Would you go on a "socially distance" cruise

[RocketMan275]

2 hours ago, rafinmd said:

I wonder about that.  I don't see much of a market for used cruise ships for a while.

 

Roy

Might be cheaper to sell 'em than to sail 'em.

Still those numbers are an indication why the newer cruise ships are even larger than before.  

[cruisequeen4ever]

I would easily do a socially distant cruise. Goodness, I miss cruising so much at this point that I may even be willing to wear a mask. I’d really not Iike to have to wear one the whole time, though. They’re uncomfortable and don’t breathe well. I’m happy to wear one out while shopping here, but vacation should be relaxation and letting your hair down. 

[cruzingnut]

4 hours ago, KirkNC said:

I think the assumption that cruise ships are financial windfalls for a port is often incorrect.  Sure in the Carribean that maybe true but for many ports not so much.  You dump off a bunch of people, many go on excursions.  The rest buy a few trinkets and a few buy lunch.  Outside of being a guide, I don’t see how the ship actually leaves that much money when it leaves.  

 

Don't forget about what the ship pays just to dock in a port.  That gets added to our fare under Taxes, fees, etc.  Here is an example of a port fee that we got back on the holiday/canal cruise this past year (2019-20).  All the passengers on the Amsterdam got back $39.66.  Figure that there were about 1,200 people on the ship so that total that the port did NOT get was $47,592.  This is not chump change, not for anywhere.  What about the bigger ships?  A much larger amount of "not chump change".  This figure is just the ship pulling in....not people shopping, touring, supplies loaded on, etc.  Just FYI...

[Cruising-along]

51 minutes ago, cruisequeen4ever said:

I would easily do a socially distant cruise. Goodness, I miss cruising so much at this point that I may even be willing to wear a mask. I’d really not Iike to have to wear one the whole time, though. They’re uncomfortable and don’t breathe well. I’m happy to wear one out while shopping here, but vacation should be relaxation and letting your hair down. 

I have to agree with this.  Right now I just want a cruise!  That said, I would have a balcony and do a lot of room service.  

[KirkNC]

1 hour ago, cruzingnut said:

 

Don't forget about what the ship pays just to dock in a port.  That gets added to our fare under Taxes, fees, etc.  Here is an example of a port fee that we got back on the holiday/canal cruise this past year (2019-20).  All the passengers on the Amsterdam got back $39.66.  Figure that there were about 1,200 people on the ship so that total that the port did NOT get was $47,592.  This is not chump change, not for anywhere.  What about the bigger ships?  A much larger amount of "not chump change".  This figure is just the ship pulling in....not people shopping, touring, supplies loaded on, etc.  Just FYI...

Actually to a town of hundreds of thousands that is chump change.  How much did they spend to even have facilities for the ship, millions?  Plus in my experience (again excluding the Carribean where 10 ships may be in port) passengers just don’t spend that much onshore.  Most are on excursions so the guide makes money.  Many even go back to the ship to eat. 

[DFWGUYZ]

Sure, we would cruise with restrictions in place and have plans in the Spring of 2021. Some people do not cruise to socialize. Quarantine for introverts is not a problem. As for ports, have done many, so, been there and done that. For us, it is just being on a ship that is rewarding. And, the food of course! 

[cbr663]

We would not cruise with social distancing in place.  We all are experiencing social distancing in our own communities and it isn't enjoyable.  It isn't enjoyable to grocery shop and social distance.  It isn't enjoyable to have to line up to enter every retail establishment.  It isn't enjoyable to go one way in an establishment and to constantly be stopping and starting again to keep your social distance.  We do it because we have to.  Social distancing and wearing a mask on a cruise would diminish the enjoyment of the cruise for us.

[Horizon chaser 1957]

13 hours ago, kazu said:

 

It’s certainly happened here.  Physical distancing is taken seriously as are masks when you cannot physical distance.  

I envy you! I knew small cruise ships, under 250 people, weren’t affected by the CDC no sail order, but I didn’t realize any were actually cruising right now. Of course now you would have the same mask and distancing restrictions on board that we have on shore! Is your itinerary river, or coastal?

I was referring to post Covid cruising in the future. My point was that just as we take for granted airport and airline security restrictions no one would have accepted before 911, it’s likely that in the future there will be safeguards and restrictions regarding cruising that none of us would have accepted pre Covid. In time people will forget there was a time without them.

[Doubt It]

20 hours ago, daisy-mae said:

 

 

Indeed. I was just reprimanded in a retail store for not following the arrows...

If I have to constantly look over my shoulder and check my behaviour then I would rather spend my leisure time in my back yard.

 

daisy-mae, precisely and well said.

 

It is one thing to put up with the crap for essentials - but will not tolerate same for leisure and non essentials like cruising.

[Doubt It]

19 hours ago, Infi said:

If I were a cruise line CEO reading this thread, I would be very concerned. CC represents a faction of some of the most die-hard cruisers out there. If many self-described cruise fans even are unwilling to cruise with masks, social distancing, etc., what does that say about the more casual or even first time cruiser and their likelihood of sailing in the near future? It doesn't look very good at all...

 

Infi, I agree.

 

The push back by many CC posters, who like you said are frequent cruisers, should scare the pant/skirt off off of cruise line executives.

 

I have been cruising since 1981 and I will not cruise on typical cruise ships for the foreseeable future, with the possible exception of small expedition vessels.

 

This is the third pandemic I have lived through, the Hong Kong 1968, in Toronto in the very heart of the worst zone of SARS 2003 and now this.

 

Alvin Toffler talked about the consequences of the unrestricted international movement of people, things etc - and when I read his book in 1970, it came to me that the world of globalization will have issues.

Now we see that all these viruses seem to come from China area.  Until this is addressed, I am avoiding large scale travel where I am clustered with many people.

[Mary229]

On 5/29/2020 at 7:48 AM, RocketMan275 said:

They will suffer very heavily financially.  That won't last long.  Several articles in the Wall Street Journal on the effects of 50% seating on restaurants.  Not good.

 

Social distancing will collapse from the financial pressures in a few weeks.  

Sure, but that is what is being discussed. The are interviews available on the web with RCCL and other cruise lines saying the first cruises out will not be a capacity.  Carnival came out this week and said 60% in the Caribbean this season

[cruisetheworld67]

On 5/28/2020 at 9:43 PM, wyobean said:

Prescottbob...I am not even going to consider a cruise till 2022. I want to see what will actually happen by then. And you are tight about the tender boats.

Problem  is many passengers, especially HAL passengers, may not be alive or nursing home bound come 2022. Got to get in as much cruising as possible before then.

Edited May 30, 2020 by cruisetheworld67
grammar

[RocketMan275]

25 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

Sure, but that is what is being discussed. The are interviews available on the web with RCCL and other cruise lines saying the first cruises out will not be a capacity.  Carnival came out this week and said 60% in the Caribbean this season

There were also 'interviews' claiming that airlines would fly only with the center seats empty.  How did that work out?

[iancal]

Given the demographics of HAL cruisers and the demographics of covid fatalities I would think that HAL cruisers would be among the last to line to buy cruises over the next year or so until this pandemic can be put to bed.

[cbr663]

3 hours ago, Doubt It said:

 

daisy-mae, precisely and well said.

 

It is one thing to put up with the crap for essentials - but will not tolerate same for leisure and non essentials like cruising.

 

Exactly.  The cruise lines have to offer an experience and product that I would pay for.  Social distancing does not factor into that product at all.

[iancal]

Wear a face mask?  Practice social distancing?  Can just imagine that in the MDR or poolside.  Or the casino. 

 

Wait a minute, are the  cruise lines going to pay me to do this or will this be something they actually expect me to pay for?

 

If it is the latter, no thanks.  The former....I very much doubt it even if they pay me to do it and agree to underwrite my travel medical insurance.

Edited May 30, 2020 by iancal

[Lido - Lanai]

1 hour ago, iancal said:

Given the demographics of HAL cruisers and the demographics of covid fatalities I would think that HAL cruisers would be among the last to line to buy cruises over the next year or so until this pandemic can be put to bed.

I hear you.... but.... just scan the five pages of the "Whose booking new cruises?" thread....... 

[geocruiser]

No I would not go.

[RocketMan275]

2 hours ago, iancal said:

Given the demographics of HAL cruisers and the demographics of covid fatalities I would think that HAL cruisers would be among the last to line to buy cruises over the next year or so until this pandemic can be put to bed.

I have a Panamanian partial booked for Dec 20.  We intend to do that cruise unless they line is playing 'social distancing', face masks, etc.  If they are, we will cancel.  BTW, we are in our seventies.

[Flying-Dragon]

On 5/29/2020 at 8:27 AM, KirkNC said:

I think the assumption that cruise ships are financial windfalls for a port is often incorrect.  Sure in the Carribean that maybe true but for many ports not so much.  You dump off a bunch of people, many go on excursions.  The rest buy a few trinkets and a few buy lunch.  Outside of being a guide, I don’t see how the ship actually leaves that much money when it leaves.  

 

Actually here in Vancouver they estimate about $2M per cruise ship in economic benefit.  Things like hotels, taxes and employment are included, not just souvenirs.  Here is a complete report done by the Port Authority - https://www.portvancouver.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/2016-Port-of-Vancouver-Economic-Impact-Study.pdf

[Flying-Dragon]

22 hours ago, cbr663 said:

We would not cruise with social distancing in place.  We all are experiencing social distancing in our own communities and it isn't enjoyable.  It isn't enjoyable to grocery shop and social distance. 

 

I'd love to know how one passes someone in a stateroom corridor staying 6 feet apart when the corridor is only 4 feet wide!  One way corridors perhaps?

[AncientWanderer]

On 5/29/2020 at 8:27 AM, KirkNC said:

I think the assumption that cruise ships are financial windfalls for a port is often incorrect.  Sure in the Carribean that maybe true but for many ports not so much.  You dump off a bunch of people, many go on excursions.  The rest buy a few trinkets and a few buy lunch.  Outside of being a guide, I don’t see how the ship actually leaves that much money when it leaves.  

 

I think there is a lot of truth to this.  It isn't necessarily one size fits all.  Sure the cruise business is great for places that really need the revenue stream and can't attract tourists otherwise, but for places like Hawaii, which has an incredible tourist infrastructure and attracts tourists anyway, there may be plenty of local business owners who would like to see the cruise ships shut out.  

 

It'll be really interesting to watch how things play out in some of these traditional tourist destinations that were thriving long before the cruise ships arrived.

[Tapi]

Sign me up for a socially distanced cruise!

 

For me, the thought of less people onboard, no lines at the buffet, and being able to find a quiet spot onboard where to unwind without having to fight others, sounds very appealing. We don’t go on a cruise to rub shoulders with others, and before this pandemic, we were already doing things to personally enhance cleanliness and to avoid crowds. 
 

Yes, masks are a big nuisance. I don’t like them one bit. But I’ve learned to live with them because of my line of work that involves being up in airplanes where masks are required, and staying at hotels on a weekly basis (in fact, I’m writing this from my hotel room). You get used to things. 
 

We also took a mini-vacation last week to a golf & spa resort where we got a taste of what a socially distanced cruise vacation may feel like. Less people, limited housekeeping, some venues closed, paper menus, masks required in public places, limited number of people in elevators, and separated pool loungers. Honestly, it was a heavenly getaway because it was quiet and peaceful. What I thought would be big nuisances that would ruin the experience turned out to be small nuisances that had minimal impact. We quickly adapted to them and had a wonderful time. I believe that cruising will be the same. I may not like some of the changes, but it will still be better than not cruising. 

[Cruise NH]

I have to agree with Tapi! 

 

In fact even if there weren't a pandemic I would like to see changes to cruise travel.  I am so sick (no pun intended) of being around people coughing into their hands and then touching tongs or banisters or sitting behind us in the theater coughing instead of getting up and getting out.  Not washing hands after using the bathroom, yuck.

 

My mom used to always say when she saw behavior like this...were they raised in a barn?  

 

It would be interesting to hear what passengers think the cruise lines should do to prevent the spread of disease on board.  Thoughts?

[kevingastreich]

No way.