CDC unveils new grading system for cruise ships. It could help crew get home

[livingonthebeach]

Still 62,000 crew members waiting to go home.  Doesn't look like the restart will happen in August.   The grading system will be helpful as soon as sailing resumes as we will now know how many cases have been on the ship we intend sailing on -- that is, if it's released to the public. 

 

"The ships will be graded on a color-coded system: green for no confirmed cases of COVID-19 or COVID-like illness for 28 days, yellow for one or more COVID-like illness cases pending confirmation, red for one or more cases of confirmed COVID-19 or COVID-like illness within the past 28 days. If the ship is designated green, commercial transportation for crew repatriation is allowed. More than 62,000 crew members are still waiting to go home."

 

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/tourism-cruises/article243180861.html

[ipeeinthepool]

I wonder if a similar Red/Yellow/Green system will be adopted for the ships when they start carrying passengers.  Perhaps you will not be able to use commercial transportation to return from your cruise if anyone tests positive for COVID during your cruise.  Reinforces the concept of only being able to drive to cruises before a vaccine is widely distributed.

[bouhunter]

48 minutes ago, ipeeinthepool said:

I wonder if a similar Red/Yellow/Green system will be adopted for the ships when they start carrying passengers.  Perhaps you will not be able to use commercial transportation to return from your cruise if anyone tests positive for COVID during your cruise.  Reinforces the concept of only being able to drive to cruises before a vaccine is widely distributed.

Don't see any way that could be monitored or enforced.  A new "no fly" list for FAA to set up?  Not likely.

 

I notice the article also said "all group venues" to be closed.  Wonder what exactly that would mean.

Edited June 3, 2020 by bouhunter

[molly361]

9 minutes ago, bouhunter said:

 

 

I notice the article also said "all group venues" to be closed.  Wonder what exactly that would mean.

That one caught my eye as well.  Aren't all the venues group or for groups?

Edited June 3, 2020 by molly361

[ipeeinthepool]

4 minutes ago, bouhunter said:

Don't see any way that could be monitored or enforced.  A new "no fly" list for FAA to set up?  Not likely.

 

Seems pretty easy to me.  The US government knows that you just re-entered the country from a infected cruise ship and they know you are boarding an aircraft.   Perhaps you will even be sorted at the cruise terminal.

[livingonthebeach]

40 minutes ago, molly361 said:

That one caught my eye as well.  Aren't all the venues group or for groups?

 

IIRC, this new ship grading system is for crew, for now.  The cruise lines are working with the CDC to establish the protocols for passengers once sailings resume.  For passengers, it mentions it will be something like this but on steroids.  You're right, all venues on a ship are geared to groups and large gatherings.  The group and the elevator issues will be tough challenges. 

[Jimbo]

People on CC want to cruise in August....but as you can see there is still a concern and effort to get crew home. Why do people still think we are going to cruise soon. I don't get it. The two don't go together.

[A&L_Ont]

27 minutes ago, Jimbo said:

People on CC want to cruise in August....but as you can see there is still a concern and effort to get crew home. Why do people still think we are going to cruise soon. I don't get it. The two don't go together.

I agree with you. Some however hold onto hope, even when it seems so unrealistic.  
 

If they were bringing crew to ships I would call it optimism, but I think we are some time away from that at least for North American departures. 

[strathcona]

That is why CDC initial guidance called for quarantine ships and hospital ship. If there is an infection on a ship, passenger who are exposed will be quarantine on a docked ship for 14 days prior to flying home. The hospital ship which is also docked, take care of the patient at the cruise line expense, which would not burden the health system of the port city. Which is why the initial opening would be from cruiser who are within driving distance and control ports like labadee or coco cay. We will have to see what the cruise line produce and whether CDC accepts it. CDC only has authority over cruises out of USA so other parts of the world may have less strict policy. None of the cruise line have a plan that meets CDC requirements. Lets hope they do so we can get back on board. 

[livingonthebeach]

10 minutes ago, strathcona said:

That is why CDC initial guidance called for quarantine ships and hospital ship. If there is an infection on a ship, passenger who are exposed will be quarantine on a docked ship for 14 days prior to flying home. The hospital ship which is also docked, take care of the patient at the cruise line expense, which would not burden the health system of the port city. Which is why the initial opening would be from cruiser who are within driving distance and control ports like labadee or coco cay. We will have to see what the cruise line produce and whether CDC accepts it. CDC only has authority over cruises out of USA so other parts of the world may have less strict policy. None of the cruise line have a plan that meets CDC requirements. Lets hope they do so we can get back on board. 

 

Yes and this is the exact wording of the requirement you refer to from the CDC:

https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/pdf/No-Sail-Order-Cruise-Ships_Extension_4-9-20-encrypted.pdf

 

Edited June 3, 2020 by livingonthebeach

[heatherb1958]

1 hour ago, Jimbo said:

People on CC want to cruise in August....but as you can see there is still a concern and effort to get crew home. Why do people still think we are going to cruise soon. I don't get it. The two don't go together.

100% agree . A lot of those crew could be so traumatised and fearful of getting back on a ship for a few months , if at all , there will be fewer crew to operate facilities anyway . People already complained about lack of staff before the pandemic .Don’t understand why folks can’t just have a year off and go and do something else instead closer to home to boost the local / own country’s economy .  Your local businesses need you ! 

[wolfcathorse]

3 hours ago, bouhunter said:

I notice the article also said "all group venues" to be closed.  Wonder what exactly that would mean.

 

It would mean Concierge/Suite/Diamond lounge would be closed. No Quest, no casinos, no games in the Atrium, no Trivia, no bars open. No shows in the theater, electronic/virtual muster drill. No restaurants. In other words only the shops onboard would be open with capacity controls, all your meals served to you in your stateroom, and drinks ordered by the RCI app and delivered to you wherever you are on the ship. 

[Jimbo]

5 minutes ago, wolfcathorse said:

 

It would mean Concierge/Suite/Diamond lounge would be closed. No Quest, no casinos, no games in the Atrium, no Trivia, no bars open. No shows in the theater, electronic/virtual muster drill. No restaurants. In other words only the shops onboard would be open with capacity controls, all your meals served to you in your stateroom, and drinks ordered by the RCI app and delivered to you wherever you are on the ship. 

What a wonderful experience..........lets see how many of those they want to be on a ship tomorrow sign up for that?

[JT1962]

The main point I got from the article is that it appears passengers will not be sailing on cruise ships from the US anytime soon. The CDC spokesperson said they have not begun reviewing any processes for carrying passengers submitted by cruise lines to start sailing before a vaccine is available. He even compared cruise ships to long-term care facilities, prisons and meat processing plants as far as risk factors. That tells me it may be at least 2021 before ships sail again unless there is a breakthrough on a vaccine.

[wolfcathorse]

36 minutes ago, Jimbo said:

What a wonderful experience..........lets see how many of those they want to be on a ship tomorrow sign up for that?

exactly!

[firefly333]

6 hours ago, livingonthebeach said:

Still 62,000 crew members waiting to go home.  Doesn't look like the restart will happen in August.   The grading system will be helpful as soon as sailing resumes as we will now know how many cases have been on the ship we intend sailing on -- that is, if it's released to the public. 

 

"The ships will be graded on a color-coded system: green for no confirmed cases of COVID-19 or COVID-like illness for 28 days, yellow for one or more COVID-like illness cases pending confirmation, red for one or more cases of confirmed COVID-19 or COVID-like illness within the past 28 days. If the ship is designated green, commercial transportation for crew repatriation is allowed. More than 62,000 crew members are still waiting to go home."

 

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/tourism-cruises/article243180861.html

Lol some company on fbn the other day is marketing wrist bands for people to wear. Green means you have antibodies, red means you dont and want to social distance.

 

I was picturing pax on cruise ships wearing them lol.

 

Now they are color coding the whole ship. Ha. Seems like they could just say ok this ship is clear instead of colors. 

[torpeedo]

2 hours ago, wolfcathorse said:

 

It would mean Concierge/Suite/Diamond lounge would be closed. No Quest, no casinos, no games in the Atrium, no Trivia, no bars open. No shows in the theater, electronic/virtual muster drill. No restaurants. In other words only the shops onboard would be open with capacity controls, all your meals served to you in your stateroom, and drinks ordered by the RCI app and delivered to you wherever you are on the ship. 

 

That would be a NON cruise=Cancel!  I would never pay full price for that, or actually anything at all. I'd rather stay home or go to a land based resort.

[firefly333]

2 hours ago, heatherb1958 said:

Don’t understand why folks can’t just have a year off and go and do something else instead closer to home to boost the local / own country’s economy .  Your local businesses need you ! 

Because a year from now cruiselines will probably be bankrupt. 

[cruisequeen4ever]

Interesting

[ALWAYS CRUZIN]

I find this agravating. What about those with the FLU, sneezing, coughing, etc. So many just use there hand to cover there mouth, if that. Nothing is done and no one makes much of it. !! Thousands upon thousands die from the flu each and every year. No protection from that is there? Should there be? The virus should be treated the same way. They do nothing about the FLU, why all this about the virus. Just because it is easier to catch! Each person on their own just needs to be cautious of the people around them. This has taken our USA from fabulous to a major loss in only a short few months. Running scared is totally ridiculous and not the answer at all.

[ALWAYS CRUZIN]

4 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

Because a year from now cruiselines will probably be bankrupt. 

Agree, I will continue to cruise as before. 4-6 every year. Even with all our cancellations, we still might be able to complete 4 for this year. People want to vacation on land. I see no difference. You are in a hotel or on a big ship. Where is the difference? I do not see it. Those that love to stay on land, that is great. Those that love cruising is also great. Bon Voyage!!!

[Baron Barracuda]

Ok with the $13/day stipend they are paying non-working crew still stranded aboard ships.  Forcing them to pay for toiletries though is really cheapskate.

[SRF]

2 hours ago, ALWAYS CRUZIN said:

I find this agravating. What about those with the FLU, sneezing, coughing, etc. So many just use there hand to cover there mouth, if that. Nothing is done and no one makes much of it. !! Thousands upon thousands die from the flu each and every year. No protection from that is there? Should there be? The virus should be treated the same way. They do nothing about the FLU, why all this about the virus. Just because it is easier to catch! Each person on their own just needs to be cautious of the people around them. This has taken our USA from fabulous to a major loss in only a short few months. Running scared is totally ridiculous and not the answer at all.

 

Yes, because it is easier to catch.

 

And yes, because people are infectious without any symptoms.  So, just sitting at a dinner table, with someone who does not cough or sneeze, and you can get it.

[sheffield]

2 hours ago, ALWAYS CRUZIN said:

Agree, I will continue to cruise as before. 4-6 every year. Even with all our cancellations, we still might be able to complete 4 for this year. People want to vacation on land. I see no difference. You are in a hotel or on a big ship. Where is the difference? I do not see it. Those that love to stay on land, that is great. Those that love cruising is also great. Bon Voyage!!!

The huge difference is that on land you can be at a hospital quickly whereas on a ship who knows? It depends on which port allows you to dock.

[ALWAYS CRUZIN]

3 minutes ago, sheffield said:

The huge difference is that on land you can be at a hospital quickly whereas on a ship who knows? It depends on which port allows you to dock.

I have used the infirmary and it is just as good as any medical center I ever ever used. Plus, by the time we cruise again. I am sure they will be ready for anyone to come down with it. Still. The FLU no one cares about anymore.