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

[planecrazy63]

This will cancel Hawaii and most of Alaska - it will probably be later today until we hear the plans for the wonder. EVERY Alaska cruise regardless of the line or port of embarkation currently stops in Vancouver or Victoria.

 

[Seamama]

Oh dear!

So this is for ships stopping at a Canadian port... that hopefully doesn’t affect ships starting from a Canadian port?

And it says restricted flights into Canada, but I wonder about crossing the border from WA State by car or train?

Thinking out loud, I know folks here don’t have answers... nervous for our mid-Aug Alaska cruise.

The Government of Canada has announced:

Cruise ships transporting over 500 people will not be able to stop in Canada until JULY 1.

This will have significant impact on the Alaska cruise season.

For the Arctic, it applies for the entire cruise season due to inadequate health resources there.

For smaller ships, including ferries, additional health measures will be added.

Also, inbound flights from other countries will be restricted to coming in to a smaller number of Canadian airports. Details to come.

(per live press conference on CBC, statement from Minister of Transport)

 

[planecrazy63]

Oh dear!

So this is for ships stopping at a Canadian port... that hopefully doesn’t affect ships starting from a Canadian port?

And it says restricted flights into Canada, but I wonder about crossing the border from WA State by car or train?

Thinking out loud, I know folks here don’t have answers... nervous for our mid-Aug Alaska cruise.

No - the wording probably wasn't the best on the original article. The actual text " The federal government has temporarily barred all cruise ships and ferries that carry more than 500 people, including crew, from docking in Canada until July to protect against the growing COVID-19 pandemic." This means no embarking, disembarking, etc.

 

[rmonty02]

News link please? I have a June Alaska cruise...TIA

 

[JWelch62]

Experts seem to think we’ve got a rough 2-3 months ahead. I don’t see a cruise leaving from San Diego when CA is one of the “hotspots” for the virus. Not to mention HI and Mexico may end up closing their ports. I don’t see how the Alaska cruise season doesn’t get cancelled or severely delayed.

I tend to agree. I'm just theorizing on options for DCL. I fully expect HI to shut its ports to cruise ships. Probably CA, too.

 

[MrWhizzard]

DCL does 2N/3N cruises from San Diego to Ensenada every year..

A closed loop itinerary is only required to visit any foreign port.

And Ensenada was the port used in 2012 for the 14N to HI from San Diego. I think it satisfies the requirement.

I don't think this qualifies. Here's the text of the Passenger Vessel Services Act:

No foreign vessels shall transport passengers between ports or places in the United States, either directly or by way of a foreign port, under a penalty of $200 [now $762] for each passenger so transported and landed.

The Wikipedia article further details the exceptions to this as:

foreign-flagged ships departing from and returning to the same U.S. port, provided the ship visits any foreign port

and:

foreign-flagged ships departing from a U.S. port, visiting a distant foreign port, and then continuing to a second U.S. port

 

[Ralph&Pam]

DCL does 2N/3N cruises from San Diego to Ensenada every year.. And Ensenada was the port used in 2012 for the 14N to HI from LA. I think it satisfies the requirement. BUT, San Diego may shut its terminal, too. We've just had 5 new cases with 2 community spread.

Anyway, just positing an option if DCL is committed to this cruise.

EDIT: 2012 cruise was LA to HI, not SD to HI

But those 2-night and 3-night cruises are round trips returning to San Diego. That’s similar to all the Port Canaveral itineraries and not a problem under the PVSA (Passenger Vessel Service Act, not the Jones Act that applies to freight carriers, although similar provisions apply). The one-way trips between two US ports are not permitted without a stop at a distant foreign port. That’s why the Wonder stops in Cartegena, Columbia on the Panama Canal cruises.

 

[mousefan73]

I am/ was booked on the Hawaiian Cruise. Our FB groups are devastier I have been bawling the past 15 minutes. This was more than a vacation. I will miss out on meeting my new friends I have made these past two years on our groups. The hours and hours spent planning, FE Hawaiian themed.
And to top this off. We have a real problem getting worse- Coronavirus.

 

[JWelch62]

But those 2-night and 3-night cruises are round trips returning to San Diego. That’s similar to all the Port Canaveral itineraries and not a problem under the PVSA (Passenger Vessel Service Act, not the Jones Act that applies to freight carriers, although similar provisions apply). The one-way trips between two US ports are not permitted without a stop at a distant foreign port. That’s why the Wonder stops in Cartegena, Columbia on the Panama Canal cruises.

OK, so then the 2012 cruise, being round trip to/from LA didn't need to stop in Ensenada? Just curious.

Thanks for the specifics.

 

[JWelch62]

A closed loop itinerary is only required to visit any foreign port.


I don't think this qualifies. Here's the text of the Passenger Vessel Services Act:

The Wikipedia article further details the exceptions to this as:

and:

Thanks for the details

 

[DCL Repeaters]

OK, so then the 2012 cruise, being round trip to/from LA didn't need to stop in Ensenada? Just curious.

Thanks for the specifics.

Yes it did stop at Ensenada.

 

[Seamama]

Thanks! I should’ve checked the original announcement instead of relying on news summary.

No - the wording probably wasn't the best on the original article. The actual text " The federal government has temporarily barred all cruise ships and ferries that carry more than 500 people, including crew, from docking in Canada until July to protect against the growing COVID-19 pandemic." This means no embarking, disembarking, etc.

 

[TaiTai1]

Thank you for reporting this information. It is very important and very timely for me as we have an Alaskan Cruise with DCL coming up soon in May. We will wait and see how DCL handles this. But thanks for posting so promptly with this information.

 

[JWelch62]

Yes it did stop at Ensenada.

Yeah, I know it stopped in Ensenada. I realized my error soon after I posted. The closed loop cruises require "any" foreign port. Ensenada satisfies that requirement.

 

[TaiTai1]

Thanks for this timely information. It all be interesting to see how DCL handles this new twist.

 

[lanejudy]

Anyone know how Allianz will handle this ? We had 4 nights at disney plus a 3 night cruise in 2 weeks that has been cancelled. Not worried about getting my money for the cruise or hotel as Disney should take care of that. It's more the airline cancellation fees plus the non-refundable car rental I purchased. From the policy it doesn't seem clear this is one of the covered conditions.

You'll have to check the fine print of your policy, or call the insurance to confirm. Some folks have reported that "pandemic" is specifically excluded from their policies. As to whether the airfare and/or car rental are covered -- did you ever add those to your policy? Or did you only include WDW and the cruise? If you purchased a policy offered by DCL - it only covers those components purchased directly from DCL (so for most that is just the cruise fare, unless you did a package deal that included it all).

Good luck!

 

[Luckymommyx2]

Just thinking....what is happening to the CMs during the canceled cruises? I’m guessing they stay on the ship and clean (even more)? With so many from foreign countries they can’t just go home and come back in a few weeks-especially with the travel bans or potential travel bans.

 

[dclpluto]

Thanks for this timely information. It all be interesting to see how DCL handles this new twist.

Yep
Sail with 499 or less guests. Very highly unlikely. The only way I see this happening if other places has the same restrictions as Canada and they have no where to go. Will they make money with 499 guests or will they rather just shut it down until who knows when

 

[dclpluto]

I am/ was booked on the Hawaiian Cruise. Our FB groups are devastier I have been bawling the past 15 minutes. This was more than a vacation. I will miss out on meeting my new friends I have made these past two years on our groups. The hours and hours spent planning, FE Hawaiian themed.
And to top this off. We have a real problem getting worse- Coronavirus.

So very sorry hang in there. Maybe the wonder will do a round trip Hawaii. One way is out. Anything is possible.they need somewhere to go if possible

 

[Astrogal]

Welp I cancelled my June 1st Alaska yesterday so this does me no good. But I'd rather resolve the issue asap instead of wait to see if they would maybe have issued full refunds.