CDC says Cruises can start in July

[_auroraborealis_]

Well all the cruise lines could get together and send a ship loaded with vaccine and medical professionals to Indonesia since so many crew members from all lines are from there, and vaccine them there.

They'd have to get the vaccine first, though, so that's still an issue. The export and sales controls are quite real and I think that would run afoul of the export controls in both the US and EU.

 

[DLgal]

They'd have to get the vaccine first, though, so that's still an issue. The export and sales controls are quite real and I think that would run afoul of the export controls in both the US and EU.

I'm pretty sure the cruise lines will have a way to secure vaccine doses for their crew. They can likely do this either at their home country via some sort of contract with a healthcare provider locally, or they can vaccinate them onboard the ship and simply wait out the timeline. The Bahamas is where the ships are flagged, right? I'm sure the Bahamian government can find a way to purchase vaccine supply to then sell to Disney.

 

[tvguy]

They'd have to get the vaccine first, though, so that's still an issue. The export and sales controls are quite real and I think that would run afoul of the export controls in both the US and EU.

Oh well. It seems like a simple solution but with complications.

 

[karen4546]

If they are taking "volunteers" for the cruises to start.... I volunteer as tribute.

 

[jrapps]

I'm pretty sure the cruise lines will have a way to secure vaccine doses for their crew. They can likely do this either at their home country via some sort of contract with a healthcare provider locally, or they can vaccinate them onboard the ship and simply wait out the timeline. The Bahamas is where the ships are flagged, right? I'm sure the Bahamian government can find a way to purchase vaccine supply to then sell to Disney.

There was just a report from Orlando where a FEMA site got the J&J shot back in stock, and out of 3,000 available, only 268 people showed up. Rather than let all these go to waste, I wonder if the cruise lines, ports, and FL department of health could team up to make J&J shots available to cruise crews.

 

[karen4546]

I believe the CDC still recommends those who had Covid should still receive the vaccination.

yes. I had Covid and I have had both my Moderna doses February) so I should be fully vaccinated.

 

[mmouse37]

If they are taking "volunteers" for the cruises to start.... I volunteer as tribute.

Me too!!!!




MJ

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I'm pretty sure the cruise lines will have a way to secure vaccine doses for their crew. They can likely do this either at their home country via some sort of contract with a healthcare provider locally, or they can vaccinate them onboard the ship and simply wait out the timeline. The Bahamas is where the ships are flagged, right? I'm sure the Bahamian government can find a way to purchase vaccine supply to then sell to Disney.

I am not sure that complies with export controls, and would potentially cut off future sales to the Bahamian government. EU has stopped short of an export ban, but sourcing via the EU is rough under their standards. US's pandemic export controls cover both vaccines, and also key materials that are needed for their production. As of last week, the US has exported a total of 0 vaccines, and is hobbling other countries' ability to make their own.

 

[DLgal]

I am not sure that complies with export controls, and would potentially cut off future sales to the Bahamian government. EU has stopped short of an export ban, but sourcing via the EU is rough under their standards. US's pandemic export controls cover both vaccines, and also key materials that are needed for their production. As of last week, the US has exported a total of 0 vaccines, and is hobbling other countries' ability to make their own.

If the CDC is going to require vaccinated crew, I'm sure they have an idea of how to get those people vaccinated. Even if it is flying crew members stateside and getting them vaccinated here. I'm sure they will soon find the US has an excess of J&J vaccine with few people willing to take it.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

If the CDC is going to require vaccinated crew, I'm sure they have an idea of how to get those people vaccinated. Even if it is flying crew members stateside and getting them vaccinated here. I'm sure they will soon find the US has an excess of J&J vaccine with few people willing to take it.

It's not up to the CDC to figure out HOW get everyone vaccinated, only what they recommend to re-start cruising in the US.

 

[DLgal]

I am not sure that complies with export controls, and would potentially cut off future sales to the Bahamian government. EU has stopped short of an export ban, but sourcing via the EU is rough under their standards. US's pandemic export controls cover both vaccines, and also key materials that are needed for their production. As of last week, the US has exported a total of 0 vaccines, and is hobbling other countries' ability to make their own.

So you are telling me that countries are not allowed to purchase vaccine supply directly from the manufacturers? I thought this was already happening. Otherwise how else would any country get vaccine?

They can also potentially buy vaccine from OTHER countries who manufacture their own supply as well. There are not only 4 vaccines in use worldwide right now.

 

[DLgal]

It's not up to the CDC to figure out HOW get everyone vaccinated, only what they recommend to re-start cruising in the US.

But if the rule is literally impossible to carry out, what good is it?

 

[AmishGuy91]

But if the rule is literally impossible to carry out, what good is it?

Ahhhh and you've unlocked the frustrations the cruise industry has had with the CDC for over 6 months.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

But if the rule is literally impossible to carry out, what good is it?

It would be up to the cruise lines to see if they can facilitate the vaccinations. The CDC has no power to figure out what a foreign company would need to do to comply with recommendations.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

So you are telling me that countries are not allowed to purchase vaccine supply directly from the manufacturers? I thought this was already happening. Otherwise how else would any country get vaccine?

They can also potentially buy vaccine from OTHER countries who manufacture their own supply as well. There are not only 4 vaccines in use worldwide right now.

Yes, COUNTRIES can purchase the vaccine. For use in their country. I believe they can also send, at no cost to another country excess vaccine. But a country then turning around and selling the vaccine to a private entity would not be allowed.

 

[Weedy]

It would be up to the cruise lines to see if they can facilitate the vaccinations. The CDC has no power to figure out what a foreign company would need to do to comply with recommendations.

Disney World provided (limited) vaccines for their employees in Florida. So they might be able to get vaccines for cruise staff.
https://www.clickorlando.com/news/l...orld-offering-cast-members-covid-19-vaccines/

 

[Beaker314]

I think you are skipping what I consider the most sensible option (and somewhat matches their UK plans)
Do the test cruises and then require vaccines for adults and negative tests for kids until are available.
By doing the test cruises they can decide exactly how to do their own vaccine mandates instead of relying on government rules.

At the risk of starting another vaccine war, yes most people (and all 50 states) believe in mandating vaccines. Just google Chicken Pox vaccine. If states can mandate a vaccine for an illness that only kills 100 people a year, they can mandate this.

In my heart I don't think Desantis and the FL legislature actually want cruises to start up. I think they are using this as a way to create headaches. Find an "opponent" (CDC), make them an "enemy" that people can rally behind, make political theater, stay relevant in the news.

Now to keep this relevant to the topic, DCL has 3 choices here

1 - Stay in the FL Governments good graces and true to their "family" cruise identity, and decide NOT to mandate vaccines. This means they will have to do test cruises. Still don't know how many or how long the tests need to be. I figure if they try to start test cruises mid summer, they MIGHT get approval to sail by fall. I'm going to guess they will start having cruises sometime between Mid September and late November.

2 - Go with the vaccine mandate. This means they are inviting the state to sue them, and can't sail with kids until vaccines are available to children. This option will get stuck in lawsuits and take months to resolve. Maybe they do a few late summer cruises with only adults and kids 12+ by then, but I doubt it. I say if they go this route, they won't really start sailing until all kids are eligible for vaccines and all lawsuits are settled. Call this early November at the earliest, maybe early 2022.

3 - Do nothing. Just wait this out and wait until either enough people voluntarily get vaccines or that other cruise lines prove things out and it's easier for DCL to get approval to sail. They probably wont sail until early 2022 at the earliest.

My money is on Option1. I think DCL would want to mandate vaccines, but too many political and logistical roadblocks. Maybe this plays out more and a few weeks from now the CDC POV changes further to indicate 95% of 16+ vaccinated, and under 16 must have negative PCR test. To me that is the best option. But if the CDC doesn't go along with it, that wont work. And the state of FL also has to agree not to sue DCL.

Politics sucks.

 

[andyman8]

To figure out what DCL will do, you don't need to look further than the Disney Magic at Sea sailings in the UK: fully-vaccinated for 18+ and negative test for children. Mind you, within the next month, 12-15 year olds should have a vaccine EUA issued and be eligible, so DCL could conceivably expand the fully vaccinated requirement to ages 12 and up. If the CDC doesn't amend their guidance by July (which they likely will), then DCL will just do test voyages. I can't see DCL being the first out of the gate with US-based cruises anyways (look at Disney's pattern with the parks relative to their competitors).

Regarding the Florida vaccine passport ban, the general legal consensus seems to be that the CDC and the federal government would supersede state regulations in the realm of maritime activities (and boarding/embarkation requirements would fall into that category). I don't think that the FL law will present the hurdle to cruising that some are speculating it does. And if it means delaying getting their business back online, Disney doesn't care to stay in any politicians' good graces. Just look at the CA situation with DLR.

In terms of crew vaccinations, RCL and Celebrity don't seem to have had issues getting crew vaccinated.

Moral of the story: go get your vaccines if you want to cruise, because it's pretty much a guarantee that adults will be required to be fully vaccinated to sail come mid-July.

 

[DLgal]

If DCL was able to get their crew vaccinated for the UK sailings, they should have no issues getting it done for the other ships.

Maybe they just make it a condition of returning to the ships as employees, and put it on the individual to get a vaccine wherever they live.

 

[RamblingMad]

Moral of the story: go get your vaccines if you want to cruise, because it's pretty much a guarantee that adults will be required to be fully vaccinated to sail come mid-July.

That's my expectation. The last thing Disney needs is to have a ship with an outbreak on the news.