On 3/6/2020 at 1:59 PM, travelberlin said:

For some reason you keep giving the wrong information on Italy. It is exactly the opposite. The south has less cases than the north. Please inform yourself before writing or are you doing this on purpose?

Amen travelberlin, thanks for calling this person out.  

20 hours ago, GatorMomInNC said:

Seriously though, at the rate this is spreading in the US, and they way it is slowing now in China, I could see a scenario where it starts to slow in Europe while still spreading here and they ban US travelers, just as we have banned those from China, Italy, etc.  So maybe I will be denied entry on my international flights in June, and denied entry to Disneyland Paris, and get my money back.  😒

Who knows...we could all be in that boat come May/June/July, but I don't think that will be the case.  It's really hard to know exactly what is going on here in the US right now because so few people have been tested.  By the end of this coming week we could have numbers rivaling Italy or Iran after the tests are more widely available.  

2 hours ago, cruiser man 60 said:

IMO, the low number of reported cases in some countries is that they don’t have the testing facilities or test kits. My DIL is from South Korea and she said the test they do takes 10 mins with an 85% accuracy.  This is from Worldometers:
 

Coronavirus Testing: Criteria and Numbers by Country 

As of March 2, 2020

Country	Tests Performed	Tests per Million People	Population
South Korea	109,591	2,138	51,269,185	source
Italy	23,345	386	60,461,826	source
Austria	2,120	235	9,006,398	source
Switzerland	1,850	214	8,654,622	source
UK	13,525	199	67,886,011	source
Finland	130	23	5,540,720	source
Vietnam		18	97,338,579	source
Turkey	940	11	84,339,067	source
United States	472*	1	331,001,651	source

* as of March 1. On March 2, the "Total tested" figure was removed from CDC's websit10,000+ Club

 

Copied from another group, probably reason USA numbers low at present 

I was wondering the same...when the testing is available on a widespread basis in the US I wonder what will happen to the numbers?

10 hours ago, L2float said:

Thank you for the encouragement. So glad to hear that you’re traveling together after 2 years. Hoping all of our summer cruises go as planned.

Yeah, us too!

On 3/1/2020 at 10:07 AM, L2float said:

We are also booked on this cruise as well as on Lirica June 12th. We have purchased plane tickets with stays in Zurich for a couple of days before and after our cruises. As if the coronavirus wasn't enough to worry about, my DH was just diagnosed with cancer. We are sailing the Caribbean next week, with the doctor's ok. DH is in experiencing joint pain and quite fatigued, supposedly as side effects of meds,  but we plan to relax in YC. Too late to cancel and we're really looking forward to time alone together. He has an appt Wednesday and we will know more concerning how advanced his illness is. After that, we may cancel anyway. We've decided to wait and see on the June trips. My flights are non refundable, and we got a great deal on inside cabins for the Venice cruises (including application of the famous and extremely difficult to use Ocean Cay voucher!). We're in wait and see mode, like so many others. I've decided to stop planning anything ahead. After this, we plan to only do last minute cruises! Maybe I should just stop traveling. It hasn't been very relaxing over the past year!

Im sorry for the difficulties that everyone is having. Thank you for posting so that I know I'm not the only one with concerns.

Sorry to hear about the cancer L2Float.  Two years ago my wife was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer.  She is doing as well as can be expected and we look forward to these cruises (ours is scheduled for July) as a great way to get away from the daily grind.  

11 hours ago, Jewel2020 said:

We have a Mediterranean cruise booked for end of May, with 5 days booked in Rome before the cruise and other areas in Europe after the cruise. This is our dream vacation and have waited a very long time for this trip, we booked this last Fall. Everything is paid for!  I am very depressed over this situation and yes very nervous about this, the only way I will get any money back I suspect is if the flights into Rome are cancelled and if the cruise is cancelled.  So I'm waiting it out.  Sucks!!  we waited till we were empty nesters and this was our gift to us after we sent our child off to University..LOL!

Jewell2020, just hang on and try not to worry about the situation too much.  I have a feeling everything will be ok by May.

1 hour ago, teddyd33 said:

I will add my comment in another thread here, incase anyone was instead in learning about MSC's response to my situation for a 7 night cruise sailing on the MSC Grandiosa leaving Feb 29th. 

 

We were due to embark in Genoa (Northern Italy) yesterday, with a flight to Milan. Based on the based outbreak there was last week, we decided it was going to be very hard to want to travel through those areas to reach the port - plus if we pick up something, we wouldn't have wanted to infect others on the ship. Plus, the thought of the ship doing the same route every week (which may have picked up guests from those regions the previous week), and people leaving, departing all the time made this a very risky situation for us.

 

Sadly, although I have cruised many times before, this was due to be my first time on MSC with the newest ship, MSC Grandiosa. We had been looking forward to the trip for months, but sadly it just wasn't meant to be. MSC were not forthcoming in offering a credit to move at all, so I doubt I would sail with them given how inflexible they were given this situation. We will be massively out of pocket for this one from the cruise, flights and paid transfers.

I'm sorry to hear about MSC's inflexibility teddyd33.  I could understand that situation a month ago but there has been significant change to flight schedules to Milan in the past couple of days.  Many flights have been cancelled, and I believe AA has cancelled all flights to Milan.  I'm surprised they at least weren't willing to let you change dates and locations.  

19 minutes ago, Beardface said:

 

Think about it this way, if it's way worse, the entire travel industry will either be frozen or the infection will be so widespread that quarantines are effectively meaningless.  I'd play it by ear, but given the rate this seems to be spreading, I'd think if you couldn't go, that decision will effectively be made for you between now and then.  And if that happens, you get a full refund and possibly an additional kickback for your troubles.

This is my approach for a July cruise out of Athens.  

10 hours ago, GatorMomInNC said:

 

 

Well, for the week in Paris before our cruise we are of course flying in/out of CDG, which I just read today is what French authorities are considering ground zero for the outbreaks they have had in their country so far, including the poor man who just died as France's first fatality.  So my thoughts are that at some point flying into and out of CDG will be problematic.  See below from The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/28/an-epidemic-is-coming-europe-struggles-to-contain-coronavirus

 

The situation in France, where 38 cases have been identified, more than double the number on Wednesday, has underlined the difficulties in tracing and managing the new coronavirus once infections have begun to take hold.

Since Tuesday night, when a 60-year-old teacher from the Oise department of northern France died in a Paris hospital – the first local transmission with no links to China or Italy – a dozen other cases have emerged in the area linked to a military airbase in Creil.

Attention has also increasingly focused on Europe’s second busiest airport, Paris Charles de Gaulle, as a potential source of other infections.

All of which has sparked political leaders to warn that the continent is on the brink of an epidemic. On Wednesday, it was the French president, Emmanuel Macron.

Flanked by clinicians as he visited La Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital in Paris, after the first French death, Macron said: “We are facing a crisis, an epidemic that is coming. We know that we’re only at the beginning.”

 

 

An excellent source of info is the Johns Hopkins University site.  Not sure who is reporting that Paris is Ground Zero, here is the map of France as of 5 minutes ago, nothing reported in Paris.  

It's a personal choice and everyone has their perspective and needs to act within their comfort zone.  My wife and I and another couple have a cruise out of Athens in July.  We are not considering cancelling but we are certainly monitoring what is happening.  I think there would have to be a State Dept or WHO warning in place for us to strongly consider canceling.  

I'm booked at the Hilton for one night prior to a July cruise.  The reviews were good and has good views of the Acropolis.  

Successfully matched Hilton Diamond to Diamond.  It was very easy and quick.  

Very helpful, thanks everyone!

Does the Explorer have the Solarium area with the Bistro?  My wife and I went on a Med cruise on Oasis last year and really enjoyed that area.  I can't find anything that looks like it on the deck plans for Explorer.  

Thanks for the help!

Hooter

3 hours ago, ryguy2008 said:

Hi!

 

When I last traveled on Harmony, I loved the quiet Solarium. There were usually tons of chairs present.

 

I know that Symphony's Solarium has a pool. Does this draw in more guests? Is it hard to find a chair sometimes in a shaded Solarium area?

 

Thanks!

I can't speak for either of those two ships but I can say that I just got off Oasis this morning. My wife and I loved the solarium area as well.  We had one sea day and every chair was taken by 9:30 am.  

As stated earlier, the second formal night was last night.  Once again I wore jeans and a button down collared shirt work no issue. There was a guy at the table next to us wearing shorts and a t-shirt.

17 hours ago, livylotte said:

Maybe helpful for anyone packing for Oasis this summer. We are currently in the Med on her.

Main Dining room have been strict with dress code on Formal night. Men were being turned away in long trousers with smart polo shirts. Jackets not necessary but a long or short sleeved shirt is the minimum.

The majority of people were dressed up. I saw lots of dinner suits and sparkly dresses - long and not so long.

 

So far we have also had a 'white' night and a 'tropical' night. 

 

As always anything goes in the Windjammer.

 

 

 

My wife and I are in Oasis right now, just getting ready to dock in Naples. This was not our experience in the Day 2 formal night at American Icon. I wrote jeans and an untucked button down shirt and had no problems.

7 hours ago, MeHeartCruising said:

At first glance, I also do not see a "Rome On Your Own" bus excursion offered by Royal Caribbean any longer.  At least not on the Rome Excursion List on their website.  However, they DO offer the "Express Train to Rome - CVW2" which is essentially the same thing except via train.  It shows as $94 per person on the website.  It will bus you from ship to the Civitavecchia train station, then use train to take you to the San Pietro train station.  You then have 5 hours in Rome to do as you please, with a return train trip back from San Pietro station.  Not as cheap as the Express Train mentioned in the previous posting.  I suspect it might be exactly the same train however.  

 

****Edited to add....  Actually, look at the excursion named "Explore Rome - CVP7".  That one appears to be the traditional "Rome on Your Own" via bus.   Drop off and pick up location is near St. Peters Square and you have 5 hours on your own.   Price is $69.75 per person.

Thanks for the info.  I found that train excursion.  It's great how RCI can charge $94 for train tickets I can pay $20 for, lol.

Haven't stayed before but staying there next well.  I've read great reviews on www.flyertalk.com

1 hour ago, mapleleaves said:

Isn't it listed under your excursion options ?

I'm on NCL and there are ' Rome On Your Own' options by train or bus,  under Excursions. 

There is but it didn't look like the option I was looking for.  For RCI it says they give you an hour at each stop.  I was thinking just drop me off and get me when it's time to go home.  Maybe they can do that as well, the description just isn't well written.  Or maybe I'm just dense...lol.  

Hi all!  

I'm evaluating options for a day in Rome coming in on 5/30 on RCI Oasis of the Seas.  I know we can take a train into the city.  Is there a shuttle bus option for RCI?  

15 hours ago, ollienbertsmum said:

Hootss: it only takes about 20 minutes from where the shuttle leaves you.  It may only take about 20 minutes from the ship (the shuttle actually takes you away from the station) however you cannot be sure where you are going to dock.  I suppose that once you dock you could use Google Maps to see the distance.  

 

It is so hard to tell how long it takes to get off the ship, find the next shuttle bus and wait for it to fill up.  It doesn’t take long to walk from the shuttle bus into the station and locate the platform, but that is another couple of minutes.  Those people who have not got tickets have to queue up or locate a machine to purchase the tickets and then validate them.  You may have to go down the steps under the line to get the train to Rome.  It all adds up.  Since missing your express train would really spoil your day, I would allow at least an hour (I have done it 5 times and it has always been OK).  You can always have a coffee when you get to the station.   I would be interested to know how long others allow.  

 

We usually walk back from the station and have a gelato on the way.  By this time you are not so stressed - unless you have timed things badly and you only have 30 minutes to sail-away time.  😱

Thanks!

First time to Civi...I think we are going to take the Express train into Rome.  How long should we allow for waiting on the shuttle to the train station?  Did I also read that someone said it's only a 20 minute walk instead to the train station?  

14 hours ago, Reader0108598 said:

Ignore snarky remarks they are every where 😞 Happy Anniversary!! Ours is May 26th 39 years we will be on the Majesty of the seas! Have fun 🙂

 

My wife Amy and I are celebrating our 31st onboard Oasis on May 28th, just two days behind you.  Happy Anniversary!

1 minute ago, Bobal said:

 

Oops sorry 

No worries!