Cunard to Nowhere?

[jsn55]

On 6/6/2020 at 2:29 AM, babs135 said:

As a slight aside to the general conversation;  if the number of passengers is restricted what will happen to those cruises for 2021 which are just about full?  Will they have to ask people to 'jump ship' and if not enough people agree to this will the powers that be draw a ballot to see who will be left behind?

I suspect they'll rebook all the pax in the cheapest cabins.  Offer them a little something.  If a little something isn't good enough, they'll up the ante.  

[ew101]

On 6/6/2020 at 10:18 AM, chengkp75 said:

These are not "completely controlled" by the cruise lines, they are still part of the Bahamas, and while the Bahamas has announced they are reopening their borders July 1, they could just as easily close them again, closing those private islands.

If I ran the Bahamas, I would set up a "free port" someplace.  Let a private business lease it and have an airstrip and hotels and storage.  Make the renters build a clinic and police station but charge significant rent.  The cruise and shipping people would love a place to exchange crews, etc.  This would look like the arrangement for leasing foreign military bases- so less tightly controlled/regulated.   I think the Bahamas needs the money/jobs.    

Edited June 8, 2020 by ew101

[resistk]

On 6/8/2020 at 7:33 AM, ew101 said:

If I ran the Bahamas, I would set up a "free port" someplace.  Let a private business lease it and have an airstrip and hotels and storage.  Make the renters build a clinic and police station but charge significant rent.  The cruise and shipping people would love a place to exchange crews, etc.  This would look like the arrangement for leasing foreign military bases- so less tightly controlled/regulated.   I think the Bahamas needs the money/jobs.    

 

Freeport, Bahamas (Grand Bahama Island) already has a large neglected cruise port and a lot infrastructure (albeit crumbling) as well as beautiful beaches.  A few hours from Port Everglades.

[resistk]

On 6/8/2020 at 7:33 AM, ew101 said:

If I ran the Bahamas, I would set up a "free port" someplace.  Let a private business lease it and have an airstrip and hotels and storage.  Make the renters build a clinic and police station but charge significant rent.  The cruise and shipping people would love a place to exchange crews, etc.  This would look like the arrangement for leasing foreign military bases- so less tightly controlled/regulated.   I think the Bahamas needs the money/jobs.    

 

From expereince as a property owner I can say Bahamas is beautiful real estate that is badly managed.

Edited June 12, 2020 by resistk

[ew101]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/news/cunard-return-cruise-uk-british-isles-2021-first-time-in-history/

 

[oskidunker]

1 hour ago, ew101 said:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/news/cunard-return-cruise-uk-british-isles-2021-first-time-in-history/

 

Behind a pay wall. 

[BlueRiband]

They're mentioned on Cunard's site but are only available to residents of the UK.  Sounds like a reasonable way to re-start Cunard by keeping all of the ports within the UK Red Ensign family.  It also eliminates any problems with flight suspensions for passengers who would fly in/out of the UK.

 

It's not really new.  In 2011 QM2 did an "Around the British Isles" sailing.  I recall gripes from passengers that the casino had to be closed while ship was in UK waters and back then EU VAT had to be charged on all purchases.  I don't know if the shops would have to charge any UK taxes post Brexit. 

[Covepointcruiser]

Great, at least it’s a start.   The other lines sailing right now have also restricted the passengers to certain nationalities.    The lack of a casino is definitely not a deal breaker to me.   

[Solent Richard]

On 10/1/2020 at 1:17 AM, Covepointcruiser said:

Great, at least it’s a start.   The other lines sailing right now have also restricted the passengers to certain nationalities.    The lack of a casino is definitely not a deal breaker to me.   

Sure is. 

 

And of course there are those who would say that the ship is 'their' destination whom you would think would be happily supporting these types of cruises. 

 

Me, well I'm from the old school who still believes cruising is a method of getting to destinations in the best possible style.

 

That's not to say I wouldn't give a 'Cruise to Nowhere' a go: all very dependant on the line of course.

[the english lady]

We are booked on one of the QE cruises from Southampton next April. 7 days with possible stops in Liverpool and Belfast. Main thing that made us try it...We like cruising..As its UK only cruise insurance was not expensive and not far to go if taken off the ship.

I think it will be a while before all countries accept cruise ships turning up from all over the world.