mcrcruiser Posted April 14, 2021 #1 Share Posted April 14, 2021 Here are the protocols from HAL's web site .Princess has the same . Excursions right now are via ship only excursions https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/news/coronavirus-travel-advisory/traveling-and-staying-healthy/covid-guest-protocols.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AV8rix Posted April 14, 2021 #2 Share Posted April 14, 2021 Old (>1 month) news. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcrcruiser Posted April 14, 2021 Author #3 Share Posted April 14, 2021 3 minutes ago, Av8rix said: Old (>1 month) news. Perhaps some people have not yet read this information from HAL 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Gail & Marty sailing away Posted April 14, 2021 #4 Share Posted April 14, 2021 I hope this is changing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Crazy For Cats Posted April 14, 2021 #5 Share Posted April 14, 2021 If the guidelines don’t change by July I’ll be canceling my November cruise. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KirkNC Posted April 14, 2021 #6 Share Posted April 14, 2021 1 hour ago, Crazy For Cats said: If the guidelines don’t change by July I’ll be canceling my November cruise. We won’t sail with them either. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mimippsb Posted April 14, 2021 #7 Share Posted April 14, 2021 I feel they will change by February because they won't be able to accommodate all the guests. I am so looking forward to getting on in Florida. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LAFFNVEGAS Posted April 14, 2021 #8 Share Posted April 14, 2021 I actually have no problem with them restricting the excursions in the very beginning as long as after say 6 months of cruising they lift this. Just to be able to prove to the Powers that Be that Cruising can be very safe. To me if that is what they have to do to get us going I am fine. I have three cruises booked through the end of this year, first in Nieuw Statendam in July, final has been paid. Although I give this one less than 10% chance of going but had planned to just take HAL excursions anyway since it was my first time to these ports, second cruise is Alaska in September was to be Eurodam most likely if it would sail will be Nieuw Amsterdam. Cruise is not canceled and I give it about a 30% chance, although with recent push possibly a 50% chance. There is only one excursions I want and that is to go to Fortress of the Bear and planned to do that in Sitka. Been to Alaska so many times that some of the best part of the cruise is enjoying it from my balcony so again the excursion problem does not bother me. Lastly we are doing Mexico in November on NCL Bliss, I gave up counting the number of time we have been to Mexico and actually our last time in November 2019 I stepped on the ship in San Diego and other than walk off the ship for 15 minutes in Puerta Vallarta to see the new connecting shops we never really left the ship. Frankly I am good with staying on board the ship for the whole week. Many times for us the Ship is the Destination. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horizon chaser 1957 Posted April 14, 2021 #9 Share Posted April 14, 2021 (edited) It doesn’t say you are restricted to ship excursions only. The actual wording is ‘Only shore excursions that comply with our prescribed protocols will be permitted’. While this could mean ship only excursions on the first few sailings, it doesn’t automatically eliminate private excursions that meet HAL’s safety protocols. I doubt any of us expect the cruising experience to go from full stop to anything goes on the first cruise out of the dock. Edited April 14, 2021 by Horizon chaser 1957 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJSULIBRARIAN Posted April 14, 2021 #10 Share Posted April 14, 2021 I agree with Liza's comment about proving to the Powers that Be that cruising can be very safe. I was glad to read that the CDC has changed its tune about mandating there be 12 hours of unused gangways between cruises. That one was really stupid. What about airline jetways? 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcrcruiser Posted April 14, 2021 Author #11 Share Posted April 14, 2021 2 hours ago, LAFFNVEGAS said: I actually have no problem with them restricting the excursions in the very beginning as long as after say 6 months of cruising they lift this. Just to be able to prove to the Powers that Be that Cruising can be very safe. To me if that is what they have to do to get us going I am fine. I have three cruises booked through the end of this year, first in Nieuw Statendam in July, final has been paid. Although I give this one less than 10% chance of going but had planned to just take HAL excursions anyway since it was my first time to these ports, second cruise is Alaska in September was to be Eurodam most likely if it would sail will be Nieuw Amsterdam. Cruise is not canceled and I give it about a 30% chance, although with recent push possibly a 50% chance. There is only one excursions I want and that is to go to Fortress of the Bear and planned to do that in Sitka. Been to Alaska so many times that some of the best part of the cruise is enjoying it from my balcony so again the excursion problem does not bother me. Lastly we are doing Mexico in November on NCL Bliss, I gave up counting the number of time we have been to Mexico and actually our last time in November 2019 I stepped on the ship in San Diego and other than walk off the ship for 15 minutes in Puerta Vallarta to see the new connecting shops we never really left the ship. Frankly I am good with staying on board the ship for the whole week. Many times for us the Ship is the Destination. As more & more people get vaccinated there would be far less danger to go ashore individually .This may take several months to accomplish once cruising starts but imo ,it shouldn't take the cruise lines longer for individual tours in most parts of the developed world . Having all pax & crew vaccinated would lead to a clean voyage .They may pre test at the pier but ,that is fine .just bring your vaccine CDC cards with your pass ports Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Mary229 Posted April 14, 2021 #12 Share Posted April 14, 2021 I get NCL emails and they sent out one today, which I have since deleted. In that email and in other statements they are assuming following guidelines only until the end of October. Perhaps they mean following the guidelines here in the US only to the end of October which assumes the no sail order and the emergency declaration will be lifted. Of course lines will still have to comply with destination ports Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcrcruiser Posted April 14, 2021 Author #13 Share Posted April 14, 2021 3 minutes ago, Mary229 said: I get NCL emails and they sent out one today, which I have since deleted. In that email and in other statements they are assuming following guidelines only until the end of October. Perhaps they mean following the guidelines here in the US only to the end of October which assumes the no sail order and the emergency declaration will be lifted. Of course lines will still have to comply with destination ports Many or most of the cruise lines are wanting to start sailing July 1st or 4th under current CDC guidelines . Thus ,the protocols would be required ;as above Post Oct 31st ,then the CDC may institute different requirements ,based upon the risk of the virus spread , at that time .We need to remember that there are variants out there & what impact if any those variants would have ,starting Nov 1st for the CDC review & new guidelines 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Mary229 Posted April 14, 2021 #14 Share Posted April 14, 2021 24 minutes ago, mcrcruiser said: Many or most of the cruise lines are wanting to start sailing July 1st or 4th under current CDC guidelines . Thus ,the protocols would be required ;as above Post Oct 31st ,then the CDC may institute different requirements ,based upon the risk of the virus spread , at that time .We need to remember that there are variants out there & what impact if any those variants would have ,starting Nov 1st for the CDC review & new guidelines If the Emergency Declaration is lifted the CDC is no longer involved. Their authority ends when the declaration ends. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heartgrove Posted April 14, 2021 #15 Share Posted April 14, 2021 1 hour ago, Mary229 said: If the Emergency Declaration is lifted the CDC is no longer involved. Their authority ends when the declaration ends. And what if they extend the declaration? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Mary229 Posted April 14, 2021 #16 Share Posted April 14, 2021 (edited) 7 minutes ago, Heartgrove said: And what if they extend the declaration? I simply mentioned that NCL in various communications has indicated they intend to use the protocols until October 31 and then made the comment that they are likely assuming the no sail order will expire by then. Then in response to a comment reiterated that the CDC has no authority without the emergency declaration Edited April 14, 2021 by Mary229 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USN59-79 Posted April 14, 2021 #17 Share Posted April 14, 2021 I am not sure what is the technical or legal definition of a "shore excursion". I know that if I sign up for what they call a shore excursion and get on a bus with 30 or 40 other persons that is a shore excursion. But if I walk off the ship or take a tender to the port and walk into town or use the local transportation, am I on a "shore excursion"? They need to clarify this before I will take another cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ontheweb Posted April 15, 2021 #18 Share Posted April 15, 2021 1 hour ago, USN59-79 said: I am not sure what is the technical or legal definition of a "shore excursion". I know that if I sign up for what they call a shore excursion and get on a bus with 30 or 40 other persons that is a shore excursion. But if I walk off the ship or take a tender to the port and walk into town or use the local transportation, am I on a "shore excursion"? They need to clarify this before I will take another cruise. A shore excursion is sold to you. It could be by the cruise line or a private vendor. If you just walk off the ship, that is independent travel. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisegirl Posted April 15, 2021 #19 Share Posted April 15, 2021 After having three cruises cancelled I will be on Nieuw Amsterdam no matter what the requirements are if it sails. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted April 15, 2021 #20 Share Posted April 15, 2021 2 hours ago, ontheweb said: A shore excursion is sold to you. It could be by the cruise line or a private vendor. If you just walk off the ship, that is independent travel. While I don’t disagree with you, I think that the context most think of a shore excursion when the cruise lines talk about it is a ship tour. I think of anything I do outside of the ship as independent - whether I hire a private guide or do my own DIY that day. I can assure you that HAL thinks of it that way when it comes to tenders 😉 Agree with @USN59-79 I’d like clarification too and clear cut terms and conditions before my final payment or it’s a no go for me. HAL really needs to get with the ball and lay the cards on the table on vaccines and real rules. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ontheweb Posted April 15, 2021 #21 Share Posted April 15, 2021 7 hours ago, kazu said: While I don’t disagree with you, I think that the context most think of a shore excursion when the cruise lines talk about it is a ship tour. I think of anything I do outside of the ship as independent - whether I hire a private guide or do my own DIY that day. I can assure you that HAL thinks of it that way when it comes to tenders 😉 Agree with @USN59-79 I’d like clarification too and clear cut terms and conditions before my final payment or it’s a no go for me. HAL really needs to get with the ball and lay the cards on the table on vaccines and real rules. Ok, we are only disagreeing on semantics. I was differentiating a hired outside shore excursion from just going at it on your own, and you were emphasizing cruise line versus not using the cruise line excursion. But we really have no difference on how we see the issue of only cruise line excursions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Mary229 Posted April 15, 2021 #22 Share Posted April 15, 2021 I am sailing next spring (TA/Europe) under the premise that I will have to take ship sponsored excursions to leave the ship. I think mine is a conservative view and may be a bit too cautious but for me it is better to be forewarned than to be disappointed. I think much of the decision lies with the communities we will be visiting. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OVgirl Posted April 15, 2021 #23 Share Posted April 15, 2021 4 hours ago, Mary229 said: I am sailing next spring (TA/Europe) under the premise that I will have to take ship sponsored excursions to leave the ship. I think mine is a conservative view and may be a bit too cautious but for me it is better to be forewarned than to be disappointed. I think much of the decision lies with the communities we will be visiting. I was also under the impression that to go off the ship it would have to be on a HAL excursion. The intent is to minimize contact with the locals. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heartgrove Posted April 16, 2021 #24 Share Posted April 16, 2021 In 91 days we leave for our 8-day cruise on the Viking Sky circling Iceland. Amazingly the four cruises offered (ours is the fourth so any rough edges should be smoothed out by then) sold out in one day! Viking has been very upfront with the protocols that will need to be followed by passengers, and all of the safety precautions they will take to protect us. Iceland has done very well for their citizens with their approach to the pandemic. Hardships of course like everyone else in the world but opening again after a year's isolation. One person on our rollcall compared our cruise to being safer than going shopping at Target! This only proves that a cruiseline that is serious about getting back to business will do what is required. No bluster, no bullying, no politicing, no demands. Just adjusting to the new way of cruising for the foreseeable future. Viking has updated, as of April 6, 2021, their Viking Health & Safety Program. Among all the steps being taken are frequent non-invasive PCR tests and then analyzed in the lab that they installed onboard, social distancing for dining and other events while onboard, mask requirement, upgraded air purification, excursions to meet local safety health requirements, etc. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idiebabe Posted April 16, 2021 #25 Share Posted April 16, 2021 45 minutes ago, Heartgrove said: This only proves that a cruiseline that is serious about getting back to business will do what is required. No bluster, no bullying, no politicing, no demands. Just adjusting to the new way of cruising for the foreseeable future. Viking has updated, as of April 6, 2021, their Viking Health & Safety Program. Among all the steps being taken are frequent non-invasive PCR tests and then analyzed in the lab that they installed onboard, social distancing for dining and other events while onboard, mask requirement, upgraded air purification, excursions to meet local safety health requirements, etc. I agree and when I checked the Protocols that the other Cruise Lines have on their Websites they all seem to be on the same page. MSC demonstrated their seriousness when they refused the Family to re-board the Ship when they broke away from the Ship's Excursion and went off on their own. If a Cruiser doesn't agree with the Protocols they put in place that they believe are necessary to ensure their Ships are safe until things get back to normal, they aren't going to risk it and give into someone's demands, etc. They have too much at stake. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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