Posted on 10/06/2020 7:09:21 AM PDT by Capt. Tom
We have seen cancellations of cruises time and again over the last six-month period. So who can say for sure that we will be cruising again in November?
It’s a difficult question that requires many people, institutions, and companies to come together and make a uniform decision on the future of cruising from the U.S.
So let’s have a look at who is involved, and what their standpoints are.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the institution that is ultimately responsible for protecting the American public’s health and safety. The CDC, therefore, has a big say in the future of cruising in the U.S. and U.S. territories.
Let’s be clear on this. The CDC has no say on cruising in any other part of the world. That’s why European countries are allowing cruising, and why there are plans for cruises to resume in the Caribbean and Asia in October.
So although there has been a No Sail Order for cruise ships leaving from U.S. ports, which does have a significant impact on the Cruise Industry, it is by no means meant for all ships around the world.
So what is the CDC saying? Well, as we mentioned recently, the head of the CDC, Dr. Robert Redfield, had initially wanted to extend the No Sail Order until February at the least. So a No Sail Order until October 31 does by no means say that cruising will start in November. It only means that there will be no cruises until November.
Without any significant changes and a vaccine, there is a good chance that the CDC will try to extend the No Sail Order further. They are in no way convinced that safe sailing can occur at this time.
The Major Cruise Lines: Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian
The three primary players on the market have a difficult decision to make and we already know that Norwegian Cruise Line has announced an extended suspension through November. Do we push to start cruising as soon as possible and run the risk of damaging our name, or do we extend further on our terms but run the risk of financial ruin?
Any cruise line that starts operating from a U.S. port will be under intense scrutiny from the press, politics, CDC, and the public. Once there is a case on board a ship, which is not handled correctly, or this could be interpreted as not adequately handled, the company running that ship will be thoroughly investigated and reported on by the press, social media, politicians, and CDC.
The cruise operators could say that they will voluntarily back off until the New Year at the least. However, extending cruising for any more significant amount of time will surely bring these operators to the point of immediate financial need.
Many say that financial support to the cruise lines would be impossible due to the flags and registrations of convenience these companies have. However, the Bank of England and the U.K. government recently approved a £325 million loan to Carnival Plc. and Royal Caribbean. A construction the U.S. government could choose to copy.
In that case, it would not be unreasonable for the cruise operators to halt operations voluntarily. This will take all the pressure away of having to wait for the CDC to make a decision and implementing protocols that, let’s face it, will only cost more money.
The Guests The CDC has made claims that there are cruise ships with outbreaks on board, and therefore is not convinced that cruising can be done safely right now. The claims that the CDC has made have so far not been backed up by facts, as you can hear about in this video.
In the meantime, the cruise operators have made safe sailing panels and an enormous amount of protocols and operating procedures to make sailing safe again. They are convinced that their procedures are sufficient and that they can guarantee the safety of those sailing onboard.
If sailing in November will be allowed, if the CDC, the cruise lines, and the U.S. government manage to reach a consensus, a part of the public still needs to be convinced that sailing onboard cruise ships is indeed safe.
A different part of the public needs to be convinced to adhere to the procedures in place onboard. Protocols and procedures that, in many ways, go much further than any procedure or protocol ashore.
We’ve seen this with MSC cruises in Europe, which have already refused re-entry to the ship, and expelled people from the ship for not following protocol.
All in all, a November sailing seems to be an incredibly complex issue, one that has too many fingers in the pot to be able to reach that consensus in time for the cruise ships to start preparations. Because, let’s not forget, that the cruise lines themselves have said it will take at least 30 days from the word go that they will be able to operate.
Perhaps you saw some test runs on Cruise ships prior to taking out passengers. See excerpt below. -Tom
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FAIN is the Chairman of Royal Caribbean in an excerpt from Cruise Hive story shown below - Tom
Right now, Royal Caribbean has suspended cruises from the United States through October 31, 2020, which is in-line with the extended CDC No Sail order. Before Royal Caribbean begins resuming operations Fain has said that some non-revenue test sailings will take place first to help train the crew and validate new health protocols.
The test sailings will be evaluated before anything is set in stone but once Royal Caribbean ships do start sailing with passengers they will be shorter cruises with limited destinations and controlled shore excursions.
Carnival Cruise Line has announced it will cancel all remaining 2020 voyages, with the exception of sailings scheduled to depart from the Florida homeports of PortMiami and Port Canaveral.
Excerpts from cruise Critic:
NEW List Of Carnival Cruise Lines Canceled Cruises
Carnival Splendor: Sailings through and including January 7, 2021
Carnival Spirit: Sailings through and including May 16, 2021
Mardi Gras: Sailings November 14, 2020 through and including January 30, 2021
Carnival Breeze: From Ft. Lauderdale sailings November 7, 2020 through and including March 7, 2021
Carnival Imagination and Carnival Inspiration: Sailings through and including April 19, 2021
Carnival Fascination: All sailings through and including January 9, 2022
Carnival Sensation: Sailings March 3, 2022 and March 7, 2022
Carnival Sunrise: Sailings through and including October 19, 2020; Miami 7 and 8 day sailings from October 9, 2021 through and including April 30, 2022, excluding the March 5, 2022 sailing; Miami 5 day sailing January 3, 2022
Carnival Radiance: Sailings through and including November 1, 2020; 9, 12 and 14 day sailings from May 2, 2021 through and including April 29, 2022; 5 day sailings December 23, 2021 and December 28, 2021
Carnival Paradise: Sailings through and including February 22, 2021
Carnival Magic: Ft. Lauderdale and Miami departures through and including March 6, 2021; Transatlantic & Barcelona sailings April 10, 2021 through and including May 3, 2021
Carnival Valor: Sailings through and including April 24, 2021
Carnival Conquest, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Breeze, Carnival Elation, and Carnival Liberty: Miami and Port Canaveral sailings through and including October 31, 2020.
All Other Ships: Departures through and including December 31, 2020.
Probably. These were Royal Caribbean boats. One was the Navigator of the Seas.
the controlled shore excursions means that we cant get off the ship at ports unless we are on a Carnival shore excursion and not every usual excursion will be offered...
The idea is to control the tourist companies at the ports and make sure they are following the CDC guidelines etc...
Does this mean that the excursions will be free or cheaper ???
Who knows ???
Hopefully passengers who stay on board wont be charged port fees...
And if you are too late in booking a ship approved excursion what do you do? Stay on the ship?
The casinos should be closed while the ship is in port.
A lot of cruisers like going to the casino.-Tom
In the past if there were enough people requesting a shore excursion that is full they arrange another bus etc and you can go...If youre on a waiting list you usually end up going...of course it depends on what is involved etc...
However arranging spots for every passenger on board may be difficult...
Since about half the ship usually go off on their own or take independent tours, the meeting places on board and on the pier are going to be zoos...
Personally I take 1 SE a cruise and sometimes none...unless I’m in Europe/TA...
In Alaska last year I took a Carnival SE at every port but that was unusual and I had heaps of OBC for that cruise...
Even a routine trip to the Bahamas effective Oct. 15 is going to reuire some onerous protocols for visitors like a prior coviod test and a visa etc.
Another hurdle for the Cruise Lines to overcome. -Tom
This was a close call yesterday.
December was not mentioned. -Tom
Celebrity Cruises @CelebrityCruise Oct 6, 2020
We're extending the suspension of global operations for all sailings departing on or before 11/30/20, and our Winter Asia and Australia 2020/21 season. If your sailing is affected, we'll reach out to you or your Travel Partner with more options.
I know how badly you want to get a cruise in, an have had so many cancelled, but If you are going between now and the Spring of 2021 on Seabourn or Azamara they have just cancelled all their trips now till the Spring of 2021.
MSC, the 4th largest Cruise line has just cancelled all USA cruises to the Caribbean and Bahamas. -Tom
Tom —
“Even a routine trip to the Bahamas effective Oct. 15 is going to reuire some onerous protocols for visitors like a prior coviod test and a visa etc.”
Are you saying or is it being said ...
Visa now required for Bahamas ?
Are they extending that to every private island a cruise line owns ???!
Screw that.
Bahamas New Procedures in Place from October 15th
The most notable requirement would be that the Bahamas require everyone to obtain an RT-PCR swab test no more than seven days before traveling to the Bahamas. With a negative test result, you should then apply for a visa.
Only with the negative test result and a valid visa will you be allowed to travel to the Bahamas. Upon arrival, a rapid antigen test will be conducted. How this will be coordinated with thousands of passengers disembarking large cruise ships remains to be seen.
The Bahama’s aims to open up the tourism industry by air and sea from October 15th onwards. Tourists aiming to travel to the Bahamas between the 15th and 31st of October will only be allowed to vacation in place. They are effectively being restricted to hotel grounds only.
I guess that I, apparently not being in my right mind, would cruise now. People die from norovirus which has been relatively common on cruise ships for decades.
Live your life. Always be careful.
I was suppose to leave this morning for Europe and B2B cruises with Carnival...Venice to Barcelona and Barcelona to Tampa......I’m having a miserable day...
I NEED A CRUISE !!!!
My next cruise is a replacement one in Jan...my first since the Wu Hu Flu...
Fingies and toesies crossed...
Carnival is still suppose to start cruising again Nov 1 from Miami and Port C...
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