How long will Bubble tours continue?

[sharon&family]

We are thinking of booking a cruise in February and will have a 1 year old with us.  Do you think they will still only get to get off the ship on a bubble tour by then?  With all the kids having shots over age 4, wouldn't they end that for the younger ones?

[jsglow]

Yes. Carnival has said existing protocols are in place through the end of February at a minimum.  Also note that no exemption protocols are established as of yet for beyond 12/31 as they were anticipating eligibility for kids 5-12 to get vaccinated. They have not commented on the group below 5.

[sharon&family]

I am hoping kids will get shots in November and December.  Then they dont have to do bubble tours and they will just not worry about the under 5's.  Especially if the number of cases are good.

[Homosassa]

1 hour ago, sharon&family said:

I am hoping kids will get shots in November and December.  Then they dont have to do bubble tours and they will just not worry about the under 5's.  Especially if the number of cases are good.

Why shouldn't they worried about unvaccinated children under five? That children in that age group are just as much disease vectors as any unvaccinated older person.

[sharon&family]

Because by then, so many people will be vaccinated and the numbers will be so low hopefully that we wont really have to worry about that small population group being around other people who have the virus.  Plus their parents will have tested negative and 2-4's will be tested as well.

[Earthworm Jim]

Doesn't the requirement for bubble tours also depend on the rules at each given port of call? Even if Carnival changes their protocols, they still have to go by what that port requires.

[sharon&family]

We went ahead and booked a January 9th cruise.  I wonder what the requirements will be at that time for a 1 year old.

[fabby50]

I booked a cruise for September 2022 and bubble tours are still listed/bookable for that cruise.

[tiffy0728]

On 10/30/2021 at 8:22 PM, sharon&family said:

We are thinking of booking a cruise in February and will have a 1 year old with us.  Do you think they will still only get to get off the ship on a bubble tour by then?  With all the kids having shots over age 4, wouldn't they end that for the younger ones?

My daughter will be 20 months come February. We will be on the Horizon cruise. She doesn't have to wear a mask or be tested. I am praying and hoping that we don't have to do a bubble tour with her by then.

[embarkation75]

On 10/30/2021 at 7:22 PM, sharon&family said:

We are thinking of booking a cruise in February and will have a 1 year old with us.  Do you think they will still only get to get off the ship on a bubble tour by then?  With all the kids having shots over age 4, wouldn't they end that for the younger ones?

Unfortunately, what you see is what will likely persist into the foreseeable future as bubble shore excursions, advanced health screening/testing, etc.. aren't going away. I was reading an article that interviews a well respected Virilogist about where things stand and are headed with the crux of his comments inferring that we are entering a steady state with the virus persistent in society. There is really no "end" but rather therapeutics and vaccines will continue to slowly decrease folks going through a severe course along with hospitalizations over the next DECADE. In other words, get use to this new reality as it won't be changing very fast.

Edited November 3, 2021 by embarkation75

[Homosassa]

On 10/31/2021 at 3:29 PM, sharon&family said:

Because by then, so many people will be vaccinated and the numbers will be so low hopefully that we wont really have to worry about that small population group being around other people who have the virus.  Plus their parents will have tested negative and 2-4's will be tested as well.

I don't even know where to start to unravel the faulty reasoning in your post. Maybe the following will help.

 

Unvaccinated people of any age can and will contract the virus and will pass it into other people whether those people are vaccinated or not. 

 

Yes, vaccinated people will hopefully not become ill or if they do, will not have a severe course of Covid 19.

 

However, until those that are unvaccinated take the precautions or, in the case of children, have others ensure the precautions are taken, the unvaccinated will be a continuous reservoir of the virus.

 

Precautions are masks and social distancing and, when available, vaccines.

 

Cruise ships are particularly an environment where the nature of the experience can lead to the rapid spreading of disease.   It is to be hoped that the restrictions on any unvaccinated passengers and their close cruising companions will remain to protect everyone on the ship and limit exposure to others in shore.

 

 

[ultrafighter]

I don't mind the idea of bubble tours too much, but I hope they figure out how to do more than just beach trips by our February cruise.

[klfrodo]

I would expect that "bubble excursions" from the cruising community will continue for the next 3 - 5 years.

With cruise ships holding anywhere from 1500 to 3000, even up to 6000 passengers all invading a foreign community at once for one day, the local authorities have no way of knowing what diseases are being introduced into their community. They have to balance the economic impact of zero tourists vs. the impact to the health of their communities. The balance they are choosing right now is to keep the visitors in a bubble.

 

On the other hand, a plane load of tourists holding 250 passengers with current negative tests and holding a proof of vaccine card can rest a little more easily that their community can withstand a little higher risk that this smaller group is safe to deplane and go on their way. They are also easier to track. They know what plane your arrived on, they know what seat you were sitting in, they know what hotel you stayed at and if you buy a tour, they know who, what, when, and where. Even when you get to your AI hotel, you are essentially in a bubble. People who stay at B&B's or whatever are outliers in the grand scheme of things.

Edited November 3, 2021 by klfrodo

[jimbo5544]

Bubble tours will end when ehe CDC says they will.  Not a minute sooner.  When that is up for lots of debate.

[BoozinCroozin]

On 10/31/2021 at 4:53 PM, Earthworm Jim said:

Doesn't the requirement for bubble tours also depend on the rules at each given port of call? Even if Carnival changes their protocols, they still have to go by what that port requires.

Yes. People on my cruise have this idea that more bubble tours will be offered when we set sail. The issue is those islands are not allowing unvaccinated to enter. They simply don't understand that Amber Cove will be the only port and the 2 tours remaining are horrible. Those unvaxxed will be on an 8-night cruise and never leave the ship. On top of that, a parent will have to remain back to watch them.

[gnocchi_mommy]

On 10/30/2021 at 8:22 PM, sharon&family said:

We are thinking of booking a cruise in February and will have a 1 year old with us.  Do you think they will still only get to get off the ship on a bubble tour by then?  With all the kids having shots over age 4, wouldn't they end that for the younger ones?

I would expect bubble tours to be a thing way into the future because as others said, not only is this a CDC thing but it’s dependent on the nations a ship docks at. The child being under age 5 isn’t somehow less susceptible  to either catching or transmitting Covid. Book it with the expectation you’ll be limited in excursions but have a good time anyway.

Edited November 3, 2021 by gnocchi_mommy

[HoustonTexans55]

On 10/31/2021 at 2:19 PM, Homosassa said:

Why shouldn't they worried about unvaccinated children under five? That children in that age group are just as much disease vectors as any unvaccinated older person.

Those kids are not all over the place. Many are glued to their parents hips. I have a 9 month old.  She wont be running the ship.

[BlerkOne]

Kids ran amuck prior to the pandemic - I don't see that changing (in general).

 

The better question is when will the pandemic end? Not just the US, but any country a cruise ship might call on.

[CruiseBro16]

[NutsAboutGolf]

The better way to think of it is it isn't CCLs call, the individual ports dictate whether they'll allow free roam or not which is heavily based on medical facility occupancy.  This is why some ports allow free roam, some ports require bubble tours and some will allow free roam in the immediate pier area only.