Posted on 10/09/2020 10:54:10 AM PDT by Capt. Tom
Will Americans still cruise if they have to wear a mask and social distance on ships?
A few months ago, many were saying “no” in the strongest possible terms, according to industry watchers. But there’s been a sea change, so to speak, in the thinking on the topic as the coronavirus crisis has dragged on.
“Back in March, they said ‘no way’ to things like masks and social distancing,” Colleen McDaniel, editor-in-chief of Cruise Critic, said Wednesday at Seatrade Cruise Virtual, an online version of the cruise industry’s annual meetup. “They’re much more prepared to take (it) on now.”
McDaniel, who cited Cruise Critic surveys of readers as pointing to the shift, was speaking on a panel on “the future of the guest experience” that included several cruise line representatives who echoed her comments.
“In April, they were saying, ‘Well, (if) I have to wear a mask, I’m not going to go,'” said Dan Blanchard, CEO of small-ship adventure company UnCruise Adventures. “Now they’re saying, ‘If you don’t require me to wear a mask and everybody (else), I’m not going.'”
Blanchard suggested that the majority of Americans now don’t want to go anywhere unless they know they will be in a bubble of safety. If that means sometimes intrusive anti-COVID measures, so be it.
MSC Grandiosa is one of the few cruise ships that has resumed sailings since March. It’s operating voyages out of Italy that are open to European travelers only. Bernhard Stacher, vice president of global hotel operations for MSC Cruises, said his company had seen something similar in Italy, where the line recently resumed limited sailings for Europeans only.
Stacher said MSC Cruises customers had become more comfortable not just with mask-wearing and social distancing on ships but even more extreme anti-COVID measures such as rules forbidding passengers to disembark in ports on their own.
“In the beginning, it was, like, ‘Hmmm. We can’t go ashore and explore now?” he said. “Since we’ve run (ships with the policy for) a few weeks, and other cruise lines have said they are going to do the same, people feel very comfortable (with the idea).”
The changing consensus comes as Americans become more accustomed to anti-COVID measures in all aspects of life, McDaniel noted.
“They’re just getting used to it in their day-to-day lives,” she said of things like mask-wearing. “It’s something that just becomes routine and habit.”
McDaniel added that after so many months without cruising, cruise fans were ready to do just about anything to get back on ships. Cruise Critic surveys show that, despite the COVID outbreak, about 75% of readers are planning to cruise again in the next year.
“If (wearing a mask) means that they can get back on board cruise ships, they’re ready to do it,” she said.
Most major cruise lines haven’t operated a single departure since March, when health officials declared the new coronavirus a pandemic. But the main trade group for the industry, the Cruise Lines International Association, has said in recent weeks that it would require its members to implement a wide range of safety protocols when they restart operations.
The protocols will include such things as mandatory COVID testing for all passengers, restrictions on port touring, mask-wearing on ships at times and social distancing on ships.
Already, a handful of lines that have resumed sailings out of Italy and other European countries are implementing such protocols, and the early word is passengers are complying with the rules, not complaining in great numbers and still enjoying the cruise experience.
“Italy was very hard-hit during the initial stages of the pandemic … and thus (had) already really changed their culture to accept mask use and the distancing and certain restrictions,” Stacher said. “So they (have been) very obedient.”
Stacher said passengers on the two ships the line now is operating out of Italy sometimes forget to put on their masks when walking in public areas. But the crew is trained to politely remind them, and the passengers have been very accepting of such nudges.
“They do follow (such requests), and they actually are very appreciative and say ‘thank you very much,'” he said. “I think it’s a big success story.”
Everyone has their opinion, no?
And just think thats just the top of it
I wrote an article on White sharks for newspapers here in Mass. last year, and here is how I started it off.
It would have been perfect for you. LOL. -Tom
Remember the movie JAWS, the movie that left you with a gnawing feeling that if you were frolicking in the ocean something bad might happen to you?
That has become a reality for some Massachusetts’s beachgoers. They are now experiencing interactions with white sharks, resulting in hospitalizations, close calls, and a fatal attack on Cape Cod in 2018.
OK- back to cruising. -Tom
“No way would we do it again if we have to wear masks. Plus the fact that they’re planning on keeping the buffets closed.”
Ditto.
If they modified the buffet, we could deal with that. (We don’t use the buffet often, anyhow.) One of our cruses had that norovirus thing going on, and they had a modified buffet. The food was displayed as usual, but staff handled the serving. Table condiments were disposable.
But masks ... uh uh. No way. Not even a consideration.
I know! There are things down there that want to EAT me. At least I’d have a fighting chance on land! ;)
‘Jaws’ was the first R-Rated movie I ever sneaked into.
I had read the book; nothing prepared me for the Big Screen version! But, still one of my favorite movies of all time.
You want my money, NO face diapers, or other covidiocy. I’ll wait it out and/or find something else to do.
I received an invitation to take this survey. One of my responses was that I wouldn’t cruise with masking. After several answers that contradicted what this article stated, the survey said I wasn’t eligible to take the survey.
I’m very suspicious of this survey. I think it was seeking a predetermined answer that was designed to convince potential cruisers to cruise with these protocols in place, ie, masking, etc.
Cruise Critic is dominated by an elderly clientele who are very ‘safe in a bubble’ oriented. They want to cruise again and are willing to go to any length to do so. They are deathly afraid of the virus and any post that goes against the media portrayal is quickly attacked. At times, it’s like a Joe Biden coronavirus commercial.
I just went to Cruise Critic and took the survey. Looks like it was accepted.
BTW, we’re “elderly clientele”, but are not “safe in a bubble” people.
When cruising returns to pre-Covid status, we’ll go again. However, if they chose to not cram so many people in to a cruise that wouldn’t be a bad thing.
Regarding mask requirements by any carrier - land, sea or air - you can count me out. Wouldn’t be much of a vacation if you’re force to wear a mask or face covering.
I am of two minds on this. I am with most people. masks, no buffet etc is not what anyone wants to spend thousands of dollars for but the cruises need to resume soon or it’s over. Maybe start them up with some restrictions to placate the CDC In the hope they can be relaxed. They either start scheduling soon or domestic cruises are finished.
That's how I see it. A Whistling past the graveyard article.
It's not the first one , an example; like we have more people wanting to cruise right now than we ever had in our history.
That too me means they are not refunding cancelled cruise money, just hanging on to it for alleged future cruises. The more cruises you cancel the more money you take in.
Some of the big cruise lines have not done a cruise in 7 months, and are still at the mercy of our cruise hating CDC.
When you borrow Billions of dollars to stay afloat, you have to convince your creditors you are going to make it . -Tom
“Forget it. They are and remain floating petri dishes. Other modes of travel are much better.”
They never had a chance. Unlike airlines which can deny they were the cause of a packed-in people becoming infected, it’s kind of hard to deny the same when the infected people all got sick during a 7-day cruise. I figured the cruise industry was dead (hopefully to be revived when vulture companies we never heard of buy out their boats in a year or two, or three - I actually do like cruising), and that airlines would be bailed out. Got both right! Got everything else wrong, though...no real shortages (purchasing runs don’t count) and the stock market has held up (albeit being juiced).
We’ll see what this new post-virus world brings us.
I went on a cruise once. Hated it. Will never repeat, mask or no mask.
We weren’t cruisers pre-COVID. I’d much rather unpack in a beach bungalow or hotel and enjoy the beach and booze. Pick my own restaurants based on what the locals like. At my age I have no interest in a pig-out buffet.
Cruise lines are going to take a while before returning. Not sure they can make any $$$ by having the boat only half full. I would think buffet lines are not in vogue either.
Airlines are back about 35% of normal. Demand has been leveling off and probably won’t see much growth until a vaccine IMO.
I have taken 30 flights since March and feel fairly safe.
I’ll WEAR AHAZMAT SUIT...
I N EEDA CRUISE !!!!
I HATE THE TYRANTS AT THE CDC!
On the brighter side, the schedules for the new Carnival ship, the Celebration, the sister ship to the Mardi Gras, opened yesterday...
The inaugural cruise is also a TA...Southampton to Miami...Nov 6, 2022...Miami will be her home port...
We have yet to see the Mardi Gras...she was suppose to have done a TA and arrived in NYC last month...right now shes due to sail from Port Canaveral in Feb...
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