T8NCruise

20 hours ago, SilvertoGold said:

 

 

I have a few pairs.  Not to wear with just anything but they are beautifully made, very comfortable and have a lot of class.  With the proceeds from the Dr Henry shoe going to charity they sold out instantly after crashing the website.  Other companies are getting on her bandwagon turning out other items.  She is a star here and much appreciated for all her expertise in her field.

Yes, being a Vancouverite Dr. Bonnie is my hero!

3 hours ago, SilvertoGold said:

Bonnie, too.  She is over the top great. Nice shoes, as well 🙂

Yes, Bonnie.  I don't like her shoes but am happy to see the tribute from Fluvogs.🙂

13 minutes ago, SilvertoGold said:

 

Agree.  It will be a slow opening , slower than in some provinces. I also can't imagine the ports or border will be open soon.  The Feds will be involved in this decision, too.  

 

Great that NB is doing so well, Kazu!

I think the majority of BC-ers are holding their collective breath hoping the border will not be opened anytime soon, especially with the lax way the US is dealing with the virus.  Our MoH has been incredible throughout.

58 minutes ago, hotzej said:

I'm looking for info regarding the config of the Zaandam.  Does it still have the original Crows Nest?  Has Mix been transformed into Music Walk?  Thank you.

We cruised on the Zaandam last June/July and thankfully it still had the original Crows Nest.  Mix seemed still the same.  I liked the ship, and the size. 

Interesting reading.  Maybe HAL will hold on to their smaller ships after this.

The crew is probably better off at sea, and staying healthy.  But it is appalling that no country - including their own - will allow them to disembark.

5 minutes ago, VennDiagram said:

This REALLY illustrates how valuable the posters on CC can be.  And proves once again that what one hears from the HAL phone reps may be incorrect.

More often than not!

53 minutes ago, need2cruisesoon said:

 

If you were a United pilot or flight attendant would you volunteer for their (12 hour) flight back?

Obviously it would depend on your own circumstances - if you have a spouse/children/elderly relative at home with underlying health issues, no.  Otherwise, absolutely.

1 hour ago, JVilleGal said:

Being reported on FB, SFO United refused to transport Australians headed home from Zaandam 🤬

 

Oh no!  Just as my faith in humanity was beginning to be restored, this destroyed that. 

8 minutes ago, Tampa Girl said:

 

Have you ever been quarantined aboard a HAL ship?  I have - twice.  And I can tell you that no shore quarantine can match the quarantine that the ship imposes.

You are absolutely right!  It has happened to me twice, too, and they are pitbulls on alert making sure you stay put!

Beach cam is the only one I can get.

7 minutes ago, Aquahound said:

 

Sorry, but I disagree.  I really do think those are sun reflections.  Those cars are sitting inside a fenced area and appear to be either just offloaded, or waiting to load a car carrier. 

 

Every once and a while, you see a car drive out to the end of the pier closest to the camera.  I believe its pier 23. When the sun hits the windshield just right, it makes the same bright white flashing pattern.

I distinctly saw flashing lights on the far line of cars, but I do think it was reflection on the line of cars closer to the cam.

2 minutes ago, Copper10-8 said:

 

Broward County Sheriff seems to have a policy to do just that. On "normal" days inside Port Everglades, the BCO vehicles involved in fixed post traffic control are stationary with their light bars on. More visibility so someone with HUA doesn't drive in to them 😉 

thank you.

35 minutes ago, Copper10-8 said:

 

Takes a while to get that many transport buses and police (sheriff) escorts together 😉 Still, it's a good sign that things might start happening this afternoon (local time) 

But whey do they need to be flashing all their lights already?  Latest info is 4:00 pm for Zaandam, 4:30 for Rotterdam.

Just outside of Vancouver, BC....

Things are pretty quiet, the majority of people seem to be obeying the self-isolation and social distancing guidelines.  Most stores other than grocery and pharmacy are closed, with some exceptions, as are all pubs and bars.  Very few restaurants are open, only if they can align their seating to allow for a ton of space between tables and customers.  The grocery stores all have early morning shopping hour just for seniors and disabled.  Online grocery shopping is a pain, most things say "out of stock" - I guess I will find out tomorrow if my order, placed last Thursday, has the items I asked for - and I didn't even ask for toilet paper!  Take Out is available from most restaurants now.  Masks and gloves are the norm everywhere.  For the past few weeks, there has been a very noisy salute to our hospital workers every evening at 7pm, and it is spreading throughout the lower mainland.  Such a heartwarming gesture. 

I am able to work in my yard, front and back, while maintaining social distance from any passers-by.  However, I was so disheartened yesterday - a nice sunny afternoon - to see groups of several moms and all their children walking and socialising  together.  They just don't get it.   I manage to do a daily walk, zig-zagging all the way when encountering others.  I hate cyclists, apparently none of the rules apply to them.   I'll just leave it at that.  Most people in my street are home from work, and of course schools are closed.  Today would have been the return from spring break.

Vancouver is going to be very, very hurt by the loss the cruise season (or most of it, but quite frankly I don't think there will be one this year) along with other tourists.  It will take a long time to recover.

I'm betting the passengers aren't too thrilled about being "dumped" in Florida either - especially if they saw news reports of the beaches at spring break, and the total lack of any precautions with the virus already running rampant.  They are probably afraid of catching something in Florida.

Seriously, for those who are up in arms about them being disembarked in Florida, do you really imagine they are going to be running all over the place risking infecting anyone (supposing they actually do have the virus)?  They probably just want to get through quarantine wherever that may be, and get home.

Copper - kudos to you for your very informational posts and for giving credit to the other countries who are willing to help.

Welcome home, Kathi, and thanks once again for your blog.  Looking forward to the next one!

For those being so defensive of HAL, yes they do get bed bugs.  And they will tear the room apart if they are even suspected to try to eradicate them.
Funny story to back this up - we once had a mosquito in our cabin, which bit me several times.  I asked our room steward if they had any bug spray, explaining about the mosquito.  Obviously, something was lost in translation because we were asked to see the ship doctor, and the room was instantly thoroughly inspected (torn apart) and deep cleaned, and some substance sprayed all over (we slept in another cabin for the night) and the girl at Guest Services whispered to me why this was happening.  But they got that pesky mosquito!

6 hours ago, Roger88 said:

I surfed through various cruising websites and to be honest I dont see an increase in prices. Its the other way around. The prices are going down because there is no demand at the moment. People either canceling or simply not booking cruises at the moment. Maybe those big world-cruises are safe at this point, but if you take the small ones - the situation has been drastically changing towards decreasing in prices

You should share your info source because it has been all over the news how the prices have shot up.

1 hour ago, Copper10-8 said:

 

You are absolutely correct and I should have done a much better job checking thoise flights before I posted the info! My apologies!

But as we already know, the situation changes by the hour.

4 hours ago, HappyInVan said:

 

Oh Dear. Heard on the Tv news that Canada and USA are negotiating to mutually close our borders to non-essential travel. Possible announcement Wednesday morning. Once that goes into effect, flights between the two countries will be scarce. 

It has been announced, and flights are pretty much done anyway.
Canadian govt is announcing a financial package for those who have to stay put for the duration, but must still quarantine when they eventually arrive back in Canada.  Sorry to be so vague, just half-listening to the news while reading CC!!

On 3/15/2020 at 2:22 PM, iancal said:

I have zero sympathy for those who have serious medical issues or cannot fly for whatever reason yet still take cruises.  Anyone who has cruised frequently has seen what appears to be able bodied people airlifted off ships to hospitals in foreign lands.  The ship does not wait for them.  Cannot image what it would be like for an elderly person who was not able to fly home.  

 

I am one of those independent types who believe that you should be responsible for yourself.  So much so that we confine our luggage to only what we can each physically handle.   We find that there is a growing sense of entitlement and arrogance of customers toward all sorts of venders and service providers.  This goes double for some of the whiners, complainers, and rude people that we have encountered on many cruise ships

 

Really, why would people expect HAL to extricate them from a situation that they themselves created?  HAL is not a nursing home though sometimes you do have to wonder.  If I were HAL II would say some like we have arranged for a flight for you.  If you do not take it then good luck to you, you are on your own.

 

 

I think there are options for cruising closer to home rather than have elderly and infirm passengers going to foreign ports, where who knows what can happen?  I am thinking of the Canada/New England cruises, Alaska, Caribbean, etc.  Lots of choices and not too far away so getting home would be easier.

1 hour ago, cat shepard said:

Kathi, if I understand Roy correctly, he said that Cunard is picking up his hotel and meals as well as taking care of booking his flight.

Hotel, food, drinks, assisting with all travel arrangements including booking flights for them.  Class act.

Seems to me, HAL is treating all of you quite shabbily.  Hoping it turns out better than it sounds.

5 hours ago, rafinmd said:

And now coming into the berth about 6AM local time Tuesday in Fremantle.

 

Roy

Roy, I've been following you along on your travels, so sorry this one has ended like this.  But Cunard seems to be taking good care of you all, you mentioned in your blog that hotel, food and drinks all paid for by them, and flights arranged.  Hope HAL is as good with the Amsterdam pax.