RCCL starting to send crew home...

[treehugr]

I've been watching this RCCL employee youtube blog the last couple of days and yesterday (also touched on today) he posted a video stating RCCL would be sending crew home starting in the next 6 days. Sounds like he is in the first batch of employees being sent home. He didn't allude to the numbers being sent home, nor if this was a short break prior to resuming cruising on the current 4/11 timeline. Maybe someone more in the know could better answer, but would such a practice of sending crew home, just to bring back in a few weeks, seem like something a cruise line would do? Someone also has a thread on the RCCL page on this as well. Can't find anything for Celebrity crew being sent home, but one would have to assume this could go across all RCCL brands. Obviously this could be a precursor to the next round of cancellations. 

 

RCCL employee blog

[Desert Diamond]

According to Captain Kate’s Instagram account, all crew is still onboard the Edge. They’re assigning the regular passenger cabins to all crew members, maybe as a bit of social distancing or a nice reward. She stayed on even though it was the end of her contract.

I also follow a cruise director who’s currently on the Summit. Sounds like they have the full crew onboard as well. Of course, all this could change as the situation evolves.

[davekathy]

14 minutes ago, treehugr said:

I've been watching this RCCL employee youtube blog the last couple of days and yesterday (also touched on today) he posted a video stating RCCL would be sending crew home starting in the next 6 days. Sounds like he is in the first batch of employees being sent home. He didn't allude to the numbers being sent home, nor if this was a short break prior to resuming cruising on the current 4/11 timeline. Maybe someone more in the know could better answer, but would such a practice of sending crew home, just to bring back in a few weeks, seem like something a cruise line would do? Someone also has a thread on the RCCL page on this as well. Can't find anything for Celebrity crew being sent home, but one would have to assume this could go across all RCCL brands. Obviously this could be a precursor to the next round of cancellations. 

 

RCCL employee blog

Possibly those that are being sent home are at the end of their contract (?). What makes you think those sent home will be returning in a few weeks? 

[Bill Miller]

These fantastic men and women have families. I understand their worry about being away from home and family during these difficult times. I wish them safe and healthy transits.

I look forward to seeing them in better times. Until the, Bon Voyage!

[treehugr]

1 hour ago, davekathy said:

Possibly those that are being sent home are at the end of their contract (?). What makes you think those sent home will be returning in a few weeks? 

Did you watch the day 5 & 6 blogs? He never mentioned he was at the end of his contract and his blog is a 30 day series of life on a cruise ship during the cruise shut down. 

[treehugr]

1 hour ago, Bill Miller said:

These fantastic men and women have families. I understand their worry about being away from home and family during these difficult times. I wish them safe and healthy transits.

I look forward to seeing them in better times. Until the, Bon Voyage!

I'm sure family back home is weighing heavily amongst all the crew. In watching the day 5 & 6 blogs he didn't however mention. He did give a lot of reflection about how he felt quite safe on the ship during these times and even talked extensively about just how fortunate he was to be working on the ship. 

[ECCruise]

1 hour ago, treehugr said:

I've been watching this RCCL employee youtube blog the last couple of days and yesterday (also touched on today) he posted a video stating RCCL would be sending crew home starting in the next 6 days. Sounds like he is in the first batch of employees being sent home. He didn't allude to the numbers being sent home, nor if this was a short break prior to resuming cruising on the current 4/11 timeline. Maybe someone more in the know could better answer, but would such a practice of sending crew home, just to bring back in a few weeks, seem like something a cruise line would do? Someone also has a thread on the RCCL page on this as well. Can't find anything for Celebrity crew being sent home, but one would have to assume this could go across all RCCL brands. Obviously this could be a precursor to the next round of cancellations. 

 

RCCL employee blog

No way they would send them home for a few weeks.  The majority of crew is Filipino and if they returned to the Philippines they must be quarantined for 14 days outside of Manila before they can return to their homes.  The same for crew from Mauritius. They are likely just accelerating vacation time. 

[lastofthebohicans]

Unless those crew board in another port other than Vancouver, there is no way they will be on our sailing in April.

There have been news articles about non-resident employees been stranded outside of Canada due to the travel closures/bans.

[treehugr]

Just now, lastofthebohicans said:

Unless those crew board in another port other than Vancouver, there is no way they will be on our sailing in April.

There have been news articles about non-resident employees been stranded outside of Canada due to the travel closures/bans.

Yeah, that's an interesting point. This gentlemen is from the UK and I'm not really sure how Royal would be able to get these good people home, much less get them back prior to the 30 day expiration.  

[Jim_Iain]

1 hour ago, treehugr said:

Did you watch the day 5 & 6 blogs? He never mentioned he was at the end of his contract and his blog is a 30 day series of life on a cruise ship during the cruise shut down. 

 

I've listened to the Vlog when he first began.   If I'm not mistaken he works for a Vendor and not RCL directly.   He initially worked in the Gift Shop and the on the most recent contract work for the Casino as a Casino Ambassador.  

 

I would suspect the decision to send him home was from his employer and not RCL.

[Jeremiah1212]

It was mentioned in another thread that this person is a casino employee and not an RCL employee. Much like the spa staff. It’s not an accurate assessment to say RCL is sending all employees home. They’re safer on the ship at this point. It’s not even feasible to try to get them home at this point.

[treehugr]

53 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

I've listened to the Vlog when he first began.   If I'm not mistaken he works for a Vendor and not RCL directly.   He initially worked in the Gift Shop and the on the most recent contract work for the Casino as a Casino Ambassador.  

 

I would suspect the decision to send him home was from his employer and not RCL.

I didn't hear that part, but even with my hearing aids turned all the way up, I still miss bits hear and there. I'll have to go look at the RCCL thread to get a little more info possibly. 

 

On a side note, so sorry things turned out like they did for your cruise. I'd like to think I would have taken all in stride like you did...but highly unlikely. Love your positive outlook, even in such adversity. 

[NMTraveller]

I suspect that the resumption of cruising will not happen on 4/11...

[treehugr]

1 hour ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

I've listened to the Vlog when he first began.   If I'm not mistaken he works for a Vendor and not RCL directly.   He initially worked in the Gift Shop and the on the most recent contract work for the Casino as a Casino Ambassador.  

 

I would suspect the decision to send him home was from his employer and not RCL.

Here is the thread on the RCCL page....

 

[davekathy]

2 hours ago, treehugr said:

Did you watch the day 5 & 6 blogs? He never mentioned he was at the end of his contract and his blog is a 30 day series of life on a cruise ship during the cruise shut down. 

Who and what 5 & 6 blogs? 

Edited March 20, 2020 by davekathy

[treehugr]

59 minutes ago, Jeremiah1212 said:

It was mentioned in another thread that this person is a casino employee and not an RCL employee. Much like the spa staff. It’s not an accurate assessment to say RCL is sending all employees home. They’re safer on the ship at this point. It’s not even feasible to try to get them home at this point.

 

I only read the first page of posts. I only recall the crew member identifying himself as a RCCL crew member in the casino. I didn't write RCCL is sending all crew home, even going as far as writing "He didn't allude to the numbers being sent home". Listening to the gentlemen I came away with the opinion he wasn't looking forward to going back home to the UK and that indeed did seem safer on the cruise...but I could be mistaken. 

[CGTNORMANDIE]

It costs less to send them home than keeping them on the payroll.

[treehugr]

1 minute ago, davekathy said:

What 5 & 6 blogs? 

My apologies...day 5 and day 6 of his 30 day blog of life on ship under 30 day cancellation period. 

 

[treehugr]

1 minute ago, CGTNORMANDIE said:

It costs less to send them home than keeping them on the payroll.

Agreed, unless you plan on resuming cruises on 4/11. If indeed that was the plan, how difficult would it be to bring them back under the current travel restrictions. 

[davekathy]

10 minutes ago, treehugr said:

My apologies...day 5 and day 6 of his 30 day blog of life on ship under 30 day cancellation period.

Since Chris doesn't say why he is being sent home, he "possibly" could be at the end of his contract and possibly is the reason he is part of the first wave being sent home (?).  Since he wanted to share what's happening with him he should have included some simple details in his vblog as to why he's being sent home. Like end of contract, he isn't needed, being laid off due to no work (like a lot of people lately), etc.

[treehugr]

36 minutes ago, davekathy said:

Since Chris doesn't say why he is being sent home, he "possibly" could be at the end of his contract and possibly is the reason he is part of the first wave being sent home (?).  Since he wanted to share what's happening with him he should have included some simple details in his vblog as to why he's being sent home. Like end of contract, he isn't needed, being laid off due to no work (like a lot of people lately), etc.

Looks like a lot of stuff is really just playing out over the last 24 hours...possibly since the level 4 travel advisory(?). I've been following a few blogs on youtube dating back to the onset of the Diamond Princess outbreak. One of the ones that seems informative and up to date with the latest info, is in the link below. His last podcast just an hour ago touched on this very topic about layoffs possibly underway, as well as dry docks for the Allure / Explorer being on hold. Interesting podcast if you've never seen...

Traveling with Bruce...

[NantahalaCruiser]

2 hours ago, NMTraveller said:

I suspect that the resumption of cruising will not happen on 4/11...

Don't think the majority of cruising will restart until July at the earliest

[teecee60]

9 hours ago, lastofthebohicans said:

Unless those crew board in another port other than Vancouver, there is no way they will be on our sailing in April.

 

I don't think you or anyone else will be cruising in April, 2020... April 2021 is a reasonable expectation.

 

4 hours ago, NantahalaCruiser said:

Don't think the majority of cruising will restart until July at the earliest

 

I have only a 50/50 expectation of doing a transatlantic in November.

 

Both the medical AND the financial fallout from this is going to be a lot more serious, and last a lot longer than most people realize. We are nowhere NEAR a plateau... let alone a tailing off.   And yes, I will be back to admit that I am wrong... if I'm wrong.

[BigAl94]

8 hours ago, NMTraveller said:

I suspect that the resumption of cruising will not happen on 4/11...

Doubtful at all in 2020 and when it does, in a decimated form. 

[John182]

15 minutes ago, BigAl94 said:

Doubtful at all in 2020 and when it does, in a decimated form. 

I concur completely with this. I have written off all travel this year be it cruising or land based. We have a long haul in front of us and vacations are not high up on most people's list of concerns right now.