FACTS..

Better rub some Aspercream on those fingers.

What, you still asleep? Tired from watching Olympics in the middle of the night? hehehe

Excellent blurb Yakee47. Well written and thought out and very useful. Thanks.

Naw, I just got tired of banging out long winded diatribes, only to see them disappear once I post. For awhile my paranoia led me to believe that I was being "edited" by whoever runs this show, so I decided to take a break.

As usual, you make sound & valid points. The restrictions are starting to creep in, so I decided to take a wait & see approach to the whole idea of cruising this fall.

Now that indoor mask mandates and mandatory testing for everyone are being implement, I'm wondering what the over/under is going to be on the percentage of cancellations the lines will have to contend with.

If anybody reads it and lets it sink in so they can avoid the angst I stepped in when all this started happening the other day then its worth the effort. I even put a one paragraph version over in the lil group of folks who are going on ours of 11/27. That place isn't conducive to back n forth chatter, but Ill bet alot of folks read it when they're notified of a post in there and hopefully think it through and act accordingly. Mebbe it'll change o/a 10/31 but I wouldn't bet real $$ on it...why should any line revoke it?...it works to their advantage, and frankly, costs them nothing. On the other hand, revoke the requirements too soon, have an outbreak and they'd be crucified for it.

I don't care of folks don't like that rant, or me...we're talking about the potential for life or death here....with no end in sight. Winters coming, schools restarting, and no one really knows just how efficacious those shots we already got will last.

Well thought out. Thanks for the post. I am reasonably certain it will change for November, because it's 2 days after we are scheduled to sail. Normally, it's the after I am required to do something that it changes. Hope you don't have to go through the hassle and wish we didn't.

Thank you for this post. It is well written and very informative.

Nice post Yankee47, and appears factual as far as you could find. I always wondered about the billing, and what you said makes sense since they never asked for direct proof. And I definitely agree on your response, that no one knows how long our shots will last (I am betting a year at best based on some things I heard about those who got sick early on). But we should be hearing soon on how long it lasts as the test folks are at or near the year mark.

The only issue I have is the testing at places like Walgreens. You seem to say they have rules that preclude the test we cruisers need and then imply that they do not check to see if you qualify. In Utah, at least, they do not really care. What they screen for is do you have a reasonable chance to have an honest test (like long enough past vaccinations). Of course, since you went inside and enquired, it could be that what is TRUE and what is REAL are two different items (surprise, surprise, especially with us tax payers footing the bill).

Thanks LAZYBOY, and all the others for the compliments. Kinda makes the effort worthwhile. Yes there are not only different state "rules" for this testing (I don't know what else to call them), but there is another dynamic here as well.

The national chains have websites written and are reviewed for text and accuracy because they're SUPPOSED to apply to thousands of stores nationwide. Its easy enough to miss the "fine print" and the conditions on any of them. What happens when you call or walk into one can be vastly different. One girl who sounded like she was 12 years old on the phone at one big chain...well the short version is I couldn't get to first base..1-5 days and downhill from there...Talking to another woman at another big chain said they'd do an antigen test if they weren't busy, but usually they do "the other". As I said, elsewhere, unless you're sick, you need a referral and so on and so forth..The walk-in clinics were virtually the same...with the exception of the HEALTH DEPT and one small local place I almost overlooked.

WHY all the differences? I hesitated to post what is merely a flat out cynical guess, but here goes. MONEY! The big chains aren't here to "help you". They're publicly traded and from one quarter to the next they show profits or heads roll...The smaller walk in clinics are almost the same way. The local clinic we're going to is the smallest one in the bunch, located in an out of the way place, probably visited only by locals, and the people there were incredibly pleasant and helpful. Thats why i spent some time there. The HEALTH DEPT ran a very close second. The difference probably was me, because I have a natural suspicion of anything even vaguely gov't related. What do they have in common? Even though one is private and the other public, neither has any skin in the game. Both of them were genuinely willing to actually help...and it wasn't like they were doing me any particular favors either.

Clearly, not only are there differences in State procedures, theres also vast differences depending on who you talk to on the day you make your appointment and so on. (BTW, the local place said they're usually not that busy, so just show up early,...we'll have coffee) Hows that?

I guess the real bottom line is you have to do your homework. If it wasn't for that "3 day rule", I guess i wouldn't have gone thru any off this...Didn't want to, resented it, but glad I did. I used to worry about travel delays getting to the pier. Nope, kid stuff.....THIS is a big hoop to jump thru. I hope its worth it too. COASTERKING speaks for me and I believe ALOT of other folks...5 booked cruises for me too...yeh, thats alot of dough to spend to be harassed and put upon. Not that the cruise lines care..GL2U all.....and thanks again for the compliments....

Fortunately our upcoming is end of January so we are hoping that all of the bugs and kinks get knocked out by then and things are a lot smoother.