smokeybandit

5 minutes ago, cured said:

This is a great article to read about natural immunity. So far, it is looking like natural immunity is lasting at least 8 months. This bodes well for the efficacy and long term immunity of the vaccine.

https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2021/01/06/science.abf4063

 

BTW, the two current vaccines bear absolutely no resemblance to the flu vaccine.

There's also a unknown portion of the population that has some cross immunity from something else and is immune w/o getting covid to build antibodies.

2 hours ago, Suncoastsailors said:

Why do they need test cruises if everyone is vaccinated.

Because everyone will never be vaccinated. Not even close.

The rule is only for air passengers (which would apply if you're cruising out of Barbados of course).

CDC has already mandated (for not at least) that passengers get tested prior to disembarking. Anything beyond that is an unknown.

If someone tests positive, they get quarantined. It does not affect the rest of the ship outside of any close contacts unless the number of positives reaches some unknown threshold.

Would Galveston even be one of the first ports to open, on the assumption they stagger the openings? I assume Port Canaveral and Miami would be first.

22 minutes ago, lovescats5 said:

  He sets up the iFly times, gets you on the bumper cars when ever you want and then the typical meals, shows, gets you in front to leave for excursions. 

Isn't this what the concierge normally does anyway?

I've been in plenty of suites, but not with a Genie. What can a Genie really do of any additional benefit?

The points only begin to have value at Diamond.  Then really start to get you somewhere at Diamond Plus.

We're already seeing a dip in numbers and it's too early to give the vaccine credit for that.

4 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

The news this morning said biden is reviewing covid testing for all domestic flights. .as if the airlines arent struggling enough. This would also hurt cruises imo.

 

Just no good cruise  news 

This would be bad all around on many levels.  It'd hurt business travelers who fly on short notice. It'd hurt weekend getaway people who would end up getting tested twice in 3-4 days. 

Not good news, but it's not necessarily a sign that everything is getting shut down again.

No cruise line is going to start up with 100% of their fleet in service. 50% may even be a high numbers.

CDC has no jurisdiction for cruises that don't touch an American port.

That exception makes more sense than outright dropping the program

Double your normal suite points.

Quadruple when compared to tradition room points accumulation.

But when they turn 18, they get their parents' status.

CWC may be here to stay much like airlines ditching change fees are now here to stay

Yes, only the Junior Suites are "fake" suites in regards to suite lounge access.

I wonder how many people would have to cancel because their schedules don't fit a longer cruise.

2 hours ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Them extending it through the end of September  tells me that they think that there will be a lot of cancellations through that time.

Or they just are getting more desperate to prevent people from requesting refunds.

So book by the end of June.  Noted.

They're also ending Lift and Shift which to me is a good sign of cruises returning this year.

The due date/final payment date really isn't important here.

If you've paid in full prior to the cruise being canceled, regardless of when final payment is, then you can get the 125% FCC.

First thought would be they are loading the additional medical equipment required for return to cruising, but that wouldn't make sense to load that onto the pool deck.

Though I guess they could be loading social distancing stuff like plexiglass windows.

So much to digest here.  Yeah, it sucks, but I'm sure the CSR didn't know when cruises were about to be canceled again.  FCCs don't automatically get applied to your next reservation. And RC wasn't taking your money since they already had it.

The rest is just impatience in the midst of a total hell of a year for cruise lines.

24 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

But is is fair for the vaccinated to be imposed upon and require them to wear a mask to help protect the non vaccinated. I don't think so.

I agree with that.

Actually, it looks like those 3 Carnival ships with lengthy delays is just delayed drydock schedules.