Crewmembers going back home

[beerman2]

3 hours ago, ScratchTheRat said:

 

That's far from a certainty. All we can say for certain is that cruises are currently due to resume in May. 

 

Assuming the opposite, with the absence of facts is just pointless. 

And this is what Seaman11 was saying back in April,  cruising would start in April or is it May, how about June for sure in July. He finally came to his senses.😂

 

You're fairly new here so you probably wouldn't remember the back and forth and how adamant he was.

 

 

[beerman2]

2 hours ago, GA Dave said:

I lived in Foley, AL for two years.  Love the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area!

Looking forward to it and we will just imagine that Pensacola, Mobile, Biloxi etc are Ports. 

 

Mobile actually is a "port", Biloxi (Casino's) , Pensacola (Waterfront) are as you know all day trips.

 

72 degree average in March is better than low 50's here in Ohio.

 

 

[ScratchTheRat]

34 minutes ago, beerman2 said:

And this is what Seaman11 was saying back in April,  cruising would start in April or is it May, how about June for sure in July. He finally came to his senses.😂

 

You're fairly new here so you probably wouldn't remember the back and forth and how adamant he was.

 

 

Difference is, I am not here saying "things WILL start up in X month".

 

What I'm saying is that it's better to HOPE for X month than to assume things are at worst case scenario.

 

This forum is about fun and cruising, let's be cheery and spread hope and optimism, rather than negativity! 😄

[Formula280SS]

I guess this doesn't belong on the "positivity" thread 😉, but it is a factual article hopefully disqualifying it from mischaracterization of being "negative" that, it appears, makes the hope for return of cruising makes it imminent because they are scheduled for May.  🤞

 

Port Canaveral Says Ships Not Likely To Sail Before July 2021

January 28, 2021  Doug Parker 

 

https://cruiseradio.net/port-canaveral-says-ships-not-likely-to-sail-before-july-2021/

 

From a linked article ~

 

“The CDC’s motivation right now to put the cruise lines back on the water is not there, and probably won’t be there for the next three months,” Murray said. “So rather than look at this entire operation and say, ‘Well, let’s just kick the can to April and then we’ll look at it again,’ it doesn’t make any sense to keep coming back to you guys with a rosy picture that we’re going to start in April or May and then say, ‘Whoop, that didn’t happen.’ So we took the very hard approach of, like I say, ripping off the Band-Aid, and making it a bad situation for the port just to show you that we have a plan to get through this if it does go as far as the fourth quarter.”

 

Edited January 28, 2021 by Formula280SS

[coscab]

4 hours ago, luckyinpa said:

for those looking for foreign fun i stayed here recently  3 story penthouse. 2 pools. great beach and since i was never in cancun before it was pretty cool. it was also cheaper than a stay at the NJ shore in the summer. 

 

 

 

We flew to Cancun about 29 years ago and stayed at a place called Yalmakan, it wasn't as fancy as your video, I am wondering if its the same place done over, actually the tower next door in video looks like where we stayed. I kept pronouncing the "Y" until I was told that its a "J" sound.

That was a wonderful trip but I have to say I'd rather be cruising.

[hamrag]

9 hours ago, ScratchTheRat said:

....They anticipate cruises restarting in May, but not ALL the fleet will start at once. So, in May I anticipate a start of 20% of the fleet....

 

Not a chance! 😉

[hamrag]

1 hour ago, beerman2 said:

And this is what Seaman11 was saying back in April,  cruising would start in April or is it May, how about June for sure in July. He finally came to his senses.😂

 

You're fairly new here so you probably wouldn't remember the back and forth and how adamant he was.

 

 

Yea, sounds like a UK equivalent of Seaman....who gave us many a laugh, but in the end I think we grew to love him! 😂

[hamrag]

1 hour ago, ScratchTheRat said:

....let's be cheery and spread hope and optimism, rather than negativity! 😄

 

Most people in life do realism....extreme optimism and negativity are at the extreme ends of the spectrum!

[luckyinpa]

1 hour ago, coscab said:

We flew to Cancun about 29 years ago and stayed at a place called Yalmakan, it wasn't as fancy as your video, I am wondering if its the same place done over, actually the tower next door in video looks like where we stayed. I kept pronouncing the "Y" until I was told that its a "J" sound.

That was a wonderful trip but I have to say I'd rather be cruising.

 

there are 3 white towers kinda the same. one guy bought about 10 or 15 of the top level penthouses and rents them out without the all inclusive package. which is good becuase the food at the resort was barely average.  his places are unique and very cool looking. id go back and try another. but this one was so unique i had to try it

 

also was an excuse to finally get a passport. never had one before because i never considered flying out of the country.

---------------------------------

there are tons of things to do except cruising....no one has done 'all there is' to do in the good ole USA. you just havent looked hard enough if you need something lol.  i also looked into yacht rentals so a mini cruise is possible if you wanna fork over the money. al the should/would/could talk is just what people are doing the pass the time because theres not a single person on the forum that knows what really will happen in the future.  i just know anyone who has money tied up is really in bad shape because i dont think that money is gonna be used anytime soon. so i guess people may as well argue on a forum..or forums 🙂 

 

also this brings the question ive always had in the forefront of my cruising mind, how do you people book 2 years out, theres no way you can know what will happen then, be your personal circumstance etc plus how do you wait 2 years for a cruise!?! ive never booked more than 2 or 3 months out. thats torture enough. 

 

also even if we could cruise tomorrow what countries are accepting us? pretty sure no one without tests etc etc. what fun is that. 

[farmersfight]

3 hours ago, beerman2 said:

how adamant he was

 

He still is. I believe he was 1st on the list to be on one of the test cruises (that hasn't happened).

[mpk]

5 hours ago, DCGuy64 said:

I will say your posts have been a breath of fresh air. With that being said, according to your profile, you joined Cruise Critic on Monday. (Welcome to the forum, by the way!) I would just caution you not to read too much into people's predictions. Alas, as seems to be the norm online these days, many people post their speculations about what will or won't be, facts be damned. You are correct that assuming things with the absence of facts is pointless, but it happens on here All. The. Time. (Fact-based predictions are another story)

 

For more fun, read any of the threads here about cruise company stocks!   A whole new level of speculation and wild guesses  😆

[CherylsCaribbeanTravel]

Sad but not surprising. 😞

[luckyinpa]

47 minutes ago, mpk said:

 

For more fun, read any of the threads here about cruise company stocks!   A whole new level of speculation and wild guesses  😆

 

what about game stop

[CherylsCaribbeanTravel]

Delete

Edited January 29, 2021 by CherylsCaribbeanTravel

[BermudaBound2014]

9 hours ago, DCGuy64 said:At this rate, there'll be 1 cruise line in business by 2022 and it'll cost you $10,000 for a 3-day cruise to nowhere in an inside cabin.

 

Having participated In healthy banter with you regarding my “realistic” predictions for when cruises would sail, I just want to say it takes a good person to admit when they are wrong. I’ll buy the first beverage should we ever sail together.

 

I do respectfully disagree with the last sentence- and we can let time tell the story- but my prediction is two major cruise lines and rock bottom pricing. IMO- the writing has been on the wall for bankruptcy , mergers, and acquisition. Those holding stock, FCC, and nextcruise cents will likely be wiped clean. The inventory of cruise cabins is huge they will need to fill cabins. Imo - cruise ships will certainly sail again after a complete restructuring 

 

PS- I do hope you and your wife are 💯!! 

 

[ScratchTheRat]

9 hours ago, hamrag said:

 

Most people in life do realism....extreme optimism and negativity are at the extreme ends of the spectrum!

and which of us are happier...? 

 

I am known as one of the happiest people in my friendship groups because I choose to be positive, upbeat and focused on the good. I'd rather always see the best in situations and be positive than to be "real" and assume the crap will happen. We have the news for that!

[hamrag]

1 hour ago, ScratchTheRat said:

and which of us are happier...? 

 

I would say, in my experience, realists are......they do not have the many disappointments that extreme optimism or negativism bring! Upbeat, and focused on the good is what realism often entails....so perhaps you are more of a realist than your posts signal. What I am cautioning against is extreme and unrealistic optimism/negativism.....but we are all different, that is what makes the world go round! 😉

[dexddd]

20 hours ago, DCGuy64 said:

As I shared on another forum recently, you can only remain optimistic for so long, until wave after wave of disappointing news wears you down and you have to accept reality. Last year, I really thought that just the news of ONE vaccine, let alone 3, would have the cruising industry up in no time. I was wrong. I thought that MSC restarting cruising on August 16 would signal a return to cruising in the Mediterranean. I was wrong. I thought that lock downs, social distancing, masks and the like would mean Europe was on the verge of bending the curve and then reopening. I was wrong. I thought that the CDC's decision not to extend the No Sail Order until Feb 15, coupled with its Conditional Sailing Order to show that cruise lines met safe conditions to resume sailing (coming on the heels of the Healthy Sail Panel and its 72 recommendations) would mean cruising from the US would be on the horizon. I was wrong. By now, I thought at least you'd be seeing actual trial cruises taking place in the Caribbean by the major lines. I was wrong. Now the lock downs are worse than ever, the US is virtually closing its border to international travel, and the cruise lines are sending their crews home. I was hopeful last year, but time and again, I was wrong. I'm not going to be hopeful anymore. At this rate, there'll be 1 cruise line in business by 2022 and it'll cost you $10,000 for a 3-day cruise to nowhere in an inside cabin.

Virgin Cruise Lines?

[ScratchTheRat]

2 hours ago, hamrag said:

 

I would say, in my experience, realists are......they do not have the many disappointments that extreme optimism or negativism bring! Upbeat, and focused on the good is what realism often entails....so perhaps you are more of a realist than your posts signal. What I am cautioning against is extreme and unrealistic optimism/negativism.....but we are all different, that is what makes the world go round! 😉

I've been super optimistic my whole life, not much has driven the smile from my face yet!

 

I'm still up every morning at 6:30 for the first of my 3 walks a day, my coffee, start work and cruise planning 😄

[DCGuy64]

11 hours ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

 

Having participated In healthy banter with you regarding my “realistic” predictions for when cruises would sail, I just want to say it takes a good person to admit when they are wrong. I’ll buy the first beverage should we ever sail together.

 

I do respectfully disagree with the last sentence- and we can let time tell the story- but my prediction is two major cruise lines and rock bottom pricing. IMO- the writing has been on the wall for bankruptcy , mergers, and acquisition. Those holding stock, FCC, and nextcruise cents will likely be wiped clean. The inventory of cruise cabins is huge they will need to fill cabins. Imo - cruise ships will certainly sail again after a complete restructuring 

 

PS- I do hope you and your wife are 💯!! 

 

Thank you, @BermudaBound2014. The 'Rona has mostly left us, but my wife is still dealing with a mild cough. You're on for the drinks! 🍸😊

While I'm pessimistic at the moment, I do secretly hope that like last year, I'll be wrong again, but this time in the 'right' direction. (if that makes sense)

One blessing about being on Cruise Critic is that, for the most part, we don't have to explain/justify our love of travel and cruising. Have a conversation with the average Joe or Jane and mention you're missing travel, and you'll often get a snide reply like "how can you think of travel when people are dying?" (as though one precludes the other). Or maybe that's just been my experience and is unique.

Wishing you the best!

[ArthurUSCG]

While not the best news, this is very promising. It's 85% effective in keeping people from being seriously sick and 100% from needing hospitalization. And they have data for the South American and Latin variants. To me, this puts Covid-19 now down to or below normal flue/cold levels. And 100million single dose shots are equivalent to 200 million of the single dose. Since it can be stored and given thru normal vaccine methods, it sounds like the ideal candidate for mass inoculations for the general public that are not in any of the risk categories.

 

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/johnson-johnson-single-shot-vaccine-85-effective-severe/story?id=75557358&cid=clicksource_4380645_5_heads_hero_live_hero_hed

[Glitterbutton]

On 1/27/2021 at 6:23 PM, BoundForSea said:

If you have money tied up in cruises with NCL as I do, not to be an alarmist, I really am far from it, but this would be the time to become a little nervous.

 

 

 

 

I too have money tied up in NCL. We were booked on the Joy for departure on 3/15/20. Because we were taking our children with us, and had heard the horror stories of the Diamond Princess, we contacted our TA to see what she could find out about possibly cancelling. On 3/12/20 she called me back with an NCL rep on the line (a 3-way call). Basically we could risk being quarantined and go, we could forfeit almost $5,000 or "you can take an unprecedented and generous offer of credit to use on a future cruise. NCL has never made such an offer before. All funds will be saved except your travel insurance." With reluctance, we took the what has since come to be known as Future Cruise Credit. At 100% value, minus the trip insurance. The very next day, NCL announced the very first suspensions of cruises and started it's 125% FCC or full refund plan. We were never given an extra 25% FCC or the chance to get a refund, despite multiple inquiries. We are stuck with credit. I would have taken the refund 100 times out of 100.

 

So, here we are, booking and re-booking future cruises. With kids, we are tied to school vacations so our options are more limited. Every time I hear of another set back like this, and in my mind this one is huge, it's another slap in the face. I am beyond disappointed and frustrated. I think the biggest rub is the not knowing when or if it will ever officially happen. We have one booked for June on the Joy and this information leaves me with little doubt that it won't happen, yet again.

 

It would be really helpful to my state of mind if NCL would just come out and say when they actually expect to be able to take on paying passengers. They know when that will realistically be, or close to it. Just tell us and quit jerking us around. It's exhausting.

 

Thanks for being an outlet for me to whine about my first world problem.

[MsTabbyKats]

On 1/28/2021 at 12:32 PM, ScratchTheRat said:

 

That's far from a certainty. All we can say for certain is that cruises are currently due to resume in May. 

 

Assuming the opposite, with the absence of facts is just pointless. 

I don't mean to be condescending, but do you read the news?  Cases soared after the holiday season because "all the special people" had to travel, had to visit loved ones....etc....because they are special.  There are now variants...UK, Brazil, South Africa.  That's today.  How many others will there be in another week.  We don't know if the vaccine will be effective against them.  Basically...we know just about nothing when it comes to the original covid and absolutely nothing about the variants.

 

We do know, as a fact, that cruises are cancelled thru April...and due to resume in May.  The only reason they are "due to resume" is that the cruise lines can hold on to your money for a few more weeks.

 

As someone else pointed out, who would book a cruise for $???? when they might not be able to get to the port due to a faulty rapid test at the airport?

 

 

 

[FlGoodShips]

Not to change the subject, but.....

Many of you know The Contreras'...Papi (Beverage Mgr)and his son David (Concierge).

Sad to say, but Papi has died from covid in Honduras.

(See other thread on NCL)

 

[pcakes122]

On 1/27/2021 at 4:14 PM, PelicanBill said:

They get room and food and Internet.  The $10 is for incidentals. Yup, they don't get real income without paying customers.

This is not what the Captain said.  He said that when the crew members are reassigned to STAND DOWN STATUS they will be THEN be getting $10 per day as onboard credit (for their incidentals) plus severance pay.  While they were on ACTIVE status (prior to this announcement) they were getting their regular salary. When they were on active status it had nothing to do with whether or not passengers were onboard.  (The only difference would have been cash tips from passengers.)