Social distancing on a cruise ship

[lovemycruisetoo]

37 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

Going to the store, I would say at least 1/3 of the masks being worn are N95 masks that protect the people wearing them from those who could care less. 

We live in NYC and can’t get any of those N95 masks anywhere unless we want to pay exorbitant fees even from our local pharmacies.  
 

I am a lung caner survivor (lobectomy)  who just happens to also have Multiple Sclerosis which makes me more to susceptible to Covid 19 than most.
 

How about you BirdTravels? Do you have  any medical conditions that will keep you from sailing????  I will definitely think about what cruise we will go on in the future and if it will be medically safe for us to do so. 

 

We have only sailed NCL since 2010 and have achieved Platinum Plus status but will never sail them again because of their lack of loyalty to us. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SeaShark]

6 minutes ago, Fido Chuckwagon said:

Because the purpose of face masks is not to get the wearer to stop touching their own face.  In fact, it probably causes most people who are not used to wearing face masks to touch their own face more.  The purpose of face masks is to protect other people from people who don't know they're infected.

 

First...I did not say it was "the purpose", I said it was "one of the purposes"...big difference.

 

Dr. Luke Padwick, an emergency physician and founder of Austin Emergency Center in Texas, likens the benefit of wearing a mask to coughing or sneezing into your elbow.

“Wearing a mask is good for two reasons: It’s going to cut down 95 percent of the breathing that sends the virus up to 6 feet away in a room, and also will reduce fecal/oral transmission by preventing the virus from getting into your nose or mouth” if you touch a contaminated surface and then your face,” Padwick told Healthline. “I think this will slow down the virus a lot.”

 

 

 

[NutsAboutGolf]

I missed some paragraphs, I wanted to add more to my previous post but too late to edit. From the CEO interview today:

 

Social distancing on ships

There’s been a lot of speculation in recent weeks over what it’ll look like on ships when cruising resumes. Will passengers be required to follow social distancing rules? Will they be required to wear masks?

Del Rio said passengers should expect the same sort of procedures that they find on land — whatever that is at the time they cruise.

“Early on as we open our doors again, assuming that we are still working with the same general guidelines that society is working with today — social distancing, wearing masks and so forth — that will translate into shipboard life itself.”

Norwegian’s brands may not impose social distancing rules per se, or purposely limit occupancy levels on ships to reduce crowding. But less-crowded ships are likely to be the de facto situation in the early months of the industry’s comeback due to reduced bookings.

“When we first open up sailings, I don’t think the ships will sail full even if we wanted them to,” he said. “Remember, there’s been a lot of cancellations.”

Even with just a handful of ships sailing initially, Del Rio is expecting occupancy as low as 50% to 60% on vessels for a few months as demand ramps back up.

“Social distancing will be a natural phenomena by definition,” he said.

Edited May 9, 2020 by NutsAboutGolf

[rabidstoat]

Oh, I know! They can make it so you need reservations for deck loungers, just like you need reservations for shows. This way they can cut down on the number of loungers and put space between them. You sign up for a 3-hour block and then there's a standby line (socially distanced!) like at the theater.

 

They could even make money on this by allowing each person one or two 'free' slots to reserve, and then charging a fee to sign up for extra slots. Oh boy!

[Outerdog]

10 hours ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

“Early on as we open our doors again, assuming that we are still working with the same general guidelines that society is working with today — social distancing, wearing masks and so forth — that will translate into shipboard life itself.”

 

I don't know about the rest of you, but I go on vacation for an escape from "the general guidelines that society is working with" -- Covid or no Covid. There is no way in hell I'm choosing a vacation which requires the same restrictions (because that's what they are, really) that I would have if I just stayed home. Why would I get on a ship just to worry about the exact same crap I"m dealing with every day at home? Masks and distancing translating to shipboard life itself? No thank you.

[NLH Arizona]

15 hours ago, Gershep said:

Social distancing on a cruise ship would be very hard to do. Most people aren't doing it here in NY, I went food shopping and couldn't believe how people are so close to one another. They are supposed to be wearing face masks and they are not following that either. There are those people who still want to do what they want to do.

Not just New York, same thing happening her in Arizona.

[NutsAboutGolf]

59 minutes ago, Outerdog said:

 

I don't know about the rest of you, but I go on vacation for an escape from "the general guidelines that society is working with" -- Covid or no Covid. There is no way in hell I'm choosing a vacation which requires the same restrictions (because that's what they are, really) that I would have if I just stayed home. Why would I get on a ship just to worry about the exact same crap I"m dealing with every day at home? Masks and distancing translating to shipboard life itself? No thank you.

 

That's part of the reason the CEO believes sailings will only be at about 50-60%.  Even if the pandemic completely disappears before the sailings resume, you're going to see a certain percent of passengers wearing masks and people being extremely uncomfortable if you get within 6' of them.  Also most if not all of the crew will be wearing N95 masks.  I believe that will be the case for at least 2020.  I'm in the camp that thinks its inevitable that someone on some ship will board without a fever, whether asymptomatic or simply develops a fever later, and tests positive for it.  I have no idea what happens next yet would imagine many ports will block all ship for another month.  The current test right now requires a 6" swab to be jammed up both nostrils and takes several hours to get results.  I can't imagine cruise lines spending the money to test every person who boards the ship and if they did, would imagine many passengers may cancel due to not wanting to go through what many call a very uncomfortable swab test.

[mking8288]

14 hours ago, podgeandrodge said:

That's pretty tough going!  Where did you get your groceries etc. during that period, was it deliveries?  ... But we do ensure that if we get a takeaway delivered, or do the shopping, that we wash our hands before doing anything else (and afterward) ... 

 

Not easy, conditioning & discipline ... worked in primary healthcare for a decade helped.  Home deliveries as ordered, using what's available via Walmart, Target & Amazon and in the last 3 or 4 weeks, our corner deli/mini-mart that has expanded but limited essential grocery items.  A quick stop at 7-11 for bread, milk & bakery with precaution.  Topped off the gas tank over a month ago & only used 1/2 tank with only short trips.  Used curbside pickup and select drive-thru for takeout food once or twice a week, even got fresh lobsters to cook at home (LOL - never onboard NCL ...)   Proper & frequent hand wash w. soap & running water is the key, not those hand sanitizer.

 

Back on point about social distancing on a ship - it is going to be very difficult to maintain and enforce, putting the crew into uncomfortable position and shaming among fellow cruisers aren't going to do.  We finally went out to restock for fresh produce, fruits & meat, dry goods & it was a mess at our favorite grocery store - despite the signs, symbols & notices - only took a few indifferent and defiant persons to put others at risks ... sometimes, unknowingly with their heads buried while hand picking their "needs" ... Yike ! 

[ray98]

Social distancing is impossible on a cruise ship just as it is at many of the common places and activities we enjoy on land.  We can never prevent mass gatherings long term, many peoples livelihoods revolve around it. The majority of society will eventually move on and it will be just another factor we deal with in life, some will want to hole up away from the world.  Plenty have accepted the risk and are ready to move on now and start opening the country back up.

 

The ironic thing is those who decide to hole up can only do so because so many people, down to the teenage stock boy at the grocery store, have been deemed 'essential'.  They have been going to work every day since this began, their daily life has not changed much.  That doesn't exist in a vacuum, it is those who enable others who want to stay home to do so.  Someone else is shouldering their risk.

Edited May 9, 2020 by ray98

[kwokpot]

Here's an article about what the Nevada Casino Commission has approved what all casinos in the state must do inorder to open. This will be just PART of what cruiselines will have to do since a land based casino hotel isn't a captive self contained facility that literally by definition has to leave a country's border. It will give some more insight into what we can expect on a cruise ship.

https://yourmileagemayvary.net/2020/05/09/the-newly-approved-safety-guidelines-for-las-vegas-casinos/

[joeyancho]

I have no idea how they are going to enforce social distancing on a cruise ship even if the ship is only 50% full. The entire cruise experience is the complete antithesis of social distancing. I think I will just wait it out until the curve hits zero. I know that will be a long time but believe it or not there are a lot more vacations than cruising.

[jotjot]

and no more shaking hands please.

[gradin123]

Honestly there is a few different ways this whole pandemic could shake out.

 

1. A vaccine is developed which will effectively wipe out the virus and life will return to normal and cruising will return to its glory after a few years.

 

2. A truly effective vaccine is never found or the virus starts mutating like the flu which makes the vaccines somewhat ineffective(just like the flu) and breakouts will continue to occur and the cruise industry will never be the same. Perhaps it will spring up in the form of smaller ships with more distancing but the huge ships will be mothballed.

 

3. The virus is never fully contained but because people will become resistant to it after they have it and it will eventually die out on its own.(what happened to the Spanish Flu) and life will eventually return to normal. But it will be a painful process in getting there.

 

Lets hope it is scenario 1 that plays out and that yearly Covid vaccines and breakouts are not the future we will endure. Because if scenario #2 is our future travel will never be the same.

[Newleno]

On 5/8/2020 at 6:22 PM, mking8288 said:

Most millenials will be too busy in the next few months trying to catch up with their mortagage, car payment, housing maintenance, property taxes, and credit card bills; and have zero vacation days to take in 2020 to cruise - of course, some have a hefty cash reserve to weather this global pandemic.  Air travel is going to be fun as airlines aren't planning or forecasting demands to gradually return in the near future.  

 

By definition, anyone 50 years and over with comorbidity are facing above average risk for Covid-19 infection, traveling & cruising with the added exposure.  Retirees, seniors & older adults that are financially established are in the best position to continue cruising, if they choose to.  

 

Get used to the new protocol when going outside as folks in Asia are accustomed to wearing a mask, on top of other social distancing measures.  We haven't shop at our local grocery stores in more than 7 or 8 weeks and finally went earlier - geared up and upon coming home, went thru the decon routines ... our groceries wiped down & out of quarantined.  Nobody really like or enjoy all these extra measures and is free to ignore them; and roll the dices with living smartly.

 

Hmmm, what's that breaking news earlier about another staff member testing positive for Covid-19 at the West Wing of the WH.  Nah, fake news, right ... LOL.  It will fade and go away, a success story.  

 

Wear gloves, wear a mask (store bought/home made with filter easy peasy (although if plentiful n95 work best), wear shield (store bought/or home made out of 2liter soda bottle)  Yes we have groceries delivered, leave what we can in the garage wipe down the rest (over abundance of caution?)  My understanding is that some people at the white house have tested positive so that is not fake news.  Yes eventually this plague will fade with time just like all other plagues have done in past  by some fashion or another (treatment/cure/prevention/vaccine/nature)

Edited May 10, 2020 by Newleno

[Newleno]

On 5/8/2020 at 7:14 PM, Gershep said:

Social distancing on a cruise ship would be very hard to do. Most people aren't doing it here in NY, I went food shopping and couldn't believe how people are so close to one another. They are supposed to be wearing face masks and they are not following that either. There are those people who still want to do what they want to do.

exactly

[onetimearoundtheworld]

People get too serious about social distancing. The good part that probably will stick is the non-intrusion of personal space, which is annoying in times without a pandemic as well. Other than that it is intended to slow the spread and enable contact tracing not as a measure to stay and stop the virus completely.

I like the idea of green and red zones depending on the infection rate and allowing travel between green clusters. In a similar way if boarding is only allowed for guests coming from and through green areas and avoiding port stops at places with a high infection rate coupled with enhanced sanitary measures and higher awareness of crew and guests should be enough to reduce the risk on board to a responsible number. There will always be new infections so completely avoiding them can't be the goal. 

I am looking forward to be back on board and especially the hysterical guests when someone passed by only 5 1/4 feet. 

[momofmab]

As more and more states begin their process of phasing back to some form of normalcy, we'll see what this virus will actually do in an unchecked environment.  

 

In my state we just began "phase 1" - even though that still prohibits groups of more than 10 from gathering, I have seen sports teams practicing on the field just beyond my backyard and my high school-aged daughter tells me that some of her classmates have been gathering in large groups.  Even during the shutdown there were daily rantings on social media about how crowded our local Lowes and Home Depot store were (both deemed "essential").  People are apparently done being quarantined and are willing to take the risk.  I can't say I blame them about being mentally done with quarantine - but personally, I will continue to limit where I go and wear a mask when I do go to potentially crowded areas.

 

Even with any measures that cruise lines attempt to take, it will be virtually impossible to prevent a virus spread on a ship.  This virus spreads too easily and they have to rely on a thousand ++ passengers being diligent about mask-wearing and hand washing (and the masks likely won't be all N95-grade since there's not enough of those for even the essential workers - also, I'm told the N95's are not enjoyable to breathe in, so I can't see vacationers using them).  Some form of prevention measures are better than none (and also gives the cruise lines some CYA) but until a vaccine is developed and proven to be effective, there will always be a risk.  Inevitably, it will be up to the cruise lines and the cruising public as to when the risk becomes acceptable.

[DublinFC]

On 5/8/2020 at 7:30 PM, Fido Chuckwagon said:

False.

No where near false.  By touching and moving the mask around you are touching it, therefore whatever you have on your hands is transferred to the mask.  The best possible solution is to wash your hands and not touch your face.  The mask is a false sense of protection.

[Laszlo]

The same people who are worried about getting a N95 or the same people who never think twice about all the stuff on their phone. Fact is most cell phones are a lot more dirty than a toilet.

 

 

Want to clean your phone? Get one of these....they work Great!   https://amzn.to/2SUb0kF

Edited May 11, 2020 by Laszlo

[Trimone]

It’s nothing to do with the CEO when his ships cruise in down to the CDC, and talking at the weekend they can’t even agree work polices for staff.

[Newleno]

1 hour ago, DublinFC said:

No where near false.  By touching and moving the mask around you are touching it, therefore whatever you have on your hands is transferred to the mask.  The best possible solution is to wash your hands and not touch your face.  The mask is a false sense of protection.

Well I think the gist of it is, you are wearing the mask to protect others, you are not wearing the mask to protect yourself.  I think some are confused the non n95 masks do not really offer protection.  However if you cough in your mask that may help protect others.

[NutsAboutGolf]

Phones are notoriously dirty, yet so are wallets, keys and on a cruise, your keycard.  Still, the biggest offender is your footwear.

[kwokpot]

1 minute ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

Phones are notoriously dirty, yet so are wallets, keys and on a cruise, your keycard.  Still, the biggest offender is your footwear.

That's why most Asian households have the practice of taking off shoes and wearing slippers. The Japanese are REALLY fastidious about that. I grew up in a Chinese household doing this and now continue the practice. Caucasians only seem to do this when they have expensive wood floors in their homes and don't want to scratch them or in the Winter with snow or muddy shoes.

 

[Laszlo]

17 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

That's why most Asian households have the practice of taking off shoes and wearing slippers. The Japanese are REALLY fastidious about that. I grew up in a Chinese household doing this and now continue the practice. Caucasians only seem to do this when they have expensive wood floors in their homes and don't want to scratch them or in the Winter with snow or muddy shoes.

 

Ditto!!!

 

       Haven't worn shoes in our house in 30 years. I used to get strange looks from people when I leave your shoes in the foyer. I also had the same rule on my boat, you board we bare feet. Once you clean a little road tar off of non slip on a boat you will never do it again Lol

[kwokpot]

The more you read the more it seems that this is going to be a difficult task for cruiseships. I'm attaching an article about a new Covid-19 outbreak in Seoul that was identified as spread by 1 man going out and bar hopping the weekend of May 1st. 

With a cruise itinerary people are getting on and off at cruiseports, so how are you going to mitigate transmission? 

For me I would want to know what the will happen if there is any outbreak on a cruiseship?  What will be different going forward than what happened on all those Princess Ships?

https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/05/10/853468647/south-korea-records-spike-in-new-coronavirus-cases-after-nightclub-outbreak?ft=nprml&f=1001

 

Edited May 11, 2020 by kwokpot