mlmbar

18 minutes ago, TeeRick said:

Walking around Longwood Gardens outside (with masks) to see the holiday light displays might be one of the only public (and hopefully safe) things we do this year to celebrate the season!

LOVE Longwood especially at Christmas! Will probably be doing a lot of drive around to celebrate the season

3 hours ago, TeeRick said:

The Philadelphia suburbs are so nice overall with so much to do.  My son and DIL lived in Philadelphia proper for a number of years as young adults.  Now they just bought a nice home in Chester county.  Honestly I do not miss driving into Philly to visit them!  

I agree that the suburbs have so much to offer. The city is expensive to park , dine, etc 

2 hours ago, OnTheJourney said:

 

And yet would you believe I've never been there? Weird how that sometimes seems to happen from other people I've talked to that live close to an attraction that some people might drive hundreds of miles to visit (as part of a more extensive trip of course) and yet never go. 

Never been there either but my daughter has only been there two years. I think about all the people that come to Philly from all over the world, and I haven’t been there in years.  I only go to the city for concerts at the arenas and to the airport 

Yes, just up the road. Exeter is a little pocket with a really good school district and lovely houses. Yep, chin up and try to keep hoping 

My daughter lives in Exeter.  I think Berks suffers because of reading. Tremendous poverty, and over crowding 

I totally agree. I am in Montgomeryville and see the same 

9 minutes ago, OnTheJourney said:

 

LOL....hated to put too fine a point on it. Sounds like we're on the same wavelength 😉  

We are! Lol

No flak here. Clueless is a polite description 

I am booked on Summit in April. Rebooked in the summer after cancelling Reflection for Nov 2. Sky suite we are booked in is now $5000 more for 2. Also it appears that all suites are sold out and there is only one Sky suite

My grandchildren , Kindergarten, 4th and 5th are doing virtual. The two oldest are doing well but of course would prefer to be with their friends/.  My grand daughter just said tonight that it is not bad and as scary as she thought it would be. BUT this is so hard for kindergarten . My grandson had preschool  cut short so he , as well as others, is behind and has no school skills. The teacher is fabulous and right on top of them .Thank god she is young. BUT she cannot really see if they are doing ok, some of the kids don;t have their supplies because maybe they had to go someplace else for virtual , like grandmom's , that day and forgot some materials.  These kids cannot be left alone  I have no idea how a parent can work at home and deal with a small child doing virtual. My daughter has a baby to  care for too so it is difficult. Luckily she is not working . I cannot see this lasting all year. I know there are many many parents complaining and some districts are rethinking virtual and may possibly go to hybrid. The catholic schools are open for in school and it seems to be going well so I think that public could try. The numbers in my county are low and decreasing 

I totally agree and your dad was a wise man!  Where are you in Berks? My daughter is in Exeter with three little ones on virtual. It is so so difficult. I get so angry at these selfish people who claim it is a hoax and refuse to accept the guidelines. They are depriving our children of the education and socialization that they deserve. I could go on and on lol and be thrown off cruise critic lol 

I totally agree about the lockdowns being “leaky”.  Some states caved to pressure and opened too early thus eventually having upticks. No way to prevent those people from traveling to other states. There is also no teeth in mask mandates. You cannot put a kid at the door of a store to make sure people wear a mask. I was just in OBX standing at the”COVID style” continental breakfast wAiting for coffee at the Inn. Masks are “required” and we all had them on. In walks a man without a mask and the hotel personnel said nothing and gave him coffee. This msn then sneezed!!!!! Upon leaving he says , “have a blessed day”!  This kind of behavior will keep us in this torture forever! 

Hi there!!! Yes, we have done a great job considering that we were a hot spot in March. I see a huge effort on pretty much everyone’s part 

Here in SE PA our numbers are pretty low and deaths have decreased. Most people are wearing masks, and practicing social distancing. We are not allowed in businesses without masks but there are a very few fools who remove them once they are inside or wear them under their noses. Schools are mostly virtual which is very frustrating to children who are kept from their friends. We are opening inside dining to 50% soon and that. to me, is questionable. PA was one of the last to open and I think it paid off other than in certain areas where there had been large gatherings which was against the governor's mandate. People  need to cooperate in order to control this until a vaccine, We need federal guidance!   

Yes. It is November 2 on reflection 

I had a call from Celebrity yesterday stating that they are sailing again beginning Aug 1 ( I knew that) and offering help with booking. He said that there will be a statement by X soon describing what is being done for our safety and comfort. They are working with CDC and WHO as are other cruiselines. I asked him if there would be changes in itineraries and cancellations of bookings in order to make the ships less crowded and he said all of that is possible,. He said we will know before final payments are due 

5 minutes ago, K.T.B. said:

 

It's not a problem.  CDC has confirmed that much at least.  It's immediate contact with the "water droplets" from someone actually breathing on you.  Hence the "6 feet apart" suggestion.

2 minutes ago, TeeRick said:

Hi neighbor!  We frequently go to Montgomeryville for shopping and dining - until recently.   Unfortunately we are not "Yellow" until June 5 but some progress anyway.  Still can't do most things in Yellow including getting a haircut.

Yes, lots of shopping and restaurants sitting empty now. I know that we are not yellow "yet" and not much different from red. Just a psychological change, I guess. I know it is superficial, but all I want is a haircut LOL

I am booked on Reflection Nov 2 and seriously doubt we will go even if it sails. I worry about a new wave of virus in the fall. Before I would make my final payment, I would have to see how X is handling this. My feeling is that there will not be long cruises ( like our 11 day) in the near future and I don't want to do anything that long now. There will also be changes in itineraries and fewer guests on ships. I like the idea of fewer guests because I am not a fan of crowds. To try and be positive, I do think this pandemic in general, might make things better in that there will not be the crowds in airports, ships, etc  and a real effort to be clean and germ free. I think we all have been very lax in terms of sanitation. For me, I need to see what the future holds for X before rebooking and I will rebook   

On 5/22/2020 at 9:00 AM, TeeRick said:

Just to answer the OP question - I do not expect that the vast majority of cruise ships will start cruising in August.  Perhaps a few short trial cruises at most if there are any open ports.  And if there is available crew.  RCCL has not ruled out China. Perhaps an At Sea only cruise might work- just to test things out with all the new regulations. 

 

To put things in my perspective, the different parts of the world and US are in widely different stages of Stay Home Lockdown.  In my state of PA it started early March.  My county is still in the Red stage (highly restricted).  We thought we would be easing up a bit now almost 3 months later.  Not happening.  So could I even cruise in August if I can't even see a future date where I can even leave my home??  I just hope to be able to get a haircut by August.  A cruise? For-getta-bout-it!

Hi I am a neighbor of yours in Montgomeryville. The "good news" is that Montco is now yellow. I also hope to get a haircut sometime before I sit on my hair LOL  I also agree with your view

On 3/13/2020 at 9:02 PM, MisterMet said:

We were on the Equinox in 2018 with Jack Jones who sang the theme for the "Love Boat."  Later saw a video on Captain Kate's FB or IG page of her saying goodbye to him and his wife on the gangway.  I think he was about as excited to meet her as she was to meet him!

I was on that cruise! We finally saw him in the airport going home.  Also met the woman who was the original Bluebonnet margarine girl who was also a runner up to Miss America during WW2

There are passengers younger than 70 with issues. What about them????

17 minutes ago, rick160158 said:

Keep in mind that air travel is the way this virus has spread from country to country. The whole travel industry is in a very precarious situation right now. 

The sad part is that due to mishandling of this and delays, this will greatly impact people in the service and travel industry  

5 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

Not sure.   It is listed as a perk for AQ.    I personally don't care for it and ask the room attendant to skip both that and the little snacks they leave daily. 

It was like flavored water and we did not drink it much. The snacks were OK  Previously we had the cheese and crackers and they were OK

6 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

@mlmbar Thanks for the wonderful pictures.

 

Is that a router bottom right of TV?

Wasn't sure what it was but  it did have a USB charger on the side

13 hours ago, Cruiseoholic000 said:

In the photo above is that a pitcher of ice tea 🙂  Would they be able to do that in concierge cabins?

It is more like flavored water