M&A

On 3/25/2021 at 2:57 PM, FamilyCruiserUK said:

I spent 4 months in Cyprus from Oct-Mid Feb and there is no way i would cruise from there at the moment. I have friends working there at the mo and they say covid is still not under control. We had to wear Masks everywhere except in your own room, even outside if on own.

 

Limassol is no a friendly place, too many Russian's now and not the nice Russian's as some can be lovely and friendly

You were at Akrotiri?

16 hours ago, easyqueasy said:

I’ve read that it’s $2000 to be quarantined in a hotel or pay $800 fine if you went straight home. Is that true? Seems like our licensing law that says you have to change out your license plate every few years so the numbers can be seen better for safety, but if you pay us money you can keep your old plates. 

You would be taking a risk to leave the hotel,  you are going to be billed for 3 nights even if you get our test result in one day.  The fine could be greater than $800 plus the hefty hotel bill.

We are driving back to Canada and we have to get a covid test  in the US before entering Canada, another covid test given at the border and another covid test that you have to send in at the end of the 14 day quaranitne, the final covid test is done in a zoom call with a public health nurse.   At least with driving we don't have to go to the quarantine hotel.

We were fully vaccinated in Florida but it doesn't matter, still have to go through all the tests and quarantine.

1 hour ago, cbowls30 said:

Got the email this morning detailing 7 night sailings on Jewel from Cyprus beginning in July. Adult guests required to have two covid vaccinations and children need a negative covid test before boarding . Little information on itinerary only that stops in Mykonos and Athens. 

So who's going to book?

I would if Canada ends their 3 covid test requirement and compulsory hotel quarantine, to get back into the country.

On 3/22/2021 at 2:32 PM, ReneeFLL said:

Wrong.

 

You are correct. Hubby has been flying non-US passengers into the US.

There are family exemptions, that are allowed in.  

No one from any  of the Euro countries (30 of them), Britain, Ireland, Brazil, China and a host of other countries are NOT allowed into the US right now

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/from-other-countries.html

2 hours ago, coffeebean said:

These first cruises won't be going out full capacity. I would imagine distancing would be fairly easy in venues such as the restaurants, theater, hallways where it takes about

1 1/2 seconds to pass someone or any gathering place. The difficult areas for social distancing will, no doubt, be the elevators.

 

I refuse to wear a mask on board (which is why I won't be cruising until there are no mask mandates anywhere on the ship) but I will don a mask in elevators. That is just too close quarters for me to feel comfortable.

No mask?  what about one of those clear face shields?

I hate masks,  every time I go out where I have to wear a mask my beard itches like crazy.

44 minutes ago, yogimax said:

The United States has had one of the sorriest records in regard to COVID. No need for a provision like this.

123 million have been vaccinated the most in the world.  As a percentage just behind the UK and Israel.  So why not sail with vaccinated people. 

Right now the only other citizens allowed into the US are Canadians, so why not have vaccinated US citizens and  Canadians

5 minutes ago, cruiserking said:

Royal Caribbean has been running cruises in Singapore with strict Covid protocols, vaccinated passengers and no issues thus far. Plus the U.K. has opened cruising to British pax, along with Bahamas cruising to begin this summer. 

 

The CDC needs to at the very least put forth a timeline for when cruising can re-start in the United States. Surely, by August when 90% of American will have been vaccinated. 

 

 

Jonathan

Yes hopefully by August, as of this morning 121 MILLION people have been vaccinated in the US.  Initially there was a slow delivery but in 3 months they have vaccinated 121m.   In another 3 months, by the end of June they should reach 250 m or close to 90%  

1 hour ago, Goodtime Cruizin said:

 

With much due respect to your post.... countries are customers! J&J, Pfizer, and Moderna all are making HUGE bank in the sell of the vaccines. Governments are lining up paying gauranteed money that is most likely overpriced. To these companies and really to the entire world, an arm is an arm. The sooner arms get vaxed up the better the chances of beating back the pandemic... or so we've been told. 

Yes but I think you missed my point.   Countries are buying up vaccines and poorer countries are way behind in deliveries.  I'm not sure if the cruise industry can go out and buy the vaccine and have it delivered before some countries.    Crew members must be vaccinated if they are requiring passengers to be vaccinated.  It's going to be difficult to recruit crew that are vaccinated if they are coming from countries such as Indonesia, Phillipines, India etc

If RCI and Carnival etc have gone out and bought vaccines that's great but I'm skeptical that they can jump in ahead of countries to get vaccines delivered.  Is cruising an essential industry?

2 minutes ago, Charles4515 said:

 

Well CVS is a corporation. There are probably many ways to get vaccination deliveries on the planet. At least 46 nations have declared maritime workers essential workers. So I think there will be several ways the crew can get vaccinated. 

 

My guess would be Royal will procur vaccines for the crew from the Bahamas.

CVS, Walgreens, Publix etc were given the vaccine by the state/federal to help with distribution.  They didn't go out and buy it.  The government had previously procured it from the drug makers.

Yes maritime workers are essential workers by some countries,  but the workers on cruise ships would belong to the country that they are flagged in.  I think RCI's are the Bahamas

1 hour ago, Milwaukee Eight said:

Some restaurants have limited outdoor seating, more so on the beach or river, but most really don’t.  I can’t remember when the last time we ate outdoors. Florida has a milder climate but its sub tropical and rains can be the norm. Can’t use outdoor seating in the rain and can’t use it to point to for our current situation.  Our numbers are better than or equal to most lockdown States.

 

Just think, Florida is going to be smarter too as our kids have been back in school all year. 😇

 

M8

Rains can be the norm?  not this time of year.  Seldom rains between Jan and June,  I haven't seen rain in southwest florida in weeks.  We always eat or drinks at outdoor restaurants/bars on Fridays, haven't been rained out since the end of October

52 minutes ago, LXA350 said:

 

You cannot be forced to get vaccinated, but when your employer can fire you, you can't attend University, Travel, go to concerts or Restaurants you will have no choice than to get yourself vaccinated eventually.

Yes and children can not attend schools in the US and Canada unless they are vaccinated against many diseases.  Vaccinated against covid to go to school will be the next step.

1 hour ago, not-enough-cruising said:

There is vaccine on the open market for corporations to purchase. 

Really?  so corporations are getting deliveries before countries.  Many countries are still waiting for deliveries.   The US just sent 1.5 million doses to Canada because Canada just can't get delivery,  the US also sent 4 million doses to Mexico

On 3/19/2021 at 11:02 AM, livingonthebeach said:

 

The cruise lines will work something out with some of the island nations they are home porting in, trust me, they'll find a way.  

I wasn't just talking about the employees in the island nations, what about the cruise ships that are in the US and other ports?  The majority of the crew are from countries like Indonesia, Philippines, India etc where the people just can't get a vaccine yet.  It's not like the cruise industry can buy up vaccines and vaccinated their crew.  I can't imagine the cruise lines getting a priority for vaccines when so many poor people are waiting for a vaccine.  

59 minutes ago, ArthurUSCG said:

DCL's Castaway Cay has locals too. The cruise lines should treat them as crew and vaccinate them as well. But, I could see a 14 day quarantine period before returning to home/ leaving the private island. Thinking thru it, if the private island are the only location where the ships could dock, those islands are going to have ships there every day, and the cruise lines are going to need all hands on deck since there won't be an occasional rest day between ships.

How can the cruise lines vaccinate them?   where would they get the vaccine?   

   There are people all over the world waiting to be vaccinated by their governments.

Can Royal Caribbean buy the vaccine and get delivery ahead of countries ?   

This is going to be one of the biggest issues for sailing again, finding enough crew members that have been vaccinated.

5 hours ago, cruise wizard said:

It is a good thing that the UK doesn't have an antiquated PVSA law!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Come on US - we need to rethink this............FAST!!!!!!!!!!!

They need the Canadian ports to re-open so they can begin Alaska and the New England cruises.  

On 3/15/2021 at 1:15 PM, livingonthebeach said:

 

The CDC in conjunction with the State Department of Health has released information on how employers can make a vaccine mandatory for their employees.  As vaccines become more readily available, this will be easier for companies to obtain and and administer.  

But that would be for US employers making vaccines available for their employees.  The ships are not US ships and the crew are not American employees

The cruise lines could require vaccines for passengers and there will be enough vaccinated people out there.  The problem is,  the crew that are mainly recruited on contract from countries like Indonesia, Philipines, India etc where it's almost impossible to get a vaccine.

4 hours ago, Canadianmama3 said:

Agreed.  Yes there are a lot of people who drive to ports.   But there are also a lot of people who fly.  

Also can I ask.  Why do a lot of people in the US seem so hesitant to get a passport? I ask because as a Canadian it’s just normal for us to have passport, it’s not a big deal at all.  

A lot of people in the US seem hesitant to get a passport?   not sure if it's a lot, but some don't think it's necessary.  - Why would they need one if they can fly to Florida or the Carribbean islands like the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico Hawaii.  Americans don't need a passport for a Caribbean cruise either.  So if you have no wish to travel to Europe and other parts of the world, then why would you spend $200 each for a passport that's not needed? 

If you are Canadian and you want warm weather you need a passport to get to Florida, or anywhere else.

59 minutes ago, ALSEAU said:

I think the only responsible way to restart cruises is to mandate vaccination of crew and guest. Don't have a problem with weary a mask in crowded public places.

 

I thought when we could not social distance we had to wear a mask. If we are all wearing a mask and vaccinated why is social distance still an issue. 

I can understand the mandate of vaccination for all passengers.  But the problem is vaccinating the crew,  how do they mandate the vaccine for the crew?  most of the crew members are from 3rd World countries and they won't be able to get a vaccine.  The cruise industry can't just go out and buy the vaccine and give a shot to the crew.

The cruise industry will have more than enough vaccinated passengers wanting to cruise but not enough vaccinated crew to sail.

On 3/10/2021 at 8:36 AM, smokeybandit said:

Tough to compare the airports. Barbados has one airport and is a popular destination from Europe. Cozumel has Cancun airport nearby (albeit requiring a ferry ride) that is only served by US and Mexican airlines.

 

 

Not true, Cancun is served by Air Canada, Air Transat, West Jet.  British Airways flies direct to Cancun also many of the South American airlines  also fly to Cancun.

As stated above, no need to take a ferry as Cozumel is served by many of the US airlines.

2 hours ago, ace2542 said:

But as you have said in previous threads - and you would know better than most of us here - Canada has vaccinated what about a couple of hundred people in Ontario? Ok maybe a bit more than that but not anything on the scale of Israel, UK, US, Serbia or even Russia have done? So yeah a third wave maybe on the horizon.

Yes and thousands of "essential" workers cross the border every day with no testing, no quarantine.  The truckers travel all over North America, Canadian and US drivers back and forth.  The estimate is 93% of the crossings are truckers, rail workers, taxi drivers etc  

On 2/27/2021 at 10:06 PM, Ourusualbeach said:

There is an international airport on the Island 

Direct flights from Canada on Air Canada and Air Transat, but suspended this winter.  Also American flies from Fort Myers.  Also non-stops from Chigaco and Dallas/Fort Worth.

3 hours ago, Pandamonia said:

This is what i was thinking. UK is at 30% vaccinated and March is going to be turbo charged with all had 1 dose by May. This leaves, June, July, Aug, Sept, Oct. 

 

Maybe RCCL wants to move Harmony to Southampton with a cruise around the med to Gib and maybe greek isles if the ship fits. 

 

DO IT RCCL. No stupid masks either!

Didn't Boris say that he expects the end of June for most people vaccinated in the UK?  there will always be the anti-vaxers of course that won't get it.

4 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

No.

Very unlikely the residency requirement will be modified during her season in Haifa.

How do you know that?

I could say "yes", it could be modified during her season Haifa.  The Israelis with most people vaccinated may want to open up tourists.  They may accept people coming in that are vaccinated.

7 minutes ago, Milwaukee Eight said:

My personal opinion is No. Only for Israel residents, while Odyssey is home ported in of Israel. This is likely Israel rules. 
 

M8

I think that Israel would like to open up for tourists again and with their population vaccinated they would probably want vaccinated visitors.  Countries have to open up sometime.

I'm wondering if the first couple of cruises will be Israeli residents only and then they will open it up to anyone that is vaccinated.  Would love to take a cruise out of Israel and spend a few days pre-cruise.  We spent 2 weeks there in 2013 so much to see.

More flights available to Tel Aviv over the past couple of years.