19 minutes ago, Tikka234 said:

My son has type 1 diabetes had the AZ  2 weeks ago with no side effects the same as us 

great!  good to now it wasn't a T1D thing 

Great to hear that, though not sure when you undertook that tour as the local bus company have just recently got "the gig" but still at a quite reasonable price.  As a local I hated seeing cruise ship passengers walk about the local mall (needs condemned) as they had just walked off the ship when I knew just up the hill was an amazing view over the islands off Arran and the west coast.  I once approach 2 USA laddies to suggest a taxi up the hill but I forgot I was just recovering from AML treatment and looked awful at 2/3  the weight I should be and what looked like a crew cut - they turned and walked away ... very quickly lol

Just wanted to add if anyone books this and they berth in Greenock to post up on here and I will happily give suggestions of trips.  I can also give you wave as you will sail straight past my  garden on the way there.  Do not do a walk off the ship in this port as there really isn't much near by.  But just 1 mile away by taxi will give you a incredible view of  the mountains in the west coast. And an easy trip further away some of the best scenery about .  Glasgow is also a worth while alternative if you prefer cities to scenery 

Just wanted to add if anyone books this and they berth in Greenock to post up on here and I will happily give suggestions of trips.  I can also give you wave as you will sail straight past my  garden on the way there.  Do not do a walk off the ship in this port as there really isn't much near by.  But just 1 mile away by taxi will give you a incredible view of  the mountains in the west coast. And an easy trip further away some of the best scenery about .  Glasgow is also a worth while alternative if you prefer cities to scenery 

Our experience Myself, husband and MIL got AZ other than usual sore arm nothing else. My mum and 3 aunts got Pfizer and had no side effects either.  However, my daughter & future Son in Law both T1 diabetic got AZ and became quite ill (doc had to be called for my daughter & and it must have been bad as getting her to ever admit defeat to anything takes some doing).  However, to them it indicated how they would have faired if they got the real thing and emphasised why they need to continue to shield until 2nd vaccine. They have also heard from 2 friends also type 1 diabetic  who suffered quite bad reactions.  So I think being diabetic plays a part (daughter also has kidney issues ) also other preexisting condition may impact too.  

For me I have the opposite worry I would have like the vax to have done something as I have no Lymphocytes so a very high chance it won't work for me at all

2 minutes ago, Britboys said:

I'm really not a big eater these days and find that three courses on P&O are more than sufficient - sometimes a bit of a challenge. One night on D2, I had to go off on a food hunt about 10pm because I was so hungry - and we had only gone into dinner about 7.15 that night...

when did you cruise on D2.  We did D1 in Jan 18 and enjoyed it the food was OK nothing to write home about but nice enough.  Not on a par with Celebrity but not much below than RCI and Carnival.  

16 minutes ago, Britboys said:

Only sailed Marella once, which was on Discovery 2 in the Caribbean 3 years ago. I woud agree with Phil that they are probably the closest fit to P&O and that in terms of quality, the entertainment is pretty similar but I feel there is a little more variety on P&O. On the basis of that one cruise I would however disagree with Phil about the food. I thought the food on Discovery 2 was the worst food I have had on any cruise. On P&O, the only included dining is in the mdr, buffet and poolside snack venues. Part of the buffet in the evening has a different menu available with table service for a very small extra charge. Sadly, I also found service to be poor in both the mdr and many of the bars. Service on P&O in my experience is quite good but it is much more reserved than the American lines.

Did you know that Royal Caribbean are due to base Grandeur of the Seas in Barbados this winter doing 7 & 14 night itineraries?

 if you thought discovery food was bad don't try Costa it was dire!! I require gluten free food so had a different menu one night my main course choice was fish fingers or white rice with peas.  I kid you not!! - 

We had a look at that too, but I think I fancy being on a British package for our first trip since lockdown. Like the idea that by far the majority will be vaccinated on the ship   

thanks for that.  The price for p&o is £700 cheaper even having factored in adding on the drinks package.  We enjoyed our only Marella cruise the last time. Not quite as good food wise and show wise as Celebrity especially the Edge but wouldn't hesitate to go back.  Just with the £830 less for P&O (that's with factoring in  the £39.95 pp/day on to the P&O price). So the only other thing I haven't factored in to p&o is the tips thus  thought it was worth checking P&O out 

Just started asking the same question when yours came up.   I am looking at either Discovery Jan 22 or P &O  Jan 22 from Barbados - trying to decide between them P&O is quite a bit cheaper for a balcony cabin but there is a lot of discussion about only getting off the ship if on their tours.  

Trying to see what Marella doing but considering you can book a week in Barbados first I can't see how they will then not allow you off on your own. 

 Looking at P&O for the first time doing a Caribbean cruise probably on the Britannia,  We have had a few cruises in the past  and usually now sail with Celebrity (Infinity, Summit and Edge)  but they haven't got a Barbados departure,  In the past we have sailed Royal  (Vision & Rhapsody)  few times when we had our teenage daughters but haven't done then for a while  We have also sailed on Carnival (Legend  & Valour ) a  good many years ago.  We have sailed Marella (Explorer) from Barbados once before and although not on a par with Celebrity we still thoroughly enjoyed it.  The only cruise line we not sail again is Costa although value for

money and had great music in the evening the food was too much of a let down for us even the additional cost restaurants were below par of normal cruise dining .

  For those who have sailed any of the other lines mentioned above where does P&O fit especially wrt  the food on board.  Is there a choice of different restaurants included in the base price we particularly enjoyed this on the Edge and was a big plus for the Marella cruise too.   Also can you always get choose anytime type dining no showing in the booking process.

Was just thinking of booking P&O for the first time so was having a look through the board to get a final idea of  what to expect when came across this.   Are all cruise lines doing this?  I was looking at Caribbean from Barbados and have the choice of P&O , TUI or Royal Caribbean.  I did not see anything on the other lines about this.  In fact with TUI I could book a week on shore pre cruise. I will ask on the other lines board to check but this could be the deciding factor for us.  

12 hours ago, ChC said:

 

One of my family members studies in US. The news two months ago was that US will not renew his student visa if the university has gone totally online or 80% online (I can't remember exactly). And those in the USA now has to leave before a certain date if their college or university is not open for real classes at a percentage. You could google it if you are interested. But I was shocked when I saw the screenshot he showed me on the legislative change. Thus it is understandable why colleges are opening in order to keep the foreign students who are paying big money.

 I think it may have been pulled at the last minute as it was going to impact some my family and they are OK now

On 8/20/2020 at 7:53 PM, BermudaBound2014 said:

 

Sid: Just so you know, here in the USA it's quite the news that face shields are not acceptable. Kids/teachers can't wear them in place of masks while in school. For the hard of hearing, clear plastic masks are being used. MNrocket was probably responding to the USA ruling on face shields. 

 Same ruling in Scotland. If a mask is required in any guidance then it is not acceptable to be replaced with a visor.  Any premises doing so can be closed down. (probably temporary but not heard of it happening yet).  As soon as this was put in place all cafes and bars now used masks.

Carnival have just pulled all Cunard sailing until March 2021

their press release has this in it

"After very careful consideration and reviewing the latest guidance, we simply do not feel it would be sensible to start sailing again with our current schedule so we have reviewed future itineraries."

Some friends in travel industry are expecting other carnival subdivisions to follow suit but the powers above them have not  given any indication which ones.

On 7/18/2020 at 1:53 PM, TeeRick said:

We will need a combination of B-Cells (Antbodies) and T-Cells.  Let's forget about natural herd immunity for the time being.  Let's concentrate on acquired immunity (vaccine) and hopefully herd immunity from that vaccine if widely used.  What one might generate for vaccine-acquired immunity might be protective, albeit different than from natural infection.  There is confusion here.  Just because an antibody response wanes from natural infection does not mean that a vaccine will be ineffective.  Remember that all T-Cells are not created equal.  Most refer to CTL's or Killer T-Cells but the response of Helper T-Cells and cytokines greatly aid the antibody response.  So everything needs to be measured in the clinical trials.  We do not yet know the required immunity formula yet for a vaccine.

 Hi it looks like your knowledge of this stuff is much more advanced than mine  I only ever worked on the target drug substances and then latterly the drug product formulation.  The mode of action of the drugs was always beyond me! lol.  However, with my lack of Lymphocytes ( well near zero ) I have a personal interest in finding out how that impacts the function of this type of vaccine.  Can you shed any light on this for me and for any other hopeful future cruisers  in the same boat (no pun intend) as me?

9 minutes ago, cruiser man 60 said:

The Marella cruises are aimed at U.K. Cruisers , TUI the parent company are restarting cruises for Germans only at end the of this month, similar to Aida.Costa are doing same in August but just for Italians.

i expect MSC will just stick to around Italy and maybe France at start and may limit to just European cruisers, Spain won't be on itineraries.

that's kind of what I meant.  Costa and MSC usually have mixed clientele.  Last Costa (only and last lol- amazing Itinerary and entertainment but the food was so poor) I went on last year had a lot of french as well as Italians along with quite a few UK people and eastern EU as well.  MSC has similar clientele (but I think less french than Costa).  I will be curious as what they will do with their UK clients, especially those from Scotland as our restrictions on travel are tighter than other UK nations, as virus levels here are now a good bit lower than rest of UK.  I have quite a few Yacht club friends that are waiting to find out as they are booked in Sept /Oct. Meant to be sailing from Barcelona as yet no update

36 minutes ago, cruiser man 60 said:

Looks like MSC will be joining Aida , Costa & TUI in restarting in Europe soon , just waiting final approvals. This is what MSC just said, I can't understand why the CDC and US cruises lines can't sort anything similar out.

 

Please note that at the present time we are in the very final stages of review by the relevant authorities of our new health and safety operating protocol which will be deployed to our ships to support their return to operations, initially in the Mediterranean and as currently planned, from 16 August onwards for some markets.
 

As a reminder, our new health and safety operating protocol has been designed on regional and national guidelines set forth amongst other by the EU Healthy Gateways, the European Union-funded Joint Action, and will also align with those issued by the European Maritime Safety Agency, EMSA. At the present time, we are waiting for final approval from the national authorities from the countries that our ships plan to visit along their East and West Mediterranean itineraries from the second half of August onwards.

 I am just not that sure that this will go anything like as smoothly as they suggest.  Just today one of the main ports towns Barcelona has just gone under restrictions.  Some others areas in Spain already have gone back to lockdown.  The Baltic and Adriatic ports along with some parts of Greece and now also under strain due to upticks in cases.  Different countries have now created differing lists of allowed place to visit with 14 day quarantine imposed on either arrival or return to home country (for example I can not go to some Baltic or Adriatic countries or to Spain Sweden and Portugal without a 14 quarantine on my return .  At best I can see cruises like MSC doing cruises round their own home country and a few select 'safe' islands.

here is TUI lastest update and I have heard more are to be added in the next week or so

Marella Cruises sailings on or before 27 August 2020 and all sailings detailed below

– All sailings on Marella Celebration
– Sailings on Marella Discovery 2 from Naples, Asia and the Middle East up to 30 April 2021
– Sailings on Marella Dream from Palma up to 4 May 2021
– Marella Discovery sailings on or before 31 October 2020, and from Jamaica in December 2020 and January 2021, and sailings on 2 and 9 February 2021
– Marella Explorer 2 sailings from Naples between 5 May 2021 to 20 October 2021, and the 90s v 00s Sunsets cruise on 5 September 2020

5 minutes ago, TeeRick said:

I was also at Pfizer in R&D and later in Global Operations.  Were you in Sandwich?  I visited there a few times.  Home of *****!  Nice to hear your story- are you OK now?

I was in Sandwich in R&D and later in Reg CMC Sandwich.  We probably crossed paths either in Sandwich, Groton or at a DSTF lol

2 year Remission now, got to see my  youngest daughter 21st her graduation and her and my elder daughters engagements and also squeezed a  few cruises in - so all and all a very good 2 years.

33 minutes ago, yorky said:

Great story.

 Yip, I owe my life to that drug and to the QE(II) Glasgow NHS staff who got me through a 6 month (bar the odd day out here and there) stay.

39 minutes ago, TeeRick said:

There was some positive but very early clinical results announced yesterday for the Pfizer vaccine.  It produced antibody levels that were higher than those seen in infected/recovered COVID patients.  But a very long way to go at this point.

Off - topic but just wanted to say I worked for them as a research Scientist my whole career but had to give up when my eldest daughter took ill.   I was so proud to be doing my dream job of looking for cures, it was all I ever planned to do since about 12yrs old and I was so sad to let my career go but knew I had too. 

 A few years ago I took ill with a rare form of ALM leukemia my chances were next to nill.  I was put on a trial drug - nicknamed the Nuclear option as not too many people seemed to get through the trial but those that did make it seemed to do better than expected. 

It was a no brainer, I went on the randomized  trial hoping I would get the new treatment.  I did & that was now 2 yrs ago 😊 during my treatment I asked to be told nothing about the trial or my chances (I read the risk page only to sign and ignored the other pages). Being from field would have made it very hard to not start reading all the research papers I could find, and I knew mentally and physically I did not have the strength to do that. 

When my eldest took ill I did all that, and even fought  her corner and won as my background allowed me to put a portfolio of a very convincing case together to get a treatment that was not yet available in the uk free. But I knew how much I got involved and how much it took out of me .  Only after 1 yr remission did I ask for info about the trial I was on .... Karma.... it was a trial involving a Pfizer drug I couldn't believe it. 

My daughter got given a credit note for canceled Iceland air flights.  She did not want that she wanted her money back but at that time the airline was just not playing ball.  She contacted her bank (credit card booking) and they took up the case and she was refunded in full.  The bank were fully aware that she had been issued a credit voucher she did not want  & that did not make any difference to the refund.  

This is not just a problem for the elderly.  I got Leukemia in my 40's now been in remission for 2 yrs.  I was allowed to start cruising again last year. 

However, due to the treatment (trial drug that saved my life as without I had less than 5% chance so not complaining that its left a few issues) I have been left with no Lymphocytes.  As a result there is a high chance vaccines may not work as I probably don't make enough T-cells. I am not allowed to travel anywhere that has  endemic Rabies (it would be against consultants advice thus apart for being a stupid thing to do  I would also not be insured) as post bite injections may not work.  I am also not allowed to go in a swimming pool, as virus and mold would be too high a risk for me (I used to swim about 1/2 mile every week day too  & miss it really badly). It won't matter how much vit C, D zinc or anything else I would take, I would still have very little immunity. 

I am sadly expecting to be told by my consultant team that my cruise days may be over at least for a few years until we see how this plays out.  At the min  (under consultants instruction) I have been in lockdown in my house (& garden) since 28th feb, no visitors allowed until last weekend and now only 1 other household in garden 2m away.

So its not only the over seventies that will be affected if a vaccine that works without the activating of t-cells can't be found- There are a few being investigated  but they always lag behind the main t-cell instigator type as the requirement to get a bulk vaccine that hits the spot for about 70% is understandably more of a priority right now. 

https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/coronavirus-tui-suspends-all-package-holidays-and-cruises-and-asks-for-state-aid-082549258.html

All cruises cancelled now 

18 minutes ago, MX-Drew said:

We shall have to wait and see how they deal with refunds now, my bet is on a two week rotation in order of sailing.

also asking for a bail out according to yahoo fianace

Coronavirus: TUI suspends all package holidays and cruises and asks for state aid

https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/coronavirus-tui-suspends-all-package-holidays-and-cruises-and-asks-for-state-aid-082549258.html