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.”
Airlines are in an entirely different situation than the foreign flagged cruise lines.
The AIRLINES have already been bailed out by us Taxpayers in the April CARES ACT when 25 BILLION was set aside for them.
So far about 10 airlines have taken the money including American - Delta - United.
All three of those Airlines have been bankrupt before, years ago, and are Govt. bailout specialists.
The best a foreign flagged Cruise line can hope for is a loan, which has to be paid back, they won't be getting a bailout like the AIRLINES. -Tom
MayflowerMadam wrote: “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.”
The only thing about reduced passengers is the resulting increase in fares. No cruise line can make a profit at less than fifty percent capacity.
I’ve been heavily attacked on CC for my attitude about these covid protocols. The cruise lines proposed prohibiting those over a certain age with comorbidities, ie, those most at risk. The outrage on CC was intense. The most common claim was age discrimination. Those on CC want to cruise and if that means everyone has to be uncomfortable wearing masks, they’re fine with that.
And then there's the probability this won't last 5 years. I'm surprised prices have held up. Not many bargains out there.
Americans have different attitudes than Europeans, and I believe these Cruise ship Covid Protocols will reduce the number of cruisers whenever cruises in this country open up. -Tom
You’re probably right, though prices and I’ve heard bookings among regular cruisers are strong. But it definitely changes things. Personally, I’m a driving person and most of my travel reflects that. But I’ve been on a number of cruises, which fall in two categories. The smaller number, largely to Asia where I wouldn’t be comfortable driving. Europe I can manage, driving around when I can’t read the alphabet is a problem. The majority, to the Caribbean and Central America. When I had kids at home it was an easy way to take a sun vacation and keep track of the various ages. And it stuck when they were gone, my wife and I frequently went because we liked the sun and beaches, and it was cheaper than most resorts. With a change every day. Those cruises, the majority, I wouldn’t take if I couldn’t be on my own in port. Even in foreign destinations, I think that will be a problem. But I don’t know if the US lines will be doing that.
Company A - everybody does masks and distancing
Company B - nobody has to do masks and distancing
Company C - separate cruises with A and B
Let the marketplace decide
I wonder if you’d be kind enough to send me a FReepmail telling me how to link to the CC members’ comments. I was able to find the survey itself, but not the comments. (Maybe I didn’t look hard enough.)
“The only thing about reduced passengers is the resulting increase in fares. No cruise line can make a profit at less than fifty percent capacity.”
Definitely. I always wondered how they made profits before WuFlu. Also, older folk seem to make up the majority of cruisers. If they put an age maximum, they’ll be hurting themselves bigly.
MayflowerMadam wrote: “Definitely. I always wondered how they made profits before WuFlu. Also, older folk seem to make up the majority of cruisers. If they put an age maximum, they’ll be hurting themselves bigly.”
There was a program on, IIRC, Discovery that went with a Norwegian cruise. This program provided some information. Mostly they reap their profits from excursions, casinos, and, most importantly, booze.
They did interview one elderly couple who bragged about not spending a dime beyond their basic fare.
Many of those elderly cruise in interior cabins, do not drink, avoid the casinos, etc.,
Age and health restrictions might hurt but the question is whether those elderly and sick passengers are worth the restrictions.
We’re “elderly”, and we figure we’re “tagged” as not being big spenders ‘cause we don’t drink or gamble in our regular lives, much less on a cruise.
We do upgrade our cabin as far as possible to a reasonable cost — always with a balcony. (Would NEVER get an interior cabin!!) And we spend on some excursions if they’re interesting.
If they’re trying to oust the oldsters by lifting restrictions — I’m good with that. The less WuFlu restrictions the better, both in government and on cruises. ALWAYS take care and be clean; things should work out. Or not. Life’s just that way.
More info here on meeting with Cruise line, CDC, and VP Pence
Thanks for the link.
I was wondering how it turned out.
Sigh.
What a cluster.
Good luck getting a quick test. Though they’ll likely have a far better chance of getting them. Up here in NYS you can’t get one for love or money.
Thanks! Many of those bullet points are a screaming, “No go!” to me. Maybe 2021 will be better.
You mean of course the following from the article:
This proposal includes several essential measures that will need to be adopted on board the vessels:
A minimum of one and preferably two pre-boarding negative Covid-19 test results for guests. However, this is on the presumption that rapid tests are available on the pier side.
Guests should wear face masks in any indoor area except in their cabins and when dining. Masks are not required in outdoor areas as long as physical distancing is feasible.
Initially, cruise lines should only allow shore leave for excursions organized and vetted by the cruise line. Guests would not be allowed to leave the vessel in port on their own.
This could be lifted once more reliable and comprehensive rapid testing becomes available.
Cruises should sail at reduced capacity to prevent overcrowding and to be able to facilitate social distancing.
Any guests that show an unwillingness to comply with the protocols set out will be denied boarding.
The cruise lines have backed off the age related restrictions due to the pushback. I spent some time trying to explain that age related restrictions can be employed if there is a logical and consistent reason for them. Most continued to insist that I was wrong. (Had a bunch of discrimination related class work.)
I wasn’t trying to stereotype people, only pointing out the tendencies.
“I wasn’t trying to stereotype people, only pointing out the tendencies.”
Of course; I understood that.
The hoaxdemic has completely skewed all demographic and sane data analysis which has been standard for decades. It would be interesting to compare the brains of those whose fear became the singular issue controlling their lives — and it happened within one week’s time. All other issues became almost nonexistent. And it could last until their dying day, even if that’s 30 years from now.
One reason the prices are so high is because there are few cabins available...for carnival every cuise until April 2023 is under the new 50% passenger capacity rule...
Normally as the time approaches for the cruise and the cabins are sold until theres just a few the prices go up anyway...
I think you’ll find when the policy of limited capacity is dropped so will those high prices...suddenly a lot of cabins will be available on every sailing...
Ships seem to be selling out fast right now but its only because there are limited cabins allowed to be sold to keep down the number of passengers due to the social distancing protocols...
For instance, the new Celebration has 17 decks of cabins...the first day all of the decks were available...now 2 days later only Deck 5 is available the lowest deck for balconies...are all those cabins spoken for ??? no they just are not allowed to sell them...
And so the prices are ridiculously high...
The Celebration is a new ship ansd the long time passengers have something to look forward to after their cruises being cancelled the last 6 months...people are booking onto the new ship like crazy...When the Vista bookings were opened in Jan 2015 the prices were doubled by the 3rd week because it was a bigger ship and the 1st of its kind...on the other hand in Jan 2017 the sister ship the Horizon bookings opened and until it sailed in April 2018 the prices kept going down...
Nobody has sailed as yet on either the new Mardi Gras or the Celebration so for both ships there is the excitement plus the Wu Hu Flu protocols...
Lots of people are desperate to cruise again so theres that demand on the market thingy with fewer cabins available...even the smaller older ships with tired itineraries are costing much more than they should...
Anything that you booked before 6 months ago would have been much lower in price than what you can get the same thing for now...The Mardi Gras started out cheaper with specials and stayed that way until the virus now its much higher...
The ships are only half full but they are ‘sold out’...
I see cruise shutdown like my solar production ... ?
If you have a broken inverter and lose a week of solar energy production you can never get that back. It’s gone forever. Every day starts a new.
To all those who have deposits on future sailings...
Just like the fuel surcharge (aka if the price of crude goes over $90 a barrel there is a $5 per day surcharge on your cruise). Remember those words. They are still in there.
Betcha there will be a covid fee, per day, per person, that is already part of your contract but the amount is UNDEFINED. Until any of us sail we won’t know that amount or be told.
Just saying I know the mindset of the industry.
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