Coronavirus and DCL Megathread - Suspension of Departures for the fleet until early November. Booking only available from early December.

[CM Dad]

What is the history behind all these weird rules?

I think they were intended to protect American flagged ships and workers. I don't think it worked very well, since there aren't many US built/flagged cruise ships

 

[tidefan]

Can anyone go to the drive up and get tested? I live in Ohio and they are only testing people who have all the symptoms, have been tested first for the flu with a negative result, and then you have to have a doctor's order. So far there are 13 people in Ohio who have it, yesterday it was 6. Interesting to hear how different states are handling everything. I haven't heard of Ohio doing the drive up testing.

Coronavirus testing in Alabama: Assurance Scientific Laboratories says its COVID-19 testing will be open tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at their Vestavia Hills location at 2868 Acton Rd. Patients need a doctor's order to get a test. Residents who believe they have symptoms can go to Assurance where a health care official will determine whether testing is needed.

 

[DIS_MIKE]

Since Russia is really close to Alaska, maybe they can find some Russian port instead of Vancouver

Is that a Sarah Palin joke....?

 

[1supermomsmd]

On Twitter Scott from the cruise blog reports that CLIA (Disney is a member) has announced all cruises to US ports will be suspended for 30 days. That brings us to 4/12.
[/QUOTE

If the suspension starts on 3/14 per the press release then 30 days would take us to Monday 4/13.

 

[DIS_MIKE]

If the suspension starts on 3/14 per the press release then 30 days would take us to Monday 4/13.

Keep in mind this is only the first suspension. I predict it will be extended even further beyond that and into May.

 

[Coffee66]

Since Russia is really close to Alaska, maybe they can find some Russian port instead of Vancouver

Laugh out loud

 

[spurscar]

At this point I don't think it is outrageous to expect Disney to let the customers decide and offer full refunds across the board. PIF dates aren't THAT far out where folks can get full refunds anyway and for the rest of this it just snuck up on everyone inside their PIF date. Now we're left playing chicken with them and it's not how things should go. A simple policy waiving cancellation fees for a few months would be prudent.

 

[smmco]

Keep in mind this is only the first suspension. I predict it will be extended even further beyond that and into May.

You know that how?

 

[DIS_MIKE]

You know that how?

It is only a prediction but Viking has halted all cruises until 5/1.

 

[fsjking]

Still not enough . should be 6 months. Need time to sanatize the ships properly. Also 100% cash refunds to everyone that wants it.

Since the virus itself dies in less than 2 weeks without a host, the ships don't need sanitized. If the ships are still parked in 6 months, it's because this has really gone sideways, massive amounts of people are dead and the global economy has crashed.

 

[smmco]

It is only a prediction but Viking has halted all cruises until 5/1.

I don't think Viking has that much influence. Aren't they are mostly in Europe? Plus they attract a unique clientele they are more expensive then DCL. I figure whatever the big three do is what Disney will do. Carnival, RCCL, and NCL seem to be the leaders in the industry. That being said I don't think cruise lines can survive a shutdown for more than a month. They are going to be hurting for a few years after this. For those of us that like to cruise we're going to get some deals.

 

[Coffee66]

Since the virus itself dies in less than 2 weeks without a host, the ships don't need sanitized. If the ships are still parked in 6 months, it's because this has really gone sideways, massive amounts of people are dead and the global economy has crashed.

Piece of mind speaks columns. I would want the ships cleaned. Probably have never been cleaned.

 

[smmco]

I wish there was a way to dislike posts. We have all these emoji's but no dislike button.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

We are nowhere near infectious peak in North America. 30 days won't have us to peak in nearly any credible scientific model right now. Peak is modeling as 8 to 14 weeks out, depending on data used and model. When the peak occurs and how bad it is depends on current measures and if they're effective. It's a huge IF on if the measures being taken now have happened soon enough or are sufficient to restrain spread.

14 weeks is mid-June.

The best case is that current measures to slow the spread work, and all the people saying this is overkill and hype shake their heads and continue to say it, because the worst case didn't happen, possibly because of the alleged hype and overkill.

It's really unlikely cruises in North America stat back up mid-April. Alaska's season may be a total wash, because since lines can't sail until at least 7/1 due to port closures, a lot of excursion operators won't have their seasonal staff north, and it may be a struggle to get them up for the shortened season.

Canada's port closures through 7/1 are much more realistic than a 30 day hiatus. And that's just addressing peak, not really a "it's all fine now!" timing. Canada may extend their closure depending on what infection rate and recovery look like.

 

[mmmears]

Since Russia is really close to Alaska, maybe they can find some Russian port instead of Vancouver

There are cruises out there that do just that. Viking first came to my attention where I saw a cool itinerary that went from Japan to Vancouver via Siberia and several stops in Alaska. I think Princess might have had something similar. I guess this is one way to reposition ships for the summer season.

 

[BruinEd03]

View attachment 480754
Assurance Scientific Laboratories is providing drive-up Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing at their facility at 2868 Acton Road in Vestavia. The company has 4,000 tests on hand with an expected 15,000-20,000 additional tests by early next week. The test is an oral swab test with results delivered within 4-6 hours. Talk is growing statewide and nationwide about drive-thru test locations.

That picture is puzzling. These people may be susceptible to catching the virus due to the lack of precautions they are taking. For example, Some don't have glasses on. One has glasses, but it is on the top of her head. The guy is not wearing a glove, and is touching his face.

 

[Intr3pid]

There are cruises out there that do just that. Viking first came to my attention where I saw a cool itinerary that went from Japan to Vancouver via Siberia and several stops in Alaska. I think Princess might have had something similar. I guess this is one way to reposition ships for the summer season.

Most Asia/Alaska ships do these itineraries when repositioning. The really cool reposition is Australia to Hawaii to Vancouver via French Polynesia. None of these, however, need to stop anywhere for PVSA-style laws. Tokyo to Vancouver all the way straight is a perfectly legal trip.

 

[Intr3pid]

It is only a prediction but Viking has halted all cruises until 5/1.

Viking can ill-afford a customer-service fiasco at the moment after their Norway mishap. But, I agree, until we have Italy/China-style social distancing, the virus isn't going anywhere.

 

[Intr3pid]

At this point I don't think it is outrageous to expect Disney to let the customers decide and offer full refunds across the board. PIF dates aren't THAT far out where folks can get full refunds anyway and for the rest of this it just snuck up on everyone inside their PIF date. Now we're left playing chicken with them and it's not how things should go. A simple policy waiving cancellation fees for a few months would be prudent.

Disney - of all companies - can pull this off. But for NCL, RCL, and CCL, this is going to become a severe cash crunch if they allow full refunds. All three are up to their brim with heavy debt loads.

 

[gotomu212]

I don't think Viking has that much influence. Aren't they are mostly in Europe? Plus they attract a unique clientele they are more expensive then DCL. I figure whatever the big three do is what Disney will do. Carnival, RCCL, and NCL seem to be the leaders in the industry. That being said I don't think cruise lines can survive a shutdown for more than a month. They are going to be hurting for a few years after this. For those of us that like to cruise we're going to get some deals.

I cannot imagine any port in Mexico or the Caribbean that is going to allow docking when US cases get to 10k/20k/50k. And, although there are always people who go to the beach to watch the hurricane and seem to ignore expert/government/common sense warnings, I really doubt thousands of people will line up to board cruise ships in a month. If it wasn’t for being past PIF dates, almost everyone would be cancelling now.

The cruise lines won’t really be in the position of deciding to run for awhile- either ports will shut them out or passenger lack of demand will. I think it’s going to take things being a lot more certain before demand increases enough to run a ship.