SargassoPirate

Don't worry about touching common use surfaces, just carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer as use it after you sit down and before you touch anything that will be going in your mouth. All you have to do is break the change of cross-contamination.

Have yet to catch cruise cough or noro on any cruise. Some of my background is in public health and even pre-pandemic there were certain practices that She Who Must Be Obeyed and I followed. Without sounding like a lecture or dissertation, here are a few things that have kept us safe and healthy while traveling worldwide and 50-some cruises. 1. We take every vaccine available for travel and keep our shot cards up to date. 2. On airplanes we whip out a couple of sanitizing wipes and wipe down every hard surface we are likely to touch, and pre-covid this used to get some sidelong glances from other passengers. 3. When we enter a new hotel room, out come a couple of more wipes and we wipes down every hard surface we are likely to touch - including the remote - the most germ laden device in the room. 4. We never, ever eat food from street vendors. 5. If we do end up eating in an establishment that may be questionable, we only eat hot food and stay away from salads. 6. In any food establishment, we are always on the lookout for staff wearing plastic gloves. If you see them, watch and see how many surfaces those gloves touch other than food. Plastic gloves only serve to keep the wearer's hands clean. They are not magic sanitizing gloves. 7. When cruising, after we are seated in the MDR or buffet, we sanitize our hands. Think about it. Sure, you maybe sanitized your hands on the way in, or did "washy washy" if handwashing sinks are available at the entrance, but between there and the table how many things did you touch? Serving ladles or tongs? The underside of the chair as you were seated? The menu? The condiment containers? Think about that before you pick up and butter a roll to pop into your mouth I'm sure I left something out, but these practices have kept us safe and illness/disease free while traveling domestically, internationally, and even the local BBQ joint. Safe and healthful travels.

Island, take a look at the Princess WCs. Guest laundromats on board. With the Princess Plus fare you get the Plus drink package, one specialty dining, free wifi, and pre-paid gratuities. Over the course of a 111 day cruise that adds up. Princess has a nice mix of sea days and port days, and the ship's size is a good fit for the way I like to cruise. Just sayin'

I just looked at my cruise history list and I would've been pinochle by now but for cruising with other lines, such as Cunard, Viking, HAL, and Celebrity. But then I would've missed out on some wonderful experiences on those other lines. I was more than happy to get to 340 points and the single supplement reduction to150%. I disconnect when I cruise, so the wifi is not a big deal. BTW, do you get a free deck of cards when you reach pinochle?

Good for you. I started cruising again with the restart and have three more cruises booked right now. I haven't given a second thought to the vaccination status of those around me on planes, trains, buses, cruise ships, hotels, restaurants, movies, concerts, or the grocery store. It's your responsibility to protect yourself and do whatever makes you feel comfortable. If that means wearing a mask, you should wear it everywhere to and from your cruise. And it should be an N95. Have a great cruise.

Saw this article on the Cruise Industry News website and though it worth sharing as a history lesson: CDC Cruise Ship Timeline: From No Sail to the End of COVID-19 Program - Cruise Industry News

I was pulled out of line in Fort L one time because the short, port cop tried to tell me my pullman bag wouldn't fit through the scanner. I asked if they had changed scanners because it fit through on a cruise just a couple of months prior. He really copped an attitude then, and I asked to see a supervisor. The supervisor responded and escorted me back through security and I placed my bag on the scanner. After I was through the security I looked back and the supervisor was having a discussion with the cop. I waited and as the supervisor came by I engaged him in conversation and asked what the problem was so that I could avoid problems in the future. He said they try to discourage people from carrying larger bags through themselves since people will get to the conveyor and can't lift their bags themselves. I can only imagine.

I've heard, but never confirmed, that MSC will match your status with other cruise lines. I wonder if that would apply to a WC and what the perks would be?

Do what the chair hogs and line jumpers do, claim her as an "emotional support" animal. (Actually being snarky and sarcastic)

I've never tried that, but with the Princess Plus package why not? Thanks for a great tip. As for the Horizon Court coffee made from syrup, well, I'd rather not.

Thanks, steelers. I enjoy the frozen mochas in the International Cafe for a nice mid-afternoon treat.

Put the pencil to it. Figure out the dollar value of your Diamond benefits for the next cruise and compare that to the cost of an additional short cruise to break the threshold. It may not be worth it.

Had to laugh at your apple strudel study. She Who Must Be Obeyed and I did that on a river cruise several years ago. Can't remember the results of the taste test - but at the end of the cruise we found some apple pie in Amsterdam that beat them all. (Winkle) We also tried lots of Key lime pie in Key West on an extended stay there and I do remember the winner because we return to that venue every time we are in Key West for more pie. (Louie's Backyard on Waddell Ave.) When we revisit Louie's, it's just for the pie and coffee and we walk there so as to help balance it out.

Oh. I wonder why they didn't say Royal Promenade? To me, the promenade is the outside promenade. Last time I was on the Grandeur it was still a real wood surface.

With no international cafe, where can one get a frozen coffee drink and a snack?

On my first few cruises, most of them 7-15 nights, I overindulged and came home feeling bloated. The MDR waiters were no help with their dessert menu and "come on, you're on vacation". Now, after 50-some cruises, my regular exercise and low-carb regimen has worked, and my trousers still fit at the end of the cruise. For you experienced world cruisers, what's been your experience? Any personal secrets to keep from returning home like the Pillsbury dough boy or do you just pack a set of stretchy clothes for the second half?

What happened to the promenade on the Grandeur?

She Who Must Be Obeyed does not care to cruise as much as I do, so I cruise solo. I love it. I can do what I want, when I want without a committee decision required. Before the cruise, I load up my Kindle app with books and spend a lot of time reading in shady spots on the promenade. One can be alone, but not lonely and sometimes all it takes is a raised glass and a greeting to spark a conversation. I like to grab a cup of coffee and watch the sun come up and often find the same folks out early and it's easy jusy to start with a good morning greeting. I would hate to miss a travel opportunity because I was hesitant to go solo. Life is too short for that.

Do you mean the media will sensationalize something? Oh, my. I'm shocked.

Locally our positivity rate is around 15%, but there is nobody in the ICU for covid and hasn't been for weeks and weeks - with the exception of a "peak" of two cases during the omicron surge. Covid is everywhere and is here to stay. Local, state, and national authorities are slowly coming to that realization. Anyone waiting for zero cases is going to have a long wait.

As does a lot of the continuing angst about covid. I am noticing some of the plexiglass sheets are starting to come down and the grocery store checkers have stopped wiping down the credit card transaction screen between customers. I still see a lot of plastic gloves in use and those creep me out in food service environments. Sit and watch how many surfaces those gloves touch - cross contamination - and the only thing those gloves do is keep the wearer's hands clean. When I ask the restaurant managers why their employees are wearing gloves, the often reply is "for sanitation". Some of this covid protection theater is going to take a long time to fall by the wayside.

CDC estimates that flu has resulted in 9 million – 41 million illnesses, 140,000 – 710,000 hospitalizations and 12,000 – 52,000 deaths annually between 2010 and 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/index.html

What are your thoughts on the seasonal flu? It kills 30-50 thousand Americans every year. Do you plan to wear a mask to protect others then? Just curious about people's perceptions now that covid is mutating into a less deadly form and will continue to do so.

Just imagine if Amazon was this wonky. Bezos would be riding the kiddie rocket ride at the local carnival.

Looks to me like masks are optional. It's up to each person to determine their level of comfort regarding masks. I'm vaxxed and double boosted and wear a mask when required, but not when it's optional. "Masks are recommended, but not required, in the majority of our sailings, though you may be required in select venues or certain situations depended on COVID levels. Guests will be notified of any mask guidance and this will be clearly designated through signage and onboard communications. We recommend guests choose a good quality mask and wash or replace their mask daily. Masks should have two or more layers, completely cover the nose and mouth, fit snuggly against the sides of the face and have a nose wire. Please note that visors and face shields will not be accepted as a substitute for a face mask."