GrJ Berkshire

I think in view of the aborted attempts at cruises restarting , that serious questions on finance must be asked?

If ships are not sailing till spring 2021 or later, how will Regent and the cruise industry survive without any income for 14+ months. Also ships out of use will have upkeep costs, will Splendour after 2 months cruising and then laid up for a year become an expensive "white elephant" that with reduced capacity max75% never work on its business model?

Equally will enough passengers return to fill up 5 ships itineraries? Even worse on the mega ships?

Can't see new ships in the next 5-10 years being built?

48 minutes ago, RJ2002 said:

Some news on MSC’s safety plan when it resumes its first limited cruises. For some, this might not be an issue. However, I’m not sure it would appeal to us. We really value our ability to independently explore ports of call... even if we also might participate in a Regent excursion. 
 

MSC Cruises is the latest line to detail its sanitation and safety protocols, but it was the first to add a very specific restriction: guests going ashore at ports of call can only do so on an MSC-approved shore excursion.

 

https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/MSC-protocols-guests-go-ashore-on-excursions

 

 

 

I think this was inevitable! However this is less a consideration on Regent with inclusive excursions, my main concern would be the crew then not allowed ashore. That would be very unfair to them.

4 minutes ago, flossie009 said:

 

 

So you don't see this pandemic being under control or suppressed by mid 2022? What a depressing outlook!

At the present time no, but controlled not fully suppressed. Equally vaccines for the masses are way off; Summer 21 if all is well and with a  totally positive outlook . However the business model ahead will be totally different, when will excursions ashore return to the model of 6 months ago? Shows in the theatre with singing/ dancing?, few mixed tables in restaurants?, no block parties,? deck BBQ's?, use of lifts, ?

Sorry Sue,  not depressing but I feel realistic. we like you I am sure ,have lots of FCC tied up in Regent  ours is £30k+, I want to get back to travel and cruising but I don't think we are anywhere near at present. Equally there are many on here CC , who I don't think are taking a realistic look forward to what we have now have accepted as the 'new normal' in UK over the past 5 months.

I want Regent to survive and thrive, but those who say will not wear a mask, as its against my rights.  Even on Regent certain areas get busy Lunch at pool deck / La Veranda, breakfast prior to trips, tendering ashore? None of these will work with distancing. Open seating in the restaurants, will people want to eat when told? trivia/ tea another area to consider, Coffee connection with self service food? We never use but the Casinos, impossible to distance on a table!

Our next booking is Jan 21 Buenos Aires to Lima on Voyager as its South America and prior to this is due in South Africa and Brazil, already think it is unlikely to sail, after that due on Splendour out of Southampton in May 21, as no flights and close to home. However if this does not sail Regent will have had 14 months out of the water- questions then have to be asked as to long term future with no income?

Adapted not adopted  , auto-correct strikes again  !!!!!!!!

Think any itineraries ahead need to be taken ' with a pinch of salt' as plan B or C or D may need to be adopted depending on the ports open, flight availability, where crew can get to, plus the 'new' business model- as to whether international passenger mixes will occur or ships are all regionally based . also the load factor at present for 2021Regent has said,  this is only 75/80% capacity. I think few people will book ahead with the uncertainty 12+ months in advance as we have often done in the past. Equally I can't see ships disembarking passengers and reloading a new set on the same day with all the health protocols etc. health screening for 600 is going to take several hours to do. This will be a nightmare for the non-Regent mega ships, imagine how long this will take for 2000/3000 passengers( 7mins each = 230 hours: even with 20 teams that is 10+ hours )

This spat over masks, goggles and vaccines ( which 30% of US won't take) shows why the Cruise industry and Regent are in so much trouble. If people will not follow rules for the new normal and hide behind quasi freedoms, my rights ! then the cruising as we know it will sink without trace.......

I hope not, but reading some of this I am not optimistic?

On 7/12/2020 at 1:04 PM, ontheweb said:

A new large scale study down in Spain has shown that herd immunity cannot be reached (or at least before a significant death toll).

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53315983

Problem is vaccine will probably not be widely available to much of the population, before Cruise lines go bankrupt. If there are not cruises even with restricted numbers by Spring 2021 after more than 14 months without passengers and lots of refunds, I cannot see many surviving this. Plus how they will crew ships without flights from the Philippines, etc, Also the days of multinational passengers will not work, US cannot sail from Europe, Brits can't get into USA, so the whole business model is broken?

Equally the maintenance on ships after a year out of service will mean many are not cost effective to put back in service. Large ships with 2000 passengers and inside cabins won't work with 40/50% capacity , in my view only the smaller upmarket ships 750 pax will be viable with 500 passengers. The mega ships 5000+ will not work without 100% vaccination( will US accept that idea) and so probably will be on way to breakers yard

Sorry to be downbeat , but I think REALISTIC !!! 

1 hour ago, cwn said:

Aren’t two of the ships currently outside of US waters - the Mariner and Splendor? Don’t know that Regent would be considering this type of action,  but if the CDC interaction drags on and on they might.

But then he will sail on them?......... Cannot be US citizens.........Most other nationals are limited re : international movement....... And where will they get the crew from?...........

Sorry, can we get real....... The CDC is no more inactive on this than all other Western  nations, Good to see at least one US agency taking this pandemic seriously.

All now out of date?

As of tonight UK has reimposed quarantine restrictions from Spain, so normal travel has been knocked back further

Cruises are months off return, looking more like spring 2021 than earlier.

US citizens are still not accepted into much of Europe.

I don't see the point of this, 3 days , no landing, restricted numbers. If this is the 'new normal' then the industry will collapse and cruise ships will be sailing to the breakers yards in 100's.

This is not my idea of a holiday would rather staycation in the UK?

Our next cruise is on 280121 on Voyager from Buenos Aires to Lima . Coming round to the idea that it will not sail, especially as the previous cruises are from Brazil and South Africa, both virus hot spots and South America is not a likely start up location.

Have until October for final payment, so there is time for a change in circumstances !!

1 hour ago, RJ2002 said:

Comprehensive travel insurance policies are still widely available for unforeseen losses.  More info at https://www.insuremytrip.com/ or other travel insurance broker sites. 

Not in the UK , insurance for business interruption is not paying out re: covid-19 and travel insurance esp cruises hard to get as UK Govt still recommends not to cruise, except on small river cruises.

We are still optimistic over Regent and have put down a deposit on a Splendour cruise in may 21 Southampton- Southampton to North Spain and Bordeaux. As its only an hour from our home so not flights etc. If this does not sail 13 months into the pandemic, you have to think that the cruise industry and Regent  will be in serious trouble with bankruptcies and ships on their way to the breakers yard. I hope not !!

However after a year without sailing ships will need expensive work on them, Splendour could end up as an expensive 'white elephant' . Its hard to see any new ships in the near future?

Been told by UK TA that the ships for bookings into 2021 are only going to fill to 80% capacity, as asking about a Splendour trip in May 2021. which as its Southampton-Southampton, only a good hour from home we are more hopeful about, as no flights etc.

32 minutes ago, UUNetBill said:

Not me.  Here's my 20/21 cruise wear:

 

 made me laugh Bill

Now beginning to think that the cruise we are on in late January 2021 as it's South America will not sail?

Especially as the area is now in the grip of the pandemic. It's Voyager from Buenos Aires to Lima with the add on to Macchu Picchu. Using FCC from April this year when we also due to go up to MP from our bucket list. So sad !!

1 hour ago, Wendy The Wanderer said:

 

I believe with successive Hurtigruten trips they will allow excursions off the ship, but disallow any casual passengers getting on and off (which is usual.)  The excursions will be tightly controlled.  And yes, the capacity limits sound great.

 

I've got my sights on the Norwegian fjords, perhaps for next year, probably not on Regent.

Point is that Hurtigruten is that its not quite a cruise although its becoming more like it. Its still a coastal supply /post ship as well, hence the stops at unusual hours, often quite short in time duration as well. There are excursions and more time at tourist stops like North Cape. But there is no comparison to Regent in suites, facilities or food, which is more cafeteria in style, plus no entertainment. Drinks are priced in Norwegian kroner, so probably the worlds most expensive place to buy alcohol.

58 minutes ago, Travelcat2 said:

 

Not necessarily.  At some point, Regent needs to waitlist cruises in order to maintain a lower passenger load.  Our TA (a big seller of Regent cruises) feels - so this is not a fact -- that some Caribbean and Mexico cruises that are scheduled for October and November may sail while itineraries that are far away likely will not.  They are fairly certain that one cruise (to the Caribbean in November) will sail but is waitlisted due to capacity.

In view of what's happening in California over covid , this is wishful thinking?

2 hours ago, sparks1093 said:

But have you really left it behind? From what I've discerned in participating in these threads tipping is still common in many restaurants in the UK but more commonly at a 10% rate. 

NOPE Fake news !!!! Rarely do people tip the price is inclusive

6 hours ago, Travelcat2 said:

 

I could not agree with you more.  Too many people in the U.S. just don't "get it".  As you have done, we could stop this virus in its tracks IF we followed guidelines.  In our state, we are required to wear masks unless we have a medical reason.  So, all someone has to do is tell the manager of the restaurant/store that he/she has medical issues (no proof is needed) and they don't have to wear a mask.

 

Ignorance is not only sad but it is killing people.  A young man attended a "Covid-19 party" and got the virus.  Before he passed away he said "I thought that it was a hoax".

Totally agree- the covid party story is AMAZING!!!!! How can anyone with 3 brain cells in alignment after the past 5 months , not have taken this on board ( unless they were in a coma ) The trouble is the young from this sort of party will spread it again quickly.

On ‎7‎/‎10‎/‎2020 at 5:15 PM, LHT28 said:

 

Funny  it was the Brits that started the whole tipping culture in the 17th Century

 

Aren't we  all Master(employer)  & Servant/Slaves (employee)  not every one received  fair wages  until the 20th Century  even now some Countries  still do not have   a fair wage  for their workers

Yes we might have started it in the 17th century: but we left it behind in the 20th century. It's so last century, we have almost left it behind us now. However in the States and on cruising tipping has almost gone out of control with 18 to 20% now becoming common. :.....MADNESS !!!!!!!!...

You can easily have a Zero shipboard a/c at the end with a luxury cruise line like Regent which is all paid for up front...…..and it does not cost much more than all the add on's and tips , with all excursions paid for , no bar bills and no hand out culture...….try it !!

7 hours ago, Caroldoll said:

I am not an "expert" but I was in medicine for 38 years.  I really believe we will have a vaccine in about late October or early November.  However, the medical field will get the shots first, and then the first responders (there are a lot) and then they will distribute it by age, the oldest first.  There is a possibility that if a person wants to go out of the country to get it, it will be available sooner, but here the oldest will be first and then the cruise lines will let people board who have had the vaccine.  There will be no other answer IN MY OPINION!  So stand by and take the ride!

The reports in UK are of the numbers who are anti- vaccine : will that be a problem? Many appear to take the view its their right not to have to follow rules. Will Regent and the cruise lines have the "bottle" to refuse boarding to those without a vaccination certificate ? Will it hold in US law? Would they lose their money, as a result?

1 hour ago, d9704011 said:

They could, they just don’t want to.  Many customers want to see the ‘lowest’ prices.  I’m not saying it’s totally rational, but that’s how many consumer brains work.  The add-ons (tips, gratuities, etc...) can be  applied after the commitment to buy has been made.

Its the "sharp practice" the cheap airlines like Ryanair have used. Now not legal in Europe and UK

1 hour ago, flossie009 said:

 

This will not help Regent or the rest of the beleaguered cruise industry.

Independent

FCO

With this advice in place, travel insurance for any UK citizen taking a cruise is likely to be invalidated.

Let's hope the FCO lifts this blanket advice before Regent cruises recommence.

Disastrous news for any Brits cruising for probably well into 2021. With this news all insurance is invalidated. This ends any chance of UK Ports like Southampton opening up . It's hard not to think that cruise lines going under and major scrapping of cruise liners being inevitable.

It makes the talk about CDC protocols irrelevant to those this side of the pond. Regent ships in Europe have on our trips had a fair number of Brits on board - cannot see US passengers being able to make up these numbers, especially as they are currently banned from the EU.