Posted on 09/28/2020 10:15:51 AM PDT by Capt. Tom
Are you the kind of cruiser who loves roaming on your own during port calls? You may not like a new rule that appears to be in the works at many cruise lines.
Health experts advising some of the world’s biggest cruise brands on how to restart cruising unveiled recommendations this week that included a call to significantly restrict passenger movements during port stops.
The main trade group for the cruise industry, the Cruise Lines International Association, this week also released guidelines for a healthy restart to cruising that included a ban on passengers roaming ports on their own. The association said the rule would be mandatory for ships operated by its member lines on itineraries subject to CDC regulation.
The touring rule is just one of many that cruisers are likely to see when cruising resumes in North America. The Healthy Sail Panel also called for:
Passengers to be tested for COVID-19 between five days and 24 hours before sailing. Those testing positive would not be allowed to cruise.
Passengers to wear cloth face coverings or masks on ships in accordance with CDC recommendations.
Cruise lines to only allow indoor excursions during port stops if physical distancing, use of masks and other recommended protective measures can be implemented.
Cruise lines to modify onboard facilities so passengers can remain socially distanced in accordance with CDC recommendations (at least six feet separation).
Daily temperature checks for all passengers.
All of these are things that some would-be cruisers may find onerous.
(Excerpt) Read more at thepointsguy.com ...
Just hope the test doesn't come back with a false POSITIVE as you might be locked down for 14 days. LOL- Tom
My wife and I have $1000 paid forward to cruise with NCL. We have to pay more to complete payment for any cruise we choose. So far they have been forwarding our payment towards future cruises, but, as much as I love cruising, We are reluctant to put more good money after bad. We will never be reimbursed, they will always keep any money we give them as credits for future cruises.
What a disaster for the cruise industry. What will they do with their huge 5000+ passenger ships?
We were very fond of cruising and have been on all of the ship-sponsored excursions that interest us, so we were used to getting off the ship and exploring the ports on our own. This makes me very sad.
I know what you mean.
For us old timers who come from a cold winter climate, just getting off the ship and walking around in 80 deg. weather in the middle of the winter is rewarding in itself.
It wouldn't be fun stuck on the cool ship looking out the window at beautiful warm landscape, while wearing a light sweatshirt because of the cool air-conditioning on the Cruise ship.
Another reason to make sure you have a balcony cabin, but you can't do much walking around there, and the view is somewhat limited. -Tom
We had to cancel our scheduled cruise on Halloween last October because I had a weird malady....looking back, I would swear it was COVID because of my symptoms but it couldn’t have been - it was too soon for that, so maybe just the flu. But I visited my doctor several days before the cruise, hoping to get relief, still had a fever the day of the cruise and cancelled. Little did I know back then that we missed out on our last chance for a long, long time.
😔
All these tests have down side as far as getting on the ship is concerned.
Rarely are you dealing with just one person, so a positive test can affect a negative tested group. Below will give you an idea of how complicated it can get. -Tom
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From The Points Guy yesterday, an excerpt:
TUI Cruises is requiring that all passengers test negative for COVID-19 before boarding the vessel. But unlike the two other major lines that have resumed limited cruises in the Mediterranean — MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises — it isn’t doing the tests at the pier as passengers board. Passengers can take the test a few days before they travel.
The looser policy means that a Mein Schiff 6 passenger who contracted COVID-19 after being tested but before traveling to the ship could carry the illness on board.
Tom here-Can you imagine the chaos for an American family that travels to Europe and one of the members is tested positive, and they can't get on the ship. What do you do? -Tom
I’m lucky since our cruise is scheduled for AFTER Nov. 3. Watch what happens. COVID-19 will magically disappear on November 4.
““I’m not going to pay all that money to travel with restrictions.”
Ditto for us. Looks like our cruising days are over.”
Sorry RCCL, I’ll take a plane rather than a repositioning cruise.
Sorry RCCL, I’ll take a plane rather than a repositioning cruise.
I agree. My October NCL 'Gem' was cancelled, Boston to Bermuda.
The Gem is going again on Nov 5, but because of the restrictions I am going to pass it up. -Tom
If we have to have a test within 14 days of getting on the ship that doesn’t leave a very wide window for traveling to Europe and maybe around before the cruise...I usually go over about 10 days before the cruise...getting a ‘vanity’ test done and having the results back and receiving a confirmed negative report from my doctor would be difficult...
Plus we have to have a new test every time we sail I know people who cruise every month...
Is Obamacare going to cover the costs every time for a non-medical need ???
It wont be free for people without symptoms...
No matter how you feel, the test can tell a different story. See below -Tom
excerpt from Cruise Hive today-There were 12 COVID-19 cases on TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 6 but now they seem to be false positives and there is in fact no outbreak onboard.
That alone would be enough to keep the wife and I from doing a cruise. Can you imagine how mad she would be if I’m onboard and waving goodbye to her and she’s still standing on the dock as the ship is pulling away?
Capt Tom...thank you for keeping us up on the cruise industry.
The TUI ships are cute they have Tweety Bird and other characters painted on the side...
Or what if a family ,is going on a cruise and little Joey tests positive.
What a mess. Worse if you are in a foreign country.
I'm sure the Cruise lines will try to keep the money from the family not testing positive but declining to go, to remain ashore with little Joey.- Tom
“Or what if a family ,is going on a cruise and little Joey tests positive.”
I was kidding about leaving the wife behind earlier. :÷)
If the wife or “little Joey” come down with the COVID, we’re not leaving them behind. But seriously, with the possibility of that situation coming up...I’m not sure I’d want to take a cruise.
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