Cruising as we know it

[pweberrrr]

A lot of threads about when cruising will resume -- but I find myself wondering more about what it will be like once resumed, as opposed to when. Things like Pin Trading -- or obviously the Ice cream machine handles or buffet utensils -- they're all so high touch. I think it will be a very different experience. Anyone else concerned that specific things they really enjoyed previously will be removed altogether? My kids loved running to flip through the pin trading books at guest services & the shops.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

A lot of threads about when cruising will resume -- but I find myself wondering more about what it will be like once resumed, as opposed to when. Things like Pin Trading -- or obviously the Ice cream machine handles or buffet utensils -- they're all so high touch. I think it will be a very different experience. Anyone else concerned that specific things they really enjoyed previously will be removed altogether? My kids loved running to flip through the pin trading books at guest services & the shops.

Assuming that there's a covid19 vaccine available, there's really no reason that things can't be "the way it used to be". The problem now is that there's no treatment/cure or vaccine for this virus. When there is, it's likely to be "get your covid shot" along with "get your flu shot" .

 

[Intr3pid]

There will probably be more extensive health screening and more stringent cleaning/disinfection as standard procedures. Cruise lines - in particular - are in the crosshair, and I don't expect outsiders to get off their back anytime soon.

I think it will be a good change.

 

[AngelDisney]

I agree. Hope everyone would be more complied to wash or wipe their hands when entering dining areas and thoroughly wash hands after using the washroom. How many times you see people not washing hands after being in the washroom! I hope everyone would get a temperature checked with the scanning gun before boarding and reboarding the ship as I don’t think everyone is honest when completing the health questionnaire. Children should be turned away from the kids club if they have any sign of a cold or flu like running nose. I worked at a child care before and those little running noses were not pleasant.

 

[Drfate102]

I would like to see Cast Members serving the items on the buffet. But truth is, we have short memories and will become complacent again.

 

[dclpluto]

I would like to see Cast Members serving the items on the buffet. But truth is, we have short memories and will become complacent again.

i was on a dcl Panama Canal Cruise. The cruise before ours had norovirus. So the first week they had strict restrictions. Where they will serve your food to you in the Buffett and at the drink station. They never had enough people serving. Always backed up. Drink station was really bad. I understand safety first since we were just on after a Noro Cruise. Do you really want it all the time if dcl doesn’t get more people serving the food and drinks?

 

[DIS_MIKE]

I was on the Fantasy last May directly after a bunch of cruisers got sick. It didn't make national news or anything but people on here knew about it and DCL took extra precautions after that. You could still serve yourself at the buffet but the drink and ice cream stations were only accessible by a CM. It wasn't too bad and we've seen these measures taken by Disney in recent months as well. I wouldn't be surprised if that becomes the new norm...at least for a while anyway. For a while..... I mean, the next few years or at least until we have a vaccine.

The other obvious new norm would be having your temperature checked before boarding the cruise. I know some will argue that it's equivalent of the TSA security theater that we've all grown to accept over the years but it makes us feel better, no? This will just be health theater and to that I say why not? It just makes sense at this point plus I’d feel better knowing a few thousand people just embarked with no fever.

One positive thing out of all of this is that I think as a Nation we will become much more health conscious and wash our hands a lot more.

 

[daedelus]

I just got off the "final cruise," the WBPC last week. On day 4 they switched Cabanas to "we serve you" mode and went to crew-served soda and ice cream stations. Pin trading and the Officer's Ball were also cancelled, although Captain Henry still did his signings.

The only thing that was mildly annoying was the soda station. We're night owls on the ship, and they closed it down at 1130-midnight timeframe every night. So if you wanted a drink, you had to call room service and wait 30-45 minutes for them to bring you a canned soda.

Cabanas was pretty bad the first day or two, but once they added more crew to the serving line and those folks got used to it, the lines weren't bad and we used it several times.

What is distressing is the number of adults who I saw use the restroom then walk out without washing their hands. Just disgusting to begin with, but with all the heightened awareness you'd think they'd have some common sense and wash!

 

[lanejudy]

The problem now is that there's no treatment/cure or vaccine for this virus.

This is the key issue right now. Lack of a consistent, documented, successful treatment regimen is the current problem -- moreso than the disease itself. There are lots of diseases that are highly contagious but we live our lives normally. Norovirus runs rampant on cruise ships each year, also in nursing homes and daycares and schools. But it has become commonplace, a known entity with treatment available. I think cruising will eventually return to "normal."

The scientists need time to come up with a treatment regimen, and probably even a future vaccine, but hopefully a consistently successful treatment regimen will come long before a vaccine can be ready for the public.