Do you think it’s safe to go on a cruise during the current situation?

[sethschroeder]

I really hope DCL changes their policy and does the same, especially with unvaxxed kids on board.

Unless its daily testing its really not worth much on longer cruises. Additionally I would want to know retesting policy and refund/coverage policy from DCL as well before I agreed to any of that.

 

[otten]

Everyone has their own risk tolerance but for me at this point no I don’t think it’s safe. We’re fully vaccinated and I’m not worried about us getting sick but if I were planning on cruising right now I would definitely be worried about the potential for problems arising if non vaccinated passengers being onboard leads to an outbreak. Particularly with the rise of cases in Florida.

I’ve been on a cruise in a pandemic before. There was a lot of anxiety over whether we’d end up quarantined or able to dock etc. I won’t risk repeating that personally.

 

[otten]

That is awful. A cruise should be a respite from Covid news. I don't mind showing my vaccine card or wearing a mask, but please, for a few magical days, give me a break from listening to infection statistics.

It wasn’t about positive cases thankfully but on the WBPC we got regular announcements from the Captain about what was going on with the pandemic. It’s not a relaxing experience and I think people planning on going on a cruise in the next few months need to understand that.

 

[Blondie58]

We would all love a break but unfortunately, if there is an outbreak on a ship, guests cannot let their guard down and have to act accordingly for their own safety.

Everyone has their own risk tolerance but for me at this point no I don’t think it’s safe. We’re fully vaccinated and I’m not worried about us getting sick but if I were planning on cruising right now I would definitely be worried about the potential for problems arising if non vaccinated passengers being onboard leads to an outbreak. Particularly with the rise of cases in Florida.

I’ve been on a cruise in a pandemic before. There was a lot of anxiety over whether we’d end up quarantined or able to dock etc. I won’t risk repeating that personally.

Your response is so nicely written. You do not condemn or judge the opinions or thoughts of others but state how you feel from a previous experience. Your thoughts may help others decided how they may wish to handle curising at this time.

 

[mevelandry]

I bet there is another line of thought that says I am leagall

Sorry, it looks like a part of your reply to me is missing.

 

[Blondie58]

Sorry, it looks like a part of your reply to me is missing.

For sure. Not sure where that came from.

 

[Ursula J]

I wouldn't go, not as much because of my own safety but because disrupting a cruise when someone inevitably does test positive is a huge deal/pain. I wouldn't want to be on a ship where suddenly everyone has to stay in their rooms and things aren't available. It just sounds too stressful IMHO.

 

[randumb0]

It looks like a number of people who have returned from some of the Carnival cruises are now showing symptoms and have tested positive since returning home. Just something to be aware of

 

[Chrissy-Mickey]

It looks like a number of people who have returned from some of the Carnival cruises are now showing symptoms and have tested positive since returning home. Just something to be aware of

Source?

 

[randumb0]

Source?

I'll message you because I don't think I can mention it on here

 

[sethschroeder]

Question is how was capacity on those ships, were maks required/enforced, and was there social distancing?

Edit: just saw an article 70% of its 5282 guests on one of its recent cruises....

That's seems fairly significant.

 

[Sykes]

Source?

A couple of quotes I found from people reporting first-hand:

"I was on the Horizon July 24-Aug 1st. Our Facebook group has posted over 10 cruisers on our cruise that have tested positive for COVID since they’ve returned home and many more have symptoms and are in the process of getting tested. Everyone that posted that they or their spouse has tested positive ALL state that they were fully vaccinated."

"I was on the Vista on the same dates as you were on the Horizon, and exactly everything you said happened on our cruise as well! Our FB grp is also reporting 9+ positives since returning."

I guess these were some of the first cruises to go out and return since Delta really started to spiral out of control. Reports are that social distancing was pretty poor, and masks were optional for vaccinated (and poorly enforced for unvaccinated kids). I think that Carnival is sailing at up to 80% capacity now? Carnival accelerated their mask mandate and they're now required fleet-wide for everyone.

 

[DisneyMomJen]

We may have to cancel a trip to Aruba next week due to the possibility of being quarantined if anyone of us test positive before we leave and are looking at other last minute options. Would love to do the August 9 four night cruise but DD25 is very worried about this delta variant. How concerned would you be?

Just to update everyone. I cancelled Aruba this morning (we were scheduled to leave tomorrow but I thought of postponing to leave Monday for testing purpose for the return home). I feel horrible about this since there were 20 of us going which is all of my side of the family. Everyone else is going. We were just really concerned about getting stuck being quarantined there if we tested positive before we left. My 3 oldest kids are fairly new to their jobs and felt they could not miss work as did DH. We are not doing the cruise on 8/9 since a few of my family did not feel comfortable. I am still up in the air about going to Disney for 4 nights without doing much in the parks (we have AP's). Our other option is go spend two nights in Bethany Beach Delaware which is improbably what we will wind up doing. It is such a shame since we were all looking forward to Aruba for the past year and this Delta variant just happened so quickly. Even two weeks ago my DD said it would be great to go on the 8/9 cruise since it was her birthday and a Castaway Cay double dip.

 

[DCLMP]

I'll message you because I don't think I can mention it on here

If it's cruise critic you can mention it here.

 

[drb116]

I canceled our cruise for next week because I don't think the protocols are sufficient. Unless you are ok getting covid (which you may be if you are vaxed), I don't think it is safe.

The issue is that they are only testing unvaccinated passengers and according to the CDC vaccinated passengers are still able to spread the delta variant. This means that you are likely to have several passengers onboard that are carrying the delta variant and spreading it.

Since I have unvaccinated children that need to start school, we were not willing to take a chance, especially since there is not a lot of history to go off just yet.

 

[DCLMP]

Question is how was capacity on those ships, were maks required/enforced, and was there social distancing?

Edit: just saw an article 70% of its 5282 guests on one of its recent cruises....

That's seems fairly significant.

People on these cruises did not want masks, social distancing, or any kind of restrictions. They thought their vaccines made them bulletproof. I know this from following all the threads over on CC. I've also read over there that Carnival is changing protocols mid-cruise and requiring people to mask. Carnival and Royal have been a hot mess with their constant policy changes.

I believe MSC starting sailing this weekend it will be interesting to see how they do since they've been at this for a year now. Will their protocols that worked in Europe work here? I guess we'll find out.

 

[mmackeymouse]

So, "safe" is kind of a relative term. I've been vaccinated, so I feel pretty much safe wherever I go on a daily basis. I am perfectly aware of the Delta variant, and that being vaccinated isn't a silver bullet. But, at some point, you either have to shut it all down OR realize that you are going to have to assume some level of risk.

I did a workout at the park this morning, and it was a circuit of different stations- 40 seconds work, 20 seconds rest- so there wasn't time to sanitize equipment between rotations. You used the same equipment, you used the same mats, as the person ahead of you. Is it ideal? No. But the options are not participate or...assume the risk that comes with doing this particular workout.

I would not feel unsafe going on a cruise right now, but I would also know, just like we did last September, when we went to WDW, that there is still a certain amount of danger involved. I also know that the kiddos, if they did catch something, would more than likely be fine. And, they have just as much a chance, if not more, catching something at school. That said....it would make me feel a lot better if there was a vaccine for children.

I think where we have landed on it, though, is that while we may personally feel safe. While we may personally feel fine assuming a small amount of risk. Even if we personally feel like the kids would more than likely be okay if it came to that. We don't want to get stuck quarantined in a stateroom. We don't want to take the chance of a massive outbreak, meaning we may miss ports of call. So...yes we feel mostly "safe" in the health-sense of the word. Not sure we are feeling safe as far as safe from potential consequences of Covid on a sailing.

 

[_19disnA]

No, wouldn't go on any cruise while covid is still an issue. Too many confined spaces and no one can tell who might have covid and who doesn't which can easily be spread to others.

 

[Cheburashka]

We cancelled. The Delta variant wasn't the only reason, but it was one of the reasons. It's unfortunate but it's also a relief to have made our minds up and not have to worry about it anymore. We have airline credits that expire this year, so we'll use them to visit family cross country, instead. Glad to be getting a full refund including my concierge deposit via DCL's temporary refund policy. We have tentative plans to cruise in December 2022, but we'll just have to see if that really happens. Not going to book concierge again- I want total freedom to change my mind and walk away without penalty until this time next year.

 

[xiphoid76]

We toured Shawshank prison in Ohio this week and the phrase that stuck with me is “get busy living or get busy dying”. If you keep waiting that is completely fine and I understand some want to do that, but at some point you have to live. There will be another variant and another virus in the future. Life is too short. Wait the two weeks, then until the vaccine, then until zero cases…you will be waiting forever. Would cruise tomorrow if I could but have until February till our next cruise.