That sinking feeling

4 hours ago, bobandsherry said:

You seem to view value of an industry strictly on employment.  There is much more to contribution than jobs.  It's been estimated that the cruise industry contribution to the US economy is nearly $25 billion as of 2018.  Maybe you consider that immaterial. 

And the US Gov't did not MAKE MONEY on the bailouts for the auto industry.  With GM and Chrysler, the US Govt LOST MONEY on those two companies.  With GM the US Govt invested $51 Billion and recouped $39.7 billion.  Chrysler had an investment of $12.5 billion and recoup was only $11.2 billion.  By contrast, Ford did not take any money thinking they were doing the right thing, guess they were foolish one. 

 

Personally, I have no horse in the game to worry about.  Just seems there's a significant contribution that cruise industry adds to the US.  And the cruise industry did not bring this upon themselves for bad management -- unlike GM and Chrysler when they got into trouble. 

As always governments will bail out firms and industries that suit them and their friends and allies.

And of course what's to say people will be allowed to work on ships just now?

Is it safe to have a few hundred workers on board if you cant have passengers?

It's all part of the current madness.

And now it seems the government plan is about to change too  

Massive lockdown expected. So the herd immunity plan looks like it's off now 

Welcome to the modern day dark age.

No they haven't. But who do you think has been advising all of these separate organisations?

Football wouldnt stop for anything in the uk unless someone was pressuring them.

If the government allowed Manchester united to play soccer tomorrow there would be 70,000 there.

1 hour ago, Harry Peterson said:

Clearly you've not noticed what's going on across the world - and in your own country.  You will - and very soon.  You can hide from the facts for a while, but not forever.

Oh give over. 

Yes everything in now banned in the uk.

Banned by a scared government and a rabid scaremongering press.

But fear didnt stop

70,000 every day at Cheltenham this week.

It didnt stop our national conference on Thursday night  or visits to many very busy pubs afterwards.

It didnt stop myself and family going out to a very busy restaurant last night either.

I was working in London all week and everyone is cracking on as normal.

But of course the bbc this morning is searching like mad to find the odd individual totally terrified and making it seem like it's the majority.

9 hours ago, Ava79 said:

Lol perfect 🙂
Btw maybe it's not right to tell this but people who live in huge tourist destinations can sigh with relief without big noisy crowds of tourists now

Do you actually like cruising? Really?

7 hours ago, beachbum53 said:

If I knew ahead of time there'd be a better than 50/50 chance of being quarantined, I'd see if the cruise line could book these guys. Nothing like some rousing Polka music to keep things from getting boring. 😁   

 

As if getting a virus and being quarantined wasnt it. This would flip over the egde, or maybe even overboard.

1 hour ago, wowzz said:

Hank - excellent post and sums up my attitude exactly. 

As you say, people seem to be set in their ways, and nothing will ever convince them that the best place for a passport is a safe.  

Common sense isnt it?

I am sorry but the way people are talking about the end of the cruise industry is just self fulfilling nonsense. Its almost like some want it to happen.

And whats wrong with the cruiseline giving credits instead of a cash refund?

The cruise industry isnt to blame for coronavirus, China is.

And if my next cruise is cancelled I will be booking the same with my credits as soon as possible.

Surely thats what you will all do, if you love cruising as much as you claim?

Of course my username was intended to raise a chuckle in itself.

So I asked the question but cant answer it myself. 

Some interesting choices though and food for thought for next years cruise. As long as we all dont become zombiefied prior to that.

No. The world will never be the same again. We will be living in caves and drinking ditch water. We're doomed.

And then someone scores and they all cuddle. They are either really stupid or the no handshake rule is just idiotic.

I cant wait for the shows where everyone has to be 3 apart from the next person.

That'll make us all safe.

Anyone else see the shebelives soccer this weekend?

Players shaking elbows instead of hands. But them drinking out of the same water bottles. Lol.

Honestly if the world hasn't  gone bonkers then I am a monkeys uncle.

Probably been done before but this place is as depressing as a miserable Sunday.

So what's your favourite ship and why?

I honestly believe too many people have watched too many zombie movies. Its completely crazy behaviour from what you would have assumed were sane people.

We had it in the uk with brexit. People are so stupid its almost impossible to explain.

17 hours ago, Cee_Jay said:

Do not see why the U.S.  or hopefully the U.K should be any different....what worries me is what the heck is happening in Italy!

Italy is unfortunate, or fortunate, that is has one of the oldest, if not the oldest population in the world. It probably shouldn't be a surprise that is being adversely affected  compared to other countries.

Some parts of italy are quite densely populated too. And is a very religious  country and therefore lots of people spend a lot if time together.

I read somewhere that the average age of those that have died is 81 there.

2 hours ago, navybankerteacher said:

Oh, yes: the media is loving all this free material.  Sadly, there is very little real journalism these days:  even “news shows” are run as entertainment - with people who are more actor than journalist, dressed to impress, spewing the most effective audience bait.

 

That does not negate the fact that we are facing an as-yet not fully understood situation.  There may, of course, be a silver lining:  just imagine how all governments’ retirement plans will benefit if everyone much over 65 leaves the stage - a culling of the no-longer productive members of society who use up the lions share of medical expenses, while sparing the younger, whose taxes largely go to support the geriatrics.

 

(I am speaking as one of the “elderly” who is among the threatened.)

 

But - back on topic :  the degradation of the information business does not mean that we should not try to be aware of what is going on in this developing story.

I dont disagree with any of what yoh have said here. And I am not that young either and have elderly relatives.

Maybe it's my cynical disposition but I still  believe the media are making this whole situation a lot worse.

And in this litigation era the politicians are running scared.

It's like the weather forecasters these days always predict apocalyptic conditions when it turns out to be just very windy.

Ha  Possibly.

41 minutes ago, navybankerteacher said:

1918-1919 was pre-social media — and it is now generally acknowledged that the many millions of deaths were largely the result of people not being made aware of what was going on.

 

Oh yes - information is the enemy.

Information isn't. 24 hour  media news chammel  frenzies are. Dont you think the media is loving this?.

Yes well this current farce has proven many people are ridiculously stupid. So giving them facts isn't going to help them. 

They are too busy stocking up on toilet rolls and tinned beans ready for the apocalypse.

Define elegant ship. Or rather dont.it might lead on to how would should dress in such elegance. Or how only the etiquettely trained should travel in such elegance. 

I want a buffet on these elegant ships just so I can throw a sausage at you.

Maybe we should all just go and hide and live in a cave. The world, including the politicians, has gone bonkers.

I am currently on a very busy train and guess what? Most people are just carrying on as normal.

Yet the media, the political classes, and a certain element of the public have gone completely off the rails.

This would never have happened pre social media.its time to ban 24 hour news channels and the internet.

Barking mad.

On 3/4/2020 at 10:15 PM, sfaaa said:

If that person does not wear a mask or covering his mouth when coughing, I will give him/her a nasty glare.

That'll scare him.

Sorry but I read some of that. You sure that wasnt written by the scriptwriters for 28 days later?