CDC Lifts Cruise Ban

[firefly333]

8 minutes ago, SargassoPirate said:

I read the entire document and am not happy about the possibility of a shipwide lockdown if a single case of Covid pops up.  Not appealing at all.  I just emailed C&A and told them if this rule stays I will be cancelling a March cruise before the final payment is due in December. 

I might be wrong but I read it as transporting people shoreside possibly to a prearranged hotel, like costa did with the 7 additional positives. They also have to have prearrangements with a hospital should it be needed. You will be escorted off the ship into quarantine.

 

You might want to read details of what costa did as that's how I read cdc requirements.

 

I read thru it and was kinda hoping we could sign something to go straight home if we live within driving distance and quarantine, but that's not what it says.

Edited November 1, 2020 by firefly333

[A&L_Ont]

7 minutes ago, SargassoPirate said:

I read the entire document and am not happy about the possibility of a shipwide lockdown if a single case of Covid pops up.  Not appealing at all.  I just emailed C&A and told them if this rule stays I will be cancelling a March cruise before the final payment is due in December. 

CDC controls the rules so I doubt it will be changed. I’m cancelling my March cruise before final payment, for many reasons and we love to cruise. 

[Sirlancelot]

Heard Royal offering double points for cruises next year booked in 2020?? Why do this. It is not like Pinnacle is going to be the same for those attempting to get there. Lounges - omg how will those work? Crowds to get drinks before the magic witching hour of free drinks end? Not happening the same? Hard to imagine what extra points will get you when all has to change. This may be on another thread so sorry if it is. 

[Mikew0805]

1 hour ago, Hoopster95 said:

 

Many comments regarding truly loving being able to sail an almost empty ship....

Keep in mind any length of time whereby RCG cannot sail at 108% capacity like last year means they are that much closer to selling/scrapping ships, limited itineraries, and ultimately bankruptcy/restructuring, etc. Be careful what you wish for.

 

Please re-read my post. I didn’t wish for anything. I responded with our experience earlier this year, and explained how relaxing it was.
 

Also, 108% occupancy is not required to make a profit, according to their own release of information. If you know something the cruise lines don’t, you should share it with them. 👍

[twangster]

4 minutes ago, Sirlancelot said:

Heard Royal offering double points for cruises next year booked in 2020?? Why do this. It is not like Pinnacle is going to be the same for those attempting to get there. Lounges - omg how will those work? Crowds to get drinks before the magic witching hour of free drinks end? Not happening the same? Hard to imagine what extra points will get you when all has to change. This may be on another thread so sorry if it is. 

 

Think long term.   Two, three or five years, etc.  The hope is that one day the virus will be eliminated or reduced to something that will allow things to return to some resemblance of what they were.  This isn't the first Corona virus and it won't be the last.  Between them there is hope for normalcy.  

[firefly333]

13 minutes ago, Sirlancelot said:

Heard Royal offering double points for cruises next year booked in 2020?? Why do this. It is not like Pinnacle is going to be the same for those attempting to get there. Lounges - omg how will those work? Crowds to get drinks before the magic witching hour of free drinks end? Not happening the same? Hard to imagine what extra points will get you when all has to change. This may be on another thread so sorry if it is. 

There are quite a few posts on the double pts, including a poll how many will turn this or that. Basically the DL is only affected by newly minted diamonds. Most lost cruises in 2020 and would have made diamond so its really not as big a effect on DL I bet as you would think. The ones who cruise a lot are already pinnacle and it just gets them closer to a free cruise.

[crewsweeper]

It seems to many that the CDC views cruise ships as petri dishes of unbleached SAR-CO 2 (bleach kills anything in a petru dish), while planes with HEPA/MERV filters  can pack them in. Nevertheless, faster results from PCR tests are becoming more readily available.  Treatments are becoming better, lessening the quarantine periods and hospitalizations. Deaths with CV-19 as a factor  are declining. Thus, there is hope for less restrictions for cruising as time goes on.

People need to transition out of the sure death, certainly horribly ill, and strictly shut in for weeks mentality.  Not the case anymore.  Whether or not cruise ships will, at initial sailings, be completely virus  free remains to be seen. But when you consider that most tests show negative  results and most public events indoors of late don't spread the virus, those who wish to cruise and who are willing to endure minor inconveniences, should certainly look forward to heading back to sea.

 

[Hoopster95]

24 minutes ago, Mikew0805 said:

Please re-read my post. I didn’t wish for anything. I responded with our experience earlier this year, and explained how relaxing it was.
 

Also, 108% occupancy is not required to make a profit, according to their own release of information. If you know something the cruise lines don’t, you should share it with them. 👍

 

I just re-read your post.... very persuasive with regard to how great you thought everything was with many examples you provided. I apologize as I assumed you are a proponent to enjoy more empty ships, that is all. Your post was only one example to many posts I have read regarding hopefully sailing more empty ships. So to be clear, you do not want half empty ships because of the dire long term implications to RCL and cruising in general, correct?

 

Regarding 108% occupancy, I know nothing... I'm some guy behind a keyboard just like you.

All we know, according to the CEO himself (well, what was said... could be false/embellished after all), is that Oasis Class ships supposedly can sail approx. 30% occupancy and other classes 50% just to break even. In order for RCL to see $833 million profit like last year, and I assume have a $100+ stock value, ships will have to fill up again... and all ships, not just a few sailing to Cococay twice a week with Florida drive up residents.

Edited November 1, 2020 by Hoopster95

[keyboardjunkie]

12 minutes ago, crewsweeper said:

It seems to many that the CDC views cruise ships as petri dishes of unbleached SAR-CO 2 (bleach kills anything in a petru dish), while planes with HEPA/MERV filters  can pack them in. Nevertheless, faster results from PCR tests are becoming more readily available.  Treatments are becoming better, lessening the quarantine periods and hospitalizations. Deaths with CV-19 as a factor  are declining. Thus, there is hope for less restrictions for cruising as time goes on.

People need to transition out of the sure death, certainly horribly ill, and strictly shut in for weeks mentality.  Not the case anymore.  Whether or not cruise ships will, at initial sailings, be completely virus  free remains to be seen. But when you consider that most tests show negative  results and most public events indoors of late don't spread the virus, those who wish to cruise and who are willing to endure minor inconveniences, should certainly look forward to heading back to sea.

 

 

I must chime in and disagree with the statement regarding deaths. Deaths are not decreasing.  In the past 7 days the US death rate has been:

 

Oct. 31  823

Oct. 30  1009

Oct. 29  1055

Oct. 28  1060

Oct. 27   901

Oct. 26  483

Oct. 25  380

 

The average 7 day average has remained fairly constant (815 - 797).  COVID still has a significant hold on the US population. 

 

Every one of these deaths was someone's loved one.

 

Source: CDC

 

[Mikew0805]

4 minutes ago, Hoopster95 said:

 

I just re-read your post.... very persuasive with regard to how great you thought everything was with many examples you provided. I apologize as I assumed you are a proponent to enjoy more empty ships, that is all. Your post was only one example to many posts I have read regarding hopefully sailing more empty ships. So to be clear, you do not want half empty ships because of the dire long term implications to RCL and cruising in general, correct?

 

Regarding 108% occupancy, I know nothing... I'm some guy behind a keyboard just like you.

All we know, according to the CEO himself (well, what was said... could be false/embellished after all), is that Oasis Class ships supposedly can sail approx. 30% occupancy and other classes 50% just to break even. In order for RCL to see $833 million profit like last year, and I assume have a $100+ stock value, ships will have to fill up again... and all ships, not just a few sailing to Cococay twice a week with Florida drive up residents.

Correct... I do not WANT them to be half empty because what I want is something close to the way it was. There will never be innovation or progress without them making money like they did pre pandemic. 
 

What I also want is to be back on a ship. During this time while they are waiting to get back to normal, there might be these reduced capacity sailings. If I am on one, then yes it will be more relaxing and enjoyable than it is on a full ship. It’s not here to stay, so when it happens you are not saying that someone should not enjoy that, correct? It was VERY enjoyable. 
 

I agree that in order to make that type of profit you mentioned, they do need to sail at occupancies as they have in the past. But again, you said they needed that to avoid bankruptcy, etc. and I just disagreed. 

[not-enough-cruising]

5 minutes ago, keyboardjunkie said:

 

I must chime in and disagree with the statement regarding deaths. Deaths are not decreasing.  In the past 7 days the US death rate has been:

 

Oct. 31  823

Oct. 30  1009

Oct. 29  1055

Oct. 28  1060

Oct. 27   901

Oct. 26  483

Oct. 25  380

 

The average 7 day average has remained fairly constant (815 - 797).  COVID still has a significant hold on the US population. 

 

Every one of these deaths was someone's loved one.

 

Source: CDC

 

The ratio of deaths to confirmed positive cases (death rate) has significantly diminished (even with the shady reporting of deaths attributed to Covid)

[Hoopster95]

12 minutes ago, Mikew0805 said:

I agree that in order to make that type of profit you mentioned, they do need to sail at occupancies as they have in the past. But again, you said they needed that to avoid bankruptcy, etc. and I just disagreed. 

 

Gotcha. Thank you for the respectful reply. 

I really and truly hope that those cruisers on first sailings, whether it's Dec 2020, Q2 or whenever, stay safe and successfully complete the sailings over and over again... it would mean I would be that much closer to wanting to cruise again as well 🙂

[firefly333]

33 minutes ago, keyboardjunkie said:

 

I must chime in and disagree with the statement regarding deaths. Deaths are not decreasing.  In the past 7 days the US death rate has been:

 

Oct. 31  823

Oct. 30  1009

Oct. 29  1055

Oct. 28  1060

Oct. 27   901

Oct. 26  483

Oct. 25  380

 

The average 7 day average has remained fairly constant (815 - 797).  COVID still has a significant hold on the US population. 

 

Every one of these deaths was someone's loved one.

 

Source: CDC

 

Possibly mixed methaphors?  Death rate would be cases divided into positive cases,. Vs you are posting total death counts. You are both right. Death counts remaining steady and death rates going down. Even my local hospital says death rate is down. NY times also says it. More positives, same number of deaths, equal overall percentage of deaths has dropped.

[Blizzard54]

36 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said:

The ratio of deaths to confirmed positive cases (death rate) has significantly diminished (even with the shady reporting of deaths attributed to Covid)

The death rate may be going down but the number of new cases is rising so fast that the number of deaths per day is rising .

[travelhound]

1 hour ago, twangster said:

 

Think long term.   Two, three or five years, etc.  The hope is that one day the virus will be eliminated or reduced to something that will allow things to return to some resemblance of what they were.  This isn't the first Corona virus and it won't be the last.  Between them there is hope for normalcy.  

It hopefully won't be too long before I can stop talking about Covid and start drinking Corona on the ship 🙂

 

[Mikew0805]

2 hours ago, Hoopster95 said:

 

Gotcha. Thank you for the respectful reply. 

I really and truly hope that those cruisers on first sailings, whether it's Dec 2020, Q2 or whenever, stay safe and successfully complete the sailings over and over again... it would mean I would be that much closer to wanting to cruise again as well 🙂

I personally don’t think it’s going to be until at least March... but that is based on nothing factual... just hoping to be cruising by then. 

[not-enough-cruising]

2 hours ago, Blizzard54 said:

The death rate may be going down but the number of new cases is rising so fast that the number of deaths per day is rising .

True, but the number of daily deaths is climbing at a snail’s pace as compared to daily new cases. This is a very good thing. 

[Domino D]

48 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said:

True, but the number of daily deaths is climbing at a snail’s pace as compared to daily new cases. This is a very good thing. 

Honestly, death rates climbing slowly are only a good thing if it isn't someone you know.  We know a couple (my wife works with the woman), they felt very secure.  Their teenage son went to a party and brought the virus home.  The husband died 3 weeks later of respiratory failure.  It's only 1 person I get that, but it's just funny how my feeling about numbers changed once I knew even 1 person who died.  So I have to disagree about "This is a very good thing."

 

Maybe you could say, "Things are looking better".  Probably easy to say what difference does it make. I hope you never have to find out. 

[LorraineP]

CDC allowing 7 DAY or 7 NIGHT cruises?

[Ourusualbeach]

6 minutes ago, LorraineP said:

CDC allowing 7 DAY or 7 NIGHT cruises?

One would  assume that it’s is the 7 night cruise being that is the most common sailing length.  

[Ocean Boy]

13 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

One would  assume that it’s is the 7 night cruise being that is the most common sailing length.  

And the last day is not really like a cruising day anyway. It is much more a turn around day.

[Blizzard54]

23 minutes ago, Domino D said:

Honestly, death rates climbing slowly are only a good thing if it isn't someone you know.  We know a couple (my wife works with the woman), they felt very secure.  Their teenage son went to a party and brought the virus home.  The husband died 3 weeks later of respiratory failure.  It's only 1 person I get that, but it's just funny how my feeling about numbers changed once I knew even 1 person who died.  So I have to disagree about "This is a very good thing."

 

Maybe you could say, "Things are looking better".  Probably easy to say what difference does it make. I hope you never have to find out. 

You have a very good point.  Back in March, there had been a total less than 1,000 deaths in the US when my brother became one of them.   There were too many people that seem to think it was going to stay on the coasts and middle of country would not be effected very much.

 

[molly361]

We don't know yet that the testing at the pier embarkation day takes the place of 2-5 day prior to sailing test requirement in the Healthy Sail Panel report or if it's in addition to that test. 

Edited November 1, 2020 by molly361

[SeaHunt]

5 hours ago, SargassoPirate said:

I read the entire document and am not happy about the possibility of a shipwide lockdown if a single case of Covid pops up.  Not appealing at all. 

 

I agree that's something to think about. There was a Ponant ship held in Sicily:

 

Ponant's Le Jacques Cartier is heading to Marseille with 13 cases of COVID-19, mostly among crew. French authorities have agreed to take the ship, which is carrying 72 passengers.

 

 

Le Jacques Cartier has been held this week in Syracuse, Sicily. The voyage had been planned to end at Piraeus on Monday.

 

The ship left Syracuse shortly after midnight Saturday and is scheduled to arrive in Marseille at 8 a.m. Monday. Passengers and crew will disembark under the control of local and national health authorities.

 

During the Oct. 25 cruise that embarked at Valletta, Malta, two cases were detected among the crew the night of departure. The following day, Italian authorities in Syracuse forbid anyone from going ashore.

 

Everyone on board underwent PCR tests, which confirmed 13 cases. Those infected were isolated in their cabins under medical care.

 

https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/environmental-health/ponant-ship-13-covid-19-cases-will-disembark-marseille

 

https://www.travelmole.com/news_feature.php?news_id=2044894

 

 

 

[Ourusualbeach]

21 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

And the last day is not really like a cruising day anyway. It is much more a turn around day.

Exactly, even though it was technically 8 days I think most knew that 7 day and 7 night referred to the same thing.