What things do you see changing??

[40yearcruiser]

On 4/13/2020 at 3:03 PM, Hlitner said:

Your telling me!  We still have an August booking on the Island Princess which now costs about half what it did when we  booked.  At this point it is such a bargain it is like Princess would pay us to take the cruise.  But we must consider that the Tattoo in Edinburgh has been cancelled, it is likely that the ports in Greenland will be closed, the airline we were using to get from Southampton to Paris, after the cruise, went bankrupt in early March, etc etc.  Since we have yet to make the final payment it is still easy to cancel with little financial loss.  What would you do?

 

Hank

 

Difficult decision. After our 2 cruises in March & April were cancelled we considered booking this one on the Island Princess in August, hoping the worst will be over by then. As interesting as the itinerary for this cruise is, with the possible closing of ports and other considerations we have decided against it. We have been to the Edinburgh Tattoo twice (2013 and 2019) so having that closed was not a consideration for us. If you haven't seen it, however, it is an experience worth having.

 

I have read through all of the preceding posts and you have made some very good points. Like you, we have been cruising several months of the year and are reluctant to cross it completely off our travel list. We have 2 more cruises reserved for later this year and will be watching closely what is happening in the industry over the next few months. I can't comprehend never being on a cruise ship again. 

[PrincessLuver]

On 4/12/2020 at 9:24 AM, G&T Cruisers said:

I personally think the days of travel as we knew it are over. With all these new restrictions being put in place it will turn a lot of people off from travel and who knows when some of these islands will open there ports as many do not have the medical facilities to handle an outbreak.

 

 

My family and I will still travel internationally and nationally but it will not be on a cruise ship.....it will be much easier for us to  move about driving and flying and doing land based stays.  There is so much more we can control and also I think those industries are going to have a much easier time adapting to moving and hosting people in the age of COVID-19 than cruise ships.  

 

I remember the days when big airlines first went out of business and nobody could believe it possible.  I think the same thing is going to happen to the cruise industry because they are really going to have a hard time getting people on ships, find it impossible to social distance people on ships, not be allowed to sail into very many ports and the prices are going to probably be out of reach for the average traveler.  It just will not be a fun way to travel.

 

This is my presumption unless COVID-19 goes away or a reliable vaccine is created.

 

They will become the dinosaurs of travel industry.

Edited April 26, 2020 by PrincessLuver

[caribill]

9 hours ago, Triptkr said:

 

  One of the main things we do on cruises is eat.  One can't do both at the same time...wear face masks and eat, that is.  And honestly, the thought of lowering your face mask to your throat and eating is gross if you know anything about cross contamination, etc.  Plus, socializing is done a great deal with your dinner companions while eating a meal...

 

 

They will be at least six feet away.

[AF-1]

After watching the CEO of Carnival being interviewed; I have faith in cruising.  He laid it out very well; and said whatever the CDC recommends they will comply with.  So after the dust settles and the scientists find out how to minimize the virus; contain it; and vaccinate it;  the cruise and airline industry will be back.  So will Disney.  Have a nice Sunday

[Paula_MacFan]

The tender process (or water taxi as they are now calling it) will have to change dramatically.  They squeeze people in like sardines now and the tender process is still time consuming.  I can't imagine how long it will take if people have to be 6 feet apart!  Maybe tender ports would just have to be scrapped.  

[Cruise Raider]

4 hours ago, Paula_MacFan said:

The tender process (or water taxi as they are now calling it) will have to change dramatically.  They squeeze people in like sardines now and the tender process is still time consuming.  I can't imagine how long it will take if people have to be 6 feet apart!  Maybe tender ports would just have to be scrapped.  

you said it!  We never even bother to go into port anymore where a tender is involved.  Too much of a hassle ...I can’t imagine what it would be like if social distancing were required.  

[Level six]

4 hours ago, Paula_MacFan said:

The tender process (or water taxi as they are now calling it) will have to change dramatically.  They squeeze people in like sardines now and the tender process is still time consuming.  I can't imagine how long it will take if people have to be 6 feet apart!  Maybe tender ports would just have to be scrapped.  

yep!  Even if there was some way to social distance on the tender to the port, imagine coming back?  How would that be done?  time slots?  They will probably start selling tender tickets, kind of like specialty dining.  Only those willing to pay can go ashore!!

 

Same with any excursions.  How would it be on a bus?

 

What about coming back on board at a port?  There is always a line.  Tape on the pier? 

 

I just can't see cruising the way it was before 2020.  Sadly, it will never be the same.  

[Shaver John]

And to add to the comment about tours, how will Princess make sure that folks who plan private tours will not bring some illness back to the ship when returning from an eight or twelve hour excursion. Will Princess only allow tours that they sponsor to be allowed. Or just getting off the ship and having lunch at a restaurant in a given city, who knows what folks will bring back on board. So many things to consider, we may just need to have a vaccine or cure before a lot of folks want to travel. Stay safe everyone.

[caribill]

8 hours ago, Shaver John said:

And to add to the comment about tours, how will Princess make sure that folks who plan private tours will not bring some illness back to the ship when returning from an eight or twelve hour excursion. Will Princess only allow tours that they sponsor to be allowed. Or just getting off the ship and having lunch at a restaurant in a given city, who knows what folks will bring back on board. So many things to consider, we may just need to have a vaccine or cure before a lot of folks want to travel. Stay safe everyone.

 

Those on Princess tours could also bring back some illness from the tour. Princess sponsored tours are no guarantee that you will not be exposed to Covid-19 or noro or anything else.

[PrincessLuver]

5 hours ago, caribill said:

 

Those on Princess tours could also bring back some illness from the tour. Princess sponsored tours are no guarantee that you will not be exposed to Covid-19 or noro or anything else.

 

Maybe cruising will just be cruising and you will not stop at ports anymore or very few.  Trans-Atlantic, Trans-Pacific, Trans-Indian Ocean, plus shorter cruises to Nowhere to get people cruising again.

Edited April 27, 2020 by PrincessLuver

[DiamondFour]

11 hours ago, PrincessLuver said:

 

Maybe cruising will just be cruising and you will not stop at ports anymore or very few.  Trans-Atlantic, Trans-Pacific, Trans-Indian Ocean, plus shorter cruises to Nowhere to get people cruising again.

It could be an idea for a relocation voyage from one port to another port.

 

I do think though when things return to normal that tourism will have to restart and cruising will be a part of it. Tourism generates billions and provides countless jobs for people and economies around the world. I cannot see a future without some sort of tourism industry including cruise ships. People love to travel and I do not think that even this virus would kill off that passion people have.

[ollienbertsmum]

19 hours ago, PrincessLuver said:

 

Maybe cruising will just be cruising and you will not stop at ports anymore or very few.  Trans-Atlantic, Trans-Pacific, Trans-Indian Ocean, plus shorter cruises to Nowhere to get people cruising again.

 

I can certainly think of some places where the views from the ship are certainly worth having a pair of binoculars and would encourage me to cruise.  I can think of having lunch on the ship in Valletta, in Santorini and cruising along the French Riviera.  I can recall the stunning views from our Alaska ship, when sailing in to Stockholm and the promised (but cancelled)  sail in to Kotor.  Venice is somewhat controversial, but careful slow cruises might give them some revenue.     

 

The issue of how to pay for sailing in a particular set of waters would have to be worked out.   The cost of cruises that do not have revenue from excursions or casinos (while off coasts) would also rise.   I am not a skilled navigator and I am mindful of what happened to the Costa Concordia when sailing too near to a coast, but PrincessLuver has set me thinking ...

Edited April 28, 2020 by ollienbertsmum

[AF-1]

I am ready to jump back in and have fun on board the ships.  Happy Tuesday

[MMDown Under]

On 4/27/2020 at 8:40 AM, Shaver John said:

And to add to the comment about tours, how will Princess make sure that folks who plan private tours will not bring some illness back to the ship when returning from an eight or twelve hour excursion. Will Princess only allow tours that they sponsor to be allowed. Or just getting off the ship and having lunch at a restaurant in a given city, who knows what folks will bring back on board. So many things to consider, we may just need to have a vaccine or cure before a lot of folks want to travel. Stay safe everyone.

Imagine what the residents of ports, especially islands, feel about all the passengers from cruise ships bringing illnesses on shore. The majority of people in Australia infected by the virus are as a result of cruise ships. 

[npcl]

1 hour ago, MMDown Under said:

Imagine what the residents of ports, especially islands, feel about all the passengers from cruise ships bringing illnesses on shore. The majority of people in Australia infected by the virus are as a result of cruise ships. 

Exactly,  Where I live in Oregon, there have been very fee cases.  1 new in the last 10 days in a county of 200,000.

 

The next county over along the coast has had an even lower number.  Since this started all of the hotels in that area (one that is heavily dependent upon tourism, have been closed except for essential workers or for visitors in Quarantine.  That county commission were going to approve opening the hotels.  The locals in that country, many of which get their income from tourism, reacted so negatively, that the commission is rescinding that decision.  The reason why is that the locals did not want people from out of the area flooding the coast and bringing cases with them.

 

I suspect many isolated areas are thinking similarly. Keep their local people healthy.  Reopen the economy for the locals, where any cases can be tracked and managed.  But keep outsiders (tourists) away to prevent them from bringing it in.

[Roger88]

I see people's attitude changes toward many things. People started making decisions very carefully, they started reading the internet more and taking more care about their health. As far as Industry goes, its hard to tell at this point. We will have to wait and see in which direction it will go. I expect the Industry to flourish in the upcoming month. Yes, some of the companies will go bankrupt but they will be eaten by bigger industry giants 

[MMDown Under]

On 4/11/2020 at 11:10 AM, travelhound said:

Shorter cruises in the Caribbean, 3-7 days, with younger demographics.  Most initial cruisers will be college kids, young families, and the young at heart, like me 🙂

 

Children are known as "super spreaders" for a reason.  Being in a high risk group, it is children who I avoid. 

[MMDown Under]

27 minutes ago, npcl said:

Exactly,  Where I live in Oregon, there have been very fee cases.  1 new in the last 10 days in a county of 200,000.

 

The next county over along the coast has had an even lower number.  Since this started all of the hotels in that area (one that is heavily dependent upon tourism, have been closed except for essential workers or for visitors in Quarantine.  That county commission were going to approve opening the hotels.  The locals in that country, many of which get their income from tourism, reacted so negatively, that the commission is rescinding that decision.  The reason why is that the locals did not want people from out of the area flooding the coast and bringing cases with them.

 

I suspect many isolated areas are thinking similarly. Keep their local people healthy.  Reopen the economy for the locals, where any cases can be tracked and managed.  But keep outsiders (tourists) away to prevent them from bringing it in.

NZ was first to close its borders and move to Level 4 Restrictions.  It is now virus free.  Aus closed its borders and started at Level 3 Restrictions.  It is gradually reducing the restrictions, but all state borders are closed.  In Queensland from this weekend, we can drive with household members up to 50 klm, within our State.  The message is stay safe.  Despite our Government spending a fortune to attract tourists following the bushfires, people from interstate are being advised to stay away.  

Edited April 28, 2020 by MMDown Under

[npcl]

28 minutes ago, MMDown Under said:

NZ was first to close its borders and move to Level 4 Restrictions.  It is now virus free.  Aus closed its borders and started at Level 3 Restrictions.  It is gradually reducing the restrictions, but all state borders are closed.  In Queensland from this weekend, we can drive with household members up to 50 klm, within our State.  The message is stay safe.  Despite our Government spending a fortune to attract tourists following the bushfires, people from interstate are being advised to stay away.  

Not quite virus free.  They made a statement that included those terms, but they are still getting new cases in the single digits.  So under control, but not virus free.

 

Will be interesting if they keep their borders closed. I suspect that they will keep them closed.

[MMDown Under]

56 minutes ago, npcl said:

Not quite virus free.  They made a statement that included those terms, but they are still getting new cases in the single digits.  So under control, but not virus free.

 

Will be interesting if they keep their borders closed. I suspect that they will keep them closed.

I guess when the PM made the announcement they were virus free.  

I suspect, after the state borders are reopened, the first international opening will be the borders between Aus and NZ (via Air, not cruise ship).  Talks are taking place.  Kiwis own the highest number of properties by foreigners on the Gold Coast. They would hate to spend the winter in NZ.  Then Queenslanders love to ski in NZ.

Edited April 28, 2020 by MMDown Under

[travelhound]

3 hours ago, MMDown Under said:

Children are known as "super spreaders" for a reason.  Being in a high risk group, it is children who I avoid. 

Yup, and high risk people should avoid them.  That's why low risk groups will be the first to cruise. 

[MMDown Under]

5 minutes ago, travelhound said:

Yup, and high risk people should avoid them.  That's why low risk groups will be the first to cruise. 

I agree shorter cruises appeal to younger demographics.  

[Porky55]

3 hours ago, npcl said:

Not quite virus free.  They made a statement that included those terms, but they are still getting new cases in the single digits

Have to disagree here: Queensland aren’t virus free - agree with that - BUT hasn’t had any new cases in the single digits  👍🤣

https://www.health.qld.gov.au/news-events/doh-media-releases/releases/queensland-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-update32

Current status and contact tracing alerts — coronavirus (COVID-19)

 

Last updated: Midday 28 April 2020

0New cases (last 24h)

1,033Total cases

101,767Total tests

6Total lives lost

Edited April 28, 2020 by Porky55

[travelhound]

1 hour ago, MMDown Under said:

I agree shorter cruises appeal to younger demographics.  

My niece just went on a 4 day Carnival cruise for Spring Break.  Major party cruise, which is not my thing, but after being stuck in the house for 2 months, I would definitely be up for Spring Break at sea 🙂

 

[npcl]

4 hours ago, Porky55 said:

Have to disagree here: Queensland aren’t virus free - agree with that - BUT hasn’t had any new cases in the single digits  👍🤣

https://www.health.qld.gov.au/news-events/doh-media-releases/releases/queensland-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-update32

Current status and contact tracing alerts — coronavirus (COVID-19)

 

Last updated: Midday 28 April 2020

0New cases (last 24h)

1,033Total cases

101,767Total tests

6Total lives lost

Which is fine for Queensland, but we were talking about New Zealand and Jacinda Arderns announcement.

 

Even though they were still getting new cases in the single digit range  Not sure how Queensland, Australia got into a comment about NZ.

 

Edited April 29, 2020 by npcl