Crew retuning

[island lady]

15 hours ago, karena1 said:

thank you so much.  Just so tired of the people that think the world is ending.  They can stay in their homes with bubble wrap around them and let the rest of us enjoy our lives.

 

You go girl!  🙂 

 

We are just back from a wonderful month spent in Alaska.  Was originally 2 week tour on our own, then board Radiance for two weeks.  Simple to just keep flights, extend rental car, and added a beautiful stay at a cabin in Homer to replace the B2B cruise.  Wouldn't have missed it! 

 

Make lemonade from lemons.  

Edited September 7, 2020 by island lady

[Plum Happy]

Just an opinion, but what if they are offering contracts to those that live in the Caribbean and their countries have low covid cases and have lifted whatever restrictions they have concerning travel and can also traveling the US with no issues?  I am sure they would also have to get them on ships to clear the 14 day requirements before they actually sail.   These contract workers would be offered contracts first vs those in the EU.

[ipeeinthepool]

16 hours ago, karena1 said:

thank you so much.  Just so tired of the people that think the world is ending.  They can stay in their homes with bubble wrap around them and let the rest of us enjoy our lives.

 

There's a big difference between saying the world is ending and realizing that you are not going to cruise from the US anytime soon.  Many of us find ways to live very happy lives while realizing the reality of the current situation. 

[ipeeinthepool]

17 minutes ago, Plum Happy said:

Just an opinion, but what if they are offering contracts to those that live in the Caribbean and their countries have low covid cases and have lifted whatever restrictions they have concerning travel and can also traveling the US with no issues?  I am sure they would also have to get them on ships to clear the 14 day requirements before they actually sail.   These contract workers would be offered contracts first vs those in the EU.

 

Whenever the cruise lines do decide to re-staff their ships they will probably use the same routes through places like Barbados and St Martin that they used to get people home.  The current activity is just a reminder to the staff to keep all of their paperwork current so they can return quickly as soon as conditions permit.

[John&LaLa]

4 hours ago, ipeeinthepool said:

 

There's a big difference between saying the world is ending and realizing that you are not going to cruise from the US anytime soon.  Many of us find ways to live very happy lives while realizing the reality of the current situation. 

 

This can go either way 😉

 

Edited September 7, 2020 by John&LaLa

[cruisegirl1]

It would be nice it we learned of more than person receiving contact from RCCL. 

M

[Vera/Lee]

3 minutes ago, cruisegirl1 said:

It would be nice it we learned of more than person receiving contact from RCCL. 

M

This is another interesting step:

https://www.riviera-maya-news.com/u-s-cruise-companies-express-interest-in-november-operations/2020.html?

[A&L_Ont]

1 hour ago, Vera/Lee said:

This is another interesting step:

https://www.riviera-maya-news.com/u-s-cruise-companies-express-interest-in-november-operations/2020.html?

It appears that the first step is still getting the CDC restrictions lifted before ships can port in Mexico. The quote below is from the article...

 

“Vanegas Pérez noted that cruise destinations such as Cozumel and Mahahual are ready to receive the ships, reiterating that will only happen once the cruise companies officially announce the restart of their operations.

 

Without providing names to avoid speculation, she said that she has been contacted by six of the most recognized U.S. cruise ship companies, all of which, expressed the same November interest.

 

Cruise companies out of the United States continue to wait for restrictions to be lifted after the CDC issued an extended No Sail Order in July”.

 

 

1 hour ago, cruisegirl1 said:

It would be nice it we learned of more than person receiving contact from RCCL. 

M

I agree. Reports here of notifications to many, would seen to be more promising than just a few. 

[sjb317]

4 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

This can go either way 😉

 

That is true, I have simply stopped arguing with several people on CC.😂

 

Sherri🙂

[Showme72]

Karena1,

Thank you for an informative post. The naysayers can all go hang and have been put on ignore. Keep up the good work!!

[cruisequeen4ever]

At the very least, it’s a glimmer of hope! At most, it’s a significant step in the right direction! Regardless, thank you for sharing your info, OP! 

[LuCruise]

I'll take any positive step forward. karena1 thank you for sharing this info with us 

[John&LaLa]

On 9/4/2020 at 5:41 PM, karena1 said:

Our Crew friend from St Lucia just sent us a message that he has been recalled to Navigator for Sept 21st.  Anticipating cruising starting on Nov 1st.  Sent me the actual text from Royal.  So super good news.  We will book Navigator for Nov if that happens just to see him!!

 

Did you ever share the wording in the text received from Royal to your friend

[joelheather]

you are all way too optimistic.  The ships will need be re certified and inspected before they can take on passengers.

 

Every ship in cold or warm layup is considered out of service. After 120 consecutive days without paid passengers,  the US Coast Guard needs to make sure that these vessels are still safe for public transport.  This is all laid out in the SOLAS guidelines.  This process is time consuming and there are very few USCG personnel certified to do this.  

 

Also cruise lines will be hiring back a percentage of staff to get the ships cleaned and prepared to accept guests.  

That is most likely the reason for the call backs.  Also many BDM’s from various lines have written off any chance of sailing until next year.  They will not start during Flu season while there is an ongoing pandemic.  think logically folks. 

[chengkp75]

1 hour ago, joelheather said:

you are all way too optimistic.  The ships will need be re certified and inspected before they can take on passengers.

 

Every ship in cold or warm layup is considered out of service. After 120 consecutive days without paid passengers,  the US Coast Guard needs to make sure that these vessels are still safe for public transport.  This is all laid out in the SOLAS guidelines.  This process is time consuming and there are very few USCG personnel certified to do this.  

 

Also cruise lines will be hiring back a percentage of staff to get the ships cleaned and prepared to accept guests.  

That is most likely the reason for the call backs.  Also many BDM’s from various lines have written off any chance of sailing until next year.  They will not start during Flu season while there is an ongoing pandemic.  think logically folks. 

No, they don't.  Only ships that have allowed their certificates to lapse, by not conducting the required periodic surveys and inspections, will have to be re-inspected prior to returning to service.  If the ship is in actual "cold lay up" (meaning there is no power onboard the ship, and only a daily fire watch), or a "cool lay up" (new term to describe a ship with power still on, but manning below the statutory minimum), run the risk of having their documentation expire, or be placed in "inactive" status.  The length of time without paying passengers has nothing to do with their class status.  And, if a ship in "cool" lay up continues to have the surveyors survey the ship on schedule, there would be no need for any re-inspection or survey.

 

Nothing in SOLAS outlines any procedure for the USCG with respect to foreign flag cruise ships other than to grant "port state control" (the authority to ensure SOLAS and other international conventions are being met).  The USCG issues an "initial" certificate of compliance to passenger ships when they first apply to enter the US, and afterwards they will conduct periodic inspections to ensure the COC is being maintained, but this is as part of the "port state control", and is not mandatory, and is subject to budgetary requirements, and a lack of a periodic PSC inspection does not preclude a ship from trading in US waters.

 

And, a return to service is far more dependent on class surveyors than USCG inspectors.

Edited September 8, 2020 by chengkp75

[A&L_Ont]

35 minutes ago, chengkp75 said:

And, a return to service is far more dependent on class surveyors than USCG inspectors.

@chengkp75 from looking on line it appears to be that a class surveyors Is a member of the technical staff of the classification society. The primary task of classification society surveyors is to survey in order to maintain the standards of construction and condition of ships and machinery, which have been laid down by the society.
 

Now I have a litany of questions.  It sounds as though every cruise ship will need to have this type of inspection?  What is the purpose of the inspection; for example is it an annual event or because of the length of time without other inspections? Are they certified contract workers?  Is that inspection a “general walk about” looking at the ship or an extremely thorough inspection?  How long would it take to do one ship let alone the entire fleet of RC ships?  After the inspection is complete how long is it good for?  It seems as though if all cruise lines were looking to do this at the same time it could take a bit of time to complete. 

 

One last question, if you choose to answer it is your call as I am looking for your personal opinion. Do you see them preparing ships today for a November 1st departure, without currently having CDC approval?

As always, thanks Chief. 

[bouhunter]

3 hours ago, joelheather said:

 think logically folks. 

That might include doing the proper research first 🙂  See post #91 above. 

 

Regardless, I do doubt any ships are sailing from the US in November.  For those willing to mask up and tolerate the restrictions, I hope they are able to do it.  Whenever that is.

 

 

Edited September 8, 2020 by bouhunter

[chengkp75]

48 minutes ago, A&L_Ont said:

@chengkp75 from looking on line it appears to be that a class surveyors Is a member of the technical staff of the classification society. The primary task of classification society surveyors is to survey in order to maintain the standards of construction and condition of ships and machinery, which have been laid down by the society.
 

Now I have a litany of questions.  It sounds as though every cruise ship will need to have this type of inspection?  What is the purpose of the inspection; for example is it an annual event or because of the length of time without other inspections? Are they certified contract workers?  Is that inspection a “general walk about” looking at the ship or an extremely thorough inspection?  How long would it take to do one ship let alone the entire fleet of RC ships?  After the inspection is complete how long is it good for?  It seems as though if all cruise lines were looking to do this at the same time it could take a bit of time to complete. 

 

One last question, if you choose to answer it is your call as I am looking for your personal opinion. Do you see them preparing ships today for a November 1st departure, without currently having CDC approval?

As always, thanks Chief. 

The class societies are like insurance underwriters, think UL.  Without class approvals and certificates, the ship's (any ship) certificate of registry (think car title) with the flag state is invalid, and no insurance club will grant insurance for the ship.  The surveyors are employees of the class society, and are bonded marine surveyors.  The surveys cover every aspect of the ship, from hull construction, to structural fire protection, to machinery condition, to crew training and certification, to safety management practices, preventative maintenance schedules and practices, to crew living and working conditions, to ship's radio equipment, etc, etc.  Some surveys are annual, some are biennial, some are for 5 years.  Surveys will include walk around areas of the ship, entry into tanks, operation of machinery, some tear down inspections of machinery, inspection of planned maintenance records, crew drills, etc.  Not all surveys are completed at the same time, though they generally fall within a window of time from the anniversary of the initial survey (when the ship is delivered), so not all are due at the same time, and again, not all would be required to be renewed just because a ship is not actually operating and carrying passengers.  Some surveys can be deferred or delayed within a time window, or delayed with the requirement to complete before restarting operations.  This will all depend on the individual ship's anniversary schedule, the actual survey schedule, and when and how long the ship delayed surveys, or what is just normally due prior to restarting, based on the survey schedule.  Unless a docking and bottom survey is due (or the ship has been "inactive", what NCL is calling "cool lay up", with less than minimum manning), all certificates should be completed within 1-2 working days.

 

Yes, I think that the lines are still trying to get restarted with the intention that the CDC requirements will be dropped, but I personally think that is very wishful thinking.

[A&L_Ont]

@chengkp75thanks for the thorough explanation as well as your personal input. It is appreciated.

[CaribbeanCrushed]

Great news!

[SRF]

On 9/4/2020 at 8:49 PM, twangster said:

Positive news for sure.

 

Getting everything in motion from a standstill takes some additional energy so this may be just trying to get the machine in motion.  Fleshing out which crew are willing and able to work, which have expired crew VISAs or other crew certifications, which ones aren't able to return for whatever reason.  

 

Once approved to restart they'll obviously want to hit the starting line with the sails full of wind so this may a preemptive step towards that goal.

 

Whatever the reason, the fact that they are engaging crew to think about returning is fantastic news.  

 

That might be an issue as many consular sections are US Embassies are still shut down

[chengkp75]

23 minutes ago, SRF said:

 

That might be an issue as many consular sections are US Embassies are still shut down

Even at the height of this, the consular sections were handling emergency requests for visas, and the US had declared merchant mariners to be essential workers from the very start, so they have been processing crew visas all along.

[ReneeFLL]

On 9/8/2020 at 4:28 AM, joelheather said:

you are all way too optimistic.  The ships will need be re certified and inspected before they can take on passengers.

 

Every ship in cold or warm layup is considered out of service. After 120 consecutive days without paid passengers,  the US Coast Guard needs to make sure that these vessels are still safe for public transport.  This is all laid out in the SOLAS guidelines.  This process is time consuming and there are very few USCG personnel certified to do this.  

 

Also cruise lines will be hiring back a percentage of staff to get the ships cleaned and prepared to accept guests.  

That is most likely the reason for the call backs.  Also many BDM’s from various lines have written off any chance of sailing until next year.  They will not start during Flu season while there is an ongoing pandemic.  think logically folks. 

Where in the world do you get your info or do you just make stuff up? 🙄

[island lady]

28 minutes ago, ReneeFLL said:

Where in the world do you get your info or do you just make stuff up? 🙄

 

LOL....what is the opposite of being optimistic?  😉  Depressing.  😄 

[julesbeara]

Just heard from a friend that's the Head Waiter in Chops Grille on Freedom, that he has been asked to submit his documents and that he would hear soon about a return date soon.