Anyone else given up?

[Cheburashka]

I'm so glad we cruised over New Year's last year, as it looks like it will be a very long time before we cruise again. We originally had a cruise booked for this coming March, then we moved it way ahead to next December, but even next December isn't looking great now. The restart of cruising keeps getting pushed back and back and back, with more potential restrictions, and at this point my heart isn't in it anymore.

We've sailed 6 wonderful cruises with DCL, and sailed on every ship, too. For years it was an annual tradition for us to cruise, but at this point I'm looking into other vacation options for next December. A limited Disney cruise (all kinds of extra rules, cutbacks and limitations everywhere, like at WDW), just doesn't appeal at the price DCL charges, and I'm no longer optimistic that those limitations will be over by next December. For us DCL was about carefree fun and being pampered: doing whatever we wanted whenever we wanted to with no worries, room service, twice daily maid service, group games, etc. If that won't be the experience onboard, I won't be willing to pay the DCL premium.

I think I'm going to change sail dates to this April and just wait for it to be cancelled so we can get a refund (we're concierge, so can't cancel ourselves). I think we'll wait until this finally really ends and the Wish comes out, and we'll sail again then.

Anyone else reaching a similar conclusion?

 

[jane01jp]

I'm so glad we cruised over New Year's last year, as it looks like it will be a very long time before we cruise again. We originally had a cruise booked for this coming March, then we moved it way ahead to next December, but even next December isn't looking great now. The restart of cruising keeps getting pushed back and back and back, with more potential restrictions, and at this point my heart isn't in it anymore.

We've sailed 6 wonderful cruises with DCL, and sailed on every ship, too. For years it was an annual tradition for us to cruise, but at this point I'm looking into other vacation options for next December. A limited Disney cruise (all kinds of extra rules and limitations everywhere, like at WDW), just doesn't appeal at the price DCL charges, and I'm no longer optimistic that those limitations will be over by next December. For us DCL was about carefree fun and being pampered: doing whatever we wanted whenever we wanted to with no worries, room service, twice daily maid service, group games, etc. If Covid is still an issue next December (and realistically, how could it not be?), that won't be the reality onboard.

I think I'm going to change sail dates to this April and just wait for it to be cancelled so we can get a refund (we're concierge, so can't cancel ourselves). I think we'll wait until this finally really ends and the Wish comes out, and we'll sail again then.

Anyone else reaching a similar conclusion?

I'm kind of with you. The nature of something can be so fundamentally changed that it's not the same thing anymore. We have arrived at that point in our day-to-day lives. Why pay a premium price for it on vacation?

 

[BadPinkTink]

Nope, I am a first time cruiser and I am booked on the September 2021 Norwegian Fjords. As the American CDC does not jurisdiction in Europe, The Disney Magic does not have to got through the certification process in order to resume the European summer season. Therefore there is a good possibility that the European summer schedule can go ahead, even if the other Disney ships don't.

 

[4 Ears]

Right there with you. We sailed in February last year. Yes, I think we were back 3 weeks before the US shut down. The last thing my boss said to me was "Dont bring anything back with you".
We canceled one for this past October when we saw the writing on the wall, we had booked it on ship.
Then we booked an 8 night HOTHS for Oct 2021, our first one but canceled that one too.
Hubby is a store manager for an auto parts store and working SO many hours!! He worked all through the shut down.
We have only sailed DCL (5 times, have our grand slam) and intend on sailing again... some day.
For now we are paying down debt (thankfully) by leaps and bounds and vacations are with family.
Greatly miss cruising but for now it is not right for us.

 

[Cheburashka]

Nope, I am a first time cruiser and I am booked on the September 2021 Norwegian Fjords. As the American CDC does not jurisdiction in Europe, The Disney Magic does not have to got through the certification process in order to resume the European summer season. Therefore there is a good possibility that the European summer schedule can go ahead, even if the other Disney ships don't.

Yes, I think if I had never cruised with DCL before this happened, I might feel more that way, myself. No comparing a restricted cruise to the old DCL. Plus, a European cruise is much more about the ports than are the Bahamian/Caribbean cruises we usually take on DCL.

 

[Cheburashka]

I'm kind of with you. The nature of something can be so fundamentally changed that it's not the same thing anymore. We have arrived at that point in our day-to-day lives. Why pay a premium price for it on vacation?

That's very similar to my thinking. DCL just wouldn't be the same thing until it's Covid restriction-free. I actually have no problem traveling otherwise now, even to WDW, because those are different kinds of trips than a cruise, and they're also less expensive. To us a Disney cruise is all about being carefree and cared for, and if there are going to be lots of cutbacks and/or new rules, that won't be the case.

 

[BadPinkTink]

Yes, I think if I had never cruised with DCL before this happened, I might feel more that way, myself. No comparing a restricted cruise to the old DCL. Plus, a European cruise is much more about the ports than are the Bahamian/Caribbean cruises we usually take on DCL.

exactly. I have nothing to compare with, everything is a new experience. I think there will be a good percentage like me, people who have never cruised before and want to do something new and different when cruising returns.

In fact it actually makes me happy when I see Platinum, God and Silver Castaway Members saying they are done with DCL with all the talk of mask and new procedures etc etc. It will give first time cruisers more opportunities as things wont be booked up by the time the booking windows open.

 

[Cheburashka]

it actually makes me happy when I see Platinum, God and Silver Castaway Members saying they are done with DCL with all the talk of mask and new procedures etc etc. It will give first time cruisers more opportunities as things wont be booked up by the time the booking windows open.

If it makes you feel better, I'll share that for most cruises, not too many things were booked up by higher ranking CC members, anyway. Castaway Cay cabanas were always taken by concierge, but that is not an issue in Europe. So that is not typically an issue to worry about unless you're on a brand new or rare itinerary that is likely to attract a lot of veteran cruisers. And Norwegian Fjords isn't new or unusual for DCL, so you'd probably have no issues regardless. Have fun!

 

[Intr3pid]

Well, this is a new normal. I expect that the virus will continue to mutate and require annual vaccine shots just like the flu does. Masks and social distancing - at varying levels and in different forms - will still be a part of our lives.

What the pandemic has shown is that, if unchecked, the free-for-all resort/cruise experience was just a ticking time bomb. We really had to rethink this model with occupancy levels, plans B, sanitization, health priorities, etc. These checks are now being put into place. I am sad that it took a tragedy like COVID to make it happen, but I am also glad that they are doing it right this time.

I cruise not just to end up on a beach - although I have done exactly that many times - but there is a travel element in cruising that is hard to beat. Not much else comes close. And for that, cruising will continue to have a special place in my heart.

 

[Cheburashka]

I just changed our cruise to April of 2021, which I'm sure will not sail, so I'll get my refund sometime within the next few months. We'll spend next winter's holiday in south Florida, instead. Looking forward to trying something new, and relieved to not have to worry about what the return to cruising will be like. We're just going to skip cruising's re-entry period.

Also looking forward to the Wish debuting in a post-Covid era. We'll sail on her eventually. That will actually be an exciting way to return to cruising.

 

[KVH]

I'm curious. I'm seeing more of these types of sentiments on different threads. For those that think like the OP has outlined, do you take the same considerations into account for all other aspects of your life? That would seem to make everyday life pretty darned difficult (if not impossible). Or is it just cruising where you are more worried about infection? If that's the case, what makes cruising so different from any other activity where you may be exposed? Heck, there are many people who never traveled anywhere this year and still got sick so I don't understand the travel-oriented worries.

As for DW and I, we hope to get vaccinated before May but we'll be on our B2B then regardless.

 

[BadPinkTink]

I'm curious. I'm seeing more of these types of sentiments on different threads. For those that think like the OP has outlined, do you take the same considerations into account for all other aspects of your life? That would seem to make everyday life pretty darned difficult (if not impossible). Or is it just cruising where you are more worried about infection? If that's the case, what makes cruising so different from any other activity where you may be exposed? Heck, there are many people who never traveled anywhere this year and still got sick so I don't understand the travel-oriented worries.

As for DW and I, we hope to get vaccinated before May but we'll be on our B2B then regardless.

I think a lot of it is that some people who have been on multiple cruises over multiple years are set in their ways and resistant to change. They want cruising to be how it always has been, as thats what they are used to. The new procedures and changes are not what a cruise is to them, they feel saddened by the loss not excited for a new cruising experience.

 

[Cheburashka]

I'm curious. I'm seeing more of these types of sentiments on different threads. For those that think like the OP has outlined, do you take the same considerations into account for all other aspects of your life? That would seem to make everyday life pretty darned difficult (if not impossible). Or is it just cruising where you are more worried about infection?

I'm the OP and am not extremely worried about infection. I'm a frontline essential worker (elementary teacher required to teach in-person with 21 students in my classroom seated 3 feet apart) and have been since September, and my state won't allow me to be vaccinated anytime soon (nonmedical essential workers get no priority in Texas). So imo I'm in more risk just going to work every day than I am going on vacation. We've been to WDW twice since it's reopened, and as I mentioned, I'm planning a different vacation for next year, not just staying home.

To us, DCL cruising represented being carefree and pampered, in a way we never experienced on any other kind of trip including WDW. It's also more expensive per night than any other trip we go on, as we have to cruise during school holidays & that's the priciest time to cruise DCL. Those reasons are why I'm hesitant to cruise again until restrictions are lifted. It wouldn't be the same DCL experience that we're paying a very high premium for.

 

[KVH]

I think a lot of it is that some people who have been on multiple cruises over multiple years are set in their ways and resistant to change. They want cruising to be how it always has been, as thats what they are used to. The new procedures and changes are not what a cruise is to them, they feel saddened by the loss not excited for a new cruising experience.

I get what you're saying but life itself isn't static. Otherwise we'd still be living like <insert time period of choice>. What? Flappers, bobby soxers, zoot suits? Tuxes and evening gowns EVERY night? Shoot, I've got one daughter who feels shortchanged 'cause she can't be on an ocean liner like in the 60s. But, by the same logic, that means people would never go back to the parks because things have changed. Or have rotary phones and tube TVs. And so on . . .

 

[jane01jp]

I'm curious. I'm seeing more of these types of sentiments on different threads. For those that think like the OP has outlined, do you take the same considerations into account for all other aspects of your life? That would seem to make everyday life pretty darned difficult (if not impossible). Or is it just cruising where you are more worried about infection? If that's the case, what makes cruising so different from any other activity where you may be exposed? Heck, there are many people who never traveled anywhere this year and still got sick so I don't understand the travel-oriented worries.

As for DW and I, we hope to get vaccinated before May but we'll be on our B2B then regardless.

I'm not that worried about getting infected. For me, there is more to life than not catching COVID.

I am opposed to paying premium prices for heavily-restricted activities. This is a matter of personal choice, and perception. I consider a mask to be a deal-breaking restriction, not just for cruising, but in any other facet of my life as well. Others think masks are not a big deal.

So, the way I currently live my life is to only shop/eat in places that don't enforce mask mandates. This keeps me out of a lot of places and activities, but it hasn't made life impossible so far.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Nope, I am a first time cruiser and I am booked on the September 2021 Norwegian Fjords.

Even without the CDC, I would expect significant changes in onboard offerings and rules.

 

[KVH]

I'm the OP and am not extremely worried about infection. I'm a frontline essential worker (elementary teacher required to teach in-person with 20 students in my classroom seated 3 feet apart) and have been since September, and my state won't allow me to be vaccinated anytime soon (essential workers get no priority in Texas). So imo I'm in more risk just going to work every day than I am going on vacation. We've been to WDW twice since it's reopened, and as I mentioned, I'm planning a different vacation for next December, not just staying home.

To us, DCL cruising represented being carefree and pampered, in a way we never experienced on any other kind of trip including WDW. It's also more expensive than any other trip we go on, as we have to cruise during school holidays & that's the priciest time to cruise DCL. Those reasons are why I'm hesitant to cruise again until restrictions are lifted. It wouldn't be the same DCL experience that we're paying through the nose for.

Yeah, I thin there is an issue of perspective here. Stuck up in the northwest as we are, we've basically been in lockdown mode since March. Periodic grocery trips and maybe the occasional fast food drive through. That's it. Otherwise, we haven't been out of the house in 9 months. I'll bet if we were back in Dallas (native born Texans in the family), we'd probably be looking at things a different way.

But I have a feeling waiting for things to go back to the way they were in 2019 isn't going to work though. My guess would be the world, and cruising, will be changed forever. IOW, go while you can afford it!

 

[BadPinkTink]

I get what you're saying but life itself isn't static. Otherwise we'd still be living like <insert time period of choice>. What? Flappers, bobby soxers, zoot suits? Tuxes and evening gowns EVERY night? Shoot, I've got one daughter who feels shortchanged 'cause she can't be on an ocean liner like in the 60s. But, by the same logic, that means people would never go back to the parks because things have changed. Or have rotary phones and tube TVs. And so on . . .

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

Even without the CDC, I would expect significant changes in onboard offerings and rules.

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.

 

[4 Ears]

As with other posters, I am not super concerned about becoming infected. I of course do not want it however.
We want to see the restrictions play out. We do not want to be Guinea pigs with the first few sailings.
What holds us back is not knowing about the buffet, not being allowed back on ship in a foreign country, not being allowed to debark once cruise is over, port excursions...Having to go with a group...
For now, time with the grands. Coloring, painting, video games, blocks, Legos, Knex, tea parties, Barbies. Finding we are enjoying much more quality 1 on 1 time with them. Although when on a cruise we are "with" them, in reality we are all going separate ways and aren't really together.

 

[fredandkell]

I so miss cruising and I’m similarly depressed about future/potential European travel.