Cruises in the near future - Contingency plans?

[zqvol]

We don't go until around the first of June, but the only way we would not sail is if the cruise is cancled. I am much more worried about seasonal flu and noro than I am by Covid-19. Much of this hysteria is made up by the news media.

[luv2kroooz]

Scheduled to sail through Europe in May, including ports in Italy.

I'm currently undecided and will make a decision the week of departure unless NCL makes a decision for me. My decision will be based, in part, on what the US Embassy, Department of State, CDC, etc advises. I have no compromised immune system, either.

My travel is non-essential, so if a government is telling me to avoid non-essential travel or do not travel to an area I am expecting to visit, then that is probably what I will do. I did buy CFAR and would stand to lose 25% of my nonrefundable costs which amounts to $200-$300 dollars. A relatively, cheap price to pay to avoid areas of increased risk of exposure.

I have no Plan B. I'm either all in or all out. This too shall pass and I'll hopefully get to see Europe again once it passes.

[cementhands]

We were supposed to go on the gem May and Europe this fall but I didn’t book yet and I won’t. We just got off the Bliss February 14 days.
I don’t want to risk it. My wife is a cancer survivor and compromised immune system. I don’t want to be quarantine inside cabin for 14 days. Like Princess was another cruise ship the Grand Princess is now off the coast of California similar. Cruise lines don’t have a handle on the situation.
How many cruise ship are going to be listed like countries in the future?

[JamieLogical]

15 minutes ago, cementhands said:

How many cruise ship are going to be listed like countries in the future?

 

Most likely none. There is no way another on-ship quarantine will happen like on the Diamond Princess. That ended up putting far MORE people at risk instead of fewer, which is the intention of a quarantine. Everyone agrees that was an unmitigated disaster and no government, especially not the US's is going to repeat that mistake.

[0ssie]

1 hour ago, Cap'n Ron said:

Viking is allowing folks booked to cancel and reschedule up to 2 years out.  That's awesome customer service and the other cruiselines should follow.

Viking is a private company with no shareholders to answer to

[LisaLisa87]

3 minutes ago, JamieLogical said:

 

Most likely none. There is no way another on-ship quarantine will happen like on the Diamond Princess. That ended up putting far MORE people at risk instead of fewer, which is the intention of a quarantine. Everyone agrees that was an unmitigated disaster and no government, especially not the US's is going to repeat that mistake.

 

I hope you're right. It'll be interesting to see how things play out on the Grand Princess.

[Cap'n Ron]

13 minutes ago, 0ssie said:

Viking is a private company with no shareholders to answer to

 

Yes, but good customer service is good customer service.  Depending on how NCL handles this going forward will determine if I book with them again.  I understand shareholder demands typically go against what's right for the customer, but being a leader in the industry for outstanding customer service goes a long way in my book.  We will see how it all shakes out.  Not a good situation for anyone right now.

[LisaLisa87]

Princess posted this update regarding the Grand Princess on Facebook about 30 minutes ago. Note the part I emphasized in bold. 

 

GRAND PRINCESS UPDATE: We can confirm that while there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 currently on board, the CDC has identified groups of guests and crew who will be tested before arrival into San Francisco. Those being tested include guests who sailed the previous Mexico voyage and remained onboard for the current Hawaii voyage, as well as guests and crew who have experienced influenza-like illness symptoms on this voyage, and guests currently under care for respiratory illness. The U.S. Coast Guard will deliver sampling kits to the ship this morning, and our onboard medical team will administer the test. 

 

Public health officials have advised that no guests will be permitted to disembark until all results have been received. Out of an abundance of caution, all guests who have been identified for testing have been asked to remain in their staterooms. We will continue to proceed under the guidance of the U.S CDC and local authorities.  

 

Additionally, we can also confirm the cancellation of the upcoming Grand Princess Hawaii cruise departing on March 7. All guests will receive a full refund of their cruise fare, Princess Air, Princess Cruise Plus pre- and post-cruise hotel packages, prepaid shore excursions and other prepaid items purchased through Princess. Guests will also receive a Future Cruise Credit equal to 100% of the cruise fare paid on this voyage. For more information:  http://*****/38ubCCC

[ray98]

5 minutes ago, LisaLisa87 said:

Princess posted this update regarding the Grand Princess on Facebook about 30 minutes ago. Note the part I emphasized in bold. 

 

 

 

Public health officials have advised that no guests will be permitted to disembark until all results have been received.

 

They said results would be in within 4 hours.

[LisaLisa87]

Just now, ray98 said:

 

They said results would be in within 4 hours.

 

Ahh, okay. I was thinking days.

[nomad098]

Something smells fishy🤔

 

Why cancel a 15 night cruise giving a full refund plus 100% FCC if you do not think there is a problem.

 

Why not offer a shorter itinerary say seven/ten days with a partial refund. 

 

This would suggest they expect the ship to be out of commission for 15 days.

 

[luvavacation]

My husband and I are on the March 29 sailing of the Star.

 

Back in November, I wanted to cancel after receiving an email, one week after final payment, that one of the anticipated islands we had never been to was being changed to Nassau.  We have been there numerous times, it's ok, but we really were looking forward to seeing the ABC islands (we sail for the destinations, not the ship). 

 

NCL stated that we were missing Bonaire because our utmost safety was their concern🙄.  One week after final payment, and now there is a concern that the ship has issues.  Great.  Can't rebook to a different cruise.  DH can not take extra time off work, and our pets and small farm will be concern.  Yet, we decided that, if there is a problem, we can fly home from another port, maybe a day or two of delay.

 

Now, COVID-19.  Oh great.  If there is a problem now, we may not be able to get home for 14 days.  I am not worried about us becoming ill, we are both healthy and strong and no flu or cold has ever knocked us down (yet!), but I am worried about our jobs, our pets, and our home.  There is no one available that we could count on to care for everything for an extra 14 days; sure, an extra day or two, but not 14. 

 

We do have insurance, but it won't let us leave a quarantine!  And I waited too long to purchase the cancel for any reason option😠.  The days just got away from me.

 

I would welcome the option to rebook for a different date.  It is one thing to catch any sort of virus on a ship, it is another when there is the looming possibility of a long quarantine.  This is what worries us.  Maybe the powers-that-be at NCL can put their lives on hold for an extra 14 days, but there aren't many other people with that option.

[All-ready2cruise]

I've maintained that I will not cancel my cruise on the Dawn from Tampa to NYC.  Not even sure if there's anything to be concerned with as far as my travels go.  I travel solo, I have a good immune system, rarely getting ill (yes, I'm knocking on wood as I type this) and I really enjoy cruising. 

If, for some reason NCL cancels the cruise, it'll mean my flights and hotel will be cancelled as well, otherwise, I'd just head down to Tampa/St. Petes area and stay for a few days.  

Really hoping they don't cancel the cruise.  Do need to load more books on my tablet though, just in case. 

[mips]

We will fly to NYC either way, we are flying Wednesday for a Sunday departure.  I'm looking at what to go see if we take a month road trip instead (suggestions welcomed going North or West).  The biggest thing for me would be needing at least 4 days heads up that they cancelled so that I can bring my Service dog with me as I wont take him on a 21 day cruise, but a road trip would be way more fun for me with him.  

I laughed at myself for putting extra bleach wipes on my cruise packing list, I know I am not going to wipe down everything every time I walk into the cabin, or clean again after the steward has done so. I will be content with wiping down remote controls, and the insides of drawers like I usually do when I first get to my cabin.  I will be wiping down airline trays and the hard part of the seats with them though.

No matter what IMHO I have more chance of catching a virus in the confines of a rental car than on a cruise ship.

[luv2kroooz]

41 minutes ago, nomad098 said:

Something smells fishy🤔

 

Why cancel a 15 night cruise giving a full refund plus 100% FCC if you do not think there is a problem.

 

They didn't say there was not a problem. Obviously, there is.

 

The facts are a 71 year old man died from the virus after sailing on Grand Princess from Feb 11 to 21. Everyone on the Feb 11 sailing may have been exposed as a result. At least 60 guests remained onboard as back to back guests on the Feb 21 - 15 night Hawaii sailing which is now arriving back in California. Those 60 or so guests could have exposed the current guests and crew to the virus. We have an incubation period of up to 14 days - some have reported longer. And so it goes.

 

Seems to me Princess is acting in an abundance of caution and generously offering refunds for the next 15 night sailing. I am also reminded that no matter what the cruise lines do, they can never please everyone.

[turtlegirl2]

we are scheduled to fly to Oahu next Thursday for the 3/14 POA Hawaiian Cruise. We have medical insurance but not CFAR 😞. Depending on what they do with the Grand Princess folks will probably make our decision. Such a bad time to have these trips planned 😞 

[nomad098]

10 minutes ago, blcruising said:

 

They didn't say there was not a problem. Obviously, there is.

 

The facts are a 71 year old man died from the virus after sailing on Grand Princess from Feb 11 to 21. Everyone on the Feb 11 sailing may have been exposed as a result. At least 60 guests remained onboard as back to back guests on the Feb 21 - 15 night Hawaii sailing which is now arriving back in California. Those 60 or so guests could have exposed the current guests and crew to the virus. We have an incubation period of up to 14 days - some have reported longer. And so it goes.

 

Seems to me Princess is acting in an abundance of caution and generously offering refunds for the next 15 night sailing. I am also reminded that no matter what the cruise lines do, they can never please everyone.

 

To cancel the next cruise before getting the results from this cruise is very preemptive 

 

I think they already suspect they have an issue.

 

I applaud Princess for doing everything it can in these difficult and tragic circumstances.

 

But I personally prefer honesty and facts not platitudes "abundance of caution" seems to be the go to phrase of various cruise lines

[LisaLisa87]

11 minutes ago, turtlegirl2 said:

we are scheduled to fly to Oahu next Thursday for the 3/14 POA Hawaiian Cruise. We have medical insurance but not CFAR 😞. Depending on what they do with the Grand Princess folks will probably make our decision. Such a bad time to have these trips planned 😞 

 

We were on POA last year, and with all the planning that went into that cruise, I tend to think I'd go ahead with it. Is your air booked through NCL?

[hamrag]

5 minutes ago, nomad098 said:

 

...."abundance of caution" seems to be the go to phrase of various cruise lines

 This has recently become prevalent in the Scottish NHS, my place of work....hugely irritating, it has become! Soon someone will come up with a new buzz phrase.

[JamieLogical]

We shouldn't assume that whatever is done with the Grand Princess will apply to the next cruise ship with COVID-19 if/when there is one, just they same as we shouldn't assume that they are going to do with the Grand Princess the same that was done with the Diamond Princess. Whatever they do, one way or another, they will learn from it and make adjustments that fit the exact situation on the next ship. I am not sure they have determined what the "right" course of action is. All we can do is hope that they learn and adapt as necessary. 

[luv2kroooz]

13 minutes ago, nomad098 said:

 

To cancel the next cruise before getting the results from this cruise is very preemptive 

 

I think they already suspect they have an issue.

 

I applaud Princess for doing everything it can in these difficult and tragic circumstances.

 

But I personally prefer honesty and facts not platitudes "abundance of caution" seems to be the go to phrase of various cruise lines

Just not sure what you want them to do. I suppose they could let everyone fly out to LA while they conduct their tests and then decide after the guests get there. The cruise was scheduled to sail Saturday.

Edited March 5, 2020 by blcruising

[Viajera7]

I plan to go on the Encore on March 22nd. I did not buy insurance for this one but I think it's pretty safe because it's a Caribbean cruise. I am a little worried about my 2 Mediterranean cruises in the summer because both of them include Italy. I already paid the cruise and airfare for the June one. I have insurance for the cruise but not for the airfare so I'm planning to go. I have until the beginning of April for the final payment for the August one. I am tuned  in to the news and read the boards to decide if I make my final payment for this one and the fall ones. I'll probably do but I will buy the CFAR for the cruise and not buy the airfare until the end with insurance too.  I plan to take wipes, hand sanitizer , extra medicine  and over the counter medicines. and my ipad loaded with books to read for all my cruises. I am  not claustrophobic but I'm crossing my fingers that I am not quarentined because I booked a studio on the Epic.

[turtlegirl2]

1 hour ago, LisaLisa87 said:

 

We were on POA last year, and with all the planning that went into that cruise, I tend to think I'd go ahead with it. Is your air booked through NCL?

Yes we have reduced air in the package. Very expensive cruise and extra hotel days, rental cars, etc. at least 10K for the two of us. Most folks in my area of the country think this virus is no worse than flu, and we should go. We will probably chance it but sure is stressful 😞 

[nomad098]

I see they have just dropped the CDC on to the Grand Princess 

reports are they should be finished by dinner and results will be in 5 hours later.

According to a passenger when the CDC arrived they immediate closed the casino and banned all group activities.

[luv2kroooz]

4 minutes ago, nomad098 said:

According to a passenger when the CDC arrived they immediate closed the casino and banned all group activities.

Hahaha. Hide the children, close off the casino!! Some of this stuff is too funny!! 

 

Hoping for good outcome from the testing.

Edited March 5, 2020 by blcruising