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I just can not even fathom the logistics of re-crewing these ships!  From ship’s crew, to hotel staff, to restaurant and bar staff, to entertainment staff, to the folks that run the shops, those that take pictures, and all the rest!  I’m sure there are lots of “what if” plans in place, but how much can they do before they have a firm idea about cruising dates?

Our friend from Ireland, who’s been stuck on the Liberty since cruising stopped, got home yesterday.  Our other friend from Manila, who had be stuck on the Oasis a d who now is on the LOS, hopes to make it home by the end on June!  Pray for them all. 

As of yesterday, we still have two crew friends trapped on ships.  Our bartender friend recently transferred from her home ship, the Oasis to the Liberty. She needs to get home to Manila as she has been since this started.  She’s glad to be off the Oasis where she had many friends become sick and one die.  She spent over a month in isolation on the Oasis, and although she loves the ship, she’s glad to be away from so many sad memories.  According to her, her return to Manila is still ???     
 

Our other friend is an entertainer, who was unfortunate to sign on the Liberty just before this started.  After a couple of false starts home (he holds an Irish passport) he’s transferred ships aNd has hope to get somewhere soon. 
 

The logistics of getting these people home has been an on going nightmare.   Can not imagine the logistics that will be involved in restarting the cruise industry?  It’s not going to be an easy undertaking and it’s not going to happen fast.  Realistically, I don’t see cruising up and running in the near future.  

You tip because you want to.  An added benefit is you do get great service and they appreciate you appreciating their service.   If you don’t want to tip, no need to, but if you want to, then we’ve found it comes back in rewards. 

Some really nasty folks on this thread.  Sad.  

But still tip when you get a drink. 

If they were Americans they are probably home, if not, they may be stuck on the ships. Remember, unlike the waiters, room stewards, bartenders, etc, the Entertainers are not on renewing contracts. Many will have gone on to other things as their contracts have expired. I don’t think it will be as easy as some do, based on what I know from my son who has done multiple contracts with Royal. 

Glad you’re so sure of that. 

And exactly what does the Maritime Service have to do with starting up cruises?

Our friend who is stuck on the Oasis off the coast of Florida posted this story on her Facebook page today:

https://www.wesh.com/article/cruise-ships-thousands-stuck-off-florida-coast/32256662

When talking about Entertainment...this has been a looong lay-off. I’d expect entertainment to roll out slowly. Imagine having to re-cast the entire fleet, then rehearse, and then instal the shows.  I know it’s normally about a 6-8 week period in the Royal studio in Fla before the shows go to the ship, then it’s a 2 week instal period.  

I have yet to see any talk of the logistics of getting the ships ready to restart cruising.  Imagine the logistics of starting up an entire cruise line???  I doubt very much if they'd be able to staff the entire fleet at a moments notice.  Travel for thousands of ship's crew, hotel staff, bar and restaurant staff, rehearsals for entertainers...the thought is mind boggling!  If and when cruising starts again, I'd expect to see it start with a few ships, with limited options on the ships and perhaps reduced staff.  No doubt in my mind that it's going to be very different, whenever it starts!

I trust you all realize that there are still a thousand or more crew members still stuck on the Oasis!  We have a crew friend who is spending day 21 on the ship in isolation and was just informed that it’s been extended for another 7 days!  She’d love to be back in Manila with her family, but she is stuck on the ship!  They are not sending the Oasis anywhere in the near future for cruising!   

Enterprise will cost you a $150+ drop off fee. 

How much MORE will cruising cost as new requirements go in to effect?  Less passengers, more crew support, new ways of doing the same thing???

So I guess you’re saying you’re gonna jump, and will adapt to what ever Post Corona cruising is like. 

I know folks want to get cruising again, and many already have reservations, but personally I really want to see how cruising changes before committing to our next cruise.   The reasonable assumption is that things are going to change (either short term or permanently) and I’d like to know how those changes are going to alter the cruising experience.   From Muster Drills to Shows, from Bars to Restaurants, from Ports to Casinos...things are gonna change.  

About $150 plus tip. 

Politics???

My son, who was on the Liberty as an a Entertainer until November, had a friend from his contract sign on a week ago Sunday (3/15).  He was supposed to be sent home yesterday (3/22) but as they got to Galveston found out he wasn’t because he lives in Ireland.  

Our boys were part of the LOS Entertainment staff till their contracts expired this past November.    One of their cast members was recently called back to the Liberty,  signing on just this past Sunday (3/15).  Yesterday the boys heard from him that Royal is sending him home. My first question was how were they going to get him from Galveston to his home in Ireland?  So far, no answer!  

Been on her many times. Check out the R Bar....up one deck from your embarkation deck so not as crowded on the first day. Good at Sorentos Pizza or the Promenade Cafe makes it easy.  

Yesterday was a very bad day for the US Stock market...blamed on the spread of the virus. 

As all performers in the mentioned shows are part of the ship’s crew, I doubt there was any financial reason behind you not having the shows. I would expect it was one of three reasons...1-Sea conditions made doing the shows impossible, 2-Some kind of a malfunction in the theater which precluded the performance, or 3-A changing over of casts which necessitated a reduced performance schedule.  
 

You gotta feel for what Royal is going through and how this is affecting their business.  This is going to cost them a lot of $$$!