cruisecriket

2 minutes ago, PortFees45 said:

That's a perfectly charming sentiment to express. Unfortunately it's not supported by any scientific evidence whatsoever. 

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/08/health/coronavirus-summer-weather.html

So, you post me to the NY times to a gloom and doom article in a gloom and doom state. And you expect me to take it serious?

I don't think there's any scientist who would say that a virus has the same potential to spread in the summer as in winter. You do know that the flu (a virus) season runs from Oct-March, right?

I thought I was done here. Do what you want. Stay in a perpetual state of lockdown. I will sail shortly after they open.

And, they are not going to let all the cruise lines go belly up. They didn't get bailed out because they, as slick they think they are, were all based in foreign ports. Read the initial post of this forum.

Sayonara.

Ok ladies and gents. I wish you all the luck. I will be sailing shortly after they reopen.

Just now, PortFees45 said:

Virus is raging in Florida. Pretty warm there. 

Ohh boy. The only places the virus is "raging" is NY, NJ and Michigan. What do they have in common?

What part of Florida is summer yet? Unless you have sustained mid 90s is not summer yet. Pretty soon, but not yet. 

All I tried to say is that the heat of summer will act as a huge, yes huge, mitigating factor against the spread of this virus.

I was certain some would take that as a ray of sunshine in a cloudy day. Now I have my doubts.

1 minute ago, spanishguy1970 said:

well is not up to you or any of us. All of us want to get back to life but to make sure we have a healthy life to live in. We don't want to get back to life at the expense of getting others sick. don't need to google it, just with the fact you say FAR from an epidemic is all the response i need. Good luck to you

Thanks for the kind words until you yelled "far."

Just to make sure you understood, in your post you claim than in hot climates there are cases of the covid-19. I was referring to that when I agreed that there are gonna be cases in those climates,  just very difficult for an epidemic to occur. See, in that kind of heat the virus would 99% be transmitted from person to person and not by touching a contaminated surface. Too hot for virus to survive. 

That's good, ain't it? Don't you like some good news?

30 minutes ago, janerd said:

Here's a good link with facts about the flu shot.

You will find thousands of those articles defending the flu vaccine. They are likely financed by those who financially benefit from the millios of flu vaccines each year, and big pharma is only one. All or most those articles do admit that people get mild symptoms after taking the flu vaccine.

What I said is that if you catch a strain of the flu that was not included in the coctail you got vaccinated with, you are going to get sick anyway. You may also want to check all those other additives you take into your body with the flu shot. Mercury is only one.

I said that I have not taken the flu shot for many years and have gotten sick and here I am to tell you the tale. Finally I stated that I have seen elderly people die from complications after taking the flu shot. Don't think this is hard to understand.

By all means, take the flu shot every month if you want. No amount of articles you post will make me take one.

12 minutes ago, spanishguy1970 said:

Where are you getting the information? i have read the Covid-19 has mutated and is now able to adapt to heat. Venezuela has cases and is extremely hot there, so does Australia...

Where are you getting yours? Google what I said, is right there. Cases? Of course there will be cases, but that's far from an epidemic.

Like I said, some of us just want to get back to life.

56 minutes ago, david_sobe said:

FALSE FALSE FALSE
Before you post and obviously get your information from ONE source, do some research...even Google

SARS is nowhere near as contagious or deadly as COVID-19.  Yes its a relative but that is the only truthful part of your post.  Covid-19 is much deadlier than the flu.

Lockdowns have worked and they just changed the projected death rate because of everyone's hard work.

Facts are facts.  Facts have no feelings.  Most of your post is touchy, feely, feelings and being overly dramatic.

I wish mods would delete posts where people post fake information about Covid-19

Friend, just because you yell doesn't mean you are right and anybody is wrong. Who said anything about not locking down? 

Which of my facts are wrong? Which facts did you add? My post is factual. The only one here acting in a hysteric and dramatic fashion is you, asking mods to intervene because what you read does not support your virtual reality.

If you want to bunker the rest of your life, I don't think anybody is stopping you. 

Go back and read my post again. Maybe this time you will comprehend.

18 minutes ago, janerd said:

The Flu shot is not quite what you think. Hope this helps.

The flu vaccine contains tiny amounts of the viruses it protects against. The presence of these viruses in the vaccine triggers the body’s natural defense mechanism to produce antibodies to fight them. This means that the body quickly recognizes them when exposed to the disease in “real life.”

Different influenza viruses contained in a flu shot are:

• influenza A virus H1N1 called the Michigan strain
• Influenza A virus H3N2 called the Hong Kong strain
• one or two influenza B viruses called the Brisbane and Phuket strains

Traditional flu shots are trivalent (three-component) vaccines because they protect against three viruses: two influenza A viruses (H1N1 and H3N2), and one influenza B virus.

A person can also get a quadrivalent (four-component) vaccine, which protects against an additional B virus.

Thanks, but, although not so detailed as you explain it, I knew that. I also know that some elderly people have died from complications after taking the flu vaccine.

However my point was and is that if the flu you get is a strain or mutation of those in the vaccine administered, you will get sick regardless. I mention the flu in order to arrive to my main point, that there may never be a vaccine, just like there's none for SARS, for Covid-19.

Then, what do we do? Shelter in a cave and die from other ailments, or take some precautions to mitigate the risk, like we did with SARS, and live a life to the fullest even in the presence of Covid-19?

8 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Jeezz, I hope you are not sheltering in place alone.

Don't know exactly what you mean. But, it certainly feels belittling as in I am crazy or something and need help from other people. I am the opposite of all of that, but that's none your business anyway.

See, you are not that clever. You still didn't add anything of value to the conversation. Only fearmongering.

Everything I posted can be easily verified.

6 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Often times a virus will come back in a more mild version than the previous.

Which will make a vaccine for the current strain of Covid-19 obsolete for next year's strain, which in turn will have us lock down forever, which in turn will kill many more people.

On 4/10/2020 at 4:52 AM, Mercury said:

Without a vaccine cruising is just not safe. Covid19 just needs one host on a ship and as we all know, it spreads like wildfire.

Then, there will never be cruising again. Waiting too long for a vaccine, which may be forever, will erase the cruising industry, which is unacceptable.

You know that the flu vaccine you receive each year is for the last flu strain. It does not protect you for the new mutated strain that may arise. I have never taken a flu vaccine and gotten many flus, yet here I am. The CDC states that in the currently ending flu season 201-2020 between 22,000 and 62,000 people have died from the flu in the United States.

You also know that there are no vaccines for SARS (another coronavirus SARS-Cov), a very close relative of covid-19 and far more deadly. Yet, we have learned to "live" with it and survived after 17 years.

Life itself is a risk. At one point or another things have to open up with certain regulations in place perhaps, but the longer this lock down takes it may kill more people in the end than the covid-19 virus. I think that after 8 weeks of lock down by the end of April or beginning of May most infected with the covid-19 virus would have developed the symptoms and be treated.

If someone does not want to cruise that's their prerogative. But please, don't make it more difficult for us who do want to continue living. I will cruise as soon as they open. It's feeling more like July, 2020. Covid-19 will not be able to stand that heat.

5 minutes ago, adam_s_allen said:

Also aren’t airlines getting huge bailout money? While cruise lines are likely not getting anything.

Airlines yes, Cruise lines not, this round anyway.

37 minutes ago, cruisecriket said:

 

I would appreciate if any of you sheds light on the following question:

 

I paid for two extra dining packages. How is that being addressed as it was purchased not with the reservation?

 

Many thanks.

 

 

I have the answer to this question as well. I called NCL and was told that anything that wasn't purchased with the reservation, including extra dining packages, water, or things of that nature, would be reimbursed to the credit card, or payment form, and that I the customer would have to do nothing.

Also, I called NCL and was told that it is possible to transfer FCC for other members on your reservation to yourself. Ho? Well, you would have to call and get the information for yourself. The number I called is 800-327-7030.

NCL seem to be trying to help. However, the bottom line regarding refunds and FCC is weather they can remain in business or not.

12 hours ago, SeaShark said:

 

Not exactly...

 

"Those guests can request a refund of the fare paid to be reimbursed to the original form of payment 90 days after completing the request form..."

 

The only after (since you bolded it) was 90 days after completing the form, not refund after 90 days.

Sir, with all due respect, it is clearly stated after 90 days. I don't see anywhere it says within 90 days.

"Those guests can request a refund of the fare paid to be reimbursed to the original form of payment 90 days
after completing the request form..."

For it to be within 90 days it should've said "Those guests can request a refund of the fare paid to be reimbursed to the original form of payment within 90 days after completing the request form..."

I do agree NCL is using delaying tactics to see if they can start sailing as planned on May 11th, otherwise they will file for bankruptcy and leave all of us with the empty bag in our hands.

1 hour ago, cruisecriket said:

I have a question if anyone knows and would like to help me understand.

 

If I apply for the 90 days refund, does that action alone cancel my FCC?

I found the answer to this question. Yes, just by submitting the form ALL the people in the reservation will forego the FCC. 

How nice hah. The FCC is given only individually and not to the purchaser of the package. That way, if my elderly aunt and grandma never sail with NCL again for any reason, they pocket that part of the money. Even in these times NCL resorts to chicanery to rip off its customers.

I would appreciate if any of you sheds light on the following question:

I paid for two extra dining packages. How is that being addressed as it was purchased not with the reservation?

Many thanks.

I have a question if anyone knows and would like to help me understand.

If I apply for the 90 days refund, does that action alone cancel my FCC? Or, will the FCC be cancelled once the refund is processed?

Also and lastly, I paid for everyone in my cabin, but everybody is receiving the FCC separately. Is this another underhanded tactic by NCL to keep one's money? Shouldn't all the FCC be given to the account of the payer?

Many thanks if you can assist.

Final thoughts:

Plastic straws on cruises should be upon request by the customer. That way everybody is happy and the environmentalists can have their day in the sun (literally). Can we reach a compromise here?

However, if the cruise lines go to paper or biodegradable straws, I welcome that too. But, we know that will cost them probably more than plastic, so I don't see that happening.

It really is moronic to serve a frozen drink without a straw. But starbucks is allowed to serve their coffees with plastic straws. I don't see the uproar against starbucks. Ahhh no, that's the make me feel good place where I pay 8 bucks for a coffee that costs 1.50 at McDonalds. Alright, I understand.

You can disagree as is your right but you sound like a conspiracy theorist who sees lies and deception everywhere.

Open your eyes sis, before reality opens them for you. The world and its mechanisms work differently from the illusion you are living in. All your snowflaky attacks because I, like many, like my frozen drinks with a magnificent plastic straw. If they don't provide them, I will bring them and I, like always, will discard them in the proper trash bin. What the cruise line does after that, I can not control, nor do I give a rats behind. :cool:

Thank you for posting this. I shared it on my social media timeline. Everyone can easily take take small daily steps to help preserve our environment.

 

 

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Do you really think that people in China or India for example will do everything you ask them to do to make you feel good about yourself while they struggle in life without potable water? Yo, put your feet on the ground already. I am all for the environment, but jeez leave my plastic straws alone. They serve a great purpose on a cruise while relaxing on vacation.

How is that all you can do? How about trying to reduce the amount you use ? If everyone did THAT it would make a difference . How about educating people ? How about bringing your own reusable bags when you shop? How about not saying you will continue using plastic as long as it is an option?

How about live and let live?

You may not dump them in the ocean directly but a lot of them wind up there. Pretty shortsighted

I do not dump them in the ocean and that's most of what I can do at my level. Now, imagine, and only imagine, if everybody would do the same thing I do. Wouldn't it be a wonderful world?

everyone on here should see the movie "Blue the film" it is a documentary about our oceans from different areas of the globe and the effect on plastic and garbage. If after seeing this movie you still use a plastic straw, plastic bag and dont try to reduce your usage I am not sure there is hope for you. Dont mean to sound preachy but just try and watch the movie. It is very limited release ( not sure why) but it as so well done.

As long as they are around, I will use plastic anything. I just won't dump them in the ocean.

A few years ago my husband and I went to an ecological resort in Playa del Carmen. Because they had all sorts of animals on the property, straws were strictly forbidden. I did my homework and found a US company that makes biodegradable straws out of cornstarch. They look exactly like plastic straws but will biodegrade within weeks on land and less in the ocean. I took a box of 500 straws. We were the most popular people on the resort!

Too expensive for NCL to replace. Don't you people see it? They want to ultimately pass on the cost of straws to you, the consumerist. It's all about the money and PR.

There are great deals on Amazon... around $5 for 500 of them. If you'd like a straw that badly I'd recommend purchasing them as NCL won't be changing course just because a few people complain. I purchased a big pack of them already in anticipation of my next cruise in January.

First off, NCL did not say they are not providing straws at all; they said they are available upon request, as far as I understand. Second, this is such a petty and lame attempt at PR by NCL it is almost laughable. The sad thing about it is people continue to fall for the doublespeak by the rich and elite in making their lives more difficult with self inflicted discomforts.

You wanna make a change, boycott products from China where pollution and overpopulation will soon wipe out all the animals there. You know about the Baiji, right? Ahh no, that is not possible as they get all their cheap junk from the slave market there. Just like when Al Gore told us here in America to pay for our natural CO2 production while he lived large in his mansions and traveling in his private jets. Are you useful crikets getting it yet?

Sorry, what was the purpose of your post. If you are not qualified to comment, why did you?

I understood perfectly. It appears you are the one not qualified to read. As stated before, we want a straw with our drinks.