Carnival Indicating August for Phase In

[Club Disney Chandler]

This virus doesn’t care about polls. It’s not biased. It doesn’t vote. It doesn’t watch the news. And it doesn’t discriminate against people who live in Manhattan, or people who take vacations on cruise ships. It just doesn’t care.

She wasn’t referring to the virus itself, she was referencing the poll of Americans who thing the US is opening to soon.

 

[dvcgirl67]

She wasn’t referring to the virus itself, she was referencing the poll of Americans who thing the US is opening to soon.

Yes, I understood the reference. My point is that this is always going to come back to this virus and what it is doing. Carnival is focusing only on the economics and how they apply to Carnival. Our government leaders can say..."we want everything open, we want stadiums filled..." and that's great, we all want that. But we're not going to have that until we have a vaccine. That kind of talk, from "leaders", whether it be government or CEOs of cruise lines....is just silly. And it will only ensure that the exact opposite will happen. People will stay home. People aren't stupid, and they understand it's not safe yet, despite any cheerleading from the top.

And this especially applies to a company like Carnival that is being criminally investigated in Australia for their handling of the outbreak on the Ruby Princess. Our Congress is also investing the way Carnival handled outbreaks on their ships. Epidemiologists around the world point to Carnival as one of the largest spreaders of this virus around the world. So when Carnival brazenly throws out the day they'll start sailing again....it's a bit much. Obviously, the reaction they got from their release wasn't what they expected as they quickly walked back that statement.

 

[aggiedog]

While I agree with you, dvcgirl, I also think that there will be plenty of people who will cruise. I suspect bookings will be good for those first cruises. At least at this point. In August, who knows? Fatality estimates were just adjusted to 135,000 after factoring in states opening what they have. As this touches more people, you'd think they may think twice about travel and cruising. Right now, for instance, our area is lightly touched. Many people here think the whole lock down is not needed and life needs to get back to normal right away.

And there will always be people who feel like they are either invincible or that worrying about illness or death is a waste of time. Will it be enough to fill a cruise ship? Who knows?

 

[pearljammer]

What is everyone's favorite recipe?

Well.......since you asked.....right now it’s keto peanut butter cheesecake bites.
https://www.heyketomama.com/keto-peanut-butter-cheesecake-bites/*wink*

 

[pearljammer]

Yes, I understood the reference. My point is that this is always going to come back to this virus and what it is doing. Carnival is focusing only on the economics and how they apply to Carnival. Our government leaders can say..."we want everything open, we want stadiums filled..." and that's great, we all want that. But we're not going to have that until we have a vaccine. That kind of talk, from "leaders", whether it be government or CEOs of cruise lines....is just silly. And it will only ensure that the exact opposite will happen. People will stay home. People aren't stupid, and they understand it's not safe yet, despite any cheerleading from the top.

And this especially applies to a company like Carnival that is being criminally investigated in Australia for their handling of the outbreak on the Ruby Princess. Our Congress is also investing the way Carnival handled outbreaks on their ships. Epidemiologists around the world point to Carnival as one of the largest spreaders of this virus around the world. So when Carnival brazenly throws out the day they'll start sailing again....it's a bit much. Obviously, the reaction they got from their release wasn't what they expected as they quickly walked back that statement.

I see it like this. Any business can open their doors, but they can’t force you in them.
At the end of the day, discussing what businesses are doing what, is pointless. They’ll continue to do as all business do. Now if people bite? That’s on them. I’m not biting. At the end of the day, a person has to ask themselves, am I helping the situation? Or am I making it worse? (I’ll not define “situation” as only you can determine that which suits you).

 

[dvcgirl67]

While I agree with you, dvcgirl, I also think that there will be plenty of people who will cruise. I suspect bookings will be good for those first cruises. At least at this point. In August, who knows? Fatality estimates were just adjusted to 135,000 after factoring in states opening what they have. As this touches more people, you'd think they may think twice about travel and cruising. Right now, for instance, our area is lightly touched. Many people here think the whole lock down is not needed and life needs to get back to normal right away.

And there will always be people who feel like they are either invincible or that worrying about illness or death is a waste of time. Will it be enough to fill a cruise ship? Who knows?

Oh, I know that people will cruise. Will they pack those first 8 ships whenever they get them out to sea....maybe, who knows. The only way they turn a profit in that business is to overbook the cabins because it's the onboard spending that really makes the money. The ships themselves are loss leaders. They've set it up for ports in states with governors who are more focused on the economy than on public health. Also, makes it possible for people who live in those states to drive to the ports. There's likely enough demand and certainly enough ignorance. And I'm certain the federal government and governors in those states will allow them to go. Many of us will watch the news as it unfolds, "Pandemics and Cruise Ships Don't Mix, Part Two".

But we are living in a time when our airlines have basically become public utilities. The airlines won't turn profits for years to come. Warren Buffett who is always bullish on America in general, dumped his entire stake in all four of the major airlines. And it wasn't a small amount. Berkshire held 10% in each of those airlines. His comment on that trade, "the world has changed". United is asking employees to "voluntarily separate' from the company. I think that's a nice way of them asking employees to "scram". They can't fire anyone until October because they've taken millions in federal grants. On October 1st, many of those employees in the airline industry will be fired.

The state of the US airlines reflects the reality of the situation. Carnival seems to be living in an alternate reality. One where they can fill cruise ships with passengers, 33% of them over age 60, and a much larger percentage with pre-existing conditions...and keep them all safe, in the middle of a pandemic.

 

[Kp128]

While I agree with you, dvcgirl, I also think that there will be plenty of people who will cruise. I suspect bookings will be good for those first cruises. At least at this point. In August, who knows? Fatality estimates were just adjusted to 135,000 after factoring in states opening what they have. As this touches more people, you'd think they may think twice about travel and cruising. Right now, for instance, our area is lightly touched. Many people here think the whole lock down is not needed and life needs to get back to normal right away.

And there will always be people who feel like they are either invincible or that worrying about illness or death is a waste of time. Will it be enough to fill a cruise ship? Who knows?

I'm going to admit I don't think I've ever spent one minute of my life worrying about dying. If I did I'd never get in a car. I can't imagine going through life worrying about dying. How would you ever enjoy living?

 

[dvcgirl67]

I'm going to admit I don't think I've ever spent one minute of my life worrying about dying. If I did I'd never get in a car. I can't imagine going through life worrying about dying. How would you ever enjoy living?

The car accident thing again. I mean, I think as privileged Americans it's easy to say we just don't ever think about dying for even one minute of our lives. I would argue that by being overly cautious that I'm looking forward to living, hopefully for a long time. I would imagine people in say, Syria, enjoy living too. But when they hear bombers overhead....they move inside and wait until it's safe to come outside. That's what this is. And it's a marathon, not a sprint.

But, getting back on topic, Norwegian Cruise Lines announced today that they see "Substantial Doubt about its Future" and is borrowing money from any entity willing to take substantial risk.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/05/nor...s-ability-to-continue-as-a-going-concern.html

 

[MomOTwins]

I'm going to admit I don't think I've ever spent one minute of my life worrying about dying. If I did I'd never get in a car. I can't imagine going through life worrying about dying. How would you ever enjoy living?

Well, I bet when you get in that car, you take a moment to buckle your seatbelt, turn to look in your blind spot before changing lanes, and don't excessively go above the speed limit though. We all take action constantly to mitigate the risk of death. I think what people here are saying is they view postponing a vacation by a year to be a similar risk-reduction measure that doesn't cost them much in the big scheme of things.

Going back to the original Carnival announcement for a moment--I can't help but wonder if Carnival at least had some assurance from Port Canaveral that they would be available to resume operations in August before making that announcement. That would be something, at least.

 

[Kp128]

Well, I bet when you get in that car, you take a moment to buckle your seatbelt, turn to look in your blind spot before changing lanes, and don't excessively go above the speed limit though. We all take action constantly to mitigate the risk of death. I think what people here are saying is they view postponing a vacation by a year to be a similar risk-reduction measure that doesn't cost them much in the big scheme of things.

Going back to the original Carnival announcement for a moment--I can't help but wonder if Carnival at least had some assurance from Port Canaveral that they would be available to resume operations in August before making that announcement. That would be something, at least.

Correct, but I can't control what other drivers do. I agree people that don't want to take the risk should post pone their vacations a year, don't eat out, don't go to stores etc. Those of us that are willing to take the risk should be allowed to do that.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Carnival have cancelled all AK sailings for 2020 now.

 

[belle032]

I appreciate all the “facts and figures” being thrown out here, but maybe stop for a second and just allow Carnival’s very tentative date for resuming very tentative operations to simply be a very tiny light at the end of a very long and dark tunnel.

That light can obviously go out or move back at any time, but there is nothing wrong with allowing people to hope that life in some positive form will resume. If you want to preach all doom and gloom, which, granted it does seem like that at the moment, feel free. But don’t criticize others who are looking at it differently than you.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

life in some positive form will resume

There is a lot more to life than cruising, and many things more likely to ramp up more quickly than cruising.

 

[MomOTwins]

Correct, but I can't control what other drivers do. I agree people that don't want to take the risk should post pone their vacations a year, don't eat out, don't go to stores etc. Those of us that are willing to take the risk should be allowed to do that.

Yeah, it's just about finding the sweet spot when the virus rates subside enough such that what we are doing is not creating a huge risk to the others along the way that we put at risk by cruising (i.e., the CMs on the ship, the porters at the dock, the people in the ports we visit which may be countries with a lower virus rate that we would make worse, and, if not driving ourselves, the people at the airport/on the airplane who have to travel for work). In the car analogy, we check our blind spots and don't go 90mph not only to protect ourselves, but the folks in the other cars as well (and the law requires we do so for that reason). Since each of us could be a silent carrier, or could be exposed when we get on the ship and then become contagious mid-cruise, we have to treat carefully around others for a while.

I think we are not at a place today where new infections have slowed enough that we can say cruising can start up without it being a huge vector that will infect thousands more. But in a few months, maybe. I'm counting on it since I have a cruise booked in August, but will definitely have to wait and see what happens between now and then.

 

[StelmackFamily]

Well, I bet when you get in that car, you take a moment to buckle your seatbelt, turn to look in your blind spot before changing lanes, and don't excessively go above the speed limit though. We all take action constantly to mitigate the risk of death. I think what people here are saying is they view postponing a vacation by a year to be a similar risk-reduction measure that doesn't cost them much in the big scheme of things.

Going back to the original Carnival announcement for a moment--I can't help but wonder if Carnival at least had some assurance from Port Canaveral that they would be available to resume operations in August before making that announcement. That would be something, at least.

I certainly hope they did! That is a heck of an assumption

 

[belle032]

There is a lot more to life than cruising, and many things more likely to ramp up more quickly than cruising.

I agree. I never said there wasn't. Once WDW announces a reopening, these boards will go nuts. More important things than Disney, but it still won't diminish any excitement and hope. And again, still not wrong to see a tiny light at the end of the tunnel.

 

[AquaDame]

We're not here to argue opening vs. not (we have the community board for that) or driving vs. not. Please keep it on topic.

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

I'm glad Carnival is taking the plunge and sharing that information with the public. Good for them. Someone had to jump off the diving board first.

 

[gotomu212]

I appreciate all the “facts and figures” being thrown out here, but maybe stop for a second and just allow Carnival’s very tentative date for resuming very tentative operations to simply be a very tiny light at the end of a very long and dark tunnel.

That light can obviously go out or move back at any time, but there is nothing wrong with allowing people to hope that life in some positive form will resume. If you want to preach all doom and gloom, which, granted it does seem like that at the moment, feel free. But don’t criticize others who are looking at it differently than you.

First time Ive seen anyone on a DCL look at Carnival as the leader of the industry this is like the pigs fly or heck freezing over moment (just adding levity no snark)

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

First time Ive seen anyone on a DCL look at Carnival as the leader of the industry this is like the pigs fly or heck freezing over moment (just adding levity no snark)

Pandemics make strange bedfellows.