GlamorousGirl

Leaving from a port I don’t have to fly to.

I sailed in mid-January in the Caribbean and caught something that was definitely not the flu. It was far more severe than any flu Id ever had. At the time nobody was talking about COVID19 and I had no explanation, but lately I’ve been wondering if I’ve already had it. I had the “hot chills”, fever, coughing, weakness, getting winded very quickly, and muscle aches so bad I was taking showers one an hour because it was the only thing that provided any relief. I also was in NY and NJ for 2 weeks last month and haven’t gotten sick since January. Wish I knew if  I’d already had it or not. Sounds like there are others who share my experience - maybe there was more of it floating around in January than has been reported.

I’m not afraid of cruising. Most of the cruise ships had no cases. I am, however, terrified of getting on an airplane where social distancing is impossible. Because of that I won’t be going on my May overseas cruise (which is likely to cancel anyway). I will be driving or taking a train to my September cruise. And I hope November will be enough time because I must fly to that one and really don’t want to cancel. Any additional cruises I book between now and then will be out of ports I can drive to.

I can’t speak for anyone else, only myself, but I am ready to cruise again as soon as it is an option. It will be a lot longer before I am willing to fly. It’s going to be hard to not view planes as death traps after this - considering the close quarters and impossibility of any kind of social distancing. I have to admit though I probably won’t sail Princess or Holland America after this. Other cruise lines had no incidents, no stranding days sea, and no ships still sailing around several weeks after the extent of the epidemic was obvious. How did sick people get on those lines and not others? I will be sticking with those other lines. I got a 150% credit back for my canceled cruise and am satisfied with that. Got tier level points on the cruise even though it didn’t sail, too.

Rick Steves’ Europe is the best! His shows are available on the Hulu and PBS apps. He even has some episodes on cruising

2 hours ago, DaKa2002 said:

Agree.  We can take about 15 to 20 days, and we want to be home.

I took a 21 day and hated getting off. I think it would take months before I felt “ready” to go home with no disappointment

I was on a cruise a lot of people would have wanted to get off of, but I believe in making the best of everything and happiness is a choice - which is why I did not even want to get off the cruise I took on a rust bucket where the glass of a table in a night club which was not attached to the legs (negligent!) slid off and shattered and seriously injured my feet and lower legs. I was bleeding profusely and covered in glass shards, and staff response at first was an immediate, defensive ‘its not the cruise line’s fault!’ And I was told I’d have to pay to see the doctor. I finally got a manager who apologized, expressed sympathy, and agreed I could see the doctor at no charge. I went on to make the most of my cruise. Staying mad or wishing to get off the ship would have been both a wasted opportunity and made the experience worse.

I doubt any sailings will take place, out of NYC or otherwise, until at least June. We are supposed to sail out of Amsterdam in mid-May but at this point am going so far as to assume it will be cancelled. And, frankly, I hope it is, not because I am afraid of cruising but because I’m afraid of flying since social distancing is literally impossible on a plane.

We were supposed to sail on the Bliss March 15, which as everyone knows by now cancelled. We were already in NYC when it cancelled and stayed an additional 2 days. We self-quarantined after traveling at the request of the state when we went home (we still are) but neither one of us got sick at all, and I have a weak immune system. I didn’t see many sick people when we were there either. NY has a huge population. Yes, the numbers of sick are high, but people should consider this number in relation to the total number of people. But I don’t see cruises out of there for several months.

On 3/23/2020 at 11:45 PM, debeni said:

I could be wrong, but I do not think any of the NCL ships has had any coronavirus infections.   That includes the NCL Spirit that recently docked after spending 16 days at sea from Dubai to South Africa and the NCL Jewel which is just now arriving in Hawaii after many days at sea.  That being said, I think all cruise ships will need to have a tighter virus control than the current washy-washy.

Definitely a good point to make too. I may sail on other lines, but I will never sail on a ship like Diamond or Grand Princess that was known to have Coronavirus on board. Same goes for any cities where hotels are being asked to house overflow Coronavirus cases. I’m sure I’m going to get flamed by someone for posting that, but I have the right to boycott any housing facility I choose, for any reason. Wouldn’t feel safe because I don’t know how you sanitize every square inch of a ship like that, and guaranteed enough to eradicate the virus. They’re going to have a really hard time filling those ships and will probably change the names.

I am not strictly loyal to one cruise line but most of my cruises are with NCL because of the tier level perks I get with them, and because they take good care of the ships. I have future cruises planned with them and will still go. I am likely to occasionally sail on other lines, but only because I would have anyway.

To all the people judging travelers, I would remind them you’re no safer at home unless you quarantine yourself inside your house. You don’t want to get it or spread it - are you staying out of the grocery store? Work? Church? The public street? Anyone who’s judging others better be self quarantining at home.

Not on the cruise I was supposed to board the Bliss for yesterday! Probably somewhere it can park for an extended time.

3 hours ago, blcruising said:

This is not a joke. The domestic air travel ban is coming. Not sure when or for how long, but it is coming. Stay tuned! 

Frankly it’s shocking that’s the one thing that isn’t canceled considering it’s the riskiest thing you can do right now!

Road trip! Personally I would absolutely not fly right now, because social distancing is impossible and people are getting stranded. We were supposed to sail out of NYC yesterday and it is cancelled, but we are still having a wonderful time. We spent 4 nights in Atlantic City and are now enjoying 5 nights in New York City. The Hilton Garden Inn Times Sq South was $50 tonight! These Manhattan rooms normally cost a fortune - never thought I’d be able to stay right here instead of out in the ‘burbs! If you want something warmer, I recommend Clearwater Beach in Florida - TripAdvisor’s number 1 beach in the US for the past 2 years - it’s in Tampa Bay (note: west coast of Florida - amazing beach sunsets!)

PS - even with all this traveling neither of us has gotten sick. We’re using sanitizer and washing hands a lot

15 minutes ago, OceanBlueWaters said:

Finally.  People "smarter than us" finally decided it is not safe for the population to be in enclosed spaces.

 

The government has worked like it is suppose to.  Let local government decide what is best for their communities.  They have closed schools, events according to needs.

 

Broadway closed.

 

My son was sent home from College indefinitely.  There is no direction how to continue online learning, but people here are hell bent about taking that cruise!  Disinfecting does not = safe.

 

We still have people who think they are above the COVID-19 and expect people to bail them out if quarantined on cruise ship.  I don't want my tax $ to provide their expenses.  They CLEARLY embarked on a ship knowing all the facts and therefore should incur any expenses if they get COVID-19.  Also, please stay out of the Hospitals after you get off the ship....

 

Good grief.  This is unprecedented. Unknown territory...

 

I hope all who thought they would be safer on a Cruise Ship, please lick your wounds.  Shutting down NCL (and other cruise lines) will help to save lives.  Proper.  Whoever decided to take cruise, was simply self-centered. You didn't care about anyone else, but yourself and your vacation.  JMO and I expect flames.  This is how this board rolls 🤣

 

People who knowingly have symptoms on Cruise Ships are on vacation and are in WOO HOO mode! They do not report it.  That is an offense.  How many will actually report they are sick?

 

Not everyone is on CC.  Imagine all those people scrambling not on CC?!

 

I have a cruise booked in 9/21.  I already saw that I will lose 25% of my deposit if I cancel. Watch what you are booking!

 

Stay safe everyone...

 

 

 

 

Won’t be safe now. All the new cases are on LAND not cruise ships. If they’re cancelling cruises, time to cancel and close everything on land that isn’t already, which, obvious to anyone whose been watching the news, is far more dangerous. Unless you have become a hermit locked in your house 24-7 you could get it and you could spread it! Yes - on public transportation, grocery store, public street - you only have to turn the news on for 2 minutes to confirm if you won’t take my word for it. Cruise ships and cruisers are not to blame. That’s as ludicrous as China blaming the US for starting the virus. God help us when all these people with a false sense of security on land and relieved cruises are canceled get sick and have nothing better to do than come on here and blame the cruise industry, and anyone who “god forbid” would choose to cruise.

11 minutes ago, LMaxwell said:

125 is smoke and mirrors to convince people to leave cash with NCL.  Sky high prices make the FCC somewhat useless and if they go BK it's toilet paper (kind of a hot commodity now, so maybe not so bad)  Take the 100% cash refund and run

Bankruptcy doesn’t automatically mean they go out of business and stop operating. Caesars Entertainment has been “bankrupt” for a long time, but business goes on. I do agree the price hikes do make the FCC a bad option for people who don’t already have prices locked in for future cruises, though.

Very disappointed, was supposed to sail in 2 days. Guess I have to stay on land and be LESS safe, if the last few days of news is any indication... We already have other cruises booked that aren’t paid off yet so we will take the FCC and not need to worry about the price hike. If we didn’t already have prices locked in we’d probably take cash. It was booked partially with a voucher, hope we get that back too.

Really disappointed. Was supposed to sail in 2 days. Thanks for sharing.

On 3/12/2020 at 12:01 AM, tjmaxwell said:

I'm scheduled to travel on March 22 on the Bliss and am still deciding whether or not to cancel.  I have a couple of Haven upgrade bids in.  If those bids are accepted before we are 48 hours out from the cruise, does that remove my ability to cancel the cruise?

We just got notification today, 48 hours before the cruise, that our upgrade bid was accepted. Unfortunately they put the wrong travelers name on the credit card and it didn’t work, and the app doesn’t allow changes to the booking within 48 hours so we can’t fix it. I called and was told to email them. They said if cabins “become available” they will run the card again with the correction..... But I can tell you they waited to the last possible minute to process upgrades, at least ones without high bids... 

18 hours ago, sailthesea said:

Do those of you who are cruising plan to quarantine yourselves after the cruise, before returning to work and community? Disneyland is closing, Viking and Princess have canceled cruises, sporting events are being cancelled - and you think *yay!* great time for a cruise? That's just being stupid and selfish, people.

Yes - I plan on self- quarantining to protect myself from all the COVID-19 carriers ON LAND, where, according to the news, all the cases are now!

Have you not been watching the news? You’re probably safer on a cruise ship than on land at this point. There’s no more cruise ship cases on the news, while it’s spreading like wildfire on land, with state of emergencies, closures, and even whole-town quarantines. Probably because sanitizing is better controlled and cleaning more diligent on the ship. I will feel safer on the ship Sunday than I feel in NYC today pre-cruise.

9 hours ago, mayleeman said:

But, but, but...."anything I WANT to do just MUST be more vital than anything anyone else NEEDS to do!!"

 

"I have C&A status!"

 

"I am importance personified!"

 

"I WANT, THERFORE I AM!"

 

Sorry...just been storing up all these attitudes seen in various threads for years...

It’s not about that. Yet another day has passed with NO reports of coronavirus on any more ships, but spreading like wildfire on land. The NBA is even suspending the season, and an entire town in NY state is quarantined. Frankly, I’m getting less worried by the day about boarding the ship, and more worried about public transportation, grocery stores, etc. cruising is being unreasonably targeted compared to the risk which, at this point, is much higher on land.

We’re booked to sail on the Bliss on 4 days, and offered a low to moderate bid on a balcony upgrade. We have not been awarded the upgrade. I suppose it could still come through, but the last time my upgrade was accepted we found out a week in advance. I have a theory that they may be saving the balconies for new bookings thinking it would be harder to book their interior cabins after the Princess cruise line fiasco. So I would say give it a shot and good luck, but it’s not as easy as you would expect right now, at least based on our experience.

This smacks of discrimination. Would not be surprised if civil rights lawsuits followed. Seems it would have been better for them to make everyone boarding (all ages) sign a waiver agreeing to accept any risk that may be incurred on health as a result of cruising.

I recommend installing the NCL app on your phone. You can access all of the menus for the restaurants on your ship from there. Click on Explore and Plan and then Dining, and then the restaurant.