New Regent Protocols as of 1 June 2020

[Travelcat2]

I see nothing in that interview that speaks to not resuming cruising in 2020.  

[SedonaJoel]

I see or hear nothing in the interview that indicates when Regent will begin cruising again.  The one obvious thing is that it will not be for quite some time.  FDR could not or would not answer even basic questions.  The major news from Mr. Fain is that he does not expect cruising will be the same as in the past.  I don't plan to book a cruise until I know what I'm booking.

 

I would not count on a Regent cruise outside of the Caribbean this year.  Look at the list of countries and ports closed to cruising and look at the Covid numbers.

[fizzy]

If customers were to ignore the protocols, would the ship not be refused permission to offload the offenders in most ports?How could that be enforced? I watched the whole interview this A.M. and found mostly vagueness because there still seem to be no answers. Del Rio did say that he found his Oceania and Regent patrons to be almost "cult" like. I thought the interview was also rather uncomfortable.

[Travelcat2]

24 minutes ago, SedonaJoel said:

I see or hear nothing in the interview that indicates when Regent will begin cruising again.  The one obvious thing is that it will not be for quite some time.  FDR could not or would not answer even basic questions.  The major news from Mr. Fain is that he does not expect cruising will be the same as in the past.  I don't plan to book a cruise until I know what I'm booking.

 

I would not count on a Regent cruise outside of the Caribbean this year.  Look at the list of countries and ports closed to cruising and look at the Covid numbers.

 

Covid-19 numbers could increase or decrease in the next 4 months (look at the statistics for the last 4 months).  No one knows if/when cruising will resume and where they will be sailing to.  To suggest otherwise is just a guess.  

 

If you don''t want to sail - don't sail but please do not suggest what others should do.

[rallydave]

Believe some of the protocols that all cruise lines will need to implement include how and what to do with infected people including those put off in various ports.  Believe one of the requirements is that the cruise line have in place methods for getting the people off the ship and back home without utilizing facilities at the ports and for not using public transportation also believe the cruise line has to cover the repatriation costs.  Sure how and why people who are not sick but, refuse to follow protocols is another protocol that needs figuring out.  Don't believe the old put people off at the next port will necessarily work in this new environment and other methods to control following the protocols will need to be developed and implemented.

 

It is obvious from the CNBC interview today that the previous posted protocols were for the ability to repatriate the crew and only a small beginning of the protocols required for cruise ships to cruise with passengers again.

[Travelcat2]

I did not post or indicate that passengers with Covid-19 will be put off of the ship.  Putting someone off of the ship because they will not follow protocols is not the same as putting someone off of the ship because they have Covid-19.  Passengers have been put off of ships due to smoking in their suites, being disruptive and not following other rules.  This is not something new but is something that luxury cruise lines do not deal with often.  Someone just posted (on one of the current threads) that someone was quarantined (likely for gastrointestinal issues) and was put off the ship in Aruba when they broke quarantine.  In that case, it was not during a pandemic.

 

Any information that is being posted right now is just a lot of guessing.  There are no protocols that have been approved by the CDC.  In any case, I am 100% certain that Regent will not tolerate ignoring whatever protocols are in place when they resume sailing.  And, if the passengers are not sick, there is no reason not to put them off of the ship at the next port.  If they do become sick, they will be quarantined and will follow CDC's rules.

Edited July 8, 2020 by Travelcat2

[CBWIR]

4 hours ago, greykitty said:

But, does anyone like seeing the words 'going concern' in a regulatory filing?  I think not, do you?

But if you understand why it was there before commenting, especially someone with such extensive Big 4 experience, you would not make a big deal of it.

[mrlevin]

4 hours ago, Travelcat2 said:

I see nothing in that interview that speaks to not resuming cruising in 2020.  

 

Then you need to take off your rose colored glasses; that interview was a disaster.  Of course, that is just my opinion based on my 62 years of experience.

 

Marc

[giustot]

I agree with Marc's assessment. They appear in no hurry to get back to cruising. It took four months to get this panel together and 11 members is way too many to come up with a plan in a short amount of time. Many of these members are former government bureaucrats who will take their time coming up with a detailed and complicated plan.

 

So six months is a fair guess. Could they resume in December? Possible, but not likely before then. More likely after the first of the year.

 

I realize people, including me, want to cruise again. But given how long things have taken there's no evidence to think a resumption is going to happen quickly.

 

Also, people seem to be concerned that passengers are going to cruise fully intending to disregard the protocols. I don't see that as the problem. What I see as the problem is not enough passengers would be willing to cruise under strict protocols (masks, dining restrictions) to make it worthwhile for the cruise lines even to sail.

 

And I agree that in this environment it will not be easy for a cruise line to disembark a passenger for violating protocols. The CDC already has indicated any issues related to the virus will be the cruise lines responsibility and expense. I would consider violating protocols COVID-related since the offending passenger has increased his chances of contracting the virus.

 

Tom.

[mrlevin]

Tom, maybe you can take a day trip up to Atlanta and talk to CDC and find out true story about protocols for cruise ships; I would appreciate it.

 

Marc

[Guerncruising]

@giustot, My main concern is why should I spend several thousand £’s on what is meant to be a holiday. Hiding behind a face mask in 30 degrees does not sound that pleasant. The majority of people do not know how to wear masks and spend most of the time touching their faces. 

We have a good example here in the Channel Islands. We on Guernsey have been Covid free for over 60 days, no face masks needed but just social distancing out of courtesy. Jersey was Covid free for a couple of days and opened it’s borders. The first plane from the UK arrives and they are all tested, bingo!, one asymptotic. The first fast ferry arrives and they are all tested. Guess what? Another asymptomatic! The slow ferry arrived and no one was tested because no one expected passengers on board!

Sorry about the length of all that, but just pointing out that all those passengers followed the rules about masks etc.. But if they’re asymptomatic it’s all a waste of time. 

Once we have a vaccine or suitable therapy I will put my cruising shoes on. 

PS I forgot to say that Jersey now has 6 cases, all asymptomatic. 

Edited July 8, 2020 by Guerncruising
Forgot to mention

[GrJ Berkshire]

The problem with so much of this is the basis of the cruise lines. Out of US ports the rules of the CDC will be applied, but the ships once out of US ports and water are then able to apply their own protocol as all are registered/ flagged offshore and any port will apply it's own national criteria and protocol.  US .laws will not apply.

As stated here could you put off a passenger for not following covid protocols in another Country, would they accept? Although they are US holding companies they are not really under the jurisdiction of that Country or any other, this is how they get round the laws re the casino and gambling, which are curtailed in ports or coastal waters and tax free shopping as well

The issue is not the CDC or USA law: makes it harder?

 

[flossie009]

13 hours ago, mrlevin said:

 

Which is why you aren't going to see any Regent cruises for six months; FdR basically said that this morning.

You appear to be correct. All Regent cruises are now "waitlisted" through till end of November. 

First cruises "available" on Regent website are:

Mariner - Dec 05, 2020

Splendor - Dec 07, 2020

Navigator - Dec 10, 2020

Voyager - Jan 19, 2021

 

6 hours ago, giustot said:

The CDC already has indicated any issues related to the virus will be the cruise lines responsibility and expense.

Are these onerous requirements imposed on any other companies in the US travel & hospitality sectors?

 

[rallydave]

20 minutes ago, flossie009 said:

You appear to be correct. All Regent cruises are now "waitlisted" through till end of November. 

First cruises "available" on Regent website are:

Mariner - Dec 05, 2020

Splendor - Dec 07, 2020

Navigator - Dec 10, 2020

Voyager - Jan 19, 2021

 

Are these onerous requirements imposed on any other companies in the US travel & hospitality sectors?

 

Don’t think thes onerous requirements are applied elsewhere Susan 

[mrlevin]

1 hour ago, flossie009 said:

You appear to be correct. All Regent cruises are now "waitlisted" through till end of November. 

First cruises "available" on Regent website are:

Mariner - Dec 05, 2020

Splendor - Dec 07, 2020

Navigator - Dec 10, 2020

Voyager - Jan 19, 2021

 

Are these onerous requirements imposed on any other companies in the US travel & hospitality sectors?

 

 

I think the most onerous requirements will come from the cruise lines' insurance companies, not any governmental body.  Requirements by governmental bodies are just required by the cruise lines so they have someone to blame.

[giustot]

2 hours ago, flossie009 said:

You appear to be correct. All Regent cruises are now "waitlisted" through till end of November. 

First cruises "available" on Regent website are:

Mariner - Dec 05, 2020

Splendor - Dec 07, 2020

Navigator - Dec 10, 2020

Voyager - Jan 19, 2021

I believe FDR already has said crusing will begin on one ship, so all three are not going to sail in December even if cruising resumes.

2 hours ago, flossie009 said:

 

Are these onerous requirements imposed on any other companies in the US travel & hospitality sectors?

 

I don't know that they are but cruising is unique. The US government was very upset over having to deal with, quarantine, and treat all the sick passengers returning from foreign flagged cruise ships.The CDC indicated in the very beginning that the cruise lines will have to take over this responsibility and treat sick passengers on the ships.

[giustot]

1 hour ago, mrlevin said:

 

I think the most onerous requirements will come from the cruise lines' insurance companies, not any governmental body.  Requirements by governmental bodies are just required by the cruise lines so they have someone to blame.

 

This is an important point. And while we've talked a lot about protocols involving masks, dining and social distancing, we still don't know what the health protocols will be. Just as a made up example, if someone in his 80's with a lung condition and using oxygen tries to cruise he may be denied boarding by the cruise line even if he has a doctor's note saying he can sail.

[Guerncruising]

And how will travel insurance companies deal with this?

We have to take out an annual policy so that we can visit relatives in the UK. We are not part of the UK so we takeout a policy for Europe or the World. It does mean that we have to plan ahead. 

How will visitors from the US be covered in Europe, or is it up to the ship to organise repatriation?

[mrlevin]

2 minutes ago, Guerncruising said:

And how will travel insurance companies deal with this?

We have to take out an annual policy so that we can visit relatives in the UK. We are not part of the UK so we takeout a policy for Europe or the World. It does mean that we have to plan ahead. 

How will visitors from the US be covered in Europe, or is it up to the ship to organise repatriation?

 

And having a panel of health experts is just window dressing; these are the important questions to ask.

[rallydave]

29 minutes ago, Guerncruising said:

And how will travel insurance companies deal with this?

We have to take out an annual policy so that we can visit relatives in the UK. We are not part of the UK so we takeout a policy for Europe or the World. It does mean that we have to plan ahead. 

How will visitors from the US be covered in Europe, or is it up to the ship to organise repatriation?

Visitors from the US have their choice of travel insurance, travel insurance included with their credit cards, Med-Evac policies or simply self insure.  Nobody requires us to insure.  Many health policies cover people overseas.  Since my DW has medicare and no foreign coverage we have in the past bought a relatively inexpensive annual medical policy for a little over $200

 

Believe the requirement from the US CDC requiring the cruise line to take care of repatriation will apply world wide.  See no reason why the CDC and other world wide health agencies will work together for a seamless set of protocols.  Not having all bases covered for cruise lines that cover the globe is a recipe for disaster.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

18 minutes ago, rallydave said:

Believe the requirement from the US CDC requiring the cruise line to take care of repatriation will apply world wide.  See no reason why the CDC and other world wide health agencies will work together for a seamless set of protocols.  Not having all bases covered for cruise lines that cover the globe is a recipe for disaster.

 

I will presume that you meant, "See no reason...will [not] work together...

 

As soon as a ship is outside the range of the CDC, other national or regional health agencies will come into play.  To be able to do a successful port stop anywhere in the world there will have to be coordinated protocols for cruises, period.

[rallydave]

1 minute ago, Wendy The Wanderer said:

I will presume that you meant, "See no reason...will [not] work together..

Thanks Wendy, you presume correctly.  My error in writing.

 

And, your paragraph about being outside the range of the CDC, etc. is spot on correct.

[Bellaggio Cruisers]

1 hour ago, giustot said:

 

This is an important point. And while we've talked a lot about protocols involving masks, dining and social distancing, we still don't know what the health protocols will be. Just as a made up example, if someone in his 80's with a lung condition and using oxygen tries to cruise he may be denied boarding by the cruise line even if he has a doctor's note saying he can sail.

Why do you need to make up examples?

I am in my 80s and use oxygen. Have been cruising with oxygen for 10 years. Last year I did a transatlantic myself and flew home from Lisbon ( with a plane change in Philadelphia). 
Why should I be denied the right to cruise?
I would appreciate if folks don’t make remarks about folks like me. I promise not to make remarks about you. 
sheila

[GrJ Berkshire]

3 hours ago, flossie009 said:

You appear to be correct. All Regent cruises are now "waitlisted" through till end of November. 

First cruises "available" on Regent website are:

Mariner - Dec 05, 2020

Splendor - Dec 07, 2020

Navigator - Dec 10, 2020

Voyager - Jan 19, 2021

 

Are these onerous requirements imposed on any other companies in the US travel & hospitality sectors?

 

The problem is that you could argue that they are not in the US domain? 

[flossie009]

1 hour ago, rallydave said:

Believe the requirement from the US CDC requiring the cruise line to take care of repatriation will apply world wide. 

IMO the CDC requirements for cruise lines to repatriate healthy crew using only non-commercial transport was OTT, impractical and simply served to leave thousands of crew members stranded on board ships for many months.

If they insist on a similar requirement for passengers & crew going forward I cannot see how the cruise industry will remain viable.