howiefrommd
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Posts posted by howiefrommd
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Just one thing I would like to mention for those who might have to decide between a refund and a FCC. Our B2B cruises in April and May were obviously cancelled. I opted to take a FCC. It was only after I took the FCC that I researched if there was any protection for me in case of cruise line insolvency. I contacted the travel insurance (Allianz) and my credit card (Chase Sapphire Reserve) and it appears that I forfeited any and all rights to reimbursement as the FCC is not covered. Obviously I should have done that research before making that decision, but I think it is important to share this. Before taking a FCC you might want to explore and see if your insurance or credit card would cover a loss for a FCC.
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On 11/20/2020 at 11:40 PM, Host Jazzbeau said:
I don't think that would stand up to a court challenge. Recent cases have been very strong against governmental prior restraint.
Any regulation set forth during the "Rule Making Process" becomes law after being published in the CFR (after the final review process regarding comments received/reviewed). In order to litigate this, the entity would have to file for remedy under the "Administrative Procedures Act (APA)." They do not have the opportunity to enter Federal Court until they have exhausted all of the appeal process of the APA. It is quite a lengthy and time consuming process. Needless to say, it is also quite costly due to the byzantine process involved.
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I was on a COVID-19 teleconference call today and one of the presenters said they are reviewing the hierarchy of Vaccine distribution/administration. A group of epidemiologists are saying that since the younger people represent the largest group of community transmission, it might be wise to vaccinate them right after health care, first responders and residents of group congregate living (e.g. Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities).
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When you sit back and think about it, the CSO is not much different than the NSO. The only thing it did was create a smoke screen that was the result of the pressure the State of Florida and the Cruise Industry put on their political connections. The reality is cruises are not in our immediate future.
CDC articulated (to those who are accustomed to the edicts of CDC, FDA, CMS, etc.) guidelines that cruise lines needed to meet in order to begin sailing. One would think that the cruise lines would have been beyond pro-active in responding to the original NSO. This is not the first dance the cruise lines have had with CDC. The negotiations are very similar to those with the VSP. The panel that was formed and their subsequent report (in this case) provide lots of catch phrases people want to hear, but are woefully short on actual content and executable action plans.
In lucid thought, now take into consideration this debacle with Seadream. Now up to 9 infected, and they have ceased operations for the rest of 2020, and it is rumored until April 2021.
Whatever cruise lines actual survive financially, will be out of business should a similar outbreak occur. We all want to get back to what our lives were before, we have a new reality.
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1 hour ago, firefly333 said:
The liberals here in dallas want to lock down further and have dire predictions. They wrote to the governor to lock down now., currently if we have 15% I think of beds? for 7 days straight we add lock down measures. We are at 12% of whatever it is they are measuring.
They arent even close to cruising imo. All I hear is lock it down NOW.
Only El Paso is in lock down I think in texas. I dont know if it's possible to hit herd immunity if people are back and forth across the border every day. Glad it's a 12 hour drive from here to El Paso. I heard New Mexico added lock down measures next door to texas.
Interesting to read your post. Was just talking to a colleague who is an ICU Intensivist (I knew him as a resident) and he is in Arlington, Texas (which I think is by Dallas) and he said that what he is experiencing in the ICUs (with COVID patients) made his time in Vietnam look like a joke.
The death, desperation, lack of physicians and nurses is terrifying to him. He said in a few more weeks, they will need morgue trailers.
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On 11/11/2020 at 2:09 PM, Kwaj girl said:
Betcha it ends up being another false positive. 🙄
I guess the five additional positives are also “false positives”
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3 hours ago, orville99 said:
BCBS Medicare Advantage HMO w/$0 monthly premium
This sounds like a Part C Medicare Advantage Plan. It is important to remember when a beneficiary enrolls in a Part C plan, they surrender all rights and protections awarded and protected under CMS's Medicare (Part A & B). In the professional circles of providers, physicians and nurses these plans are frequently referred to as Medicare Disadvantage Plans. I have been in medical/health care quality analytics for the past 40 years. I feel we do beneficiaries a disservice by not articulating the positives and negatives of a Part C plan.
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Traditional Medicare does not cover for care outside the United States, it Territories or Commonwealths except in some very unique situations. Medicare Beneficiaries that choose a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) may have coverage for care outside the United States, depending on their plan. Before a beneficiary leaves "Traditional Medicare (Parts A & B) they should do their due diligence. Additionally, the $ 25,000 limit exposes the insured to significant exposure. Additionally it should be noted above that emergency transportation is not covered.
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Of course the flip side is, and it depends on how your level of risk is. How would you feel if they went bankrupt and you had the potential of losing all of your money?
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8 hours ago, chengkp75 said:
Don't get me wrong, I'm sure the testing equipment that is required is not chump change. And, technically, since an onboard lab would not be "in the US", the CDC could not require it to meet the "Clinical Laboratory Improvements Amendments" (funnily enough, also "CLIA") that they require of shore labs.
Not to muddy the waters any further....
For CLIA purposes, an international laboratory is a facility outside the U.S. or its territories that performs laboratory tests for the assessment of the health of human beings when such tests are referred by, and the results are returned to, a facility or authorized person in the U.S. or its territories.
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2 hours ago, mrlevin said:
Look at page 26 for the new overland route across the Negev and Sinai. 😄
I do a fair amount of work in Israel. Have been pretty much over the entire Country/State several times, and see what I missed 🙂
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When the April NSO was published they outlined what needed to be in place to safely resume cruising. Although I have not been in clinical practice for some time, I still provide consultation in regard to Medical/Healthcare Quality Analytics. You articulate very legitimate concerns in your post. From a practical standpoint, your first bullet point alone is a herculean task to overcome. What CDC has indicated in their NSO is that a ship must maintain an ICU level of care and that the clinicians aboard (physicians and nurses) possess the education, training and experience appropriate to that level of care. The reality there is tremendous shortage on intensivist physicians and nurses. Where are the cruise lines going to get these clinicians in the numbers that will be required?
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On 9/28/2020 at 2:50 PM, jhenry1 said:
Steve,
If my Visa Sapphire card covers trip insurance for $10,000 per person and my trip total cost is $30,000 for myself and my husband and visa covers $20,000 can I just take out the balance of $10,000 for the remainder of the coverage with some other company.
Not to confuse this whole topic even more, but just a heads up. I had back to back cruises cancelled by Regent back in April. Unfortunately I took a FCC instead of a refund. When I started to have some concerns about the financial viability of Regent I did some research. I have a Sapphire Reserve Visa from Chase. Since I took a FCC, I am not covered by their coverage. Additionally, my travel insurance (Allianz) will not cover a FCC either.
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1 minute ago, mrlevin said:
The no sail order gives a "earliest" of for date of termination:
I have a funny feeling it will keep getting extended.
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According to the Cruise News Law it is expected to be extended to October 31. The original No Sail notice also indicated it will remain in place until the national health emergency is in place.
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4 hours ago, Mapleleafforever said:
And am I correct in saying that there has never been and possibly will never be a vaccine for any of the Coronaviruses?
Actually not sure. That would require some research. I do believe that there will be a EUA for whatever the pharma companies come up with. Time will tell if they are safe, effective and provide immunity. I certainly hope so, but we have to wait for the virologists to do their studies.
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3 hours ago, John&LaLa said:
I think you're relating your experience from 40-50 years ago to today is a mistake. We now have computers that can analyze data and run models that your 1970's professors couldn"t even imagine.
I have been involved in medical/health care analytics for quite some time. One of the basic tenants is computer modeling. I am quite comfortable how modeling works and affects research.
The point I was trying to articulate was we still do not have a vaccine for HIV, NORO, etc.
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3 hours ago, Pcardad said:
Amazing to you. To the people making them it might be amazing that people are not.
I have decided to let the financial markets determine the fate of who survives as a company or not. I have enough FCC to loose to potentially donate any more.
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25 minutes ago, Plum Happy said:
Yes, I am aware of that, but I also know that Moderna has been working directly with NIH on this vaccine. The vaccine may not really protect you per say as a one shot Polio vaccine, maybe it's a yearly thing like the flu shot. If so, many will not bother getting it, like a flu shot.
When I was in training in the late 70s and early 80s we had patients presenting with opportunistic infections, which eventually was diagnosed as HIV/AIDS. I remember my professors telling me how promising vaccines will be for this treatment. Before AIDS NORO was diagnosed and all were hopeful for a vaccine. Unfortunately people get their scientific information from talking heads on the TV. There will be no quick way out of this pandemic. We need the let the scientists do their work . Just because we plow billions of dollars into this does not mean instant vaccine or if we ever have one. I just hope we have more luck than With other viruses.
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2 minutes ago, livingonthebeach said:
This is the exact verbiage from the CDC site.
This Order is in effect until one of the following occurs:
- The expiration of the Secretary of Health and Human Services’ declaration that COVID-19 constitutes a public health emergency,
- The CDC Director rescinds or modifies the order based on specific public health or other considerations, or
- September 30, 2020.
The first bullet point says it all. We are still under a public health emergency per HHS.
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Not to muddy the waters even more but there is an issue with testing. In order to to do testing it must be done by a CLIA (the CMS/CLIA) certified lab. The cruise lines medical directors can always apply for a CLIA certificate, but then it must meet all the US requirements. The work around would be to have a CLIA certified US lab do the testing at the port. The CLIA certificate issue only arrises if the The test is being performed in the US, it’s territories or commonwealths.
I have always said that my concern is I fly half way around the world, test positive and have to quaranteen for two weeks.
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The amazing thing is people are probably still making final payments and giving deposits.
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39 minutes ago, mek said:
Except some being developed are RNA vaccines and from what I have read, they could have a much higher rate of efficacy.
Unfortunately outside of the pharma companies no one has seen data. There is lots of spin from pharma, politicians, pundits on TV but we really do not know anything. We need to let scientists do their work. Vaccines are hard, very hard. For some reason people (probably because they watch talking heads on tv) thinks vaccines will cure everything. They will be just one part of the arsenal.
SURVIVAL
in Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Posted
My father (may he rest in peace) always said one hundred million here, one hundred million there, eventually it adds up lol
I think it will end up being a waiting game as to who survives. As was clearly articulated by other posters previously, bankruptcy is a business decision, not a loyalty decision.