kbandwb

9 hours ago, ScottsSweetie said:

Yeah, this was SO not my experience. I was in the COVID unit for two nights. Not only did the doctors and nurses not take these precautions, they had a hospital IT person in my room working on my television (not because it wasn't working - working on future doctor visits over the TV).

Wow!!  Im glad you're better.  Where I work, it's crazy strict with positive covid patients. That's crazy and unsafe for them.  

2 hours ago, ontheweb said:

I wonder what happens when a doctor or a nurse who has dealt with Covid patients has to answer that sort of questionnaire. Surely, they deserve a vacation! 

Doctors and nurses follow strict PPE guidelines for any suspected, possible or definite COVID patients. Full PPE, N95, double mask, face shield, gown, shoe covers, gloves and hair covering.  As far as CDC is concerned when Full PPE is used it isn't considered an exposure. 

I just want our cruise to feel like pre-covid, or post covid (if there is such a thing) and if that means everyone needs to be vaccinated for now. So be it.  No masks, no social distancing, and little worry or talk of covid...not to mention a nice drink in hand. Sounds phenomenal right now. 

13 minutes ago, rabidstoat said:

 

Vaccinations aren't required for planes and trains and buses, but you know what is? Masks. 

Exactly. I don't want to cruise with a mask.    

I am happy to cruise with only vaccinated to start if that means no masks. I don't want to wear masks, social distance and all the other hoopla that comes with vaccines not mandatory on a cruise.   Just let us cruise vaccinated, which is likely to work well. Then gradually open up from there as they see what works and what doesn't.

I agree with Mr. Marc some of your comments scare me with the likelihood that you wont follow whatever "rules" are put into place on the ships.  There will always be those who believe they are above the rules if they disagree with them. 

I am just happy to be cruising again and hope they can prove it is safe and gradually reopen fully as safety is assured over time.  Happy to be vaccinated and cruising on a fully vax'd ship in July. 

https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/state/judge-to-make-decision-soon-in-floridas-lawsuit-against-cdc-over-cruise-lines

Still no decision by the judge. 

Is the Florida law about denying service based on vaccination status? or inability to ask about vaccination status at all?  or both?

5 minutes ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

IANAL either.

 

But based on what I have seen in the past:

 

This judge has been asked to rule whether the CDC CSO and related elements are legal - i.e. can the CDC regulate the cruise industry (and other areas) in such a manner.

 

If the judge finds that indeed, the CDC is wholly within its mandate to do so then what comes next depends on how the judgement is phrased.

 

If all he says is that the CDC is allowed to regulate cruise ships and the CSO is valid, and that it is federal law that trumps any mire local laws (such as state or county or city), then would possibly mean the cruise lines can ask for proof of vax, since they are abiding by the overriding federal regs.  But the rest of the FL/Desantis law banning businesses from asking about proof of vax could still stand, as long as there were cases that weren't overridden by the federal regs.

 

The judge could also rule that cruise lines shall comply with the CSO, but since the CSO provides options, as long as at least one option is available to the cruise line, the other options can be nullified by local state laws.  That could mean that Florida's no-proof-of-vax law would nullify the option for fully vaxxed cruises, but that's OK because another option still (technically) exists.

 

That could very likely be challenged via appeal, since the cruise lines could argue that the remaining option is simply not viable based on public perception and behavior, and also puts an undue cost burden on the cruise line because social distancing could require fewer pax to meet the requirements, and added staff/crew costs for enforced spacing at shows, etc.

 

Where's my popcorn...?

Thanks!  That explanation helps a lot.  Yep, need the popcorn!  Would love to be a fly on the wall in the judges quarters. 

I am a little ignorant when it comes to legal issues.  If the judge finds in the favor of the CDC is able to regulate the cruise ships and issue the CSO, what does that do about the Florida law not allowing businesses to request proof of vaccination? Is that law now null and void with regards to the cruise industry?  Or is does it still apply?  The CDC did give a path to cruising without 95% vaccinated but it sounds like the cruise ships prefer to go the fully vaccinated route in order to assure safety and greater pleasure on board the ship.  I guess my question is, how does this ruling affect whether or not the ships can ask for the vaccination status and/or require only fully vaccinated to travel?  

Probably a dumb question but the two don't seem to be directly related but definitely very closely related.   Sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to hear as we are booked in July on Horizon and fully vaccinated.  Prefer a fully vaccinated ship for reasons others have already stated here a lot of times. 

Thanks for sharing!   Looks like vaccination rates in some of the Southern Caribbean are better than some of the US (including Florida).   It doesn't say if those are fully vaccinated or just first dose given but 700 out of 1000 is really good. I would anticipate infection rates in those countries to drop rapidly like they have  in the US (with poorer vaccination rates).   Makes me feel better about cruising Southern Caribbean next month (hopefully).

1 minute ago, Saint Greg said:

what do you do with all of the people who didn’t do online check-in and show up with a boarding pass and no vaccination card?

If they don't do online check in they don't get issued the online boarding pass. 

Check in first then get the boarding pass.... But agreed its a clunky work around for sure. What about those who just show up at the pier without any of it?   

1 minute ago, BlerkOne said:

Put online check in on a server outside of the US? Don't laugh. 

Or just outside of Florida.....

12 minutes ago, TNcruising02 said:

It's not the asking for vaccination status.  It's the denying service based on vaccination status.

So if they are denying service online versus on Florida soil per se, how does that work?

1 hour ago, songbird1329 said:

I am sure the cruise lines are contemplating work arounds 

I agree.  A work around must be in the works. 

I was wondering if they request an online submission of copies of necessary travel docs, including vaccine documentation, before any boarding passes are supplied online??  Would online submission circumvent asking at the pier? and maybe allow Desantis to save face politically.  Win-win...for those vaccinated at least.  

10 hours ago, TNcruising02 said:

I think Royal's decision is a final one for them since their cruises are sailing so soon.  Carnival might flip flop daily.  I hope someone who has a July cruise will let all of us know if they can check in and what communication they get.

We are booked to sail on Horizon July 10th.  Nothing from Carnival so far.  Only that we have until June 14th to cancel with a full refund.  Hoping we still sail.  We are vaccinated so we are set either way if the ship sails. 

This came on 5/27/21: