When will things start back up?

[DeanoNorthPerth]

7 hours ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

FWIW: We are UCSF patients (University of California San Francisco, which is a huge medical operation criss-crossing the Bay Area) waiting for notification of where/when to go. Imagine our dismay when we heard on the local TV news that UCSF has only received 8,000 doses so far.

Maybe UCSF is run by a Brooklynite who is waiting for demand to drop so they don’t have to pay retail. 😉

[Flatbush Flyer]

26 minutes ago, DeanoNorthPerth said:

Maybe UCSF is run by a Brooklynite who is waiting for demand to drop so they don’t have to pay retail. 😉

Good to see that the ‘Rona situation has not dulled your sense of humor. I hope that you’re staying safe and well my friend.

[Nashna]

On 1/21/2021 at 10:38 AM, mrlevin said:

 

As of yesterday Virginia had just used 37% of the vaccines that they had received; sounds like it is a Virginia distribution issue rather than a federal government issue.

Actually, the urban areas of Virginia have done very well.  I understand that the rural areas do not have the same success rate.   Currently, our area has actually closed down several large vaccine facilities due to lack of vaccine.  They are not expected to reopen for first shots until the vaccine is available.         

[CintiPam]

On 1/21/2021 at 9:39 AM, Nashna said:

We were delighted to receive our Pfizer shots on Tuesday.  Sadly, we arrived home to find that our Oceania cruise was cancelled.  We had not expected it to go, so this was not a big shock.  Here in Virginia, many of us over the age of 65, teachers and health care workers are receiving the shots.  We were lucky to get ours as the state has now run out of vaccine and is waiting for new shipments before accepting more appointments.  I am hopeful that the dismal federal response will greatly improve in the coming months now that we are under new management.  Let's hope!

Maybe there were many like the 62-year-old Cincinnatian I know who actually posted a photo of herself on Facebook receiving her vaccine shot in Richmond, VA last week. Her current beau, an eye doctor, lives in Richmond.

[Nashna]

Maybe there were many like the 62-year-old Cincinnatian I know who actually posted a photo of herself on Facebook receiving her vaccine shot in Richmond, VA last week. Her current beau, an eye doctor, lives in Richmond.

 

Hopefully, there aren't too many cheaters.  My friend's son is a Dr. and he signed up his office staff.  He refused to have his 74 year old mother join the list as it wouldn't be ethical. 

[Tranquility Base]

Has anyone heard, apart from Viking, of any ships being fitted with PCR testing facilities ?

 

As this is a an actual piece of hardware, it would give some guide as to which ships may be doing something next.

 

Things like dining / bar / theatre / shore excursions arrangements are able to be more rapidly introduced & changed.

Something such as an approved testing Lab onboard is a more significant process.

[Tranquility Base]

Crystal Cruises has announced they are basing a ship in the Bahamas to do 16 seven day cruises from July to October.

Cruises include 4 or 5  different island stops.

[LHT28]

6 minutes ago, Tranquility Base said:

Crystal Cruises has announced they are basing a ship in the Bahamas to do 16 seven day cruises from July to October.

Cruises include 4 or 5  different island stops.

Ok if you want to sail on Crystal

[njhorseman]

51 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

Ok if you want to sail on Crystal

And for seven days solely in the Bahamas no less...not exactly where I'm looking to cruise on any cruise line.

[PaulMCO]

28 minutes ago, njhorseman said:

And for seven days solely in the Bahamas no less...not exactly where I'm looking to cruise on any cruise line.

After a year of no cruising and expecting O to cancel my next one as well.  I for one will jump on that  🙂

Assuming it does not sell out....

 

I think you will find more cruise lines doing the same.  RCCL doing same in UK this summer.  Just like the vaccine there won't be any on off switch as to availability and numbers of cruises.  They will start with baby steps.  After these Bahama trips the ship will resume it planned trip to South America.

[njhorseman]

44 minutes ago, PaulMCO said:

After a year of no cruising and expecting O to cancel my next one as well.  I for one will jump on that  🙂

Assuming it does not sell out....

 

I think you will find more cruise lines doing the same.  RCCL doing same in UK this summer.  Just like the vaccine there won't be any on off switch as to availability and numbers of cruises.  They will start with baby steps.  After these Bahama trips the ship will resume it planned trip to South America.

To each his own.

 

 I'd sooner wait for a cruise that will take me someplace interesting rather than spending money to cruise in the Bahamas. If I want to go to the beach in the summer I can drive to Cape May in two hours for my regular summer beach vacation.

[clo]

14 minutes ago, njhorseman said:

 I'd sooner wait for a cruise that will take me someplace interesting rather than spending money to cruise in the Bahamas.

That's WHY we cruise. Our first cruise was a post 9-11 B2B 10 day Caribbean. So I'm totally been there/done that. We're those destination oriented folks.

 

Also note that this thread began last June. What a year. Sigh.

[Tranquility Base]

1 hour ago, PaulMCO said:

I think you will find more cruise lines doing the same.  RCCL doing same in UK this summer.  Just like the vaccine there won't be any on off switch as to availability and numbers of cruises.  They will start with baby steps. 

That's why I posted it.

These early limited cruises are important learning cruises, and will help restore confidence for more extensive cruising.

 

We have Royal Caribbean currently operating out of Singapore and soon Israel.

Carnival Corp a couple of ships in the Med I believe.

Princess planning UK only cruises later in the year.

All small but valuable steps.

 

I think this Crystal cruise may be one of the first not restricted to locals ???

If so, that is another step forward. 

[TrulyBlonde]

Bahamas in July? Yuck...Heat and Hurricanes does not equate Luxury to me. Let the guinea pigs go. I have a better use for my money.

[pinotlover]

41 minutes ago, TrulyBlonde said:

Bahamas in July? Yuck...Heat and Hurricanes does not equate Luxury to me. Let the guinea pigs go. I have a better use for my money.

I’m a big skier, lots of memories on Ajax, but still prefer Aspen in the summer time than in the winter.

[TrulyBlonde]

52 minutes ago, pinotlover said:

I’m a big skier, lots of memories on Ajax, but still prefer Aspen in the summer time than in the winter.

DH gets over 100 days a year. However, this year he fractured his clavicle on 4th day out. I usually get about 80 days but not this Covid year.

We always had a lake home in Adirondacks for the Summer the past 11 years but spent many Summers here as well as Winter. Our Summers our beautiful and also our Autumns when the Aspen trees turn gold.

Stop by next time you are in CO. You would be fun to meet.

[Redtravel]

Bahamas.....July?  No way.  My honeymoon was there in July. It was extremely hot and very uncomfortable.  It was cheap because of the season. No sane person would go there in the summer. The humidity makes summer in Florida seem great.  Aside from the beach, casino, and some shopping, there isn’t much to see.  Many areas are not safe for tourists. I have gone back a few times with friends.  Aside from being with friends, the Bahamas is not my choice.  
while I understand the problems involved in a startup, I will not be going to an undesirable location.   

[pinotlover]

4 hours ago, Redtravel said:

Bahamas.....July?  No way.  My honeymoon was there in July. It was extremely hot and very uncomfortable.  It was cheap because of the season. No sane person would go there in the summer. The humidity makes summer in Florida seem great.  Aside from the beach, casino, and some shopping, there isn’t much to see.  Many areas are not safe for tourists. I have gone back a few times with friends.  Aside from being with friends, the Bahamas is not my choice.  
while I understand the problems involved in a startup, I will not be going to an undesirable location.   

I believe many miss the point here. This drill isn’t really about sailing in the Bahamas , or the rest of the Carribe, this summer. It’s about establishing the ground work of new infrastructure for Embarkment/Disembarkment centers for the entire Carribe area come next Fall and Winter.

 

The major cruise lines are not going to stay shutdown due to the whims of the US’s CDC. By late fall and winter the list of Carribe island nations that will allow, and graciously welcome, our vaccinated citizens in will be long. Start now, with baby steps, to build a new proficient base of operations  outside the onerous reach of the CDC. The  various ports of FL, AL, NO, TX, and even NYC may be doing a goodbye wave to this industry as it moves to more welcoming ports. Full chartered flights, to shuttle cruisers to those new centers, can be cheap to run .

 

Baby Steps.

[pinotlover]

20 hours ago, TrulyBlonde said:

DH gets over 100 days a year. However, this year he fractured his clavicle on 4th day out. I usually get about 80 days but not this Covid year.

We always had a lake home in Adirondacks for the Summer the past 11 years but spent many Summers here as well as Winter. Our Summers our beautiful and also our Autumns when the Aspen trees turn gold.

Stop by next time you are in CO. You would be fun to meet.

Thanks! Hopefully we’ll be back next summer. I’ve always thought we did meet? Weren’t you on the 2017 Copenhagen-Southampton cruise, aboard the Nautica, that went over Norway into the White Sea and to Archangel, Russia? 

[TrulyBlonde]

4 minutes ago, pinotlover said:

Thanks! Hopefully we’ll be back next summer. I’ve always thought we did meet? Weren’t you on the 2017 Copenhagen-Southampton cruise, aboard the Nautica, that went over Norway into the White Sea and to Archangel, Russia? 

No, I was not on that cruise. I have been on Riviera, Insignia, and Regatta.

I will keep the wine chilled for your Summer visit 😉 

[pinotlover]

4 minutes ago, TrulyBlonde said:

No, I was not on that cruise. I have been on Riviera, Insignia, and Regatta.

I will keep the wine chilled for your Summer visit 😉 

👍🥂

[Redtravel]

Barbados had been going ok until they allowed a ship to dock from the UK.  Two weeks afterwards, new covid cases went way up.  Resuming cruising cannot safely happen until the most people have the vaccine and the virus has stopped.  Keeping people from traveling especially internationally is necessary to keep the virus from spreading. Even though some people have the vaccine, many people do not.  
I do agree that resuming cruising must start with shorter cruises, fewer people, testing, and respect for science.  For now, be safe.

[Paulchili]

49 minutes ago, pinotlover said:

I believe many miss the point here. This drill isn’t really about sailing in the Bahamas , or the rest of the Carribe, this summer. It’s about establishing the ground work of new infrastructure for Embarkment/Disembarkment centers for the entire Carribe area come next Fall and Winter.

I get the point of cruise lines but why do I have to pay for it good money when I am not interested in the itinerary and be uncomfortable in the heat and humidity of Bahamas in July?

[pinotlover]

18 minutes ago, Redtravel said:

Barbados had been going ok until they allowed a ship to dock from the UK.  Two weeks afterwards, new covid cases went way up.  Resuming cruising cannot safely happen until the most people have the vaccine and the virus has stopped.  Keeping people from traveling especially internationally is necessary to keep the virus from spreading. Even though some people have the vaccine, many people do not.  
I do agree that resuming cruising must start with shorter cruises, fewer people, testing, and respect for science.  For now, be safe.

I absolutely believe that when sailing resumes to those locations, Covid vaccinations will be required of all onboard. Those countries may very well have started up to early.

 

5 minutes ago, Paulchili said:

I get the point of cruise lines but why do I have to pay for it good money when I am not interested in the itinerary and be uncomfortable in the heat and humidity of Bahamas in July?

You don’t have to pay for anything. You can hunker just like you’ve been doing.

 

People go to Florida in the summer. It’s hot and humid. People go to the Carribe in the summer, it’s hot and humid. People flock to the Med in the summer, it’s very hot! It’s not for everyone. 
 

For those interested in going, those cruises will provide baby steps for the next step. 

Edited March 13, 2021 by pinotlover

[RJB]

On 3/12/2021 at 12:11 PM, LHT28 said:

Ok if you want to sail on Crystal

Crystal is a wonderful cruise line.  My number one choice is still O but you could not go wrong sailing on Crystal.