Seabourn and the current issues surrounding the Corona Virus

[jenidallas]

21 hours ago, zelker said:

We're on the 32 night version of your holiday cruise through the Canal and if we stick with that, will likely cut it down to the 21 night version.  I hate all the uncertainty as I'm sure everyone does.  

 
We are hoping to extend to the 32 night version but I don’t have line of sight to my work project schedule this far out to commit to the first leg so we decided just to book the 21 day part.  Who knows what will end up happening?!

[zelker]

11 minutes ago, jenidallas said:

 
We are hoping to extend to the 32 night version but I don’t have line of sight to my work project schedule this far out to commit to the first leg so we decided just to book the 21 day part.  Who knows what will end up happening?!

 

I know you mentioned that on the roll call.  In the mean time, we're seriously considering dropping the holiday cruise completely and instead boarding the ship in LA on January 11th and doing the first segment of the WC to Sydney.  Can't hurt to give cruising another month to fine-tune policies and procedures.  

[FlyingScotSailors]

23 minutes ago, zelker said:

In the mean time, we're seriously considering dropping the holiday cruise completely and instead boarding the ship in LA on January 11th and doing the first segment of the WC to Sydney.

Barb, we were going to ask you about this on the WC roll call.  We will not do so now.

 

As we noted on the holiday cruise roll call, we cancelled the Canal cruise to book the LA to Sydney segment.  That will be the second cruise we missed meeting Jennifer on; hopefully the third will be the charm.

[zelker]

2 hours ago, FlyingScotSailors said:

Barb, we were going to ask you about this on the WC roll call.  We will not do so now.

 

As we noted on the holiday cruise roll call, we cancelled the Canal cruise to book the LA to Sydney segment.  That will be the second cruise we missed meeting Jennifer on; hopefully the third will be the charm.

I completely forgot you posted that.  Oops!  Too many irons in the proverbial fire I guess.  Hoping OZ and NZ are open by then - friends that live in Sydney said they are currently being told that it might not be until the end of the year which certainly could put anything going to that part of the world in jeopardy. 

 

Remember when it used to be fun to plan travel?  Sigh. 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

Here’s some good news, especially as applies to crew vaccination:

 

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/02/sputnik-v-vaccine-91point6percent-effective-in-late-stage-trial-the-lancet.html?&qsearchterm=russian vaccine

[rallydave]

Never mind came up third try. Doubt I would try a Russian vaccine 

Edited February 7, 2021 by rallydave

[PlumeriaLover]

On 4/10/2020 at 4:47 AM, texanaust said:

 

This. 

 

Cruise lines really don't pay much tax to any country and so are seen as undeserving of a bailout.  Until they can test all passengers for Corona Virus as they walk down the gangway, how are port authorities going to trust they will not be receiving another Diamond Princess, Ruby Princess, (add name of multiple other cruise ships)?  Also many (most) crew members come from countries that have not been adequately testing for Covid-19.  Until this virus burns out in those countries, there is no way cruising will be able to restart.  

 

Finally, how is cruising going to begin when almost all international and domestic flights are grounded?   The airline 'restart' will be slow and airfares expensive.  Many airlines will be forced out of business and others will be dramatically altered.  In Australia, our two airlines have almost completely stopped all service.  Try getting from Melbourne to Sydney next week...Normally the second busiest route in the world (think 737 and A330 widebody service every 15 minutes during peak hours), we have one Qantas service per day going via Canberra on a 72 seat turboprop. 

 

One airline (Virgin) is likely to go bankrupt (no bailout) and the other may very well become a domestic only airline for a long time.  Cruising before 2021 just does not equate.

I've heard that Seabourn will have on board Covid testing with rapid turnaround.

Trying to confirm if upcoming 2021

international trips will require Seabourn-only excursions.  Will call tomorrow.

[rallydave]

5 minutes ago, PlumeriaLover said:

Trying to confirm if upcoming 2021

international trips will require Seabourn-only excursions.  Will call tomorrow.

At the current time any 2021 cruises cannot be confirmed so doubt you will get any answer and any answer at this time is subject to change especially since the cruise lines are awaiting CDC further information.  Plus never know what international rules may come about.  Cruise information at this time  is certainly tentative to subject to change.to non-existent.  

[Tomc4253]

My wife and I are booked on the 32 day Bali to Auckland trip scheduled for December 5, 2021. It will be our first with Seabourn, and we are SO looking forward to this journey!

Does anyone know if OZ and NZ have stated definitively that there will NOT be any cruise ships allowed in 2021?

[zelker]

18 minutes ago, Tomc4253 said:

My wife and I are booked on the 32 day Bali to Auckland trip scheduled for December 5, 2021. It will be our first with Seabourn, and we are SO looking forward to this journey!

Does anyone know if OZ and NZ have stated definitively that there will NOT be any cruise ships allowed in 2021?

Way too early for a definitive answer.  As I posted recently, never say never I guess but for what it’s worth, several friends who live in OZ seem pretty sure that any travel into or out of OZ/NZ won’t happen until sometime in 2022.  We looked at the first segment of the 2022 WC that visits NZ and then ends in Sydney in February and same friends said not to bank on it so .....

 

 

Edited February 11, 2021 by zelker

[Tomc4253]

Thanks Zelker. I suppose we can always hope the vaccine makes its way around the world in a rapid fashion!

[Fletcher]

8 hours ago, Tomc4253 said:

My wife and I are booked on the 32 day Bali to Auckland trip scheduled for December 5, 2021. It will be our first with Seabourn, and we are SO looking forward to this journey!

Does anyone know if OZ and NZ have stated definitively that there will NOT be any cruise ships allowed in 2021?

As Canada as officially banned all cruise ships until February 2022 I can't imagine that Australia and New Zealand will have a softer approach.  And getting to Bali will probably be impossible anyway.

[florisdekort]

9 hours ago, Tomc4253 said:

My wife and I are booked on the 32 day Bali to Auckland trip scheduled for December 5, 2021. It will be our first with Seabourn, and we are SO looking forward to this journey!

Does anyone know if OZ and NZ have stated definitively that there will NOT be any cruise ships allowed in 2021?

I live in Australia and no, so far that has not been said. What the Australian Prime Minister has said is that he doesn’t expect the international border to re-open before everyone is vaccinated, and for that they’re targeting late October. 

 

[Tomc4253]

Well that’s actually encouraging!

I’m scheduled for my second jab of the vaccine next week. 

[robertmartha]

Crystal just announced vaccine requirement

 

Have to believe Seabourn will follow....will be interesting how Carnival Corp handles across all their brands but it is a must for myself and family to travel ..... in the hope that it is in the fall of 2021 where-ever that may be or who will have us .....

 

https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/24410-crystal-cruises-to-require-covid-19-vaccine-for-guests.html

[cruisr]

On 2/11/2021 at 4:49 AM, florisdekort said:

I live in Australia and no, so far that has not been said. What the Australian Prime Minister has said is that he doesn’t expect the international border to re-open before everyone is vaccinated, and for that they’re targeting late October. 

 

Will people be vaccinated without their approval.  Will they be forced to be vaccinated?  I watch a lot of Australian TV and it seems that there are many there, as globally, who refuse the vaccine.  I am not one of them, I have had both doses.  If your PM is serious that he wants EVERYONE vaccinated I wonder how we handle the anti vaxxers.  
 

I have been to Australia 5 times and love the country and the people and would like to visit again sooner rather than later.

[robertmartha]

It will be very interesting to see the position airlines take as well.

But I guess more importantly what position countries take  - for incoming tourists whether it be by plane, ship, train or automobile crossing a boarder.

 

I know their are vaccine requirements to travel to certain countries.....maybe this becomes a requirement to travel....period.

 

As soon as I am eligible I am signing up as is my wife and adult children.

[cruiseej]

4 hours ago, cruisr said:

Will people be vaccinated without their approval.  Will they be forced to be vaccinated?

 

No, of course not. But if they want to travel, they'll need a vaccine. It's a choice.

[cruisr]

12 hours ago, cruiseej said:

 

No, of course not. But if they want to travel, they'll need a vaccine. It's a choice.

Yes, but @florisdekortsaid that the PM will not open borders until everybody is vaccinated.  So if their choice is not to be vaccinated then the PM cannot open borders as not everybody will be vaccinated,   I think the PM will have to walk back that statement and will probably open borders without all of the citizens being vaccinated.

[marazul]

Here is the current rate of vaccination by country:

https://www.statista.com/statistics/1194939/rate-covid-vaccination-by-county-worldwide/

[whystayhome]

We have had 3 cruises cancelled by Seabourn in the past 9 months, plus I was on the Australian cruise to nowhere last March that ended a week early.  It broke my heart, but I just cancelled the 21-day Norway/Baltic cruise we had scheduled for July 2021 in advance of final cancellation. Even if the cruise were to go, we don't think it would be the typical Seabourn experience [e.g., stay in your own cohort] and we were concerned about some ports not allowing the ship to dock as was part of the problem with the Australia voyage. According to the Seabourn rep who cancelled our booking, there are still about 50 veranda cabins available, so if a virus-related miracle occurs, we may try to rebook closer to sailing.  Just in case, I'm not cancelling my flights or before and after hotels yet, but I think we will be landlocked for another year.

 

Linda

[zelker]

Sorry to read about your Australia cruise getting cut short.  We were fortunate in that our 31 day cruise made it until the end without issue (ended in San Diego) and were able to disembarked, fly home (that was March 18th) but have been here ever since.  We miss traveling!! (don't we all)

 

We had one cancelled last spring (Europe) and two this coming summer (Alaska B2Bs).  The first cruise we have booked isn't until December (Caribbean and through the Canal to LA on Sojourn) so we have several months yet to cancel before the penalty phase starts.  Since we only have to get from Denver to Miami and then back from LA, we're not booking air until we get much closer and a one night pre-cruise hotel in Miami will be easy to find last minute too.  Also, because we've pretty much done all these ports previously, we don't really care if ports are missed or we are relegated to Seabourn-only tours and will be happy floating in warm climes over the holidays rather than dealing with snow and cold in Colorado.  For us, the deal breaker will likely be what Seabourn's policy is for vaccinations and masking ... without requiring both for everyone onboard, we're likely a no-go.

[whystayhome]

We're fully vaccinated [YAY!] and don't mind wearing a mask.  What bothered me was the comment about "encouraging" passengers to stay within their own group.  One of the things I really enjoy on Seabourn is the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people, some of whom I have maintained lasting friendships with.  Also, we have been eating together almost every night for 45 years and understandably prefer to mix things up a little when we cruise. We particularly look forward to the hosted tables with officers and entertainers [especially the magicians].

 

It will be interesting to read the reports of onboard life from people who sail when the ships get moving again in May (?).

 

Linda

[jenidallas]

1 hour ago, zelker said:

The first cruise we have booked isn't until December (Caribbean and through the Canal to LA on Sojourn) so we have several months yet to cancel before the penalty phase starts.  Since we only have to get from Denver to Miami and then back from LA, we're not booking air until we get much closer and a one night pre-cruise hotel in Miami will be easy to find last minute too.  Also, because we've pretty much done all these ports previously, we don't really care if ports are missed or we are relegated to Seabourn-only tours and will be happy floating in warm climes over the holidays rather than dealing with snow and cold in Colorado.  For us, the deal breaker will likely be what Seabourn's policy is for vaccinations and masking ... without requiring both for everyone onboard, we're likely a no-go.

We have the same next cruise and the same plan as you.  We’re already vaccinated but will make an informed decision when we hit the penalty point.  
 

We’re not thrilled with the idea of cruise line shore excursions only, especially since we have friends who live in a couple of the ports that we’d like to spend the day with.  But we are also transatlantic/sea day fans and know that could make ourselves happy enjoying the ship even in a port.
 

This whole idea of having to stick with a cohort gives me a bit of anxiety not knowing how Seabourn is going to get it those together.  Is there going to be some kind of survey about what activities you participate in (trivia, bridge, casino) or what time you prefer to eat and where?  Or are we going to be stuck on a three week tour where we are subject to the whims of a randomly assigned peer group and only allowed to be in the public spaces that cohort is in?  I can see this being a major dissatisfier and I’ll question the value proposition of a Seabourn sailing if it’s not the usual “choose your own adventure” experience.  

[zelker]

I haven't read anything that makes me think Seabourn will be assigning cohort groups, randomly or otherwise.  Below is from their website under the Onboard Health and Safety Protocols.  Have you seen something different that maybe I'm missing?

 

COHORTS   (To) Maintain a safety-oriented environment, cohorts traveling together will be encouraged on board in restaurants, bars and other venues.