Beach cruise?

[Julia’s Journey’s]

We were booked on the now cancelled TA on Enchanted Princess.

 

If princess offered cruises that went to Princess Cays and stayed at sea in that area for 3-5 days with you allowed days off at the beach daily, 5-7 day cruises leaving FLL, a sea day or 2.

How many would book that till ports open up again?

Princess Cays has been open to Day trips for crew onboard during this I heard.
 

We haven’t done Caribbean cruises for years, not huge beach people but would book this to start and get cruising going again.
 

It meets the ‘foreign stop’ and wouldn’t be exposing lots of ports to passengers Etc.

[voljeep]

30 minutes ago, Julia’s Journey’s said:

How many would book that till ports open up again?

we're in, of course … casino cruise crowd ( not us, unfortunately ) 

everyone gets a OB or above at inside prices

minimal buffet with servers

limited to 33% capacity

short notice OK

3 day - Fri-Mon

4 day - Mon-Fri

 

7 day - PCay and maybe St Thomas ?

[JF - retired RRT]

I'm in...just have to get DH to get on a plane.

[Daniel A]

Daily medical screening of all PAX.  Some type of guarantee that if one soul onboard tests positive for Covid-19 or has flu like symptoms that you won't be quarantined onboard the ship ala Diamond or Grand.

[PrincessLuver]

2 hours ago, Julia’s Journey’s said:

We were booked on the now cancelled TA on Enchanted Princess.

 

If princess offered cruises that went to Princess Cays and stayed at sea in that area for 3-5 days with you allowed days off at the beach daily, 5-7 day cruises leaving FLL, a sea day or 2.

How many would book that till ports open up again?

Princess Cays has been open to Day trips for crew onboard during this I heard.
 

We haven’t done Caribbean cruises for years, not huge beach people but would book this to start and get cruising going again.
 

It meets the ‘foreign stop’ and wouldn’t be exposing lots of ports to passengers Etc.

 

Not even remotely interested until COVID-19 is treatable and there is a vaccine otherwise I would rather spend our money and go to a really nice All-Inclusive Beach Resort and have a lot less worries and certainly a lot less hassles then we would on a crowded cruise ship at sea.  And I am sure most activities would be very limited on the ship anyway because of social distancing guidelines.

[voljeep]

3 minutes ago, PrincessLuver said:

 

Not even remotely interested until COVID-19 is treatable and there is a vaccine otherwise I would rather spend our money and go to a really nice All-Inclusive Beach Resort and have a lot less worries and certainly a lot less hassles then we would on a crowded cruise ship at sea.  And I am sure most activities would be very limited on the ship anyway because of social distancing guidelines.

having a choice is a beautiful thing … 

[PrincessLuver]

1 minute ago, voljeep said:

having a choice is a beautiful thing … 

 

I agree...it really seems like many on CC only know how to vacation on a cruise ship and really no other way and they just cannot imagine life with out being on a cruise ship....I love choices to make life interesting.

[donaldsc]

I hate sea days.  I find beaches totally boring.  I regard a ship as a large bus that gets me to interesting places to visit.  Obviously totally uninterested.

 

DON

[BarbinMich]

1 hour ago, PrincessLuver said:

 

Not even remotely interested until COVID-19 is treatable and there is a vaccine otherwise I would rather spend our money and go to a really nice All-Inclusive Beach Resort and have a lot less worries and certainly a lot less hassles then we would on a crowded cruise ship at sea.  And I am sure most activities would be very limited on the ship anyway because of social distancing guidelines.

Although there are many fewer people at such resorts than on a large cruise ship, that doesn't mean these resorts are a "no-risk" destination, not  to mention that one usually has to fly to such places with another chance for exposure.  Finally, many of them are on islands that don't necessarily have a robust health provider system, let alone a hospital.

[BarbinMich]

3 hours ago, Julia’s Journey’s said:

We were booked on the now cancelled TA on Enchanted Princess.

 

If princess offered cruises that went to Princess Cays and stayed at sea in that area for 3-5 days with you allowed days off at the beach daily, 5-7 day cruises leaving FLL, a sea day or 2.

How many would book that till ports open up again?

. . .

I assume you know that Princess Cays is not an uninhabited island.  It's on Eleuthera which has a population of 11,000 plus.  It also has multiple large resorts visited by people from many countries. All it takes is for one person with undiagnosed Covid-19 to visit and spread it to the locals and guests.  Doubt the medical facilities on these islands are robust enough to deal with an outbreak.  The disease seems to be very contagious.

[Daniel A]

11 minutes ago, BarbinMich said:

I assume you know that Princess Cays is not an uninhabited island.  It's on Eleuthera which has a population of 11,000 plus.  It also has multiple large resorts visited by people from many countries. All it takes is for one person with undiagnosed Covid-19 to visit and spread it to the locals and guests.  Doubt the medical facilities on these islands are robust enough to deal with an outbreak.  The disease seems to be very contagious.

But, aren't they permitting crews to spend leisure time at Princess Cay?

[BarbinMich]

6 minutes ago, Daniel A said:

But, aren't they permitting crews to spend leisure time at Princess Cay?

Yes, I forgot about that.  Hopefully, none of them had undiagnosed Covid-19.  The ships are anchored near PC as I recall (there is no dock).  Doesn't necessarily mean they're allowed to go ashore. I would think the locals would not be too happy if crews were allowed to visit the island.  However, I thought most of the crew, esp. those who interacted with pax, were repatriated to their home countries so there isn't a "full" crew onboard.

[Thrak]

Not worth the flight from California for a measly 7 days. We love sea days. My wife loves beaches. We just need a longer cruise. The only time we've done the Caribbean it was a 14 day Circle Caribbean (true 14 day cruise). We do have a 7 day Western Caribbean booked for next May but have an 18 day TA to Iceland, Scotland, and Ireland booked immediately afterward so the flight to FLL is worthwhile.

[Ombud]

I would do 7 days if a NS flight from San Francisco.  Nothing shorter and would not bring kids. Need a balcony but could go as far down as a BW

[BarbinMich]

15 minutes ago, Thrak said:

Not worth the flight from California for a measly 7 days. We love sea days. My wife loves beaches. We just need a longer cruise. The only time we've done the Caribbean it was a 14 day Circle Caribbean (true 14 day cruise). We do have a 7 day Western Caribbean booked for next May but have an 18 day TA to Iceland, Scotland, and Ireland booked immediately afterward so the flight to FLL is worthwhile.

Given your loving sea days and your wife loving beaches do you cruise and/or fly to Hawaii much?  Even tho we live in Mich., we've been there many times since our first visit to cruise on the old Amer Hawaii ship, Independence, in 1994.  Subsequent trips in January were fly/drives for 2 weeks, visiting 2 islands each time for a week.  Hawaiian Airlines helps make island hopping like that a relatively easy thing to do at a reasonable price.  Initially, we stayed at hotels or motel complexes, but then got comfortable renting places thru VRBO or similar rental service, still doing 2 islands each time.  I particularly liked the west coast of Maui for its beauty and possibility of seeing whales from a boat or even the shore.  Didn't like the traffic further south around Lahaina and beyond.  Think they've widened the 2-lane hwy since our last visit.

Edited May 18, 2020 by BarbinMich

[Thrak]

3 minutes ago, BarbinMich said:

Given your loving sea days and your wife loving beaches do you cruise and/or fly to Hawaii much?

 

Haven't flown to Hawaii. We've talked about taking a cruise from Canada to Hawaii as it can be done one way and then we could spend some time there. That way we would get a cruise plus an extended stay in the islands.  Not much chance of that these days though.

[PrincessLuver]

1 hour ago, BarbinMich said:

Although there are many fewer people at such resorts than on a large cruise ship, that doesn't mean these resorts are a "no-risk" destination, not  to mention that one usually has to fly to such places with another chance for exposure.  Finally, many of them are on islands that don't necessarily have a robust health provider system, let alone a hospital.

 

We stay at lots of resorts too, usually in  condo type suites,  besides cruising and I would much rather be in a resort then on a cramped cruise ship with almost nothing to do in the age of COVID-19.  

 

We know how to take care ourselves in a resort atmosphere and know we could stay there without coming into contact with almost anyone if we chose to do so.  Plus, many hotels and resorts are gearing up where the customer has to have almost no contact with staff even during check-in, enhanced cleaning and disinfecting of living spaces, provide masks and other PC to their guests and have social distancing for their dining venues if you choose to eat there.  There will just not be 3,000 plus guests in the resorts we stay at.

 

It would be much easier to find a nice private cabana on the beach there than be cramped up next to each other on chaise lounges at a cruise ship pool because it will probably be mostly sea days with no place for passengers to go hang out or much to do.  Plus I am sure face masks are going to be hard to wear on deck on a breezy day on a ship.

 

Cruise ships are not known either for having robust health providers on board.

 

I will take my chances on land and I am sure it will be less hassle, more fun and relaxing and we are not afraid of flying either if it is FC or BC.

Edited May 18, 2020 by PrincessLuver

[Julia’s Journey’s]

2 hours ago, PrincessLuver said:

 

I agree...it really seems like many on CC only know how to vacation on a cruise ship and really no other way and they just cannot imagine life with out being on a cruise ship....I love choices to make life interesting.

I do plenty of other vacations, been to 6 continents and spent 2 weeks in Thailand on a land trip in March. We still try and do at least one 2-3 week cruise a year. Hubby works out of town, haven’t seen him since February due to this virus. When he’s at work it’s 60 or more hours a week so cruising for him is a real break away from phones and stress etc.
 

Just cause we’re on CC doesn’t mean we don’t have other vacations 😂😂😂

[Julia’s Journey’s]

1 hour ago, BarbinMich said:

I assume you know that Princess Cays is not an uninhabited island.  It's on Eleuthera which has a population of 11,000 plus.  It also has multiple large resorts visited by people from many countries. All it takes is for one person with undiagnosed Covid-19 to visit and spread it to the locals and guests.  Doubt the medical facilities on these islands are robust enough to deal with an outbreak.  The disease seems to be very contagious.

Lol yes I know but barely any cruise person leaves the compound and only approved staff from the island are allowed in. The crew have been using PC since no passengers have been onboard.

It’s a better start to cruising than visiting 3-4 islands and risk spreading both ways. 

Edited May 18, 2020 by Julia’s Journey’s

[Julia’s Journey’s]

38 minutes ago, Thrak said:

Not worth the flight from California for a measly 7 days. We love sea days. My wife loves beaches. We just need a longer cruise. The only time we've done the Caribbean it was a 14 day Circle Caribbean (true 14 day cruise). We do have a 7 day Western Caribbean booked for next May but have an 18 day TA to Iceland, Scotland, and Ireland booked immediately afterward so the flight to FLL is worthwhile.

Are you on the Island May 24th TA next year?

We are booked on that and the cruise after that to Norway.

[JF - retired RRT]

2 hours ago, Thrak said:

 

Haven't flown to Hawaii. We've talked about taking a cruise from Canada to Hawaii as it can be done one way and then we could spend some time there. That way we would get a cruise plus an extended stay in the islands.  Not much chance of that these days though.

Wrong!! If you fly to HI right now, you get to spend 2 weeks in your hotel room.

Some of the hotels are even using a room key that won't let you back in to the room (if you leave before the 14 days is over).

 

Just kidding, @Thrak

[Times Prince]

3 hours ago, Daniel A said:

But, aren't they permitting crews to spend leisure time at Princess Cay?

The Princess crew still onboard are long past the incubation period for Covid-19.   With them able to use the beach facilities (and probably being restricted from contact with island residents) you have a situation where it is a clean environment, avoiding re-contamination.

 

And this is the problem with the proposal that paying passengers be allowed to cruise.  They are not from a clean environment.  Any one of them could be an unwitting asymptomatic carrier.

 

We know that the cruise lines deep clean after a norovirus outbreak, yet days into a subsequent cruise the norovirus is back.  That's because the new passengers bring it onboard with them, having acquired it during a flight, at a hotel, at a restaurant, or wherever.  But unlike noro with a brief 12-48 hour incubation period (ref. CDC data) Covid-19 appears to have an incubation period of 5-6 days to 14 days (again ref CDC) before symptoms it is likely that a new passenger will not only spread to others during their voyage, but any crew that contracts it would inadvertently carry it on to the next cruise.   This is what happened with Grand Princess, where the original carrier was on the cruise BEFORE the one that became fully quarantined. 

 

So starting "Beach cruises" is a bad idea.   Unless you strictly quarantine passengers for over 2 weeks prior to boarding and isolate them from their quarantine hotel to the cruise ship.   I'm pretty sure no one will buy that solution.  

 

[Daniel A]

17 minutes ago, Times Prince said:

The Princess crew still onboard are long past the incubation period for Covid-19.   With them able to use the beach facilities (and probably being restricted from contact with island residents) you have a situation where it is a clean environment, avoiding re-contamination.

 

And this is the problem with the proposal that paying passengers be allowed to cruise.  They are not from a clean environment.  Any one of them could be an unwitting asymptomatic carrier.

 

We know that the cruise lines deep clean after a norovirus outbreak, yet days into a subsequent cruise the norovirus is back.  That's because the new passengers bring it onboard with them, having acquired it during a flight, at a hotel, at a restaurant, or wherever.  But unlike noro with a brief 12-48 hour incubation period (ref. CDC data) Covid-19 appears to have an incubation period of 5-6 days to 14 days (again ref CDC) before symptoms it is likely that a new passenger will not only spread to others during their voyage, but any crew that contracts it would inadvertently carry it on to the next cruise.   This is what happened with Grand Princess, where the original carrier was on the cruise BEFORE the one that became fully quarantined. 

 

So starting "Beach cruises" is a bad idea.   Unless you strictly quarantine passengers for over 2 weeks prior to boarding and isolate them from their quarantine hotel to the cruise ship.   I'm pretty sure no one will buy that solution.  

 

What you are saying makes sense.  Why then are so many countries refusing to accept their own citizen crew members for repatriation.  They've clearly been isolated (quarantined) onboard their ships for a lot longer than 2 weeks.  Although a 14 day pre cruise quarantine sounds workable, many states that have imposed 14 day quarantines are just doing a back door at blocking any travelers from entering their respective states.  I give Maine as an example.  Any person entering the state must quarantine in a private residence in Maine before they can even travel to a campground or cabin in the woods.  Visitors are prohibited from serving the 14 day quarantine in their rental hotel room/camp cabin - it must be done in a private residence in Maine.  Obviously, Maine has deliberately set up a catch 22 by abusing the 14 day quarantine concept to block outsiders from coming in.  The abuse of 14 day quarantines by regulators is partly what is causing the public to reject arbitrary restrictions.  

 

I don't want to sound negative or argumentative, these are just some things to consider.  As an aside, I don't really think Beach Cruises could even take place until the CDC is satisfied that adequate safeguards are in place to restart cruising.  I see this suggestion as being a means of gradually reintroducing cruising to the public as a safe option after it has in fact, become safe to cruise.  Stay well.

[Times Prince]

28 minutes ago, Daniel A said:

What you are saying makes sense.  Why then are so many countries refusing to accept their own citizen crew members for repatriation.  They've clearly been isolated (quarantined) onboard their ships for a lot longer than 2 weeks. 

 

 <... content deleted ...>

 

I don't want to sound negative or argumentative, these are just some things to consider.  As an aside, I don't really think Beach Cruises could even take place until the CDC is satisfied that adequate safeguards are in place to restart cruising.  I see this suggestion as being a means of gradually reintroducing cruising to the public as a safe option after it has in fact, become safe to cruise.  Stay well.

I may be out of date on news, but the last I heard of countries refusing to repatriate was when the crew would have had to pass through a port, then through an airport to get to chartered flights to get back to the countries.   In a time of global fear of further spread of the pandemic the amount of travel from the quarantine ship environment to the country provided too much uncertainty concerning re-contamination.  This, combined with uncertainty about how the highly infectious virus is spread, meant that countries acted with an excess of caution, and also presented unreasonable roadblocks to repatriation.

 

For instance the USA requires that Princess Cruises corporate physician certify the health of the crew member, despite that person never having had direct contact with the crew, with that certification also disregarding the assessment of the Ship's Doctor who could provide accurate input.  In short, the government only trusts their own citizen who they could prosecute should the virus actually be carried by a crew member.  That requirement was rejected by Princess.

 

I agree that cruising will not start without the blessing of the CDC.   Cruising by the public will likely not be a truly safe option until an anti-virus is available or that Covid-19 has mysteriously disappeared for more than a year.   Unfortunately that also means our personal cruising days are over.   Stay well.

Edited May 18, 2020 by Times Prince
punctuation changed meaning of sentence

[donaldsc]

3 hours ago, JF - retired RRT said:

Wrong!! If you fly to HI right now, you get to spend 2 weeks in your hotel room.

Some of the hotels are even using a room key that won't let you back in to the room (if you leave before the 14 days is over).

 

Just kidding, @Thrak

 

Hawaii actually recently arrested someone for leaving their quarantine room and going to the beach.  He posted some pictures on a social media site and Hawaiian authorities tracked him down.  Don't know exactly what they did but they should have changed his quarantine location from his hotel room to jail.

 

DON