Carnival To Require Face Masks & Ship Excursions Only

[Ride-The-Waves]

On 2/10/2021 at 9:26 AM, PrincessLuver said:

 

We have experienced this with Princess too before and one of the reasons we book private tours as much as possible.

 

 We were on several cruises where the Princess Excursions Info indicated there was only 20 places available for the tour.  We thought, for example, that that would be the number on the sailboat excursion.  To our surprise there were over 250 passengers on the excursion and the Excursion Desk said that they book in groups of twenty and that it was not false advertising as many of us not so happy customers told them.

 

It happened more then once to us...

Of course its obfuscating the issue.  Princess should be ashamed to treat passengers in this manner.  People don't like to be scammed as this appears to be doing.  There are several cruise lines offering small tours of 4-to-8 people usually for big dinars.  Princess' policy is wrong on on this issue.  Period!

[4cats4me]

On 2/9/2021 at 4:23 PM, Ride-The-Waves said:

For our stop at Casablanca next year the tours to Marrakech are listed as 20 pax.

Anytime we’ve booked tours through Princess, the default number has always been 20 spaces.  That doesn’t necessarily mean that the tour will be 20 max.  In fact, thus far, it has never been only 20.  

We usually book private tours, but sometimes it just isn’t possible and it has been 20 in number since we’ve been sailing with Princess for 18=years.  

ExMple , las Caletas was approx 120, 

“small bus tour to Nice, supposedly 25 max, “ they switched busses out last minute and there were 43 of us.  That did not make us happy at all! Especially after advertising it as 25 MAX and instead pulling a switcheroo 

Like that in 2018.  Only reason we did Princess tour wass due to lots of OBC which had to be used.  

[gmjc2]

We are getting off topic but that is part of the fun of reading these posts!!!

The 20 or 25 would be for each bus under the new protocols. Which is fine as it stands but there are two issues. One being that when you arrive at the scenic view or museum etc then suddenly there are many more milling around in your so called "bubble". 

Second problem is how many buses will they need to take hundreds of people at half capacity or less???

If we are in the Caribbean we have visited most islands so can stay on board and relax but if there is a place we have not seen then we will accept the mandated ship tour. Hopefully they are going to allow tours with certified operators that we do not have to pay for onboard at the higher price. We just will not be able to walk around off the pier or take a private tour with any non-certified vendor.

[Ride-The-Waves]

48 minutes ago, gmjc2 said:

We are getting off topic but that is part of the fun of reading these posts!!!

The 20 or 25 would be for each bus under the new protocols. Which is fine as it stands but there are two issues. One being that when you arrive at the scenic view or museum etc then suddenly there are many more milling around in your so called "bubble". 

Second problem is how many buses will they need to take hundreds of people at half capacity or less???

If we are in the Caribbean we have visited most islands so can stay on board and relax but if there is a place we have not seen then we will accept the mandated ship tour. Hopefully they are going to allow tours with certified operators that we do not have to pay for onboard at the higher price. We just will not be able to walk around off the pier or take a private tour with any non-certified vendor.

Who gets off a ship in the Caribbean anymore?  

 

I would anticipate that the cruise lines will need to certify a number of local tour companies as being compliant with their safety requirements.  Likely the same companies they hire for their tours.  I would also expect these compliant companies to have higher prices - increased expenses - then we experienced pre-pandemic.  

[ontheweb]

4 minutes ago, Ride-The-Waves said:

Who gets off a ship in the Caribbean anymore?  

 

I would anticipate that the cruise lines will need to certify a number of local tour companies as being compliant with their safety requirements.  Likely the same companies they hire for their tours.  I would also expect these compliant companies to have higher prices - increased expenses  then we experienced pre-pandemic.  

Will one of their new expenses be paying the cruise line for the privilege of being able to take their passengers?

[paul929207]

5 hours ago, ontheweb said:

Will one of their new expenses be paying the cruise line for the privilege of being able to take their passengers?

CAN THERE BE ANY DOUBT

[Grego]

On 2/5/2021 at 10:30 AM, Esprit said:

Works for me. Just want to be at sea.

I can live with dropping my mask everytime I sip my beer!

Ubetcha!!

 

[Grego]

15 hours ago, paul929207 said:

CAN THERE BE ANY DOUBT

Please stop......

 

[kimlovesfl]

On 2/7/2021 at 2:45 PM, ontheweb said:

When you say "Most folks just need a gentle reminder. Cruise ship staff can easily do this." are you taking into account that many on a cruise ship who might need this reminder may have consumed a large quantity of alcohol?

Lots of people who visit our parks have had a decent amount of alcohol. Doesn't matter. Don't want to cooperate, you can leave. Most people are so used to it now it isn't much of a problem. 

[ontheweb]

36 minutes ago, kimlovesfl said:

Lots of people who visit our parks have had a decent amount of alcohol. Doesn't matter. Don't want to cooperate, you can leave. Most people are so used to it now it isn't much of a problem. 

It has to be much easier to leave your park than to leave a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean. You can have the authorities remove someone from your park a lot easier than you can make someone "walk the plank" on a cruise ship.

[kimlovesfl]

1 hour ago, ontheweb said:

It has to be much easier to leave your park than to leave a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean. You can have the authorities remove someone from your park a lot easier than you can make someone "walk the plank" on a cruise ship.

You are ABSOLUTELY correct! They can still be made to disembark at the next port. Don't most ships have a "brig" for bad people? I'm not saying it will be easy, I'm saying it is entirely possible.

[caribill]

11 hours ago, kimlovesfl said:

You are ABSOLUTELY correct! They can still be made to disembark at the next port. Don't most ships have a "brig" for bad people? I'm not saying it will be easy, I'm saying it is entirely possible.

 

When necessary, Princess can confine a passenger to their cabin, stationing a staff member outside the cabin door if needed to enforce it until reaching the next port.

[stevenr597]

A good idea for Carnival would be to provide daily facemasks which fit their requirement every day in the cabins in the morning, as well as daily supplies of carry hand sanitizers.  It might be a bit costly, but it would send the message that Carnival wants to work with their passengers in keeping everyone safe.

Another idea would be to schedule their buffet to be open 24 hours/day.  Again more costly, but it would spread out the crowds. 

[wowzz]

3 hours ago, stevenr597 said:

Another idea would be to schedule their buffet to be open 24 hours/day.  Again more costly, but it would spread out the crowds. 

The buffet is already open about 20 hours a day. Not sure having it open at 3am is going to help spread out the crowds!

[Ombud]

This is why I upgraded my categories. BB or better for solo trips, MB or better for the one with kids. 

[Thrak]

2 hours ago, wowzz said:

The buffet is already open about 20 hours a day. Not sure having it open at 3am is going to help spread out the crowds!

 

Agreed. If you have ever roamed a Princess ship at midnight you will know that there is almost nobody out and about except a few crew members who are cleaning. At least that's how it's been on all of our cruises.

[caribill]

Here are the new protocols for Costa

 

https://www.costacruises.com/cruising-soon-again/safety-above-all.html?

 

 

[HappyInVan]

I'll only cruise on a ship where full safety measures (masks, distancing, bubble excursions) are in place. Fake certificates are available in Mexico for covid tests...

 

https://ca.yahoo.com/news/two-air-passengers-fined-10k-201253990.html

 

 

[Jenal2]

12 hours ago, caribill said:

Here are the new protocols for Costa

 

https://www.costacruises.com/cruising-soon-again/safety-above-all.html?

 

 

Wow, that is pretty impressive.  Hope the others follow their lead.  

[memoak]

3 hours ago, HappyInVan said:

I'll only cruise on a ship where full safety measures (masks, distancing, bubble excursions) are in place. Fake certificates are available in Mexico for covid tests...

 

https://ca.yahoo.com/news/two-air-passengers-fined-10k-201253990.html

 

 

Then there is a very good chance you will never cruise again

[HappyInVan]

54 minutes ago, memoak said:

Then there is a very good chance you will never cruise again

 

Already in the works...

 

https://www.costacruises.com/cruising-soon-again/safety-above-all.html?

 

 

[busterfla]

Well if Princess goes with Princess only excursions, no walk offs, that will be a disappointment in some Ports (St Thomas, Sint Maarten, San Juan, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao come to mind) as we have been on many of the excursions and have no desire to repeat any. We would usually walk off and explore the towns. Might as well close down Havensight and then other's shopping havens. What would be the benefit to each port besides the small number of excursions? How would it help the local people make a living?

 

Mind you, I can chill on the ship pretty well, haven't gone ashore in the Princess Cays in years, unless enough time has gone by to sample some new tee shirts. And maybe some local crafts in the Cays and outside the fence.

[HappyInVan]

17 minutes ago, busterfla said:

What would be the benefit to each port besides the small number of excursions? How would it help the local people make a living?

 

 

Actually, fees from cruise ships represent significant contributions to a city. GVHA earns 70% of its revenues from cruise ships. Millions go to improvement projects around the city...

 

https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/victorians-will-see-the-impact-of-lost-revenue-as-cruise-ban-extended-gvha-1.5295932

 

For poor islands without industries, the cruise business is important.

 

I would not worry about local facilities. Tourist-oriented restaurants and retail will convert to visitors-only clientele, with a focus on safety protocol. After all, not many locals are interested in Frog or tie-dyed shirts.

 

You want to spend money. They want your money. Somehow, the two will meet under safe conditions.

 

 

[caribill]

5 hours ago, busterfla said:

Well if Princess goes with Princess only excursions, no walk offs, that will be a disappointment in some Ports (St Thomas, Sint Maarten, San Juan, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao come to mind) as we have been on many of the excursions and have no desire to repeat any. We would usually walk off and explore the towns. Might as well close down Havensight and then other's shopping havens. What would be the benefit to each port besides the small number of excursions? How would it help the local people make a living?

 

 

 

There is the possibility that a "bubble" can be established covering the shopping area within the confines of the cruise ship complex.

 

Just as a tour guide and bus driver can be qualified to be part of a bubble tour, so could the people that work in the shops at the port terminal. If this is done, then those who like to wander these shops could do so, but would not be allowed outside the terminal area.

 

I have no idea if this is being considered, but it is a possibility that it might be considered.

 

Consider a port such as Roatan or Belize City or Grand Turk. Easy to keep the passengers inside the cruise ship complex which also includes a beach there.

 

Of course being confined to the cruise ship complex is nowhere near the same as being able to explore a town on your own, but it might make some passengers happy.

[Incognito1]

On 2/15/2021 at 1:34 AM, caribill said:

 

When necessary, Princess can confine a passenger to their cabin, stationing a staff member outside the cabin door if needed to enforce it until reaching the next port.

Wonder if the Medallion could lock someone IN as well as OUT?