CDC Director Tells U.S. Senate Committee the CDC Anticipates the Conditional Sail Order Will Not Be Renewed

[insureman]

This is from Scott at the Disney Cruise Line Blog this morning. Seems like the CDC is letting the cruise lines self regulate.

CDC Director Tells U.S. Senate Committee the CDC Anticipates the Conditional Sail Order Will Not Be Renewed – Set to Expire January 15th

https://disneycruiselineblog.com/20...ll-not-be-renewed-set-to-expire-january-15th/

 

[Marvelgeek82]

Seems hopeful. But, I’m doubting Disney makes any major changes (masking, crowds, etc) for awhile. I’m guessing the last thing any cruise ship wants is to be on the news about a huge Covid outbreak.

 

[diablodancer]

Seems hopeful. But, I’m doubting Disney makes any major changes (masking, crowds, etc) for awhile. I’m guessing the last thing any cruise ship wants is to be on the news about a huge Covid outbreak.

Yeah, when a number of ports require a very low percentage of cases to dock I don’t see them changing any of the protocols in the close future.

 

[dreynolds1982]

They definitely won't change things right now with the current numbers, but most experts seem to think things will be peaking soon and will drop significantly beginning in February. I've also seen reports that CDC and others may be nearing a shift in testing guidance, prioritizing testing in the elderly and most vulnerable, and no longer recommending asymptomatic testing in vaccinated, non-vulnerable populations. The one policy I could see getting impacted is the at the port testing. I'm sure it's costly and a logistical nightmare for all involved. I do not, however, see them getting rid of the vaccination requirement any time soon.

 

[mousefan73]

I hope the Senator has a plan B if Canada becomes a hurdle.

 

[mousefan73]

They definitely won't change things right now with the current numbers, but most experts seem to think things will be peaking soon and will drop significantly beginning in February. I've also seen reports that CDC and others may be nearing a shift in testing guidance, prioritizing testing in the elderly and most vulnerable, and no longer recommending asymptomatic testing in vaccinated, non-vulnerable populations. The one policy I could see getting impacted is the at the port testing. I'm sure it's costly and a logistical nightmare for all involved. I do not, however, see them getting rid of the vaccination requirement any time soon.

Even if Vaxx requirements at some point change on the cruise lines we can assume that entry requirements to countries will by default require it. Unless we are talking about 3 to 4 night Bahamas cruise. Just my own speculation on it - unless there is a full proof pill treatment or easy IV treatment possible on board for a serious Covid case, I can see cruise line still requiring it for longer cruises esp. Sailings that are pan pacific, Atlantic, Panama etc. five days out to land.

 

[randumb0]

I just wanted to post here before the thread is locked

 

[Sykes]

Thanks to a court order the CSO has been voluntary for all departures from Florida since June 21st, so most of DCL's sailings haven't been required to follow it for quite a while. All the cruise lines have been following it anyway, and they have indicated that they intend to continue to use those guidelines, so I don't expect anything to change starting January 15th.

 

[mousefan73]

Can anyone comment if it was the CSO that stipulated How much capacity the cruise lines could sail at? It’s always been A concern for future Sailings especially ones like Hawaii. Where you have a sold out ship what do you do then?

 

[Sykes]

Can anyone comment if it was the CSO that stipulated How much capacity the cruise lines could sail at? It’s always been A concern for future Sailings especially ones like Hawaii. Where you have a sold out ship what do you do then?

It did originally have capacity limits, but those went away pretty quickly. Capacity is now mostly constrained now by the rooms that they must set aside for quarantine. Many cruise lines have returned to 80% capacity, although I think Disney is still lower (although it's hard to tell whether that's by choice or just because of lower demand).

 

[lanejudy]

Can anyone comment if it was the CSO that stipulated How much capacity the cruise lines could sail at? It’s always been A concern for future Sailings especially ones like Hawaii. Where you have a sold out ship what do you do then?

Any capacity limits in place right now are in place by the cruiseline. I'm honestly not sure DCL has a specific limit, other than they clearly have some rooms blocked for quarantine and maybe staff social-distancing (not a large percentage though). The fluctuation in number of passengers over the past 2-3 months has largely been due to demand, which tends to ebb and flow naturally. Remember, the CSO has been largely voluntary anyway.

 

[DCLMP]

It did originally have capacity limits, but those went away pretty quickly. Capacity is now mostly constrained now by the rooms that they must set aside for quarantine. Many cruise lines have returned to 80% capacity, although I think Disney is still lower (although it's hard to tell whether that's by choice or just because of lower demand).

It may be due to demand because of the premium price and the mandates for young children. DCL has a different customer base than the others.

 

[tvguy]

Thanks to a court order the CSO has been voluntary for all departures from Florida since June 21st, so most of DCL's sailings haven't been required to follow it for quite a while. All the cruise lines have been following it anyway, and they have indicated that they intend to continue to use those guidelines, so I don't expect anything to change starting January 15th.

Court order means nothing as you note because cruise lines in Florida have ignored it and followed the CSO. I think the CDC is letting the cruise industry self regulate because the reality is, the CSO didn't measure up to the standards some ports have set and that is why they have been denying docking to ship that only meet the CSO, not stricter guidelines. Passengers are getting fed up with canceled ports.

 

[DCLMP]

Court order means nothing as you note because cruise lines in Florida have ignored it and followed the CSO. I think the CDC is letting the cruise industry self regulate because the reality is, the CSO didn't measure up to the standards some ports have set and that is why they have been denying docking to ship that only meet the CSO, not stricter guidelines. Passengers are getting fed up with canceled ports.

What more could the cruiselines do? They are already testing everyone before boarding. The vaccines aren’t stopping infection among the crew. Colds and flus have always run amok on cruise ships we just never cared before.

 

[tvguy]

What more could the cruiselines do? They are already testing everyone before boarding. The vaccines aren’t stopping infection among the crew. Colds and flus have always run amok on cruise ships we just never cared before.

That is a question you should pose to health officials in the ports that are turning away ships.

 

[mousefan73]

What more could the cruiselines do? They are already testing everyone before boarding. The vaccines aren’t stopping infection among the crew. Colds and flus have always run amok on cruise ships we just never cared before.

There’s not much they can do because their fate lies in the hands of various agencies and governments. I’m For a cruise passengers having to be tested before entering any port as long as that country or port treats every incoming person regardless of mode transportation the same. So test every person getting off of that flight and if one person test positive send that flight back; Because theoretically that one passenger could’ve Spread among the flight in at the airport. It’s just becoming frustrating how cruise passengers are being treated differently when in reality especially with Omicron the risks is the same everywhere. The argument that people are so close together on cruises makes no sense. If I lived back in Chicago with my family I’d be stuck with people on the L commuting to work and my kids will be jampacked in classrooms. You can’t tell me that’s different than being on a cruise where half the time is spent in our state room or up on the upper decks or off the ship. And we are tested and Vaxxed

 

[DCLMP]

There’s not much they can do because their fate lies in the hands of various agencies and governments. I’m For a cruise passengers having to be tested before entering any port as long as that country or port treats every incoming person regardless of mode transportation the same. So test every person getting off of that flight and if one person test positive send that flight back; Because theoretically that one passenger could’ve Spread among the flight in at the airport. It’s just becoming frustrating how cruise passengers are being treated differently when in reality especially with Omicron the risks is the same everywhere. The argument that people are so close together on cruises makes no sense. If I lived back in Chicago with my family I’d be stuck with people on the L commuting to work and my kids will be jampacked in classrooms. You can’t tell me that’s different than being on a cruise where half the time is spent in our state room or up on the upper decks or off the ship. And we are tested and Vaxxed

If the virus continues to be less virulent we can only hope policies and attitudes change. Ive been on so many cruises where my server or host had a cold and passengers were sneezing and coughing all over the place. Those were the good ole days.

 

[Freeman867]

If the virus continues to be less virulent we can only hope policies and attitudes change. Ive been on so many cruises where my server or host had a cold and passengers were sneezing and coughing all over the place. Those were the good ole days.

As many people have stated, it doesn't matter your personal opinions on COVID and if it's as serious as a cold, flu, etc. Nor does it matter our vaccination rates. The issue is cruises go to other countries that don't have the hospital infrastructure and vaccination rates the US does and those countries in no way want COVID in their country from cruise ship passengers. So what the US does doesn't matter here unless we're doing completely domestic cruise traveling and other countries don't have a say because the US ships aren't docking in their ports.

 

[DCLMP]

As many people have stated, it doesn't matter your personal opinions on COVID and if it's as serious as a cold, flu, etc. Nor does it matter our vaccination rates. The issue is cruises go to other countries that don't have the hospital infrastructure and vaccination rates the US does and those countries in no way want COVID in their country from cruise ship passengers. So what the US does doesn't matter here unless we're doing completely domestic cruise traveling and other countries don't have a say because the US ships aren't docking in their ports.

That is very unfortunate for the cruise industry.

 

[Freeman867]

That is very unfortunate for the cruise industry.

Completely agree. The cruise industry in the US is tied to foreign government's decisions on allowing their cruise ships to dock in their ports. You'd think the foreign governments would want the tourism revenue the cruises bring in, but they don't seem to care a ton about that right now anyways.