K.T.B.

45 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Is this pending change what you were referring to?

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/cdc-plans-drop-mask-requirements-fully-vaccinated-people-n1267249

 

 

 

And there it is.  Once the cruise lines see that, all they need to do is require 100% vaccinated passengers and we're good to go.

I'll edit in this:  Seeing that news makes the recent requirements for the cruise lines to start up again even more idiotic by the CDC.  They should've waited, or the right hand didn't know what the left hand was doing.  Either way, not a good look.

12 minutes ago, scottca075 said:

OMG, Biden just issued a waiver to the Jones Act in response to the Colonial Pipeline "crisis" that has been going on for a week, but won't issue Jones Act waivers to help Alaskan Americans salvage their businesses.

Sigh...

Jones Act regulates maritime commerce, it has nothing to do with cruise lines.  The act that would need to be waived to help Alaska and cruise lines is Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA).

45 minutes ago, TeeRick said:

We are in Maine this week and took my FIL out for his birthday at an indoor restaurant.  No masks needed at the table when dining.  It almost felt normal!

My wife and I did that that this past Friday.  Our first dinner out since August.  We went to a place we used to routinely go to once or twice a month before the pandemic hit.  We also went to a bar for a couple of hours to visit a friend (she was the bartender) that we hadn't seen well over a year.  All of us vaccinated.  Proper social distancing all around.  Except we did give hugs.  (Again, all vaccinated.) It was absolutely glorious.

3 hours ago, Miaminice said:

Just look how it’s done on ships already sailing - and in restaurants in many parts of the world. While walking to your table you have to wear a mask. Once seated you can take your mask off for the duration of you dinner... pretty simple.

 

It‘s already happening and done on ships in Europe since last year and on the Royal ships sailing in Singapore.

Bingo.  The key is, however, that the tables are spaced far enough apart for proper social distancing.

56 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

Covid weight gain is already turning me into the Hulk... 

You wouldn't like Jazzbeau when he's angry.

19 minutes ago, LGW59 said:

Me too.  But in my backyard or on a ship, enjoying a BBQ, I can deal with a little wind.  Do you only stay indoors when you cruise?  Guess we won't be meeting at the Sunset Bar

Yes.  I'm too afraid to leave my room.  

4 hours ago, LGW59 said:

you can eat it in your cabin, and take the mask down between bites

When I sit down at a table in a restaurant, the mask comes off and stays off until I get up to leave.  That's my "brief period of time".

26 minutes ago, LGW59 said:

I’d love to sit outside for a BBQ

So would I, but I'd prefer something a little less windy than a moving ship....  

Lemme check my Magic 8 Ball.....hold on a sec here....  um......damn.  Reply hazy, try again.

49 minutes ago, NMTraveller said:

The deal breaker for me is the tight masking restrictions on indoor dining.  I can only take my mask off for brief periods of time?  Does not sound like fine dining.

But what is considered a "brief period"?  For me, it's the moment I sit my butt down until I am done.  Period.  I will not constantly put on/take off a mask with each course.  I'm fully vaccinated.  If the table are far enough a apart, there should be absolutely zero issue. Something Dr. Fauci has mentioned.

Ummmm, no.

3 minutes ago, Jeremiah1212 said:

 

Quoting before someone asks...

 

Shore Excursions & Transportation Services

Fully Vaccinated Travelers

• Cruise ship operators, at their discretion, may advise passengers and crew that—if they are fully vaccinated—they may engage in self-guided or independent exploration during port stops, if they wear a mask while indoors. The cruise ship operator is additionally advised that foreign jurisdictions may have their own requirements.

 

 

 

This only applies to outdoor activities (for now). The dining guideline for indoor dining, especially those 2+ hour MDR meals will take longer to change IMO. 

I strongly suspect those will be changed soon enough if they've already amended the excursion part of it.

19 minutes ago, Jeremiah1212 said:

They have added a new caveat for vaccinated passengers:

 

Fully Vaccinated Travelers

• Cruise ship operators, at their discretion, may advise passengers and crew that—if they are fully vaccinated—they may gather or conduct activities outdoors, including engaging in extended meal service or beverage consumption, without wearing a mask except in crowded settings.

Wait, what?  Some common sense?  Shocking.

7 minutes ago, Fouremco said:

I actually pulled someone back one time as they were about to walk into traffic in downtown Chicago.  They were too buys looking down on their phone.  Truck missed them by about a foot when I yanked them back.

Of course I was sworn at, until people leapt to my defense.  This is why some animals eat their young...

1 hour ago, PTC DAWG said:

I miss all the good stuff.  

Yeah, the BBQ was awesome!  

19 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

Remember when the vaccines were first being worked on and there were posts that they would probably be less than 50% effective? And now they are well over 90%, and people still complain. 

We've become such an "all or nothing" world....

52 minutes ago, Oceangoer2 said:

And here is my reasoning.....if you had a potentially serious heart condition that required surgery and there was a newly and reasonably tested operation that would give you a 95% chance, would you not take it because decades hadn't passed wherein it was tested long term and proven to be life-saving?  We can't wait decades to get our WORLD, not just your country, going...... economically and socially.  Life presents chance and I think this vaccine gives me the protection as best it can for now.  The boosters will be required no doubt to update and further protect.

Over a decade ago I had some rather major neck surgery performed on me.  I had very good odds of pulling through just fine, but there was a chance things could go wrong.  I had a blown disc pressing up against my spinal cord.  I forget the odds that I could end up paralyzed after the operation (I think 10-15% chance), but I had a 100% chance of eventually being paralyzed if I did nothing.  I know you didn't ask me that question, but hell yes I'd do it.  Just like I got my shot. 

Always got with the odds.  

2 hours ago, TeeRick said:

Kevin it is my definition.  I put the true anti-vaccine people (anti-Vaxxers) in a very different category.  They choose not to get any vaccine for themselves or their families based upon their beliefs.  But that is different than the COVID vaccine hesitant people.  They are making a risk decision for vaccine versus COVID for themselves and their kids.  They are evaluating this particular vaccine using what they understand (or not understand) about the risk.  Many are wait and see but probably eventually get vaccinated.  It is estimated that the true Anti-Vaxxers are about 15-20% of the US population.  Higher in some other countries particularly in Europe.

I have friends who are not anti-vaxxers, but they didn't want to get vaccinated because of them being so "unknown".  BUT the moment they got a great deal on a cruise, they got their J&J shot.  Not kidding.

They didn't do it for their health, they did it 'cause they wanna cruise dammit!    Whatever it takes, I suppose.

1 hour ago, Ride-The-Waves said:

While under the previous Guy the CDC became politicized, it has a long history of focusing solely on the safety and health of Americans.  The current director Dr Walensky is eminently qualified as a physician, scientist and administrator.  Belittling her doesn't help anyone's position.  Since incumbency she has done a lot to clean out the previous infestation at CDC.

And yet she couldn't answer a simple yes or no question that Dr. Fauci had already answered days before.  She was asked about whether masks still needed to be worn outside.  And, yes, I'll hammer away at that because anyone who is somewhat sensible knew the answer to it.  She had to "refer it to other people" and get back to the reporter with a response later on.  That does not exactly "scream" qualified, IMHO.  

Seriously, if not for Dr. Fauci recommending mask, social distancing, etc., I truly wonder what the CDC would've done.  Because all they did as follow suit and recommend what he said what to do.  I'd LOVE to know what his views/recommendations for cruise lines are, even though it's not under his purview.  Perhaps his opinion would be enough...

The ineptitude of the CDC the past 15 months or so does not instill me with much confidence that they know what they're doing in focusing on the safety and health of Americans.

On 5/10/2021 at 12:30 AM, caribill said:

 

 

Well, at best you are 94% good with the best vaccines out there.

And this is a bad thing?  I'd take a 6% chance over a 100% chance of being infected.  And even then, if you're vaccinated, the effects of the virus will most likely be far less than if you were unvaccinated.

1 hour ago, TeeRick said:

It is tricky.  Many parents will not vaccinate their kids as we have discussed here on this thread.  Kids have a different risk for COVID than adults especially older adults.  I believe many parents will evaluate that in their decision and compare to unknown or long term risk of the COVID vaccines.  Even if none have been yet identified.  It will be wait and see for many parents.  Unless of course their school district requires the vaccine.  These parents are vaccine hesitant but not anti-vaccine.  It is a conservative approach and I believe will be by the majority of parents.  Especially since grandma and grandpa are vaccinated and protected.

They're anti-vaccine until they're not.  If they want their kids to go back to school, odds are they'll need to be vaccinated.

And, unless I misheard it this morning, kids are having a far better reaction to the vaccine than adults in terms of fighting off the virus.