Posted on 04/18/2020 3:04:57 PM PDT by Capt. Tom
Despite mass cancellations of voyages, Miami-based Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings — the three largest cruise companies — have raised enough cash to last at least 10 cruise-less months, according to analysts. The fourth largest, MSC Cruises, is privately held.
But will people want to cruise again after thousands have been infected with COVID-19 after cruises and dozens have died? That’s the million dollar question, said Rockford Weitz, director of the Fletcher School Maritime Studies Program at Tufts University.
Travel agents say they are seeing a steady stream of bookings for 2021, according to The Points Guy and industry publication Travel Weekly. Some of those are re-bookings using future credits offered by companies to passengers who saw their vacations canceled due to the pandemic.
Cruise companies were shut out of the federal coronavirus stimulus bill in late March because they claim U.S. tax exemption by incorporating overseas. Carnival Corp. is a Panamanian company, Royal Caribbean Cruises a Liberian company, and Norwegian Cruise Line a Bermudan company. All register their ships abroad, too.
Still, they have managed to buy time through capital markets, as well as through reducing expenses. Carnival has raised nearly $6 billion through new debt and equity positions. Among those purchasing stakes was Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. Royal Caribbean has also drawn on about $3.5 billion from existing credit instruments. Royal Caribbean laid off 26% of its U.S. staff Wednesday. Norwegian Cruise Line has made pay cuts.
(Excerpt) Read more at miamiherald.com ...
The Cruise lines have to worry about our press making a big deal out of every Norovirus episode that occurs.
If Coronavirus occurs it will certainly be reported.
If my wife and my health stand up, I hope to be onboard in October. -Tom
Passport and antibody test will be required before boarding... my prediction
The cruise lines certainly have had enough time to figure out how to handle various problems that will arise in the restart.
I believe they will sit out a few ships until they feel they can fill them. Also cut some deals with foreign port officials and airlines.
They have billions of dollars to push their agenda. -Tom
Personally, cruising is not my thing, and I wouldn’t do it... and they will obviously lose a lot of people in the near term. BUT if the cruise companies shoot enough specials and 2-for-1 deals, a lot of their customers will bite. Much of their clientele are older retirees with a devil-may-care “I’m 80 years old without a lot of time left, so why the hell not?” attitude. And there’s something to be said for that.
We will be following you shortly thereafter. The Cruise lines just need to demonstrate some additional precautions and make them known most people will come back. A lot of people love cruising and just need to know steps have been to make it safe and they will return.
and then from there it will push these tests out to other areas
This, ocean liners of the late 19th and early 20th century did health inspections for a reason.
Our Alaska tour is cancelled. They’re offering 125% refnd.
Carnival is having tremendous results with its cruises. Yes, the customers will be back, especially as they already have booked into next year.
We went on a southern Caribbean cruise in February. (Norwegian) We received the whole long document about what they were doing to mitigate against the virus. We were told that there would be temperature screening. When we went on board they bout us into the embarkation are several hundred at time, we filled out a screening questionnaire, but as far as I could tell, no temp screening. We have 4 cruise deposits for future trips. We plan on using them, but they have to beef up their screening procedures.
I told my wife years ago that if she wanted to go on a cruise I would fly to wherever it was going and meet here there. I get claustrophobia around crowds of people.
I now feel flying is not a desirable experience. Remember the days when you had plenty of room. Drinks were free and stewardesses were friendly and cute.
We already got a form from Royal Caribbean that has to have a doctor’s signature that you don’t have 4 different underlying problems......doesn;t mention Corona.
You might be able to do it later on in the year, if Canada opens its ports in Victoria or Vancouver.
Both Alaskan and New England cruises are having the same problem which is closed Canadian ports.
Foreign flagged Cruise ships that leave an American port must visit a foreign port before re-docking in an American port. - Tom
You ALWAYS needed a Passport.
With the 5 minute tests before boarding and a cabinet full of the malaria cocktail and a couple extra docs on board....eezy peezy.
In Hong Kong the terminal has overhead temperature screenings for everyone.
I thought if you stay on the ship during port calls you do not need a passport? In any case a smart person would get a passport in the rare instance when an emergency arises.
Other than disembarking, there really aren’t big crowds on the ships......I’ve been on over 80 and I do have a little claustrophobia.
NO!! You MUST have a passport to get on the ship, and most countries say they must be valid 3-6 months AFTER you are visiting!!
I think the first question they will have to answer is, “What is your plan to get us off the ship in a timely manner if another pandemic breaks out?”
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