Cruise industry announces US sailing suspension extended until Sept. 15

[EscapeFromConnecticut]

17 hours ago, cruisenewbie79 said:

My cruise is October 2nd and I feel that I am in a worse position than those that just had their cruise cancelled. I purposely choose October because I didn't want to be on one of the first cruises after the restart.  I wish they would have given me the option of cancelling.  Final payment is due in a couple of weeks.  Ugh.. 

 

Interesting point. Another reason I wouldn't book before late '21 at soonest.

 

Obviously, conditions could change ... But as of right now, is there any scientific, evidence-based reason to conclude that cruising will be safer (and this permissible) by October?

  Infection rates in the "reopen right now, I want my haircut!!" states are going up ... there's very little encouraging on the medical front ... and CLIA clearly has no meaningful response to the concerns in the CDC No Sail Order.

    Unless one of those conditions change, October is gong to go the way of March, April, June, July, August and September.

[mouche]

On 6/19/2020 at 3:04 PM, Moparfiend said:

The cruise lines spinning this "reduced capacity" bs is what ticks me off

Needed the money, had to keep people booking, they almost got me on a too good to past deal on August 8th sailing. Glad I listen to my gut!

[mouche]

On 6/20/2020 at 12:19 PM, Anyislandwilldo said:

I'm really beginning to doubt that we will be able to cruise on our Jan 2021 sailing.  If the second wave does come in fall like they predict, it will take months before the numbers go down and safe to sail again.  😭

Yep, also not holding out for our Feb 6th 2021, especially since it's on the Mardi Gras that could be delayed.

[mouche]

When looking at the prices for cruises from Oct thru Dec, really cheap prices and perks yet again, and the casino rates are unbelievable, hummm, all this looks familiar, will people fall for this again? Seriously though, if they start back up by the first of the year that would be a surprise. Just my opinion though.

[chipmaster]

5 hours ago, EscapeFromConnecticut said:

 

Interesting point. Another reason I wouldn't book before late '21 at soonest.

 

Obviously, conditions could change ... But as of right now, is there any scientific, evidence-based reason to conclude that cruising will be safer (and this permissible) by October?

  Infection rates in the "reopen right now, I want my haircut!!" states are going up ... there's very little encouraging on the medical front ... and CLIA clearly has no meaningful response to the concerns in the CDC No Sail Order.

    Unless one of those conditions change, October is gong to go the way of March, April, June, July, August and September.

 

October is a long ways away, with infection skying in the deep south and the highly mobile young getting infected you could argue by Fall that a huge percentage of the US and world population could be infected, the weakest in the ground, and well it is back to standard bad flu kind of situation 😉

[LHARTWICK]

23 hours ago, cruisenewbie79 said:

My cruise is October 2nd and I feel that I am in a worse position than those that just had their cruise cancelled. I purposely choose October because I didn't want to be on one of the first cruises after the restart.  I wish they would have given me the option of cancelling.  Final payment is due in a couple of weeks.  Ugh.. 

In the exact same situation as you, but for Oct. 11.  Our FP is due 7/13.  We may cancel and just eat the $50 pp fee and apply the FCC to another cruise......IF that even happens.  We also have a December 2020 cruise booked, but I doubt that happens either.

[TNcruising02]

1 hour ago, mouche said:

When looking at the prices for cruises from Oct thru Dec, really cheap prices and perks yet again, and the casino rates are unbelievable, hummm, all this looks familiar, will people fall for this again? Seriously though, if they start back up by the first of the year that would be a surprise. Just my opinion though.

I won't put a deposit on a cruise this year.  Even if they do cruise, it will probably require masks.  I am open to booking a last minute cruise if, for some reason, cruising begins before the end of the year and no masks are required.

[TNcruising02]

41 minutes ago, LHARTWICK said:

In the exact same situation as you, but for Oct. 11.  Our FP is due 7/13.  We may cancel and just eat the $50 pp fee and apply the FCC to another cruise......IF that even happens.  We also have a December 2020 cruise booked, but I doubt that happens either.

I wonder if you called Carnival, if they may allow you to move your October deposit to another cruise.

[Acheavacci]

When cruising resumes I wonder how many ports will still be closed.  We have a timeshare in Aruba.  According to La Cabana, Aruba will allow US citizens to enter the country on July 10th.  We will have to pay for Covid insurance of $15 per day (per person I believe), the option to upload negative Covid 19 PCR test result that was taken with 72 hours or travel or pay for a rapid test on arrival and quarantine our-self until test results are back.  If all countries with ports require this how will Carnival proceed?  Will they rapid test all passengers and/or allow us to submit our own test result.  It's not only a matter of company liabilty and safety but also an international concern.    

[LHARTWICK]

2 minutes ago, TNcruising02 said:

I wonder if you called Carnival, if they may allow you to move your October deposit to another cruise.

Haven't tried as I know their lines are packed.  It's an Early Saver deposit so we'll get hit with a $50 pp fee.  The remainder can be used as a FCC according to their policy.

[TNcruising02]

Just now, LHARTWICK said:

Haven't tried as I know their lines are packed.  It's an Early Saver deposit so we'll get hit with a $50 pp fee.  The remainder can be used as a FCC according to their policy.

Maybe they will make an exception with no penalty.  But yes, the phones are incredibly busy.  I was on hold for nearly two hours when I called to rebook.

[LHARTWICK]

1 minute ago, TNcruising02 said:

Maybe they will make an exception with no penalty.  But yes, the phones are incredibly busy.  I was on hold for nearly two hours when I called to rebook.

Exactly what I'm afraid of - 2 hours!  Ugh!  IMO, they should definitely make an exception.  We'll see.  I may try e-mailing a PVP and see if I get an answer that way.  I have e-mail addresses for 2 PVPs, but I'm not really sure if they are still with CCL.

[TNcruising02]

Just now, LHARTWICK said:

Exactly what I'm afraid of - 2 hours!  Ugh!  IMO, they should definitely make an exception.  We'll see.  I may try e-mailing a PVP and see if I get an answer that way.  I have e-mail addresses for 2 PVPs, but I'm not really sure if they are still with CCL.

 

I called later on in the day, but heard that calling in the morning might result in a much shorter wait time.  I really don't think it hurts to ask.  The worst that can happen is they say no.  But if they think they are going to cancel October sailings, it would be better to let you move your deposit instead of offering you an OBC when they cancel.

[LHARTWICK]

2 minutes ago, TNcruising02 said:

 

I called later on in the day, but heard that calling in the morning might result in a much shorter wait time.  I really don't think it hurts to ask.  The worst that can happen is they say no.  But if they think they are going to cancel October sailings, it would be better to let you move your deposit instead of offering you an OBC when they cancel.

Thank you!  How early?  I am on CST - wasn't sure what time their lines open.  It would definitely be better for them to let me move my deposit.

[TNcruising02]

1 minute ago, LHARTWICK said:

Thank you!  How early?  I am on CST - wasn't sure what time their lines open.  It would definitely be better for them to let me move my deposit.

I can't remember when the lines open.  When my April cruise was cancelled, I did call early in the morning and was only on hold for ten minutes.  This last time I should have called early too because I was on hold for what seemed like forever.  Maybe someone here knows when the lines open.

[MeganGC1983]

15 minutes ago, Acheavacci said:

When cruising resumes I wonder how many ports will still be closed.  We have a timeshare in Aruba.  According to La Cabana, Aruba will allow US citizens to enter the country on July 10th.  We will have to pay for Covid insurance of $15 per day (per person I believe), the option to upload negative Covid 19 PCR test result that was taken with 72 hours or travel or pay for a rapid test on arrival and quarantine our-self until test results are back.  If all countries with ports require this how will Carnival proceed?  Will they rapid test all passengers and/or allow us to submit our own test result.  It's not only a matter of company liabilty and safety but also an international concern.    

I don’t understand why the cruise industry doesn’t do this. If you want to cruise, get a test and submit the results at the port. Or something  along these lines. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[TNcruising02]

18 minutes ago, MeganGC1983 said:

I don’t understand why the cruise industry doesn’t do this. If you want to cruise, get a test and submit the results at the port. Or something  along these lines. 🤷🏼‍♀️

I agree. They should offer the option of submitting recent test results or paying for a test at the port.  That will eliminate a huge amount of risk and will be proactive.   Since the majority of people who get the virus have mild symptoms, the odds of someone testing negative and then getting on the ship and showing severe symptoms before the end of the cruise is very low.  People can also sign waivers.  We live with other contagious diseases and manage to go on with our lives.

Edited June 23, 2020 by TNcruising02

[MeganGC1983]

51 minutes ago, TNcruising02 said:

I agree. They should offer the option of submitting recent test results or paying for a test at the port.  That will eliminate a huge amount of risk and will be proactive.   Since the majority of people who get the virus have mild symptoms, the odds of someone testing negative and then getting on the ship and showing severe symptoms before the end of the cruise is very low.  People can also sign waivers.  We live with other contagious diseases and manage to go on with our lives.

Exactly this. I still haven’t figured out a reason this has not been their go to. 

[MeganGC1983]

And what about the river cruises opening back up?

 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/thepointsguy.com/news/small-cruise-lines-could-comeback-first/amp/

Edited June 23, 2020 by MeganGC1983

[Saint Greg]

1 hour ago, TNcruising02 said:

I agree. They should offer the option of submitting recent test results or paying for a test at the port.  That will eliminate a huge amount of risk and will be proactive.   Since the majority of people who get the virus have mild symptoms, the odds of someone testing negative and then getting on the ship and showing severe symptoms before the end of the cruise is very low.  People can also sign waivers.  We live with other contagious diseases and manage to go on with our lives.

 

But then they would also have to test all of their employees. And then what happens when they release thousands of people into a several foreign countries then let them back on the ship? Do they test everyone getting back on the ship at each port? Or do they just test you getting off of the ship? Negative test gets to go home. Positive test gets to go to the hospital. And if you just test them getting off of the ship, what if the positive people passed it on to a bunch of crew members during the cruise?

 

The only way this works is a cruise to nowhere where everyone is tested before the cruise. Or a cruise bubble. Where the ships only visit private islands and closed off port areas where everyone is tested.

[coevan]

1 hour ago, MeganGC1983 said:

I don’t understand why the cruise industry doesn’t do this. If you want to cruise, get a test and submit the results at the port. Or something  along these lines.

 

Testing a 100 people off an aircraft entering an island is a lot different than screening 3-4 K people embarking on a ship. Because you test negative on Monday, does not mean you will test negative Friday. 

[MeganGC1983]

44 minutes ago, coevan said:

 

Testing a 100 people off an aircraft entering an island is a lot different than screening 3-4 K people embarking on a ship. Because you test negative on Monday, does not mean you will test negative Friday. 

True! 

[HaveWeMetYet]

1 hour ago, coevan said:

 

Testing a 100 people off an aircraft entering an island is a lot different than screening 3-4 K people embarking on a ship. Because you test negative on Monday, does not mean you will test negative Friday. 

The main reason the cruise lines are not going to do testing is because of the liability they face. If someone test negative but is actually infected, or someone testing positive and facing quarantine or having their trip cancelled when they later find they were negative would open them up to a ton of legal action. 

Countries do require things like vaccination records, not entering with agricultural products, and going through security checks but those are government mandates so the cruise lines follow protocol but don't make the rules.

Liability is why the cruise lines pulled those 70+ fit to travel health screenings.

Edited June 23, 2020 by HaveWeMetYet

[coevan]

1 hour ago, HaveWeMetYet said:

Countries do require things like vaccination records

 

 

We have traveled all over the world and have never had to produce vaccination records. 

[MeganGC1983]

At this point, you’d think they would come up with something instead of taking the big ZERO on income.