restasured
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Posts posted by restasured
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On 3/10/2021 at 3:14 PM, chengkp75 said:
.........Out of the fare each passenger pays, say $700 per cruise, only about $1 comes back to the US in direct spending, which is then available for indirect spending and total economic impact. However, targeted assistance, or even means to get the tourists to Alaska so that their money is spent in Alaska, if using US resources (US relief funds, or US airline subsidies) would result in every single dollar of money invested being returned as direct spending.
Interesting article, showing money that will be spent in the US and the taxes and profits that businesses will reap from the indirect and direct spending, at JUST one port that is beginning to start construction in Galveston, Texas.
https://www.portofgalveston.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=161
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On 3/10/2021 at 3:14 PM, chengkp75 said:
No, I am not. I have not worked in the passenger industry in over 12 years, and am about 6 months from retirement, anyway, as I told you in another thread, where you questioned my standing.
There are quite a few things that could happen if the PVSA is suspended for Alaska cruises. While I believe that the two Senators believe that their bill is limited to large foreign flag cruise ships, because they tie it to language of the sections of the USC that are part of the "cruise ship safety and security act", it ultimately refers back to the part of the USC that defines the applicability to "any vessel that carries more than 12 passengers". So, even limiting a suspension to the Washington State to Alaska market (which I don't think would be either Constitutional (restricting one set of entities (US flag passenger vessel operators) over another set of entities (cruise ships)), nor legal under the terms of SOLAS, which was made into law when it was ratified by the US (placing more stringent restrictions on ships of one nation over another). But, entities like the Washington State Ferry, Alaska Marine Highway, and the small cruise lines that are planning on serving Alaska in greater numbers this year, would sue in court for an injunction, since they would be required to operate under more stringent regulations, requiring about 3 times the operating cost than if they were foreign flag, then those foreign flag cruise ships. These "interested parties" could also reflag to foreign to cut their operating cost for the duration of the pandemic, or then petition for extension, perhaps indefinitely.
This also sets a very dangerous precedent in allowing ships that do not meet USCG regulations into the domestic trade, allowing for future attempts to do this again. As I've noted in other threads about the PVSA, it is not a protectionist bill, despite what Wikipedia and many libertarian sites say, since it requires those it is "protecting" to operate at much higher cost than their potential competition. It is about vessel safety, and why the USCG has stricter safety, training, and certification requirements for US flag ships than they can enforce on foreign flag ships, even cruise ships that "home port" in the US.
Another potential legal hurdle to this bill, is that calling a domestic voyage to Alaska "foreign voyage", they go against CBP and their ruling that foreign crew working in strictly US voyages need to be on H2-B work visas, and not C1/D crew visas, and be paid US wages. So, I think CBP might have something to say about this.
If they want to allow the foreign ships into a domestic market, they should require the ships to meet all other requirements of US flag, PVSA compliant vessels.
As I've noted, the cruise industry has a very low rate of return. CLIA has stated that the direct spending of cruise lines in the US is about $28 million (that is for goods and services, taxes, social security for US employees, everything they actually spend in the US), while at the same time carrying 25 million passengers from the US. So, think about that. Out of the fare each passenger pays, say $700 per cruise, only about $1 comes back to the US in direct spending, which is then available for indirect spending and total economic impact. However, targeted assistance, or even means to get the tourists to Alaska so that their money is spent in Alaska, if using US resources (US relief funds, or US airline subsidies) would result in every single dollar of money invested being returned as direct spending.
Anyone that believes out of all the cruise ships that dock and port in the US only put $28 million into goods and services, taxes, social security for US employees, everything they actually spend in the US, is quite gullible. I don't know what you mean by direct spending but the money pumped int the US is a whole lot greater than $28 million dollars a year. The fuel a cruise ship burns is about $1000 an hour, those gallons of fuel are all taxed by the feds and states. So there are a lot of if you like, indirect, costs way above $28 million. And those indirect expenses, very much benefit the US.
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On 3/10/2021 at 11:52 AM, nini said:
Last night, I came across the following article. These are just a few excerpts.
"On Friday, both U.S. senators from Alaska threw out a lifeline. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Sen. Dan Sullivan, both Republicans, have introduced the “Alaska Tourism Recovery Act.” If passed, the new legislation would allow cruise ships to sail to Alaska without requiring a stop in Canada, as U.S. law would normally require.
The “Alaska Tourism Recovery Act” would alleviate the PVSA restrictions for cruise ships transporting passengers between Washington and Alaska. In a statement, Murkowski called her legislation a “technical fix” that would provide “economic certainty at a time when Alaskans need it most.”
The Jones Act is a law that's time has long past. All cruise line, except NCL would love to see it rescinded. NCL has Hawaii sewn up and would hate to see that.
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On 3/16/2021 at 11:36 AM, nini said:
I thought that you could not do this anymore? My Aunt did this about 22 years ago on a RCL cruise.
Some cruise lines have that option, others don't. NCL is the worse about it. They don't allow anything to be brought on board or to be purchased for the cabin. All cruise lines have their alcohol and other liquids (water, soda) policies posted on their FAQ's.
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On 3/3/2021 at 6:38 AM, gmjc2 said:
As has been said--vaccines ( yellow fever etc)are required for many countries so a World or partial world cruise voyage requires mandatory proof of vaccination or no boarding. Why is this any different?
Yes the luggage porters and terminal workers may not be vaccinated but if the passengers are then it limits the chances of getting the disease and disrupting the cruise!
And the cruise lines can require the contracted companies to only supply employees that have been vaccinated. Doesn't matter if the contracted company is union or non union.
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On 3/2/2021 at 11:59 AM, chef Brian said:
everyone is talking about how they feel safe because they have been vaccinated....and want the cruiselines to make the vaccine mandatory. to be honest just cause you got the vaccination doesn't mean you can't get Covid!!! it means you have reduced chances, one is 94% percent and one is 97% depending on which you took. a condoms is 99.9% effective and we still have babies born every year from people using them. if everyone gets the vaccination will it help, of course. but there are people that can't take it for medical reasons and what about people who can't take it for religious reasons. are you telling them you have more rights then them? if the cruise lines enforce only vaccinated people can cruise, look out for the lawsuits... so who do you think the cruise line is going to pick? a passenger that has say 300 or more days at sea but they have a medical condition and didn't get the vaccine, or some one that might cruise once a year that got the vaccine. the answer is, cruise lines will say show me the money!! cruise line is going to pick someone who spends the most money, with they cruiseline, in case you are wondering, i am too young to get the vaccine yet i am 50. but i will. when it is available. but i am being realistic, read the news look at the internet there are lots of people say that they will never get the vaccine.(not enough research) even medical workers, or young people because they have a 98% recovery rate.
but even if everyone is mandated, think about the long shore men that handle your luggage, they don't work for the cruise line! they work for a independent company. they have there own union and would have to vote for everyone to get it! and then there is the people that are bringing all the supplies to the ship are they vaccinated? and you said small price to pay to feel safe on land or shore, well if you get off ship in another country, which most are very poor and most likely won't get vaccinated, so if you want to feel completely safe all you can do is stay home. because like it or not we do not control the world we live in. yes we can reduce the risk. but unless everyone in the entire world gets vaccinated there will always be a risk!!!
You make some good points, but many are very subjective, as are most things in life. As has been stated in a previous post the EEOC has already said companies can mandate that their employees get the vaccine or find other employment. The part " if everyone gets the vaccination will it help, of course. but there are people that can't take it for medical reasons and what about people who can't take it for religious reasons. are you telling them you have more rights then them? if the cruise lines enforce only vaccinated people can cruise, look out for the lawsuits...
I don't know of any medical condition that would keep anyone from getting the vaccine. I am sure there may be a couple, but have not heard of any. In fact people with medical conditions that put them at large risk for the virus have been moved to the head of the line. As far as people suing the cruise lines, good luck with that. ALL companies can refuse service to anyone, as long as those people don't fit in a "protected" classes. And refusing to be vaccinated, isn't one of those classes.
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On 3/1/2021 at 5:18 PM, Astro Flyer said:
I hope they have that requirement before our next cruise in Fall 2021 from LA.
Reading a recent USA Today article Costa, RCI & NCL aim to require crew to be vaccinated & are exploring their options for passengers. If the CDC makes vaccinations mandatory for USA cruises they will have to comply.
Challenge is, if, the crew is not 100% vaccinated and even if a 14 day quarantine is imposed, if that crew member is exposed, however it happened and contracts the virus, that member can expose many others on board before any symptoms if any show to the virus. I don't believe the idea of a quarantine is sufficient. Vaccination or no one on board sails.
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On 3/1/2021 at 5:04 PM, NavArch64 said:
We are booked on Enchanted Princess for Sept. 18, 2021 and would like a mandate for all crew and guests to be fully vaccinated against COVID19. It seems a small price to pay to allow us to feel comfortable onboard and ashore. What are the different views of the cruise critic community?
100% agree. No vaccine, no sail.
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On 3/16/2021 at 11:10 AM, russbma said:
What he makes us really none of our business
Go to school, get his type education, spend 100+ hour weeks for a few years working toward your goal, get a following, get a lower supervision position, work lots more hours, move up the ladder and make the big bucks. Nothing to it.
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On 3/14/2021 at 2:07 PM, mtnesterz said:
Is anyone else insensed by this? I can't be the only one.
Why? I personally believe that no CEO is worth more than 30 times the lowest paid employee in any organization, ever. But I learned long ago, I don't get to make the rules. But because the rules are not my way of thinking doesn't make the bad rules.
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4 hours ago, Bruin Steve said:
Those coffees and sodas don't count as a full drink toward the seven...they cost a bit less...
Drink all of that PLUS seven alcoholic drinks a day...and you have ONLY broken even...
I'm not sure where the 7 drinks per day come into play. Most alcohol drinks cost at least $8, minimum and I drink martini's or rum and coke. Martini's are $10 - $12 + tip, depending on brand of vodka. So to break even at an $8 - $12 price, considering the cruise tips are $13.50 of the $40 upcharge, you would only need to drink about 3 - 4 alcohol drinks a day. A Bloody Mary morning, wine at dinner (if it is an off-ship day, a cocktail at a show and a cocktail listening to guitar or piano music and I more than break even. If I am on the ship all day, like 9 or so days on a 15 day round trip Hawaii from LA or SF cruise, with alcohol, specialty coffee, shakes, juice, bottled water, etc and it is a no brainer.
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3 hours ago, skridge said:
How can you not be concerned about a multi billion dollar company that has been hemorrhaging over half a billion dollars a month for close to a year now. The only way they have been able to bring in any money over the last year is by fleecing their best customers and selling a monopoly game.
Carnival is and has been the best positioned cruise company to weather this. They had revenues of 20.7 billion dollars in 2019 and the previous 4 years were similar earnings. They, fortunately, were cash rich when this all came about. They have sold a couple of their older ships, so the likelihood of them going bankrupt is next to nothing. Never say never, but bankruptcy is many months if not years away. The projections for the end of this year will put them in the black for the first months of the years losses and projections (of course the pandemic will dictate much of that) are to be much better in the next 2 years. Some economist believe they will be at the 2019 levels in less than 5 years (others are no as optimistic) but will be profitable during those 5 years. So, first off I have 100 shares of CCL, for shareholder OBC, so if they did go bankrupt I would loose no more than $4k which is what those shares cost when I bought them. I have gotten dividends for the past 4 years, have been on enough cruises to get $1.5k in OBC and veteran OBC. So that 4k is now down to less of a loss, if they did go bankrupt. Just my thoughts on it. And I am way too old to do much worrying.
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On 2/19/2021 at 4:29 AM, skridge said:
It's interest free if they file bankruptcy, because you aren't getting that credit if that happens.
If I had a concern about that I sure wouldn't be putting even a down payment out there. But if CCL goes bankrupt that will be the least of our concerns.
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4 minutes ago, caribill said:
We were on the B2B to Europe.
Due to late arriving passengers (rain), then wind and then fog, the ship left 17 hours late. Catching a current, it did 28 knots in the Gulf on the way to Fort Lauderdale and made up most of that time.
Yeah, I kinda remember that.
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11 hours ago, caribill said:
Living in League City, we really liked cruising on Princess out of the Houston Cruise Ship terminal which was just 8 miles from our home.
Nice modern terminal only a few steps from the parking lot which had reason parking rates.
Yes. We sailed on the 4 day cruise out of La Porte in 2015, before they did the repositioning to the Med. We were supposed to do that cruise, as a B2B but had to cancel the long one. When they pulled out I kept in communication with the Port Authority and they thought they had a commitment from NCL to sail from there but that fell through. The port and terminal were really great, but because the channel they had to go through was narrow for large ships and with the fall through spring fog we have around here they decided they would risk too many delayed/cancelled cruises. Galveston has a similar problem with fog but don't have to try to navigate a narrow channel before getting to open water.
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39 minutes ago, caribill said:
On a 7 day round-trip cruise there are a limited number of ports that cvan be reached from Galveston.
You both probably have been to every possible port on 7-day cruises from Galveston.
Only itineraries longer than 7 days offer a chance for port variety out of Galveston.
That is correct. We have cruised (so convenient and so cheap, when you figure in air fare and maybe a hotel stay at other ports) out of Galveston and have done the Eastern Caribbean to the Bahamas and Key West, less than the Western Caribbean to Cozumel, Belize, Honduras or Jamaica. But probably about 25 - 30 times over the past 30 years. They, years ago, went to Cancun, but stopped probably 10 - 15, if not longer, years ago. Used to like the Cancun stop. Had a Fat Tuesdays at the tender dock with a topless beach in front of it. Was a great place to stop for an hour or so before going on excursions. I think as the ships going there got bigger they had to anchor further out and took too much time for tendering. Or that is my guess. Was a decent place to go. At least back then. But they have done a few longer 9 or 10 day cruises from Galveston to the Southern Caribbean. I think St. Kitts or maybe St. Lucia were stops. Could have been others in that area. We didn't have the chance to take one there, so not sure which islands.
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1 hour ago, Host Kat said:
As Little Beaver used to say, "You betchum, Red Ryder!"
I luck out in the fact I do not have to pay for parking. I park at a friend's house on the island. We are both BOIs & have been friends since the 5th grade. They take me to & from the ship.
Just wish we had a better choice of itineraries out of Galveston. Have been to Cozumel waaaaay too many times! But then, I'm really one of those cruisers that considers whatever ship I'm on is my destination.
Yes, La Porte is another 20 - 25 minutes further. Free parking would be great, but parking on the Island is a lot cheaper than many other ports. When family friends come in from out of town, I am the Taxi taking them and coming back. Not so bad if they are staying here or going to Hobby, but IAH is a bit more time.
I agree, would be great to have more choice of destinations. We too have been to Cozumel and the other standard Western Carib ports over 20 times, but as you say it is the adventure as much as the destination. Though there have been a few longer cruises to the southern Carib on the cruise sites prior to the Pandemic.
Just want things to get back where cruises start up again and people feel reasonably comfortable to go.
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On 1/22/2021 at 12:36 PM, nini said:
I believe in equality... I would be much more comfortable if the following vaccination documentation is required:
MMR (measles, mumps, rubella,)
Pneumonia (the two rounds)
DPT (diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus)
Chickenpox Varicella
Influenza (annually)
Shingles
Hepatitis A & B
Meningitis
Polio
Our daughter and son in law refuse to allow us around their children
without being current on these.
When working in an Assisted Living Facility, I contracted pneumonia... not fun.
And I would hate to spread any of these to anyone, let alone a child or pregnant woman.
And these vaccinations are not fun for me. I unpleasantly react to each one... except my last flu
shot.
Well, I am 100% covered. And as of Feb 9 with have both of the COVID vaccine shots. So book me.
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1 hour ago, Host Kat said:
You are most welcome!
Glad to be of service,
Host Kat
Ain't it great to be as close to the port as we are.🙂
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2 hours ago, Tak8 said:
I really like my PVP. In the past I have used a TA, but given the current situation I like being able to talk directly to Princess. It has been easy to get my price reductions when I see them on the website.
As much as I like the TA we have used for the past 12 years, for the at least near future we will likely be using a PVP. Our last cruise was to fly from Houston to Singapore and cruise to Shanghai and return to Houston. We booked with our TA. He did what he could but we had to do all the "footwork" for refunds. We canceled the cruise in the first couple of weeks in Feb 2020 for a cruise that started in April 2020. Princess did announce and cancel the cruise, after we had already cancelled, but backdated the cancellation so it fell within the time we cancelled. It took us until the first part of December to get the refunds with exception of third party travel insurance. I talked with Princes customer service several times and was told they will not make refunds for third party travel insurance. So the $300 for that on a $9000 cruise trip was really a small price, when at first we didn't figure we could get the airfare or the previously booked hotel. And of course we got more than that in future cruise credit from Princess, so we are very satisfied. Just ready to use that cruise credit.
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3 hours ago, Roatanfans said:
We did not do any paperwork ahead of time for this- Just on disembarkation and it wasn't really much at all!
Sounds great. Thank you for the response.
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On 9/11/2019 at 12:57 PM, Roatanfans said:
We did the Grand Asia cruise on Sapphire Princess this last Christmas- our stops were Singapore (embark), Ko Samui, Thailand. Laem Chabang (Bangkok), Thailand. Ho Chi Min City, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Keelung (Taipei,) Taiwan, Busan, South Korea, Nagasaki, Japan and Shanghai, China. We stayed for an additional 4 nights in Shanghai. The only Visa we needed was for Vietnam. As US passport holders we took advantage of the 144 hour rule and did not get a Chinese passport. We did not have any problems at all- it was an amazing cruise!
We are doing basically the same cruise, or close, in April 2020 and are going to do the 144 hour visa, also. Can you tell me if you did anything, paperwork wise, prior to leaving the US or did you do everything at the pier after docking in Shanghai. I have found a website by the Chinese government that appears you can fill out some paperwork prior to leaving from the US. I haven't gone through the process of doing it, and won't if it is somewhat painless to do what is needed at the Shanghai pier. We will have our return to the US airline tickets, hotel reservations and passports, so that meets the requirements to get the 144 hour visa. Just wondering if we need or should do anything prior to leaving here.
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19 hours ago, Organized Chaos said:
There's one other post of mine that you evidently didn't read where I explained myself further. In addition to that one, another of my posts was removed because I had quoted someone throwing out personal attacks, but I went into even more detail with that one. I'm not just saying things to be a jerk. I have skin in this game. As a Veteran whose been active in volunteering to help benefit Veterans and active-duty, I've spent the last 20+ years around members of the military, past & present, spanning a few generations. I can assure you that there are, in fact, those who use their status to gain attention and recognition. So you're wrong when you say, "...in absolutely no way..." My experiences are exactly why I said what I said and I stand behind every word of it because it's true. I find it highly offensive and see it as a disgrace to the uniform, so I take it very personally.
I too would find it offensive and as a 6 1/2 year member of the Air Force I can honestly say I have never seen anyone use the uniform as a way to get attention or favors. I am sorry that you feel you have. I separated from the Air Force in 1976 and have not been around many members of the services in the past 40 years, on a personal basis, other than talking with a nephew that retired from the Navy about 15 years ago, and seldom about his service. It may be perception on yours and or my part, but I have not in any way seen a person in the military use the uniform in the way you say.
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On 9/19/2019 at 9:19 PM, Melissa623 said:
You are very much correct, he does get a lot of attention and he doesn't like it. He would never wear his uniform, OCP or dress blues to get attention. When he is in public in uniform and people thank him for his service he get very uncomfortable.
After reading some of the post that have talked about it not being as formal as it once was he quickly decided that if he was okay to just wear slacks, a button-up shirt, and tie then that is what he will do. It will making packing easier too because I wasn't looking forward to trying to figure out how to pack his dress blues for the flight down. LOL
I used to wear a suit for elegant night and really kinda miss those days, BUT, I have submitted to the masses and it does make packing much easier, by not having to take a suit. These days, on the more mainstream cruise lines I wear nice jeans and a pull over shirt to cruise casual nights and slacks and either a button up shirt, but more often just a collared polo shirt. Nowadays you will see less than 25% of the people actually dressed in formal attire. But like I said I do miss the "good ol' days", but if in Rome do as the Romans.
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vaccine required?
in Princess Cruises
Posted
I don't but still see many wearing face shields. Many people take this virus serious, others not so much.