cruiser man 60

Wonder if rules re masks will change once over 50s vaccinated ie the high risk groups, saga cruise as well as some airlines are already saying you will need proof of vaccinations to travel.

Most priority groups in Uk will be done by June but seems very slow in Europe and not sure on USA

45 minutes ago, Ryanryanryan said:

 

There won't be anything different for your Princess cruise in January. Princess has stated that they'll be back to normal cruising operations in January, therefore check-in won't be any different than the past.

Well if cruising starts in USA it will probably adopt the procedures already being used in Europe by MSC & Costa. That means turning up exactly at time given, waiting to be called, given COVID test and waiting 30 minutes for results. If negative you get on wearing masks, of positive you get called out of line for further testing which gets sent to hospital lab and results in 2/3 hours. If negative you get on , if positive you leave.

Also you need to have a COVID test 3 days before.and submit.

We went from Barcelona to canaries loop in January and we had fantastic weather, sunny and mid 20s every day even in Mediterranean. 1 month later it was snowing in Barcelona so you never knows , however we have been in Spain many times in winter and weather in daytime is normally dry & bright which is why so many winter there.

34 minutes ago, Moviela said:

My understanding is all the pax were Italian nationals, and they did sail to one foreign port. Many commented that only cruise line excursions were allowed ashore was a to increase the profits of the company. That is not correct. Italy does not allow pax to go ashore unescorted, and the group must be isolated from other people. In the bubble if you please. 

 

I don't know if this was the voyage that the family was booted for wandering away from the excursion, but it sounds like they are serious about following health protocols. 

 

Speaking of protocols, I know a mask does not stop covid, but it is another line of defense. If you have a mask, and maintain social distancing your chances of remaining healthy go way up. 

 

If we follow the rules, we can cruise sooner.

 

 

 

The cruise was open to all residents of schenghen countries which is most of Europe but not UK. Passengers were mainly Italian, French, German & some Scandinavia.

reviews I have seen in Facebook are positive with many videos on YouTube, masks were required by staff but not passengers unless in confined spaces like corridors etc

5 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

That's interesting as I hadn't heard MSC arranging that for their last 2 weeks of sailing on the Grandiosa.   Is it Costa And Aida that are arranging chartered flights for their passengers?

MSC have not arranged any flights and I understood policy was to try and discourage flying hence keeping cruises to European only.

i doubt any European country will allow any Americans south or north into Europe this year nor allow their citizens to fly to those countries.

38 minutes ago, drsel said:

Masks should be worn whenever you are out of the house, except when exercising

They are not required in Italy during daytime if just walking around ,needed in evenings as they found too many young people gathering in evenings without masks which is cause of increased cases. Other parts of Europe including UK don’t require them outside.

1 hour ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Do you understand that face shields do Not prevent droplets from someone's mouth or nose coming in contact with food that you will eat served by a waiter or cook?  

Someone working with covid patients doesnt need to worry about infecting their patients as they are already infected so sure I shield would be sufficient for the medical personnel.

But for other jobs such as a food handler for general public a mask should be mandatory to prevent.  I dont want someone's droplets in my food or drink!!

Better safe than sorry!

 

I don't think people commenting on visors v face masks etc particularly from America realize that all the crew have been tested numerous times before boarding and had to quarantine before boarding, they are also constantly checked on board.

1 hour ago, drsel said:

On this Cruise, MSC Grandiosa, a family was thrown out of the ship, for abandoning their paid MSC ship tour.

What a dumb family!
they actually paid a huge amount of money for each and every family member to do the expensive MSC tour, and then they just left it and ran away to do their own thing!
how stupid of them

Just a point the  excursions on these cruises are fairly cheap I saw mentioned 100 euros for 3 plus some free ones are included in price.

stilll idiotic and I would loved to have heard the conversation when they were told they were not coming back in board!!

1 hour ago, Preziosa said:

It was a fantastic moment. I also followed the sail away on the web camera. We were on the first sailing from Hamburg with Grandiosa and now We Will Be back the 4. Th of october. It Will Be so fantastic. We have just been on a Cruise with Mein Schiff 1 from Kiel. It is so fantastic that We Can Cruise again. Thank you To TUI Cruise and MSC Cruises to bring us all back where We belong..

What was your cruise like , any photos?

Well MSC flagship grandiosa sailed from Genoa about 1 hour ago with 1500 passengers, picking up more in Rome & Naples.

every passenger had rapid test before boarding and crew tested multiple times, hopefully this is the start with more ships starting later this month & carnival owned Costa starting September 

Someone who is going on cruise and presently in Genoa reports on Facebook that ship is there & engines running, supplies being loaded etc so seems to be going on schedule tomorrow!

Don’t have service charges for UK cruisers anymore 

19 hours ago, muffydawg said:

I hope MSC is successful however imagine two couples boarding the ship; one of the four tests + for COVID and is denied boarding. Gotta think the partner, spouse, relative of the person denied boarding would not sail without their partner.

 

The MSC COVID-19 Protection Plan is currently available only to guests from Schengen countries. This really looks like a scam designed to artificially inflate revenues from people who buy the MSC COVID-19 Protection Plan; and it looks like only the person denied boarding due to sickness can leverage the MSC COVID-19 Protection Plan benefits and not their partner who is ok.

 

If a passenger tests + under item #6 they could be put off the ship; what does their traveling companion do?

 

I would not book a cruise under these circumstances. Perhaps the residents of Schengen countries would but not me.

 

 

The Covid protection is only 18 euros and covers all expenses, including repatriation and refunds and covers whole party as far as i know. I doubdt any Americans will be allowed into Europe or anywhere else until well into 2021.

the cruise is only available to Schengen residents so the protection is obviously only available to them and hardly a scam , looks like a bargain to me.

13 hours ago, CruisingFox27 said:

Tea, coffee and water. There's juice/flavoured water at breakfast. I think that the only time but I've never looked for it later in the day so I'm sure someone can confirm if it's available.

Yes that's all there is, although a lot of cruisers like U.K. Guests get free bottled water included in MDR as well.

I expect the self service machines will have been removed for restart to cruising which will stop the usual lot trying to fill up water bottles despite signs don't do it!!

9 hours ago, sptrout said:

If their experience is like the few smaller, to much smaller, cruise lines, they will depart, then turn around two or three days later with COVID being the main not-paying passenger. Hope not, but almost a certainty within a cruise or two. 

Passengers being rapid tested before departure plus all crew, virus not as rampant in Europe like the americas

Here’s the latest update from MSC 

http://m.msccruises.com/en-gl/Mobile/About-MSC/News/MSC-Cruises-Return-To-Service-Mediterranean.aspx

Well MSC have all approvals for 2 ships to start 16ty August, Italy, Greece & Malta stops.

70% occupancy with rapid test before boarding, also full cover included so if you get denied boarding, have to leave mid cruise etc you get refunded & medical costs paid

Well the initial cruises are all confirmed as going per MSC website.

i assume they will see how these go until end September and then start some of other ships, hopefully including UK cruisers 

Are you paying full fare for your son, if so he should get the obc. If not nothing.

doubdt MSC will be bothered if you book or not.

39 minutes ago, Roger88 said:

Italy will certainly be closed for anyone this year. They were hit the most by Covid, I doubt they want to have the same thing coming to their homeland again. But at the same time, if you think about their revenue from the tourist business, you can understand that they wont be doing it for long lol 

Not sure what you mean, but Italy has been open to tourists for a couple of months. All hotels & museums etc open
we know a number of people who have visited last month. Obviously Americans and others outside Europe are banned.

italian government announced yesterday that cruising can restart and the crews are now in Italy getting ready.

4 hours ago, WorldTraveler151208 said:

Msc wants to start with a cruise on MSC Grandiosa on August 16 from Genoa.  They are only waiting for the final approval from the Italian government. I noticed that in the original cruise schedule for this summer, Grandiosa was supposed to depart Genoa on the 16th as well. Now, it will also be a 7-day cruise, only the itinerary has been changed. Do you think that in this situation Msc will keep the reservations of passengers who have a booking for departure from Genoa on August 16, since they have the right to change the itinerary, or rather it will be considered as a completely new cruise?

MSC have permission from Italian government, this was posted yesterday.

they say they will contact anyone booked to advise options, only available for Schengen country residents.

https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/23334-msc-won-t-be-selling-any-cruise-ships.html?fbclid=IwAR16ZayCZzRY97RipR84LSgcIBLFjb1JUatWLIpKjTdihmZkgxe3-Xxkhng

latest news looking to get 14 ships running by winter, seems optimistic with the crisis in USA & South America.

44 minutes ago, BlerkOne said:

MSC is going with 70% capacity.

 

https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/23333-msc-protocols-go-above-and-beyond-says-ceo-onorato.html

 

 

MSc starting 16/08 , Italy confirmed cruising could restart so that’s the final approval. 

Italy confirm cruising can restart , https://www.corriere.it/politica/20_agosto_05/cosi-l-italia-puo-ripartiresulla-scuola-garantisco-io-c46d07ca-d693-11ea-b09b-c444f41468ab.shtml?fbclid=IwAR3EEsDin33VPaiFXDO6yLgaM3WTsiO6zSuMYNMNtNg5TPpcB6YGW-cbeuI

you need to translate but basically yes to cruises and no to discos!

13 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

 

On the other hand, the number of guests on an excursion can be controlled so that they would not need to be too crowded.  Too expensive?  I don't think we have seen anything yet!

They mentioned bundle of 3 excursions being 100 euros so not too bad depending where they go.