CDC bans cruises in U.S. waters until October citing ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks on ships

[Ghostikins]

How long are they going to wait to officially cancel the affected cruises? When the last ban was announced on 06/19, DCL made their official cancellation notice within an hour or so on the same day. I can't imagine what the hold up is? This ban only affects less than a dozen half filled bookings, so I cannot imagine they are going to get slammed with calls like in the past when they had 2 or 3 months worth of cruises cancelled.

I'm curious about this too. I was hoping to get onto the forum today to see an update. I cancelled our 9/21 Dream cruise last month (already PIF) and then just last weekend 7/11, I filled out the insurance claim to receive 75% of my deposit back (concierge). If DCL officially cancels the cruise, I'd like to get my deposit back as a refund, rather than a FCC. I already emailed AON and asked them what the next step is; do I cancel my claim, or wait until Disney lets us know.

 

[auntlynne]

A large mega-church in Atlanta has cancelled in-person services though the end of the year.

My sister’s employer, a large military contractor, has notified employees that 75% of them will continue to work from home (since March 13), except for approved on-site time when discussing secure info.

Pretty big, long-term plans.

I read this as no cruises this calendar year.

I’m still hopeful for next September or another attempt at my cruise from San Juan from this November.

 

[bakerworld]

I wish Disney Cruise Lines were a bit more responsible and admit they need to cancel their line operation thru 2020. They returned 2 ships worth of crew to their home ports. Anyway, we just rescheduled our November cruise (our first Christmas theme and first time on Fantasy) to April 30 2021. I feel relieved and I am hoping the vaccine will be available by spring 2021 so we can all stop wearing masks.

 

[cvjw]

A large mega-church in Atlanta has cancelled in-person services though the end of the year.

My sister’s employer, a large military contractor, has notified employees that 75% of them will continue to work from home (since March 13), except for approved on-site time when discussing secure info.

Pretty big, long-term plans.

I read this as no cruises this calendar year.

I’m still hopeful for next September or another attempt at my cruise from San Juan from this November.

My large metro Atlanta church just restarted on campus services last Sunday with reservation only seating and plenty of social distancing. Not sure one church canceling services equals no cruises for the rest of the year!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I wish Disney Cruise Lines were a bit more responsible and admit they need to cancel their line operation thru 2020. They returned 2 ships worth of crew to their home ports. Anyway, we just rescheduled our November cruise (our first Christmas theme and first time on Fantasy) to April 30 2021. I feel relieved and I am hoping the vaccine will be available by spring 2021 so we can all stop wearing masks.

I think, that DCL, like many other businesses is hoping this will all "go away" and they can just start cruises again. Can't really fault them for that. Even if a vaccine becomes available, there are plenty of people who won't get it, so I think masks are here with us for some time to come.

 

[JM23457]

How long are they going to wait to officially cancel the affected cruises? When the last ban was announced on 06/19, DCL made their official cancellation notice within an hour or so on the same day. I can't imagine what the hold up is? This ban only affects less than a dozen half filled bookings, so I cannot imagine they are going to get slammed with calls like in the past when they had 2 or 3 months worth of cruises cancelled.

They are probably currently planning to cancel more than the cruises directly affected, because we all know they aren't going to begin sailing on October 2nd. Imo they are in the midst of deciding how far out this next cancellation round should go: to the end of October, or more likely, through the end of 2020. Then they have to decide whether or not to continue the 125% compensation offer. They also need to decide when to release fall 2021 cruises. Maybe they want to do that first or in tandem with fall 2020 cancellations, to minimize refunds that they'll have to pay out.

They're going to cancel most if not all of fall 2020. The writing is on the wall for that. I think they want to do it strategically, though, to minimize their losses & keep up their public image. That can take time to plan.

If the past few months have shown us anything, it's that Disney hasn't wanted to rush the reopening process, including information sharing. It's frustrating, but that's how they're operating now. They're being very careful because they have a lot to lose.

All of DCL's October cruises have an extremely high (99%) chance of being cancelled. Imo no one with an October cruise booked should wait on Disney to cancel/change related plans or to make new vacation plans instead.

I say this as a person who currently has a concierge mid-October cruise booked, who formerly had a July cruise booked, & who has been through this cancellation process before. DCL dragged their feet for summer cancellations just like they're doing now for fall cancellations.

 

[TestingH2O]

They are probably currently planning to cancel more than the cruises directly affected, because we all know they aren't going to begin sailing on October 2nd. Imo they are in the midst of deciding how far out this next cancellation round should go: to the end of October, or more likely, through the end of 2020.

Yes, I think they will definitely cancel through October. Are they really going to go through all the trouble of setting up Halloween on the ships for just a few sailings? I don’t think they will cancel through 2020 until they have the end of 2021 cruise dates released, and I wonder if those port negotiate have suddenly gotten harder due to US citizens being barred from so many countries. While I hope Americans are able to travel freely again next year, what are the cruise line’s obligations as people book to inform them that they may not be allowed in the country?

 

[JM23457]

I don’t think they will cancel through 2020 until they have the end of 2021 cruise dates released, and I wonder if those port negotiate have suddenly gotten harder due to US citizens being barred from so many countries. While I hope Americans are able to travel freely again next year, what are the cruise line’s obligations as people book to inform them that they may not be allowed in the country?

This is what I think they're working on now. To cancel fall 2020 without having fall 2021 available for booking would cost DCL a ton more in refunds. But fall 2021 is hard to plan. Hence the delay.

 

[BadPinkTink]

While I hope Americans are able to travel freely again next year, what are the cruise line’s obligations as people book to inform them that they may not be allowed in the country?

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/guest-services/passport-travel-documentation/
Its stated multiple times on this page on DCL website,
It is your responsibility to ensure that you have all the proper documentation to board the ship and enter each of the countries on your cruise itinerary.

 

[T & R]

They are probably currently planning to cancel more than the cruises directly affected, because we all know they aren't going to begin sailing on October 2nd. Imo they are in the midst of deciding how far out this next cancellation round should go: to the end of October, or more likely, through the end of 2020. Then they have to decide whether or not to continue the 125% compensation offer. They also need to decide when to release fall 2021 cruises. Maybe they want to do that first or in tandem with fall 2020 cancellations, to minimize refunds that they'll have to pay out.

They're going to cancel most if not all of fall 2020. The writing is on the wall for that. I think they want to do it strategically, though, to minimize their losses & keep up their public image. That can take time to plan.

Normally I would agree but I do not believe they just started working on this Friday when the ban was extended. This is something that should have been considered for months. I also do not believe they will cancel past October because the PIF hasn't come around yet for November. November/Dec cruises are Merry Time Christmas cruises and those cruises cost a lot of extra coin. DCL isn't going to cancel those high value cruises until after PIF, to help retain all that extra PIF money for re-book. Also, it wouldn't make sense to release the Fall 2021 itineraries and cancel the rest of 2020 in tandem, reason being is that you overwhelm your limited phones with all the first time bookings for the new itinerary release, transfer booking for existing reservations and re-bookings for the just cancelled people.

 

[JM23457]

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/guest-services/passport-travel-documentation/
Its stated multiple times on this page on DCL website,
It is your responsibility to ensure that you have all the proper documentation to board the ship and enter each of the countries on your cruise itinerary.

That isn't what the PP was referring to.

 

[JM23457]

Normally I would agree but I do not believe they just started working on this Friday when the ban was extended. This is something that should have been considered for months. I also do not believe they will cancel past October because the PIF hasn't come around yet for November. November/Dec cruises are Merry Time Christmas cruises and those cruises cost a lot of extra coin. DCL isn't going to cancel those high value cruises until after PIF, to help retain all that extra PIF money for re-book. Also, it wouldn't make sense to release the Fall 2021 itineraries and cancel the rest of 2020 in tandem, reason being is that you overwhelm your limited phones with both first time bookings for the new itinerary release and re-bookings for the just cancelled people.

No, I don't think they just started the planning process, either. The process I mentioned is probably something they've been planning for quite a while. They won't necessarily do the fall cancellations until more fall cruises have reached PIF. DCL is in no hurry. I do think there is a good chance they will cancel all of fall in one blow after releasing 2021 itineraries. Maybe a week afterwards, to minimize the overwhelming of the phone lines. That would make DCL look careful & safe in not sailing until 2021 (positive publicity), while doing it in one blow would also avoid the number of times cancellation-related news about DCL appears (negative publicity).

 

[T & R]

No, I don't think they just started the planning process, either. The process I mentioned is probably something they've been planning quite a while. They won't necessarily do the fall cancellations until more fall cruises have reached PIF. DCL is in no hurry. I do think there is a good chance thry will cancel all of fall in one blow after releasing 2021 itineraries. Maybe a week afterwards, to minimize the overwhelming of the phone lines.

It's killing me. I have to sit back for some time now and watch every cruise that I would like to re-book to fill up and the rooms I want gone while I wait for DCL to cancel my upcoming Dream cruise that they've known for months is not going to sail.

 

[JM23457]

It's killing me. I have to sit back for some time now and watch every cruise that I would like to re-book to fill up and the rooms I want gone while I wait for DCL to cancel my upcoming Dream cruise that they've known for months is not going to sail.

I can sympathize, however, keep in mind that the cruises you currently want might not even sail, or might be unrecognizable due to Covid restrictions. Keep that in mind before getting too frustrated. The first half of 2021 isn't looking awesome for cruising at this point in time.

 

[T & R]

I say this as a person who currently has a concierge mid-October cruise booked, who formerly had a July cruise booked, & who has been through this cancellation process before.

That's another problem we're having, how soon is too soon to re-book? We do not want to be canceled and crushed again. It is horrible telling your kids they're not going. The posts on the board and news articles have widely varying opinions. We initially wanted to re-book to Merry Time Christmas later this year but agree with you that the rest of 2020 will be a no sail year. I think even Jan 2021 would be out if given the go because of the process to wind back up. Just really do not know but do not want to book ridiculously way out because we cannot wait that long to be back on the boat.

 

[JM23457]

That's another problem we're having, how soon is too soon to re-book? We do not want to be canceled and crushed again. It is horrible telling your kids they're not going. The posts on the board and news articles have widely varying opinions. We initially wanted to re-book to Merry Time Christmas later this year but agree with you that the rest of 2020 will be a no sail year. I think even Jan 2021 would be out if given the go because of the process to wind back up. Just really do not know but do not want to book ridiculously way out because we cannot wait that long to be back on the boat.

I would wait until at least fall 2021, personally. DCL might be doing you a backhanded favor by hampering your efforts to book spring or summer 2021 right now.

 

[T & R]

DCL might be doing you a backhanded favor by hampering your efforts to book spring or summer 2021 right now.

Thanks, that's about the best way to look at it.

 

[LTJoeFlo]

Normally I would agree but I do not believe they just started working on this Friday when the ban was extended. This is something that should have been considered for months. I also do not believe they will cancel past October because the PIF hasn't come around yet for November. November/Dec cruises are Merry Time Christmas cruises and those cruises cost a lot of extra coin. DCL isn't going to cancel those high value cruises until after PIF, to help retain all that extra PIF money for re-book. Also, it wouldn't make sense to release the Fall 2021 itineraries and cancel the rest of 2020 in tandem, reason being is that you overwhelm your limited phones with all the first time bookings for the new itinerary release, transfer booking for existing reservations and re-bookings for the just cancelled people.

Cruise lines are definitely delaying the cancellation process to maintain sufficient liquidity. Several cruise line analysts have pointed this out. However, the 125% FCC will eventually hurt the bottom line. Cruising is looking at a 2 year recovery before getting back to normal. That is based on current predictions. Key word: “current”. DCL is losing almost an entire year at this point, now they are looking at giving just as many discounts for 2021 and 2022. On top of that, they may have to reduce future cruise prices due to a lack of demand. If they do that, will those who already rescheduled try to reschedule again for an even cheaper fair? Regardless, availability is tight due to the increased purchasing power of those with cancelled cruises. We had our first cruise scheduled for this year and had booked concierge. There is no incentive to use FCC because comparable rooms aren’t available. I think DCL will have to find new incentives and that is the hold up. We saw the same with WDW. Hard to make things right with customers with no end in sight. But for now, I think they should cancel prior to PIF in order to minimize the 125%. Although, I have also read that fewer people are taking the incentive due to lack of communication and increased in uncertainty. It’s an interesting cost/benefit analysis.

 

[bakerworld]

I've seen many posts on this board expressing hopes for an upcoming vaccine in regards to upcoming cruises. I am curious about this way of thinking. ~

Just figured the existence of the vaccine will be an excuse to eliminate the masks - this works for me

 

[T & R]

Just figured the existence of the vaccine will be an excuse to eliminate the masks - this works for me

Yes, that would be awesome. I prolly won’t get the vaccine at first and believe my kids were prolly exposed already but if the existence of a vaccine releases the cruise ships, that’s a win.