Royal Caribbean Cruisers -- How are things where YOU are?

[OnTheJourney]

11 hours ago, Cruise a holic said:

 

Some people do not care what happens to others- they could be carriers of the virus and expose themselves and sicken others- just continue to be smart and wear masks and gloves- and per the song- wash your hands!  The longer people don't cooperate- the worse it will be for all of us- and we will not be able to cruise!

 

Agree completely. I'm really tired of this growing protest movement against social distancing and masking, and how it dovetails with people complaining that their rights are violated. I am copying in something I posted to a local forum where, of course, all this is a hot topic....

 

Once again, why are we politicizing the virus? This whole "us against them" mentality that emanates across the entire country is not helping anything. I accept that people have their "rights", but perhaps it should be tempered with some measure of sensitivity as to how the execution of those rights might inadvertently do harm to others, e.g. passing on a virus. What part of 'highly contagious virus' don't people get? Simply choosing not to wear a mask when it is in the overall interest of the public good because one has a "right" not to do so is just plain foolishness, stupidity, and shows a callous and uncaring attitude. If everyone adhered to the suggested guidelines instead of exercising their right to protest them, there wouldn't BE a need for the helicopters / loudspeakers and so forth to try and enforce social distancing. So some park ranger gets pushed into the lake for trying to do what is right. Wonderful display of intransigent behavior. What an epic fail on the part of at least a portion of our U.S. citizenry that we are witnessing. Somehow I knew it would happen. We were already deeply politically divided, so now CV has just made everything worse. This is quickly becoming a throwback to the civil rights movement of the 60s. CSN&Y: "Four dead in Ohio...." With freedom also comes responsibility. So you've got people unhappy about being told to wear a mask or social distance? Wow...what a hardship. How about, by comparison, life under the OPA in 1941 where Americans learned to sacrifice, and dealt with it. Rationing was done for automobiles, tires, gas, fuel oil, coal, firewood, nylon, silk and shoes. People used their ration cards and stamps to take their meager share of household staples including meat, dairy, coffee, dried fruits, jams, jellies, lard, shortening, and oils. Sacrifice became the norm - not just for a few weeks - but for a few years. It was done for the common good - for a cause. A national speed limit of 35 mph was imposed to save fuel and rubber for tires (can you imagine the revolt over that one today??). Guess this is partly why the "greatest generation" was so named. They fought and sacrificed not for recognition but because it was the right thing to do. Glad my Dad - who was a POW during the latter part of the war - is not here to see the divisive nature of our society. I'm not protesting outside my Mom's assisted living facility because it is my "right" to be able to go in and visit her. I stay away because I'm told to by the facility's administration in protection of the residents and staff.

[Florida 1]

OnTheJourney - thank you for the post! I may copy and post on FB as well. I'm having a hard time with people feeling that expressing their rights is more important than lives that may be lost due to exposure.

Today is Mother's Day, and instead of a family pool party or luncheon out, my DH and I met my mom and step-dad on the side of the highway halfway between our homes and exchanged supplies and goodies. Setting them down midway and moving back so they can pick up.

Mom loves to cruise with RCI, but is afraid to make any plans and I don't blame her. I hope our cruise industry can get on top of this and find a way for everyone to cruise/vacation safely (and feel safe!) while we're still looking for a vaccine. I know Mom would love to be able to get back on a Royal Caribbean ship - and into the casinos!

We take our temps regularly so that we can limit exposure to everyone around us even more if necessary at the slightest elevation in temp if needed.  

We have a short RCI cruise booked for December and really hope we can take it since our 3 week anniversary trip to Australia in September can't happen now.

 

[Roger88]

Well, my city is dead as hell. No cars, no children on the streets. No nothing. Staying at home, watching the news, reading about how some states and countries open or close their borders while I am waiting for a permit to visit our local supermarket. Hope it wont last too long  

 

[OnTheJourney]

Roger...where?  So you're not allowed to even go for groceries? 

[OnTheJourney]

19 hours ago, Florida 1 said:

OnTheJourney - thank you for the post! I may copy and post on FB as well. I'm having a hard time with people feeling that expressing their rights is more important than lives that may be lost due to exposure.

Today is Mother's Day, and instead of a family pool party or luncheon out, my DH and I met my mom and step-dad on the side of the highway halfway between our homes and exchanged supplies and goodies. Setting them down midway and moving back so they can pick up.

Mom loves to cruise with RCI, but is afraid to make any plans and I don't blame her. I hope our cruise industry can get on top of this and find a way for everyone to cruise/vacation safely (and feel safe!) while we're still looking for a vaccine. I know Mom would love to be able to get back on a Royal Caribbean ship - and into the casinos!

We take our temps regularly so that we can limit exposure to everyone around us even more if necessary at the slightest elevation in temp if needed.  

We have a short RCI cruise booked for December and really hope we can take it since our 3 week anniversary trip to Australia in September can't happen now.

 

 

Tracey...sorry to hear about the Australia trip. It's one of the places that is high on my list. Happy belated  Mother's Day!! Cool idea to meet along the road - but can you imagine if someone had told you last Mother's day that you'd be doing something like that?  Even months into this - still feels so surreal. Stay safe. Hoping we all WILL cruise again (at least those who want to). 

[Airbear232]

On 3/30/2020 at 7:20 AM, RKHOOKER said:

In Sydney Australia we are in lockdown from midnight 30th March.  We have approximately 4,200 positive cases from 133,000 tested, 18 deaths.  Over 90% of our positive cases came from cruise & airline passengers returning to Australia.  All future Australian citizens returning to Australia are escorted by army personnel from the airport to a nearby 5 Star Hotel & quarantined for 14 days & then tested for the virus before being allowed home.

Our government has advised us that this lockdown may last at least 6 months with 1.5m social distancing. No more than 2 people to gather outside unless you are from the same household.  People over 70 years old are not to go outside.  Huge fines & even jail time for those caught breaking the new laws.  

No toilet paper, tissues, pasta, flour, hand sanitiser & gym equipment in any shops!  You can only leave home to go to work, the doctor, supermarket, chemist or exercising.  Everything else closed including beaches, parks, golf courses etc. except fast food takeaway joints & other essential services.

No foreigners will be permitted to enter Australia for at least 6 months as we are heading into our flu season which starts in mid May & goes through to mid September.  
Australia’s economy will be crippled & the government is now paying businesses $1,500 a fortnight per employee to keep them employed.  Plus an estimated 2 million job losses!  It’s an economic nightmare, like domino toppling.  It will take our county 25 years to recover!

I just hope our government is not using a sledgehammer to crack a walnut?!

Looks like your government was smart, you guys are doing pretty good now.

[Airbear232]

Thank you to all cruise critic members who are nurses, doctors, first responders and all those working in stores and delivery who are sacrificing themselves for the greater good of others.  May God bless you all always and hopefully your efforts will bring the majority of us through this pandemic safely.  We’re in Toronto and I think we’re getting a handle on everything.  Miserable cool weather has helped keep people inside.

 

Stay safe everyone and hopefully we’ll all be able to travel again soon.  Health and safety take precedence over everything else.

[johnjen]

Today our barber shops and hair stylists opened back up in Virginia. So I will get my haircut tomorrow. Restaurants are beginning soft openings. Music and gig wise, my band isn't playing out yet but we expect our regular schedule to start happening. 
Our Baltic cruise for next month, we bumped it out another year. Too many concerns about the stress levels on board that cruise in a few weeks. We just wanted a relaxing vacation, but with all of their masking and social distance regulating - it's simply not worth the money being stressed out so we will just relax and not go anywhere this summer.

[Keksie]

It is getting so much better in North West Florida.  The restaurants are opening (25% inside) and I have been twice.  My dog groomer has opened and my dogs were groomed yesterday.  The nail salons are open and I got my nails done today.  Gyms will open next week and the restaurants will go to 50% inside dining.  Everyone was so happy to be back to work and the customers were all following the rules.  The beaches are open and I hope to go next week.

[Coralc]

2 hours ago, Keksie said:

It is getting so much better in North West Florida.  The nail salons are open and I got my nails done today. 

 

Oh how I wish that was the situation here. 🙂

[Cruise a holic]

8 hours ago, Keksie said:

It is getting so much better in North West Florida.  The restaurants are opening (25% inside) and I have been twice.  My dog groomer has opened and my dogs were groomed yesterday.  The nail salons are open and I got my nails done today.  Gyms will open next week and the restaurants will go to 50% inside dining.  Everyone was so happy to be back to work and the customers were all following the rules.  The beaches are open and I hope to go next week.

Just because things are open, doesn't mean that things are getting better.  I would still avoid any close contact for a few weeks to see what happens.  People cannot be replaced.  Just because somebody doesn't have active covid, doesn't mean they cannot carry a transmit to others.  Stay safe.

[Keksie]

45 minutes ago, Cruise a holic said:

Just because things are open, doesn't mean that things are getting better.  I would still avoid any close contact for a few weeks to see what happens.  People cannot be replaced.  Just because somebody doesn't have active covid, doesn't mean they cannot carry a transmit to others.  Stay safe.

Any of the activities I have done I don't feel I had any closer contact with others any more than at the grocery store which has been very crowded.  At the restaurant we only had one server and were far away from other tables.  The dog groomer got the dogs from the back seat, paid over the phone and she brought them back to my back seat.  At the nail salon everyone had masks on and a plexi sheet between us at the nail station.  I have felt perfectly safe.  Things are getting better here - there has been no spike in numbers, no new deaths.

[Cruise a holic]

It will take a couple of weeks to see a spike.  Hope you and your family stay well!

[Chippi6]

The United States of America. We have been infected, and we are only part way through the miserable therapy. If we stop now, however, it may not just be back to square 1. We may be worse off than we started. The metaphorical resistant bacteria may be unleashed.

Getting through this together means listening to the recommendations from health experts, understanding the rationale, being thorough about the treatment, and not giving up part way through. It also means providing constant reminders that this isn't the country's fault for that matter. Just  we don't know for certain why the world became infected at this time in our history.  Placing blame in this serves no purpose. I cast my eyes to the future and not to the past. 

There is proof the treatment being proposed for the country can work, and we should consistently remind each other of that. And we should also learn from other countries that have already started to slowly recover and more safely reopen.

This is an opportunity to heal the country. To get them better. To make them whole in a way that they didn't think was possible. That can happen here as  if we stay the course.

The country and the world are facing a serious illness. But, it is treatable. It is fixable. Let's do this together.

This is some of what a doctor wrote which makes sense we have to help each other and the less fortunate that's the only way we are going to beat this virus. I say let's kick Covid-19 butt. We will get thru this together we can't be selfish and just think just about ourself there is no I there is WE.

Edited May 17, 2020 by Chippi6

[Catmomma]

Still wondering if my Alaska cruise is happening, final payment due this week.  Im hoping to have a option to bail on it because I am feeling uncomfortable for many reasons.  My husband and i have both been out of work since February and I have sme health issues.  While I am itching to travel again, I am broke and dont want to take too many chances.  Ugh

 

UPDATE: I just cancelled.  Deposit will go to future cruise credit.  Just cant make the risks make sense right now.  We will cruise again!

 

Edited May 18, 2020 by Catmomma
update

[M&A]

Just announced that the Canada/US border closed for another 30 days and it will be reviewed again June 21st.   Canadian ports were already closed until July 1st.  

[Tom47]

https://buffalonews.com/2020/05/19/no-canada-border-shutdown-extended-to-june-21/

[FamilyCruiserUK]

So a little from the UK where i am. We as a country knew the virus was coming. London is one of the busiest city's in the world with lots of visitor's coming from all over the globe, so it was inevitable that we would get high cases of the virus. The country did have stocks of PPE but theses were very quickly used up and orders for more delayed due to the simple fact too many other countries all order from the same factories in China. Our hospitals were close to being overwhelmed but they survived. This was due in part to people staying home and abiding to social distancing rules and due in part to all non-life threatening surgeries being cancelled. We took forever to start testing so lots of people caught the virus before anyone knew it. As of now we are slowly opening up our economy and social distancing. Yes we have a few selfish idiots who think they can do what they please and protesters but in the most people are sticking by the social distancing. The vast majority of deaths in the UK have been with our elderly and BAME communities.

 

So what have we done well so far.

1, Most people are paying attention to social distancing rules.

2, Our NHS was not over whelmed.

3, Our government pumped billions of £ into supporting those who needed the money

 

What we did wrong.

1, We knew it was coming yet did little to get the amount of PPE or a plan in place.

2, We didn't protect our nursing homes well enough.

3, We didn't test enough people or have track and trace in place.

 

Changes for the future.

1, All PPE and medical supplies must be made in the uk.

2, Facilities must be available at nursing homes for staff to stay in lock down with the guests and doors closed to visitors.

3, More testing needs to be done ASAP along side a track and trace system.

 

What the future holds.

1, The economy must open up as we need to pay back the huge amount of borrowing we have done.

2, Social distancing is here to stay sadly, people will quickly get used to limited numbers in shops and waiting in line. 

 

A note form an English man on America. I love america, love going and spending time with the people. I have served alongside american armed forces on deployments in Iraq, and Afghanistan on a few occasions. I have always found most Americans to be polite and helpful. However i am always amazed at how you treat each other and how everything you face is always a "war or battle". I think you could go to war with war if you could. So for me seeing the sad pictures of people not adhering to social distancing and the protests is no surprise. 

 

I hope my post hasn't offended anyone that is not my intention. Please stay safe all and happy cruising in the near future.

 

Regards

 

Daron

 

 

[Tom47]

1 hour ago, FamilyCruiserUK said:

So a little from the UK where i am. We as a country knew the virus was coming. London is one of the busiest city's in the world with lots of visitor's coming from all over the globe, so it was inevitable that we would get high cases of the virus. The country did have stocks of PPE but theses were very quickly used up and orders for more delayed due to the simple fact too many other countries all order from the same factories in China. Our hospitals were close to being overwhelmed but they survived. This was due in part to people staying home and abiding to social distancing rules and due in part to all non-life threatening surgeries being cancelled. We took forever to start testing so lots of people caught the virus before anyone knew it. As of now we are slowly opening up our economy and social distancing. Yes we have a few selfish idiots who think they can do what they please and protesters but in the most people are sticking by the social distancing. The vast majority of deaths in the UK have been with our elderly and BAME communities.

 

So what have we done well so far.

1, Most people are paying attention to social distancing rules.

2, Our NHS was not over whelmed.

3, Our government pumped billions of £ into supporting those who needed the money

 

What we did wrong.

1, We knew it was coming yet did little to get the amount of PPE or a plan in place.

2, We didn't protect our nursing homes well enough.

3, We didn't test enough people or have track and trace in place.

 

Changes for the future.

1, All PPE and medical supplies must be made in the uk.

2, Facilities must be available at nursing homes for staff to stay in lock down with the guests and doors closed to visitors.

3, More testing needs to be done ASAP along side a track and trace system.

 

What the future holds.

1, The economy must open up as we need to pay back the huge amount of borrowing we have done.

2, Social distancing is here to stay sadly, people will quickly get used to limited numbers in shops and waiting in line. 

 

A note form an English man on America. I love america, love going and spending time with the people. I have served alongside american armed forces on deployments in Iraq, and Afghanistan on a few occasions. I have always found most Americans to be polite and helpful. However i am always amazed at how you treat each other and how everything you face is always a "war or battle". I think you could go to war with war if you could. So for me seeing the sad pictures of people not adhering to social distancing and the protests is no surprise. 

 

I hope my post hasn't offended anyone that is not my intention. Please stay safe all and happy cruising in the near future.

 

Regards

 

Daron

 

 

BAME?  I'm an American and not offended.

[sgmn]

53 minutes ago, Tom47 said:

BAME?  I'm an American and not offended.

Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic

For reasons not properly explained they seem to of suffered more than most other groups in this pandemic in UK. 

Edited May 26, 2020 by sgmn

[Tom47]

56 minutes ago, sgmn said:

Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic

For reasons not properly explained they seem to of suffered more than most other groups in this pandemic in UK. 

Thanks.  The same has happened in the US minority communities.  A factor may be that they are poor and don't get adequate medical care.  I live in Western New York state, with over 7200 Covid 19 cases and 595 deaths.

[sgmn]

57 minutes ago, Tom47 said:

Thanks.  The same has happened in the US minority communities.  A factor may be that they are poor and don't get adequate medical care.  I live in Western New York state, with over 7200 Covid 19 cases and 595 deaths.

Though everyone in UK gets free medical care, exactly the same, rich or poor. Also it has hit our BAME medical community harder, including doctors, so professional classes as well 

[OK valley boy]

We live in British Columbia and our Health authorities established voluntary isolation very early in the outbreak.  also pleaded with the Federal government to close our borders and suspend flights and non essential travel.  This was eventually adopted and remains in effect.  Our big reason was the size and scope of the outbreak in Washington State.  With a population of 4.5 Million we have only had 2532 confirmed cases, 161 deaths and our hospitals were never overwhelmed because we cancelled all elective surgeries.  Today we only have 193 active cases with 25 in hospital (six in Intensive care.)  With regard to testing we have taken the approach that we only test for cause.(ie if people are unwell,  Health care workers and Long term care facilities residents)  Over 80% of the 166 deaths have been in LTC facilities.  

We began phase two of reopening in 19 may whereby under strict conditions restaurants, salons etc could reopen.  Yesterday marked day 14 and we had one new case in the Province.  Our health Ministry has proceeded cautiously with reopening and states that she will consider going to Phase 3(further increased relaxation of the rules but still social distancing,hand washing etc) when we have ended the second incubation period.

We are seniors and have remained by and large under  voluntary social isolation since about 18 February.  Lots of reading, catching up on the Honey do list and an even closer relationship between the wife and myself.  

We are optimists so we have booked two cruises (med and Transat ) from mid November on MSC and the Jewel of the Seas. and another 24 days  from Sydney to Tokyo on Pacific Princess in April/May 2021.  Planning and following the elements of these trips gives us both something to look forward to

BTW.  All Cruises with stops in Canada by ships of over 100 Passengers have been forbidden until 31 October 2020 which cancels both the Alaska and Canada New england seasons

[SilkySal]

Florida got some good news!!

 

https://www.porteverglades.net/port-covid-19-udate/?fbclid=IwAR1_-EEr2745v7sZDrDKe42JS47p1Nkpkw4cpcb2T9ah8a1QaAEdurfd0vc

 

 

[lenquixote66]

On 3/24/2020 at 6:42 AM, CCHelp said:

Greetings, Royal Caribbean Cruisers ~ If an effort to give our members a place where we can discuss how things are where YOU are related to the Coronavirus, hosts are starting these threads so we can chat during the crisis. Let's talk about creative ways our families and neighbors are coping and helping one another out; share ideas for parents who are at home 24/7 with their school age children; you get the idea.....  Our only request is that we AVOID turning this into a political or health debate thread.  This is a stressful time for everyone.  Let's practice some kindness and make Cruise Critic a place members want to visit in this difficult time.

My best friend died in April from Covid-19.Three other people that I know tested positive and are recovering.

My wife and I have not left our home since March 12 as we are both dealing with serious illnesses and if we got the virus we might not survive.

I find myself posting a lot more than usual on CC due to being home.