks which allow PM2.5 filters to be added to mask pockets. 

Have Oceania for May 2021 and HAL Sept 2021- both European cruises. I’m past childbearing years, have no issues with masks or hand washing requirements as this has become normal for me at work. I don’t spend much time in the public places on a cruise. My arm is available to any pharmaceutical company that wishes to vaccinate me. 

What I mean by quiet is probably what you might think. I really enjoy the balcony and just hope to be able to hear the waves and splash as the ship moves through the water. I think our Veranda cabin on deck 7 looks incredibly tight so the balcony will definitely be a respite. 
 

Yes we are on the May 12th voyage if all goes well. Can’t have too many stops in France!
 

Glad to hear we will love Oceania. What I enjoy about HAL Is the lack of forced “fun-ness” and the longer itineraries. I wish this cruise was about 4 days longer with some sea days mixed in to catch some rest and relaxation. 
 

is there a roll call?

Let’s talk about normal stuff a little. Found a lovely itinerary in May 2021 on Sirena that gets us around about some lovely places and back in time to London for the Chelsea Flower Show. We have enjoyed HAL due to smallerish ships and not doing too much silliness. Hoping Oceania is a good fit? What are the shore excursions like? Are they special or am I better off doing things private in France? Love spending time on balcony enjoying the ocean; are people quiet? I really hope there is a world on the mend by May! 

.No outdoor giant screen on the Zuiderdam.