Anyone else given up?

[jane01jp]

Yes, the virus will mutate and we may potentially have to receive more rounds of vaccinations way down the road

Some will object to the "have to."

 

[andyman8]

Some will object to the "have to."

That’s not at all what I meant. I think you missed the point...

 

[jane01jp]

No, COVID-19 is not something that is being “overblown” or “overhyped.” To describe it as such is callous, selfish, and not routed in reality.

With all due respect, there are varying reactions to COVID-19, some of which border on hysteria. We are each entitled to our own opinions about where we draw the line between rational concern and hype. To castigate everyone who thinks that some reactions are overblown or overhyped as "callous, selfish, and not routed in reality" is entirely subjective.

 

[jane01jp]

That’s not at all what I meant. I think you missed the point...

Sorry.

 

[andyman8]

With all due respect, there are varying reactions to COVID-19, some of which border on hysteria. We are each entitled to our own opinions about where we draw the line between rational concern and hype. To castigate everyone who thinks that some reactions are overblown or overhyped as "callous, selfish, and not routed in reality" is entirely subjective.

Sure, some reactions are overblown, but to criticize or judge large swaths of the population for taking basic precautions based on data and research (like avoiding indoor dining) or for agreeing that cruising isn’t a good idea right now (as some on here have done) is callous, selfish, and not routed in reality in my opinion. There are plenty of sound reasons why sane people would make those adjustments/come to those conclusions. That’s my opinion. You are entitled to disagree. A message board is just that - a collection of subjective opinions. If you’re looking for pure objectivity, then I’d advise you to look elsewhere.

Anyways, you are totally missing the point of my post. It wasn’t an indictment of various risk assessments to the pandemic but rather a commentary on what I expect in terms of changes (both long-term and short-term). Given that that is part of the topic of this thread, that’s all I’m going to say on the matter.

 

[jane01jp]

Sure, some reactions are overblown, but to criticize or judge large swaths of the population for taking basic precautions based on data and research (like avoiding indoor dining) or for agreeing that cruising isn’t a good idea right now (as some on here have done) is callous, selfish, and not routed in reality in my opinion. There are plenty of sound reasons why sane people would make those adjustments/come to those conclusions. That’s my opinion. You are entitled to disagree. A message board is just that - a collection of subjective opinions. If you’re looking for pure objectivity, then I’d advise you to look elsewhere.

Anyways, you are totally missing the point of my post. It wasn’t an indictment of various risk assessments to the pandemic but rather a commentary on what I expect in terms of changes (both long-term and short-term). Given that that is part of the topic of this thread, that’s all I’m going to say on the matter.

Thanks for responding.

I would never begrudge anyone the right to make their own risk assessments, and feel like that is each person's prerogative. I likewise think it would be callous or selfish to deny each person that prerogative. The problem comes when people begin to assail the character of people with whom they disagree, which doesn't seem to be your intention.

As to your view of the future, who knows...you could have it right. If you had asked me last year at this time for predictions for 2020 I would have missed by a mile.

 

[DCLCrazy64622]

I know but certain groups of people can be very resistant to change. The Disney cruise experience has stayed relatively unchanged since it started in 1998. Its the Disney cruise experience that people have an emotional attachment to. Change Management was part of the Business Organization module I did for my degree a few years ago. Its a really interesting subject


Oh I know, Disney will have to comply with EU guidance for cruise ship operations from the European CDC https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/COVID-19-cruise-ship-guidance The main difference between the European and American regulations is that the European CDC do not require the certification and test cruise process that the American CDC requires.

Interesting that it says nothing about the length of the cruise itself. CDC says nothing over 7 days.

 

[mmackeymouse]

When my daughter was 5, she was a huge collector of character autographs, but otherwise had no interest in the characters.

Sadly, these kiddos are not that way. We did WDW in September, and meeting the characters was pretty high on their list. When you asked them what they wanted to do most at Disney World, the older one said Slinky Dog or Thunder Mountain. But, for the little one, the response was always, "Meet Minnie Mouse" or "Meet Elsa." We really liked the cavalcades, and we did Topolino's breakfast, which was great. Just...not the same, obviously.

But... there was comfort in the fact that....at least we had a cruise to look forward to where they could meet all the characters to their heart's content. So, like I said....huge blow.

To be honest, these threads kind of frustrate me because they seem to gravitate towards the extremes. No, COVID-19 is not something that is being “overblown” or “overhyped.” To describe it as such is callous, selfish, and not routed in reality. Just because you haven’t personally experienced severe complications doesn’t mean that it isn’t something that has affected others in such a way. It should be taken very seriously, even if that has implications on a vacation. At the same time, this doom and gloom of a permanent new normal and that everything is going to be awful forever is both premature and myopic. Masks are not going to be with us into perpetuity (likely through most - if not all - of 2021 but not forever), people will travel and congregate in crowded places again, and the cruise experience will return mostly to it’s pre-pandemic normal. Just because it likely won’t happen this calendar year doesn’t mean it won’t ever happen. That doesn’t mean there won’t be some permanent, long-term changes but those will likely result more from public demand (for example, an increased public interest in health and cleaning measures) and/or business efficiency discoveries but the sizable alterations to experiences we’re seeing now (and will see once cruising resumes) will likely fade away as 2021 fades into 2022. Yes, the virus will mutate and we may potentially have to receive more rounds of vaccinations way down the road, but the incredible technology that gave us these vaccines so quickly will expedite those processes. We just need to be patient, which I know is not easy (especially nine months in) but I think six months from now, we’ll be in a better place. Though very rare, the world has had pandemics before and while we’ve learned certain things from them, many other precautions faded away when they became unnecessary (and they will become unnecessary again, even if it takes time).

As for when cruising resume, I’m still guessing April, assuming that vaccines are available from a good number of members of the general public by then. The experience will definitely be hugely different but I think that those measures will eventually be relaxed next year as the pandemic subsides and DCL recovers

Understandable, but for those of us with 2021 cruises, it puts us in quite a predicament. You either stick with your cruise in 2021 and "deal" with whatever lesser experience you get. Or...you move it to 2022 or 2023 and likely pay a much higher price for said cruise....even though your re-scheduling is through no fault of your own. Why is it fair for you to have to pay more money for a cruise, when the reason you do it is because DCL isn't offering you the premium product you paid for? And for those who stick with 2021, why is it fair for you to have paid that price for the premium product you expect, get a lesser experience, and your option is just...."It is what it is, you have to deal with it" or move your cruise at a higher price?

This is what almost puts me in the "giving up" category. Because the options are just so stinky either way.

 

[Cheburashka]

This is what almost puts me in the "giving up" category. Because the options are just so stinky either way.

Something that does brighten things up, even for those of us in the "giving up on 2021 & maybe 2022" category, is that the Wish will eventually come out, giving all of us some new DCL magic to experience.

 

[mmackeymouse]

Something that does brighten things up, even for those of us in the "giving up on 2021 & maybe 2022" category, is that the Wish will eventually come out, giving all of us some new DCL magic to experience.

This is true. I hoped to go on the Wish *someday* but not in its initial run. But, my mind could be changed.

You know what would be cool?

After the Inaugural Cruise, if the first maybe 4-5 months of cruises on the Wish were exclusive to the people who had cruises impacted by Covid- whether that be cancelled, or those who re-scheduled to 2022, or those who re-scheduled due to lack of offerings.....offering them a fair market price on the Wish, before releasing it fully to the public.

Like I said, I don't have plans to go on the Wish, BUT...for a certain level of exclusivity....I could be convinced.

 

[ShuckyDarn1955]

It's definitely a struggle. Every day that goes by, I feel less and less hope.

The restrictions don't bother me. Required vaccine? Bring it on. Masks? Fine. Distancing? Sure.

But...loss of offerings might be an issue. No character meets would be a huge, HUGE hit. Traveling with a 6 and 4 year old, the character meets, specifically the Princess meet and Frozen meet were one of our top reasons for going with DCL. Losing those very well could be a dealbreaker. No shows would be disappointing, maybe not a dealbreaker but disappointing. I think they'll figure out a way to make dining work. But, if the Flo's Cafe food stations are closed up, and the only way to get food would be at the restaurants....that would be tough. Scheduling pool time would be tough.

These are great points....I think if DCL rolled out these, and other, restrictions, we would probably go with a couple of cruises with other companies and come back to DCL when they return to a more pre-COVID format.

 

[jtntx34]

It’s official. I am actually hoping for the first time ever that my next cruise is cancelled.

Moved it to April 2021. If not cancelled soon enough (15 day window), I will move it again and again and again until I can get a full experience with all the special touches.

I really want to cruise again but am not in a massive hurry and do NOT want to pay for a less than experience.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

I have not given up on cruising in general. However, I have stopped walking reservations. I have no outstanding reservations and will not make any until I see clear movement from the industry as well as meeting my expectations on what I consider acceptable in terms of safety and convenience. I will not likely go as long as masks are mandated. Although, I said the same about WDW and my second trip is planned in a month, so who knows.

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

Have you actually read https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/COVID-19-cruise-ship-guidance and compared it to https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/pdf/CDC-Conditional-Sail-Order_10_30_2020-p.pdf

When you compare the EU Guidance for Cruise Ship Operations and the American CDC Framework For Conditional Sailing , The American CDC Framework has far more steps and is far more involved. Considering that cruising has already restarted in Europe, there is a bigger chance that The Disney Magic will restart in Europe before the other ships will restart from Florida.

This is good to hear. The CDC is overly bureaucratic in my opinion.

 

[jane01jp]

I have not given up on cruising in general. However, I have stopped walking reservations. I have no outstanding reservations and will not make any until I see clear movement from the industry as well as meeting my expectations on what I consider acceptable in terms of safety and convenience. I will not likely go as long as masks are mandated. Although, I said the same about WDW and my second trip is planned in a month, so who knows.

I feel the same way. I will probably do land-based vacations for the time being. We had thought about buying an RV, but I just can't get used to the idea of emptying tanks.

 

[jane01jp]

I have not given up on cruising in general. However, I have stopped walking reservations. I have no outstanding reservations and will not make any until I see clear movement from the industry as well as meeting my expectations on what I consider acceptable in terms of safety and convenience. I will not likely go as long as masks are mandated. Although, I said the same about WDW and my second trip is planned in a month, so who knows.

I feel the same way. I will probably do land-based vacations for the time being. We had thought about buying an RV, but I just can't get used to the idea of emptying tanks.

 

[DCLMP]

I’ve given up on this year. I’m only interested in the Baltic cruises we’ve done everything else. I’ll most likely book a 2022 Baltic cruise on DCl or NCL. I was hoping to cruise on the Wish in 2022, but having to put off our Baltic cruise for two years has probably eliminated that. We have a land trip to Japan planned for this Fall, but I’m not optimistic about it.

When this all started I was very optimistic that it would be short lived. Now I just have this sense of impending doom that has nothing to do with Covid. Covid was just a means to an end.

 

[jane01jp]

I’ve given up on this year. I’m only interested in the Baltic cruises we’ve done everything else. I’ll most likely book a 2022 Baltic cruise on DCl or NCL. I was hoping to cruise on the Wish in 2022, but having to put off our Baltic cruise for two years has probably eliminated that. We have a land trip to Japan planned for this Fall, but I’m not optimistic about it.

When this all started I was very optimistic that it would be short lived. Now I just have this sense of impending doom that has nothing to do with Covid. Covid was just a means to an end.

I've got the same sense.

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

I’ve given up on this year. I’m only interested in the Baltic cruises we’ve done everything else. I’ll most likely book a 2022 Baltic cruise on DCl or NCL. I was hoping to cruise on the Wish in 2022, but having to put off our Baltic cruise for two years has probably eliminated that. We have a land trip to Japan planned for this Fall, but I’m not optimistic about it.

When this all started I was very optimistic that it would be short lived. Now I just have this sense of impending doom that has nothing to do with Covid. Covid was just a means to an end.

Same here. You’re not alone. I feel like we are living in an era of history that will generate graduate level seminars in 50 years titled something like, “Covid 2020, 1984 in Real Life,” or “The Politics of Epidemiology and Pandemics.” At least I hope those will be the titles. There is a whole other way this could go. And looks like it is going. Where there won’t actually be any analysis allowed.

 

[DCLMP]

Same here. You’re not alone. I feel like we are living in an era of history that will generate graduate level seminars in 50 years titled something like, “Covid 2020, 1984 in Real Life,” or “The Politics of Epidemiology and Pandemics.” At least I hope those will be the titles. There is a whole other way this could go. And looks like it is going. Where there won’t actually be any analysis allowed.

I feel really bad for my kids 16 and 17. I didn’t know our cruise last Feb was going to be my sons last time in the teen club on a ship. I’m hoping my 16 year old will get to cruise again before his 18th birthday. What a strange time to be a teen with so much uncertainty about the future.

On a positive note we’ve gone on two week long trips to WDW during the pandemic so at least we have that. We’ve also got a new puppy which is keeping the kids busy and has sworn them off from ever having kids. Ha.

At times I feel like I’m watching a movie “like this really isn’t happening”. The more I detach myself the less angry I get about everything. It makes it easier to cope.