How about taking a little cruise?

"It would be ironic if the strongest economy in the world was side tracked by something so small, you can barely see it with a microscope."

This morning, Dr, Fauci (one of the people in government who has credibility on this virus thing) was on the news and gave this dire warning - if you are elderly, have a lung or heart disease, STAY OFF OF ANY CRUISE SHIPS! How strongly did he feel on this? Not only did he give that warning once, but then two or three more times.

Point of disclosure. My wife and I are what is known as "cruisers". We like to cruise. We had a broken trip last year due to a super typhoon, but with our trip insurance, re-booked that cruise for April. We still plan to go. We also have a short cruise booked around the New Year. We also plan to go on that one.

Some might think this is folly. Tempting danger. Going against the doctor's orders. I have a different slant. I have said for years, once a restaurant is closed down for food poisoning, when it is allowed by the health department to re-open, there is no place safer in town to eat. Why? All the food has been inspected and re-inspected. The restaurant has been cleaned from top to bottom. It is not totally germ free, but close.

Of all the cruise lines, the one which is at the center of the bulls eye right now is Princess. Princess also happens to be our cruise line of choice. Our two cruises this year are booked on Princess. My belief is simply this - by the time we set sail towards the end of next month, each and every ship that Princess operates will be as safe as safe can be. If they are not, Princess will not put them into service. Yes, there is a chance that Princess would cancel our cruise. But it would be them cancelling it - not us.

This virus has put the country in some uncharted waters. Many feel we are overreacting to this newcomer to the virus family. After all, we have been down this road before - and will be again. Until then, we really need to keep the wheels from coming off the economy. It would be ironic if the strongest economy in the world was side tracked by something so small, you can barely see it with a microscope.