Are low capacity rates reaching a concerning level?

[DirtyDawg]

2 hours ago, bajathree said:

I am reading a current live review from Odyssey where they are stating there are only 500 passengers aboard. This is both crazy and quite concerning at the same time.

It would be concerning if I was a shareholder or an employee but as only a customer it is not concerning to me at all. 

[HxFx]

7 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Wow I am surprised to hear that approx. 200 people were refused boarding for not having satisfied their protocols.    IMO no excuse for that these days, everyone should have been notified of what was needed via email and when they completed online health questionnaire.

If it was due to the test results, it may not have been the passengers' fault. Many people getting the bait and switch on the rapid test when they show up to their appointment. They will take the PCR test but results are often not getting back in time.

[ryano]

23 minutes ago, molly361 said:

  No waits for elevators not even people in them a lot of the time.  
 

 

Music to my ears 🙂  

[irishgal432]

16 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Wow I am surprised to hear that approx. 200 people were refused boarding for not having satisfied their protocols.    IMO no excuse for that these days, everyone should have been notified of what was needed via email and when they completed online health questionnaire.    

And what is the point of screaming like a brat when the answer is NO and won't change no matter how loud you get.     

Other than that I hope you had a great sailing!

We had about 200 on Freedom that ended up not sailing, not sure of the exact reasons however the concierge said the Royal Suite guests were a no show at the port.

 

[Missymo]

I am sailing at the end of the month, and so far , every day I received a note from Celebrity advising about Healthy at Sea, and protocols being followed.  They are not afraid to say if you don't have what we ask for, you will not be allowed to board.  I like it!! and because of that I am sailing.  I will feel safer on the ship then I do where I live. 

[flamingos]

40 minutes ago, molly361 said:

It was great with the reduced capacity.  No waits for elevators not even people in them a lot of the time.  Didn't like the mask wearing though.  You could always find a seat at the bar
 

All good - we have been wearing masks again for a month so it's no big deal.  Thanks!

[molly361]

I'm curious to see if they can fill the ships when they increase capacity.  Between the hoops that you have to go thru and the people still not ready to cruise for whatever reason I would not be surprised if they can't fill them even to their reduced capacity for quite a while

[webecruzin2]

40 minutes ago, BND said:

Airlines fly planes all the time with low numbers.  They have to move planes and crew between airports to fulfill other flights.  Flights get cancelled for weather or mechanical issues, but I've seen flights with only a few people onboard and some with just crew.  

Absolutely correct.  

[cruisinghawg]

21 minutes ago, Missymo said:

I am sailing at the end of the month, and so far , every day I received a note from Celebrity advising about Healthy at Sea, and protocols being followed.  They are not afraid to say if you don't have what we ask for, you will not be allowed to board.  I like it!! and because of that I am sailing.  I will feel safer on the ship then I do where I live. 

Yep just got of the Allure and it is the safest place to be because you know everyone is vaxed.

[cruisinghawg]

24 minutes ago, Missymo said:

I am sailing at the end of the month, and so far , every day I received a note from Celebrity advising about Healthy at Sea, and protocols being followed.  They are not afraid to say if you don't have what we ask for, you will not be allowed to board.  I like it!! and because of that I am sailing.  I will feel safer on the ship then I do where I live. 

Yep just got of the Allure and it is the safest place to be because you know everyone is vaxed.

Edited August 31, 2021 by cruisinghawg
Delete post

[udamom]

5 minutes ago, cruisinghawg said:

Yep just got of the Allure and it is the safest place to be because you know everyone is vaxed.

So now that they changed to all 12 and over vaccinated were there any changes in indoor settings? Had to wear a mask every time you went indoors still correct? Even in vaxxed only venues?

thanks for the info!

 

[cruisinghawg]

1 minute ago, udamom said:

So now that they changed to all 12 and over vaccinated were there any changes in indoor settings? Had to wear a mask every time you went indoors still correct? Even in vaxxed only venues?

thanks for the info!

 

Well you had to wear a mask indoors UNTIL you got to a totally vaxed venue or sat down to eat or drink. Crazy I know but its their rules but please do not get me started!!!!!! LOL No mask outside, so being on Allure with all her outdoor spaces it was nice.

[JessyCruises]

I think that is my live report you are talking about.  We were onboard Odyssey last week too and will be next week as well.  Last week I think we had around 1700 people (number kept bouncing around depending on who you asked).  Apparently at the Captain's Corner last week someone asked why there was such an expected drop in passengers for the 8/28 sailing.  Apparently it is a combination of factors.  Originally this was an Indy sailing I believe.  It got moved to the Odyssey and I do not think it was ever really open for booking as the Odyssey or more than a few days (if any).  The bookings have been closed for a long time.  Some people cancelled because of the new protocols and they never bothered opening the booking back up.  My pinnacle friend overhear some managers talking amongst themselves that they were planning on treating it like a kind of mini test cruise for internal purposes.  Most of the people I have met on the sailing are sailing free on a casino comp of some sort so I am sure they are not making much if any profits this week, unless all of us casino folks do it for them 🙂

 

I am told that the 9/5 sailing will be closer to last weeks number which is nice.

[Sunshine3601]

55 minutes ago, molly361 said:

I'm curious to see if they can fill the ships when they increase capacity.  Between the hoops that you have to go thru and the people still not ready to cruise for whatever reason I would not be surprised if they can't fill them even to their reduced capacity for quite a while

I watched Fain's video last week and he said bookings are down up thru the early part of next year.     Add low bookings and people cancelling when the protocols are released for their sailings so they can get a cash refund instead of a FCC I don't see ships filling up until sometime next year.    

 

Guess we will have to wait and see how full the holiday sailings end up being.

Edited August 31, 2021 by Sunshine3601

[Sunshine3601]

1 hour ago, HxFx said:

If it was due to the test results, it may not have been the passengers' fault. Many people getting the bait and switch on the rapid test when they show up to their appointment. They will take the PCR test but results are often not getting back in time.

That really stinks that people are getting the PCR test when booked for rapid test.       

Are you saying those people then show up at the cruise terminal hoping they can get tested there or sit and wait hoping they get their PCR results.    Hopefully they drove and did not fly to port. 

[PCHENG]

I like the reduced capacity.  No crowing at the pool, solarium, buffet or comedy show, and less wait time for all the activities like l-Fly, bumper car, zip line and escape room.  We will look back fondly upon these reduced capacity sailings in a few years when cruising returns to normal.

Edited August 31, 2021 by PCHENG

[HxFx]

15 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

That really stinks that people are getting the PCR test when booked for rapid test.       

Are you saying those people then show up at the cruise terminal hoping they can get tested there or sit and wait hoping they get their PCR results.    Hopefully they drove and did not fly to port. 

There are a lot of folks saying they were turned down for the rapid test at CVS, even after making the appointment for it. Some were unrelated to cruising but worry about the impact for cruising/travel.

 

Saint Greg has a live Mardi Gras thread going right now and he scheduled the rapid at CVS three days before the cruise and they told him, when he arrived, the rapid test was not available so gave him the PCR. Fortunately, he had a backup at Walmart (or Walgreens, I forget). It was also a PCR test but it came back in 2 days. He got notification for his CVS test after he was already on the boat. I'm sure some are hoping the test results come back before last boarding and just take their chances heading to the port.

[trippintex]

Aug.15 on the Indy if you showed up with out a test or the wrong kind of paper work they told you to go to a urgent care clinic off  61st to get retested 50.00 a person 15 to 20 min. for the test . So people that tried to board at 12  got on around 3 its about 20 miles round trip.

[firefly333]

26 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

I watched Fain's video last week and he said bookings are down up thru the early part of next year.     Add low bookings and people cancelling when the protocols are released for their sailings so they can get a cash refund instead of a FCC I don't see ships filling up until sometime next year.    

 

Guess we will have to wait and see how full the holiday sailings end up being.

I keep seeing how people are moving to next year. Or I'm moving from nov to next feb. I dont see any sign covid is getting better, or reason to think next year will be better.

 

Lots of hope there, not data. ..well I hope next year will be better they say. ..though prices are so good now I wish I could book more but like many dont because of the stress of getting tested. 

 

 

[Iamcruzin]

2 hours ago, spunks said:

 They were slated to go at the CDC allowable maximum of 40%....but around 200 or so were refused boarding for not having proof of Vaccination or for not having a valid covid free test within 3 days....amazing!

I can understand not having proof of a covid test as that came up last minute but how on earth do you show up to port without proof of vaccination?  I can't believe people are that arrogant. I refuse to believe that they are just stupid. 

[Sunshine3601]

26 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

I keep seeing how people are moving to next year. Or I'm moving from nov to next feb. I dont see any sign covid is getting better, or reason to think next year will be better.

 

Lots of hope there, not data. ..well I hope next year will be better they say. ..though prices are so good now I wish I could book more but like many dont because of the stress of getting tested. 

 

 

I know, there are some fabulous prices for Nov/Dec/Jan sailings I was viewing this weekend.    We are filled up schedule wise for Sept and Oct but I may book one pre-thanksgiving cruise.     I'm thinking we will probably have more covid spikes during the holidays so thinking cruise before thanksgiving then wait till end of January to cruise again.    

We are booked for a b2b on Grandeur out of Barbados and just read the new covid guidelines for Barbados yesterday (very strict).   I will be very very sad if I don't get to go on those sailings.  

[Iamcruzin]

1 hour ago, molly361 said:

I'm curious to see if they can fill the ships when they increase capacity.  Between the hoops that you have to go thru and the people still not ready to cruise for whatever reason I would not be surprised if they can't fill them even to their reduced capacity for quite a while

Judging by the price drop threads and people getting OBC after final payment it would say they are having issues filling ships at the reduced capacity.

[firefly333]

6 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

I know, there are some fabulous prices for Nov/Dec/Jan sailings I was viewing this weekend.    We are filled up schedule wise for Sept and Oct but I may book one pre-thanksgiving cruise.     I'm thinking we will probably have more covid spikes during the holidays so thinking cruise before thanksgiving then wait till end of January to cruise again.    

We are booked for a b2b on Grandeur out of Barbados and just read the new covid guidelines for Barbados yesterday (very strict).   I will be very very sad if I don't get to go on those sailings.  

I doubt I'm the only one trying to figure is this cruise within 14 days of a already booked cruise, needing a extra test. Or hates the idea of getting a precruise test. I doubt I'm alone. Just saying no to more bookings.

 

I saw someone post a rumor rcl is considering doing the testing. I think that would do wonders for their bookings. People dont want to worry is this the right test, will cvs run out of tests and I lose all my money. I think rcl has to decide to do the tests. 

[Iamcruzin]

4 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

I doubt I'm the only one trying to figure is this cruise within 14 days of a already booked cruise, needing a extra test. Or hates the idea of getting a precruise test. I doubt I'm alone. Just saying no to more bookings.

 

 

You have been hanging tough through this entire pandemic. It must really be bad now if even you are discouraged.

[ROYAL CARIBBEAN DUDE]

5 hours ago, bajathree said:

I am reading a current live review from Odyssey where they are stating there are only 500 passengers aboard. This is both crazy and quite concerning at the same time.

 

542 passengers to be exact. But our upcoming cruises should be back to the 30-35% capacity.