When will you cruise again

[Roger Ackroyd]

Reading the top Cruise Critic article on “social distancing” it is quite apparent to me at least that the cruise lines are in deep doodoo with regards to accommodating to the “new normal”. Running a cruise on half capacity? Financially unviable. How do you turf off 50% of the already fully booked cruises next year? 

And then there’s the lift/elevator problem. I always use stairs even if going up to the Commodore from level 4 but I can’t see that many being willing to do the same. Effectively marooned in your cabin.

Ports of call? Will they want 2000 people unloading into their streets? 

Why would anyone spend ££££££ to sit in your cabin in solitary confinement with little or no socialising?

Until there is a vaccine cruising is a non-starter.

[Ray66]

Costa  has released the following safety proceedures which don't make fun reading, especially -  in public areas of the ship, it will be essential to wear face masks in all circumstances where it is not possible to guarantee adequate social distancing. Costa are part of Carnival Corp so similar proceedures may be implemented on all their brands.

 

http://www.sailcosta.com/8115_Safety/8115.03_FAQs.pdf

 

However one good thing is:  What happens if I am not considered fit for boarding? Unfortunately, you will not be able to access the ship; you will, however, receive a full refund of your cruise fare

 

[Kynance]

@Ray66 - thank you for posting the link to that interesting Costa article. Whilst I see the logic for everything Costa will be doing, cruising under those conditions would not appeal to me, so if Cunard were to follow suit, I doubt very much I would return to cruising until such times as life onboard could return to “normal”. I am glad, therefore, I took a refund for our cancelled QV cruise and not the FCC option.  
 

For me, the onboard experience is at least as important as the itinerary itself so I can’t see myself wanting to pay the same level of fare for something that I didn’t think was going to be as enjoyable. I think I might be doing UK self-catering holidays for a good while to come, once these resume. 

[david,Mississauga]

On 6/14/2020 at 8:14 PM, naturelovergirl said:

...

That cruise to Quebec sounds great! Perfect time of year with the leaves.

 

We have done that route twice: from Quebec to New York - and on to Southampton. We enjoyed it very much but people shouldn't expect to see a lot of the autumn colours from the ship. The views are excellent leaving Quebec because the St. Lawrence River is fairly narrow at that point. The Saguenay fjord is reportedly stunning, but unfortunately it is traversed almost entirely in darkness. Northbound, arrival in Saguenay is at first light and there will be some light for an hour or two after the late afternoon departure.

 

Most of the time the QM2 will be far from land. But I still like  the trip and wouldn't hesitate booking it again even for next year. But because of the government advisories in Canada and the travel insurance implications I can't book anything at the moment.

Edited June 19, 2020 by david,Mississauga
typo

[davyjones]

5 hours ago, Kynance said:

@Ray66 - thank you for posting the link to that interesting Costa article. Whilst I see the logic for everything Costa will be doing, cruising under those conditions would not appeal to me, so if Cunard were to follow suit, I doubt very much I would return to cruising until such times as life onboard could return to “normal”. I am glad, therefore, I took a refund for our cancelled QV cruise and not the FCC option.  
 

For me, the onboard experience is at least as important as the itinerary itself so I can’t see myself wanting to pay the same level of fare for something that I didn’t think was going to be as enjoyable. I think I might be doing UK self-catering holidays for a good while to come, once these resume. 

 

I concur.  I note that item 18 says no dancing so I assume Cunard will adopt a similar policy and the ballroom will be redundant in the evening.

[drsel]

 
I concur.  I note that item 18 says no dancing so I assume Cunard will adopt a similar policy and the ballroom will be redundant in the evening.

They may have live bands with music only for listening pleasure.
Costa has also promised some extra shows, instead of the parties which have to be cancelled.
All this assuming that they do not go bankrupt!

[majortom10]

2 hours ago, drsel said:

They may have live bands with music only for listening pleasure.
Costa has also promised some extra shows, instead of the parties which have to be cancelled.
All this assuming that they do not go bankrupt!

Costa cannot go bankrupt as they are part of Carnival and they would have to go bankrupt which would include Cunard, P&O, Princess etc. The only way Costa ceased operations is if Carnival pulled the plug on the company which would be very doubtful or they sold the company as a whole which would be very unlikely in these times becaause who would want to buy a cruise company and all its operations.

[drsel]

Costa cannot go bankrupt as they are part of Carnival and they would have to go bankrupt which would include Cunard, P&O, Princess etc. The only way Costa ceased operations is if Carnival pulled the plug on the company which would be very doubtful or they sold the company as a whole which would be very unlikely in these times becaause who would want to buy a cruise company and all its operations.

if you are so sure that the carnival group will not go bankrupt, then I am going right ahead and booking April and May 2021 cruises on Carnival and Princess.
I am only just waiting to see when cruises will start again.
I would be the happiest person to see them start as soon as possible

[majortom10]

3 hours ago, drsel said:

if you are so sure that the carnival group will not go bankrupt, then I am going right ahead and booking April and May 2021 cruises on Carnival and Princess.
I am only just waiting to see when cruises will start again.
I would be the happiest person to see them start as soon as possible

I already have 2 cruises booked with them for May and November 2021.

 

[rafinmd]

On 6/18/2020 at 6:02 AM, Ray66 said:

Costa  has released the following safety proceedures which don't make fun reading, especially -  in public areas of the ship, it will be essential to wear face masks in all circumstances where it is not possible to guarantee adequate social distancing. Costa are part of Carnival Corp so similar proceedures may be implemented on all their brands.

 

http://www.sailcosta.com/8115_Safety/8115.03_FAQs.pdf

 

However one good thing is:  What happens if I am not considered fit for boarding? Unfortunately, you will not be able to access the ship; you will, however, receive a full refund of your cruise fare

 

My biggest concern with that is there does not seem to be any provision to terminate the cruise either prematurely or at the end of the schedule and get both the sick and healthy passengers home or to appropriate definitive medical care.

 

We don't need another endless onboard quarantine at the end of the voyage.

 

Roy

[oskidunker]

Will cancel next fall if no vaccine and face masks required. Would rather be at home. Why would anyone go under those conditions, which I  consider very risky?....

 

it would not be fun and certainly not worth the money. I would be scared the whole time. I am not going to movies , restaurants or sporting events until I get a vaccine. 

[deck chair]

Hi!

 

If Cunard is going to mirror Costa's practices there is NO WAY I am sailing.  What a terrible environment for a voyage especially a long one.

 

Deck Chair

[navybankerteacher]

On 6/20/2020 at 6:17 AM, majortom10 said:

Costa cannot go bankrupt as they are part of Carnival and they would have to go bankrupt which would include Cunard, P&O, Princess etc. The only way Costa ceased operations is if Carnival pulled the plug on the company which would be very doubtful or they sold the company as a whole which would be very unlikely in these times becaause who would want to buy a cruise company and all its operations.

I’m not sure that’s the case - if Costa is a wholly owned subsidiary - whose obligations are not guaranteed by Carnival Corp. I believe they could separately file insolvency

[majortom10]

2 hours ago, navybankerteacher said:

I’m not sure that’s the case - if Costa is a wholly owned subsidiary - whose obligations are not guaranteed by Carnival Corp. I believe they could separately file insolvency

They are not wholly owned subsidiary they are a subsidiary of the Carnival Group and the only way they could cease to operate is if Carnival pulled the plug and sold the ships or sold the cruise line as a complete package which is highly unlikely in present times.

[drsel]

Carnival Corporation is increasing the size of a rescue bond sale backed by its cruise ships to $4bn after drawing strong demand, even as the world’s largest cruise operator warned it might only have enough cash to stay afloat for eight months.

 

The Panama-incorporated company launched a $6bn fundraising package on Tuesday, tapping debt and equity investors for liquidity after coronavirus killed passengers on several of its cruise ships and had a severe impact on future bookings. 

 

Having initially sought to raise $3bn in three-year bonds secured on the majority of its ships, Carnival announced on Wednesday that it was raising this to $4bn. Two investors said that the deal had already received more than $10bn of orders. 

[Ray66]

I think that article is from April. It was posted on here at the time.

[Trevor33]

Whilst many say that they would like to cruise as soon as possible I personally  am finding that sentiment very difficult to understand......Why would anyone want to go on holiday where there are so many restrictions and limits imposed from understandable social distancing to wearing face masks on holiday ??????Why not wait a while, hope for a vaccine or for the virus to subside hopefully completely. Each to their own put thinking about how many face masks to pack is not my idea of a holiday

[resistk]

23 minutes ago, Trevor33 said:

Whilst many say that they would like to cruise as soon as possible I personally  am finding that sentiment very difficult to understand......

 

It makes about as much sense as the cruise lines claiming they will start up soon.  Sheer madness.

[drsel]

Not in USA, but they may start in south east Asia and middle East where the virus is under control

[majortom10]

1 hour ago, drsel said:

Not in USA, but they may start in south east Asia and middle East where the virus is under control

Is it under control in Asia and especially China with further spike in infections and who knows what truth or lies they are telling.

 

[drsel]

Southeast Asia does not include China

 

 

[majortom10]

32 minutes ago, drsel said:

Southeast Asia does not include China

 

 

I am well aware of that but do you honestly believe that Southeast Asia is clear of Covid-19 because I dont.

[bunny76]

I'm hoping things will have improved by 2021 but if not we will postpone our cruise to 2022. Wearing a mask in the corridors wouldn't put me off -  but I don't want to go if there's no dancing and no swimming.

[bunny76]

37 minutes ago, bunny76 said:

 

Hoping things will have improved by 2021 or 2022

Edited June 23, 2020 by bunny76

[longton]

On 6/22/2020 at 1:24 PM, drsel said:

Not in USA, but they may start in south east Asia and middle East where the virus is under control

It certainly isn't under control in the Middle East where many airports and borders remain closed.