Paulette3028

5 minutes ago, travelhound said:

So you have the option to just print the PDF that is emailed to you and not use the app.  Is that correct?

I don't know if you have the 'option', maybe call someone who is at the company for more clarification.  When we did the test prior to our Panama Canal cruise we were not at home, and no ability to print, so needed to rely on internet access to email and app.  For our upcoming Oasis cruise we are home, so able to print, and DH likes that ability.

I would GUESS, but just a guess that the email that is sent is sufficient, but that is just my guess.

45 minutes ago, travelhound said:

How did you present your proof of vaccination, was it just a PDF emailed to you?

We got an email almost immediately after the test was completed.  Then about 30 minutes later there was a notification in the Navica app that is part of the process.  My DH does like to print out what comes just in case the internet access at the port is bad.

15 hours ago, AustinCruise said:

My wife just did it.  Took about 30 minutes end to end, including getting all the info added before joining the live session.  Once she clicked, someone came on in less than 20 seconds.

 

 Person did have an accent, but walked through the steps very clearly.

 

Wife used a laptop.  Probably easiest as occasionally had to tilt the camera.  And was supposed to leave it still on the desk for the 15 minute timer.

 

All and all, she said it was super easy and saved time over driving to the store.  She is not a computer expert.. 

I would say your assessment is quite accurate.  We have used the 'at home proctored Covid tests' twice now, and both times was a good experience.  It is difficult where we have been to get local test appointments and these test kits make the 'appointment unnecessary' since you do it from your own home.  

In our second experience, I just asked the proctor to speak slower, because English clearly was not her first language....and then all went well.

We have several upcoming cruises booked -- one the end of Oct, one the end of  Nov and then another one in March.  I was wondering what the expiration dates were on the eMed tests ordered.  Ordering a 6 pack would cover all three cruises for me and my husband and it is a little less expensive than ordering a two pack each time....but it only makes sense for the 6 pack if the expiration date goes out as far as April 2022.  

What were the expiration dates of the test packages you ordered?

15 hours ago, DELTABLUE said:

Hope they can all find jobs to tide themselves over until the tide turns and they can return to the ships soon.😉

I share your hope....I read about Mark Walker....I hope the other CD's that we know are figuring out these uncharted waters as well, but as a temporary measure.  Although we aren't cruising, I look forward to returning to ships at some point.

On 5/15/2020 at 11:35 PM, legaljen1969 said:

No doubt with that much space to fill, they will find a way to put in more "specialty" dining or other ",pay to play" options.  What a great excuse. 

 

You can read some of the previous posts and putting in more 'specialty' or 'pay to play' options necessarily won't give them more revenue, which is your implication.   The specialty restaurants onboard now for an extra fee, don't get close to 50% full even with 30% discounts.  

18 hours ago, Iamcruzin said:

We were the only one in Jamie's the night we ate there. The only reason we went was because they offered us a 30% discount that day. 

And a 30% discount could not entice more people to join you.....says alot.  The specialty restaurant that we frequent is Izumi.  They never have special discounts for that....and there is never more than a few tables filled...NEVER even near 50% full, but we love it and it is a MUST on a ship that has it.

21 hours ago, ToroAzul said:

 

It was in jest but with some rationale:

 

A. Cpap usage usually carries co-morbidities like obesity. 

 

2. Cpap is an aerosolizing device so if someone was infected the virus would now be airborne instead of droplet. 

 

We have to wear N95 masks at work, on the C-19 floor, for patients with cpap, bipap, trachs, nebulizer treatments, CPR, covid swabbing, feeding tube insertion, etc.... 

Sorry,  my that kind of jest, is not appreciated.  Especially since plenty of people using Cpap machines have NO compromising health issues....as per my husband. 

2 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Rumor in my area is when restaurants re-open they will only be allowed 50% or less occupancy and to expect a lot will require reservations to manage over-crowding. 

I suspect this will be done for all restaurants on a cruise ship.   It really is the only way to prevent everyone arriving at same time and standing in long lines and cramming up the hallways.   No idea how they would the day of disembarkment when WJ is packed.   Probably have to do room service that morning as well as have all other restaurants open with reservations for breakfast.    

I have been in plenty of specialty restaurants onboard and they have NEVER been close to 50% capacity when DH and I were there for dinner.

On 5/12/2020 at 11:38 PM, ToroAzul said:

 

No cpaps allowed? 

Why would you question that cpap machines wouldn't be allowed?

5 hours ago, Paulette3028 said:

  What else might there be?

Here is an article from CNN about what hotels are considering doing and one of these locations is in Las Vegas, which in many ways is a 'land experience of a cruise ship' -- lots of people packed into it for entertainment and enjoyment.

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/hotels-safety-coronavirus/index.html

Some specifics mentioned are:

(1) Removal of furniture and reconfiguring many areas to facilitate the six-foot social distancing space prescribed by health officials. The brand is considering plexiglass barriers at front desks to separate guests and hotel staff.

(2) Use of electrostatic sprayers -- which uniformly mist disinfectant across wide areas -- and ultraviolet light to sanitize surfaces and objects.

(3) Reduction of Spa services

(4) Slot machines, restaurant tables, pool loungers and more have to be spaced to comply with the 6 foot rule.

(5)  Reduced capacity public spaces and redesigned restaurants, bars and fitness facilities will be among the changes.

(6) no more than four guests in an elevator

16 hours ago, JT1962 said:

 

I think the self-serve buffet is gone for a while from everywhere, not just cruise ships. One major buffet style restaurant has already announced it will close permanently and others will have to change or follow in their footsteps. Cruise ship buffets as we have known them may be gone forever regardless of how long Covid-19 is an issue.

 

Buffets on cruises will be significantly changed, I am sure.  That is the simple place to make a change -- all the other areas, starting with 'overall number of cruisers onboard' to minimize overall crowded spaces like promenade areas or pool decks or busy lounges/bars.  How they handle that is going to be interesting.  Can I see, no cabin having a 3rd or 4th occupant?  Or larger suites having the number of guests permitted in it to change?  What else might there be?

On 5/8/2020 at 9:04 AM, rtazz17 said:

Right but cruise industry wont open until public is ready. Doesnt matter if we can mitigate it... media has scared the crap out of the country. People are scared of their shadows now. If there was a vaccine right now the cruise industry would still have problems enticing enough people to cruise. Just because people on cruise critic want to cruise this is the minority. 1st time cruisers will not go on a cruise now. Anytime I mention cruising to friends they say “ fu&% that!”... Cruising will be the last vacation on most peoples minds for a long time. Industry was hurt badly through no fault of their own as many other people have been.

What really is a cruise ship?  It is a huge hotel, a street of restaurants, and an amusement park (more extensive on some ships than others.    When you say the " cruise industry wont open until public is ready" people will be getting accustomed to restaurants again at some point, as well as going to hotels and even Disney has talked about opening soon.    When you say "Anytime I mention cruising to friends they say “ fu&% that!”... Cruising will be the last vacation on most peoples minds"  I disagree, there will be people who will go when they can do it.  There will always be customers, always.   Port cities right here in the US are losing money each and every week the cruise industry is shut down.  For those areas, it isn't as if 'opening up their county will be of much help'.  The hotels that aren't booking rooms for the night or two before departure and restaurants are losing diners, don't get much help from 'locals'. It all has a ripple effect and the sooner those ports can open the sooner those businesses can even get the own revenue stream moving along.    

If things are available to do/go to there will always be customers for them, ALWAYS.

12 hours ago, mek said:

No "abstract fear" here.  I would love to be on a ship again, but I am not willing to cruise with a mask,  practice social distancing, have to figure out how to use the elevator, etc.  As long as these protocols are in place, it means there is some risk involved and the virus is not under control.  Cruising is supposed to be relaxing and fun and  I'm not willing to compromise. 

Only time will tell when cruising starts back up again and what measures will be in place. 

You are correct in saying "only time will tell.....what measures will be in place".    You have already listed some things that will make you unwilling to cruise.   I can't say what mine are....and as I said I don't know live in abstract fear.  I am taking simple actions but trying hard not to be overly consumed by fear so as to fracture me.  

DH and I want to cruise again, and when it reopens and we learn what the cruise line itself has done and what will be expected of us as cruisers, we will then make a decision on when to cruise again.  We still have several booked....the future will unfold.

I expect we will cruise as much as we did before....some of the ones we had scheduled will take a bit to reschedule to fit our personal calendar.

On 4/21/2020 at 9:56 AM, teacherman said:

You can't cruise.  There are no cruises.  By the time cruises resume, there will be many changes from what we knew cruises to be.  If my state "opens up", it will not be like it was.  Everything will change, and we won't know what we are willing to do until we see what it is.

Right now you are correct there are no cruises to take.  As you say "we won't know what we are willing to do until we see what it is." and you are quite right.  But one thing I believe I can say for my DH and me, is that we do WANT TO CRUISE again.  There are many people who from what I have read, have no plan to cruise again.....and for me to react like that out of 'abstract fear', I can't do.  I want to cruise again, and when they tell me what to expect, I hope to still enjoy the experience.  

23 hours ago, TYMAN said:

I wear a mask 14 hours a day in our hospital, I would be more than happy to wear one while wandering the ship....because I would be on a cruise!! Casino would seem to be less smokey, I wouldn't have to see the grouchy faces on folks cause they couldn't get on the first elevator, etc etc. 

I would take it off to eat, sleep, and most importantly, drink! Cheers! 

I love the perspective.  We have a short cruise scheduled for the end of August.  Just a weekender on Navigator.   If it gets the go ahead to sail, we are ON IT.  I am fortunate, I don't have to fly to the port, it is a short drive for us.

22 minutes ago, molly361 said:

He retired and is living the Florida life 

How nice for Host Clarea.  But I hope he still adds his expertise.

Everyone has a right to their own feelings and no one should judge another for the feelings that they have.  People are annoyed enough at each other for things that people 'do' to each other, we have every right to the emotions when our lives are disrupted whether or not someone else agrees or not.    

3 hours ago, Travelw said:

We are a family of 12 and planning a cruise on the Harmony in 2021.  Are there areas where the 12 of us can sit together.

 

Dennis

I had a large group seated together several years ago.   They located a long table close to the front of the dining room entrance for us.  It worked out well for our group.  GOING FORWARD, no one will really be able to use 'past experiences' on how they will seat ANYONE in the dining room in the future.

36 minutes ago, BillieJeanKaraokeKing said:

You might feel in fine fettle in your 60s, and it's great that you are, but the fact is you're 30-40 years past a human's general physical peak, so it's just common sense that percentage wise, you're deemed more at risk.

 

We get older, and things don't work as well, to a greater or lesser extent, it's natural progression, innit?  When I was 25, I felt I was indestructible. Another 25 years on, there's plenty of signs that it's not really the case anymore lol

Believe me 30 years ago, I did not take as good care of this body that I have been entrusted with by G-d as I do now.  I was working full time, raising and managing  a family, DH and I were doing with our kids all the normal family things you do with growing children with little time left for 'ourselves'.  We were the average American family, and making sure we even planned for our retirement.

YES, there will be on board changes to the cruise experience.  But who will be allowed to experience those 'changes' is a topic of concern.

The virus is blind to differentiating where it will find a happy home to invade, it just wants a host home. Risk factors make recovery from the virus more problematic, but those risk factors don't act as a magnet to attract the virus to that person.

According to health experts, adults with a BMI of 30 to 39.9 are considered obese. Being obese could put you at greater risk for complications and even death from coronavirus. One reason for this is that people who are obese tend to have a number of comorbidities, ranging from diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia (abnormal amount of lipids) to cardiovascular disease, stroke and gallbladder disease.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that nearly 40% of adults aged 20 and over are obese. These people are disproportionally minorities, especially Blacks. At the same time, when it comes to coronavirus, an over-representation of victims is African Americans: 33% of those hospitalized are African Americans despite Blacks making up only 13% of the US population, according to the CDC.

I don't like 'generalities' that lead to the discrimination of people.  You could easily infer from what the CDC has discovered that since hospitalized African Americans   represent 33% of the cases, yet they only make up 13% of the overall population then they are an 'at risk' population for serious health concerns if they were to contract the virus onboard.  Therefore you can extrapolate, that African Americans should be prevented from boarding.   I AM NOT SUGGESTING THAT.  But here are the statistics that could be used as justification. 

The virus is color blind as it is age blind.....the family who lost their 5 year old daughter to the disease knows that first hand.

30 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

I'm sorry you don't get it. We are discussing COVID, not drunk 20 year olds. The medical facilities are better equiped to deal with that, than respiratory infections decimating our older populous.

 

 

Risk of getting the disease reaches ALL ages, it isn't discriminatory.  

46 minutes ago, time4u2go said:

Agreed.  Few people doubt that older people are at more of a risk of complications from Covid-19.  The statistics bear it out.

Covid 19 knows no boundaries....neither age, nor race, nor zip code. Who struggles recovering has to do with underlying complicating health conditions and probably complicated by whether they seek medical attention early with an early diagnosis or later.  Obesity (which all ages in our society) adds to risk, as well as diabetes (which affects all ages),  circulatory disease which is affected by both items already mentioned and then you can add cardiac issues, which all 3 previously mentioned have an adverse affect on.  

5 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Older folks are generally more of a risk of complications all things being equal

I was on a sailing and a young man (age eligible to drink) was out drinking, going up and down the street from bar to bar and slipped off the side walk and broke his leg.   He was in a wheel chair the next day with his leg bandaged up, knowing that the leg was broken, but the hospital could not put it in a cast until the swelling went down.  The ship would be back in port by then and he could get it attended to.   He was bragging about his behavior and its unfortunate result.

Generalizations don't mean a hill of beans to me.  If it did, people would NEVER accomplish what others tell them they 'can't do'.