Where do I sign up for this

[kitty2264]

Reading the article from CNN about cruise resumption in US waters shows some hope for future cruising.  One item caught my attention was the idea of "mock cruises".

 

"Later phases involve "mock voyages," with volunteers playing the role of passengers to test virus mitigation strategies on trips. Once ships have met certain requirements, they will be certified to begin operations with real passengers."

 

I have to wonder where these "volunteers" will come from and where might I sign up.  

 

 

[memoak]

14 minutes ago, kitty2264 said:

Reading the article from CNN about cruise resumption in US waters shows some hope for future cruising.  One item caught my attention was the idea of "mock cruises".

 

"Later phases involve "mock voyages," with volunteers playing the role of passengers to test virus mitigation strategies on trips. Once ships have met certain requirements, they will be certified to begin operations with real passengers."

 

I have to wonder where these "volunteers" will come from and where might I sign up.  

 

 

They are called employees of Princess

[vintagegarage]

I sent an email to my Princess Cruise Consultant yesterday, asking to be a volunteer.  I live in Florida and am retired and can drive to any port in Florida, and be ready to board with about 5 hours advanced notice.  My bag is packed and is in my car in case I get the call to show up.  I'm ready now.. all I need is the call.

[pms4104]

16 minutes ago, memoak said:

They are called employees of Princess

Indeed ... I doubt Princess will be giving away FREE cruises as long as they have employees on the payroll ... many of whom are being paid a lot less than pre-pandemic pause.

[donaldsc]

1 hour ago, memoak said:

They are called employees of Princess

 

Another thing.  Princess employees can be told that if they are not careful to follow ALL the rules, they will be fired.  This makes them a really good test group for Princess to ensure that they pass any required CDC tests.  For those of you who are not getting it, I am being a bit sarcastic.  Many of the paying regular passengers can be guaranteed not to follow all the rules so the results from the test group are essentially meaningless.  

 

It would be a real hoot however if the fail the Princess employee test cruises.

 

DON

[chelsea922]

1 hour ago, vintagegarage said:

I sent an email to my Princess Cruise Consultant yesterday, asking to be a volunteer.  I live in Florida and am retired and can drive to any port in Florida, and be ready to board with about 5 hours advanced notice.  My bag is packed and is in my car in case I get the call to show up.  I'm ready now.. all I need is the call.

I've done the same thing for San Pedro.  I can be there in about 2 hours and will happily help them get back to work.  Also, I want to go on my three 7 day cruises in January. 

[Earthworm Jim]

4 hours ago, donaldsc said:

 

Another thing.  Princess employees can be told that if they are not careful to follow ALL the rules, they will be fired.  This makes them a really good test group for Princess to ensure that they pass any required CDC tests.  For those of you who are not getting it, I am being a bit sarcastic.  Many of the paying regular passengers can be guaranteed not to follow all the rules so the results from the test group are essentially meaningless.  

 

It would be a real hoot however if the fail the Princess employee test cruises.

 

I know you were being a bit sarcastic, and the Conditional Sale Order says the simulated cruise has to be on a consensual basis and not as a condition of employment, but your point that employees would have a vested interest in making things turn out well is valid.

 

Also, I'm not sure whether these simulated cruise will be fun or not. It says they have to do some of the good things, such as onboard activities like dining and entertainment and private island shore excursions if the cruise line is going to have them on the real cruises. But it also says it includes a transfer of simulated sick passengers/crew to isolation rooms and quarantine the remaining passengers. (Page 25 in the Conditional Sail Order) So it seems at least some part of the cruise will be under simulated quarantine conditions, which does not sound like fun.

[LACruiser88]

Order also states that you must obtain written documentation from your physician that you have no pre-existing medical conditions.  This might disqualify a lot of us retired folks???

[donaldsc]

39 minutes ago, Earthworm Jim said:

 

I know you were being a bit sarcastic, and the Conditional Sale Order says the simulated cruise has to be on a consensual basis and not as a condition of employment, but your point that employees would have a vested interest in making things turn out well is valid.

 

Also, I'm not sure whether these simulated cruise will be fun or not. It says they have to do some of the good things, such as onboard activities like dining and entertainment and private island shore excursions if the cruise line is going to have them on the real cruises. But it also says it includes a transfer of simulated sick passengers/crew to isolation rooms and quarantine the remaining passengers. (Page 25 in the Conditional Sail Order) So it seems at least some part of the cruise will be under simulated quarantine conditions, which does not sound like fun.

 

I was being sarcastic about the fact that it would be a good test.  I was not being sarcastic about the fact that Princess would expect their employees to behave well or else.  Perhaps the proper behavior might not be a condition of employment but if they do not behave, they better hope that Princess does not have a branch office in Nome Alaska.

 

You will also note that the CDC rules say that if one case of Covid occurs, the affected person has to be quarantined in a single cabin for the duration of the voyage (no problem on that unless you are the poor sucker volunteer who is picked for that dubious part of the test) and everyone else on the ship including non-essential crew has to be quarantined.  How are they going to handle that test?

 

You have a lot more faith in the fact that the cruise companies will behave properly than I have.

 

DON

[Caribensun]

Love to cruise and have missed my multiple cruises this year.

Agree, cruise lines can ensure they get the right people who follow every protocol just to get certified.  

We all know so many paying passengers on cruises that will never comply,  just saying....

We all know people  (kids, teens, young adults mostly) who are ill or may not be feeling well , getting or have a cold and board the ships anyway, the health (honor system)form is a joke—just my opinion.

I an very concerned about Grandparents traveling with Grandkids and sharing rooms, they are always hanging out with people their own age...( referencing mainly kids club thru 20+ yr olds.).  

My opinion would to mandate at least a 2 day pre-cruise stay with COVID test upon accommodations arrival as well as embarkation, still won’t necessarily mean you are Negative when boarding.  
what about Asymptomatic people? 

How does the cruise line distinguish a cough, know people who have a cough that could be considered a Covid cough.  Cough and loss of taste/smell have been first and only symptom for most people we know for several days, then the fever and other symptoms appear.  
People could have symptoms and still hang out in public and try to get away without mask wearing, etc.(Dodgers player).  
Where we live so many people will not comply with mask wearing, will carry mask into grocery store and never put on or hang down from ear or under nose, chin.  I do not see away for staff to enforce the code of conduct and as here, I am sure fights will breakout.  Not to be a downer, but I do not want the virus and would not want to unknowingly bring it on board or take it home. 
Happy that the cruise lines will be taking great care of staff.

Good luck to all who try to sail again.. so that one day I may feel safe enough to cruise again too.

No flames please, just my opinion.     

Sandipalms

[Outerdog]

1 hour ago, LACruiser88 said:

Order also states that you must obtain written documentation from your physician that you have no pre-existing medical conditions.  This might disqualify a lot of us retired folks???

 

In the US healthcare system, simply being alive is a pre-existing medical condition.

 

[suzyed]

9 hours ago, vintagegarage said:

I sent an email to my Princess Cruise Consultant yesterday, asking to be a volunteer.  I live in Florida and am retired and can drive to any port in Florida, and be ready to board with about 5 hours advanced notice.  My bag is packed and is in my car in case I get the call to show up.  I'm ready now.. all I need is the call.

ME 2!

 

[suzyed]

2 hours ago, Earthworm Jim said:

 

I know you were being a bit sarcastic, and the Conditional Sale Order says the simulated cruise has to be on a consensual basis and not as a condition of employment, but your point that employees would have a vested interest in making things turn out well is valid.

 

Also, I'm not sure whether these simulated cruise will be fun or not. It says they have to do some of the good things, such as onboard activities like dining and entertainment and private island shore excursions if the cruise line is going to have them on the real cruises. But it also says it includes a transfer of simulated sick passengers/crew to isolation rooms and quarantine the remaining passengers. (Page 25 in the Conditional Sail Order) So it seems at least some part of the cruise will be under simulated quarantine conditions, which does not sound like fun.

We did the real thing!

[caribill]

6 hours ago, Sandipalms said:

I do not see away for staff to enforce the code of conduct and as here, I am sure fights will breakout. 

 

Staff just needs to call the security personnel. Security will do the enforcement which might include the passenger being left at the next port with no refund and at their own expense to get home.

[Earthworm Jim]

13 hours ago, donaldsc said:

You will also note that the CDC rules say that if one case of Covid occurs, the affected person has to be quarantined in a single cabin for the duration of the voyage (no problem on that unless you are the poor sucker volunteer who is picked for that dubious part of the test) and everyone else on the ship including non-essential crew has to be quarantined.

 

I did indeed note that, considering I said the same thing my post you quoted.

 

13 hours ago, donaldsc said:

You have a lot more faith in the fact that the cruise companies will behave properly than I have.

 

I don't know where you got that. I don't think anything I said in my post opined on whether or not I thought the cruise companies would behave properly one way or the other. I just agreed with your point on employees acting as passengers for the simulated cruise and then wondered if the simulated cruise would actually be any fun.

[donaldsc]

5 hours ago, Earthworm Jim said:

 

I did indeed note that, considering I said the same thing my post you quoted.

 

 

I don't know where you got that. I don't think anything I said in my post opined on whether or not I thought the cruise companies would behave properly one way or the other. I just agreed with your point on employees acting as passengers for the simulated cruise and then wondered if the simulated cruise would actually be any fun.

 

Some of the people on the test cruises should be told to be uncooperative and to push or exceed the boundaries to see how the cruise lines handle problem people.  I really think that the lines are much less excited than the CC cheerleaders who are anxious to get on the very first ship.  The cruise lines may also find that the vast majority of cruisers who are not in the CC group will also be less excited once they read (if they even bother to read) the restrictions that they will be cruising on.  

 

We shall see.

 

DON

[voljeep]

4 minutes ago, donaldsc said:

Some of the people on the test cruises should be told to be uncooperative and to push or exceed the boundaries to see how the cruise lines handle problem people

like those cruisers on MSC ? that 'broke the bubble' and went off on their own on a shore excursion , and weren't 'allowed to re-board' ? - complete set-up to make a point

[Roberto256]

12 hours ago, caribill said:

 

Staff just needs to call the security personnel. Security will do the enforcement which might include the passenger being left at the next port with no refund and at their own expense to get home.

 

Do they still have Gurkhas?   Maybe that ended with the end of British ownership.

They always appeared to me to be people you wouldn't want to fool with...

 

[caribill]

48 minutes ago, donaldsc said:

 

The cruise lines may also find that the vast majority of cruisers who are not in the CC group will also be less excited once they read (if they even bother to read) the restrictions that they will be cruising on.  

 

 

The cruise lines that have resumed some cruising in Europe have reported great interest in their new sailings. This is both for cruise-to-nowhere cruises (not possible from the USA) and cruises with ports in the same country as the embarkation port (also not possible in the USA).

[trbarton]

On 11/1/2020 at 4:20 PM, Sandipalms said:

Love to cruise and have missed my multiple cruises this year.

Agree, cruise lines can ensure they get the right people who follow every protocol just to get certified.  

We all know so many paying passengers on cruises that will never comply,  just saying....

We all know people  (kids, teens, young adults mostly) who are ill or may not be feeling well , getting or have a cold and board the ships anyway, the health (honor system)form is a joke—just my opinion.

I an very concerned about Grandparents traveling with Grandkids and sharing rooms, they are always hanging out with people their own age...( referencing mainly kids club thru 20+ yr olds.).  

My opinion would to mandate at least a 2 day pre-cruise stay with COVID test upon accommodations arrival as well as embarkation, still won’t necessarily mean you are Negative when boarding.  
what about Asymptomatic people? 

How does the cruise line distinguish a cough, know people who have a cough that could be considered a Covid cough.  Cough and loss of taste/smell have been first and only symptom for most people we know for several days, then the fever and other symptoms appear.  
People could have symptoms and still hang out in public and try to get away without mask wearing, etc.(Dodgers player).  
Where we live so many people will not comply with mask wearing, will carry mask into grocery store and never put on or hang down from ear or under nose, chin.  I do not see away for staff to enforce the code of conduct and as here, I am sure fights will breakout.  Not to be a downer, but I do not want the virus and would not want to unknowingly bring it on board or take it home. 
Happy that the cruise lines will be taking great care of staff.

Good luck to all who try to sail again.. so that one day I may feel safe enough to cruise again too.

No flames please, just my opinion.     

Sandipalms

Curious as you don’t say where you live. Here in San Francisco all of the stores I have been too won’t let you into the store unless you have a mask on. Someone is at the entrance to check. Several malls won’t let you inside without a mask on. I’ve not seen or heard of any fights or problems. 
 

FYI..I’ve seen several cruise lines that are crushing where in order to get into the buffet there are several employees who require you to stand in front of a machine for a temperature check, then a hand washing station & finally a hand sanitizer. No reports of anyone not willing to comply. 
 

Tom😀

[trbarton]

On 11/1/2020 at 8:40 AM, kitty2264 said:

Reading the article from CNN about cruise resumption in US waters shows some hope for future cruising.  One item caught my attention was the idea of "mock cruises".

 

"Later phases involve "mock voyages," with volunteers playing the role of passengers to test virus mitigation strategies on trips. Once ships have met certain requirements, they will be certified to begin operations with real passengers."

 

I have to wonder where these "volunteers" will come from and where might I sign up.  

 

 

I have heard from a reliable YouTube site that these people may be family of cruise staff or cruise related people like tour guides, or people in the travel related field. 
 

Tom😀

[BirdTravels]

On 11/1/2020 at 7:20 PM, Sandipalms said:

We all know so many paying passengers on cruises that will never comply,  just saying....

How do you "know" that? 

 

I have been on a dozen flights recently and mask compliance is pretty good. And those that are not in compliance quickly pull their masks over their noses when asked. 

 

I have been to Vegas and Atlantic City several times since "re-opening" and mask compliance is pretty good. And the staff and security is pretty good about reminding folks about compliance. Social distancing in lines and elevators is good. Social distancing on the casino floor, less so, but none violate the CDC guidance on "close contact" (less than 6 feet for more than 15 minutes). 

 

So, people in similar vacation and travel situation do comply and if they chose not to, they will be denied the privilege of participating in their travel/vacation (pretty easy on a ship to confine someone to their cabin and escort them off at the next port). 

[BirdTravels]

2 hours ago, trbarton said:

I have heard from a reliable YouTube site that these people may be family of cruise staff or cruise related people like tour guides, or people in the travel related field. Tom😀

I would not trust my family to behave themselves on a mock cruise. 

 

If a company's business was totally dependent upon passing a mock cruise, they would use "passengers" that had a vested interest in the success of the mock cruise (even under threat of termination).