For your First cruise back..."I won't sail unless..."

[jrapps]

Think about your next cruise, the first one back since shutdown...what will make YOU comfortable going back on a cruise? (not "What do you think others will do", answer honestly about your own personal feelings or opinion please).

There are many threads with us arguing over vaccines, masks, politics, etc...One thing we can agree on is everyone here is very passionate about cruising, and that is what binds us together! The resumption of cruising is close (even closer for our friends in the UK) but of course, you can't please everyone all the time so some compromise has to be made.

Some won't go cruising without significant restrictions in place, others feel that no one will want to go unless everything is back to "normal". So I'm curious, what do YOU think...forget the heated rhetoric and politics for a min...What will it take to get YOU back on a DCL ship...are you in the "I wont go unless everyone is vaccinated" boat, or are you more of a "I won't pay DCL prices for a limited experience" type of cruiser. Don't think about how long restrictions may or may not last, just if DCL could sail tomorrow, what would get you on the boat.

And PLEASE, let' all agree that everyone has their opinion here and keep it civil. Don't berate anyone for having a different view than yours, everyone has the right to their opinion.

 

[AZMermaid]

I’m fine with vaccines and masks. Obviously I’d love to be mask free, but I havent gone anywhere mask free in 13 months.... so it’s not a dealbreaker. I’m okay with distancing measures to some degree. But if it’s done by preplanning every activity and limited pool/kids club time, that’s where I’d pull back. The menu on the phone is a silly maybe dealbreaker for us too. It’s just the restrictions by degrees, any one or two is fine, but all is tough. Plus our upcoming cruise is 12/27.... so premium pricing holiday cruise.

 

[mab2012]

I read this as "what minimum level of restrictions would have to be in place for you to sail in the foreseeable future (ie. while COVID is still in widespread circulation)", and voted accordingly (answer: none - I would cruise tomorrow with zero restrictions if it was allowed).

But I think some people will probably just look at the poll options, without reading the explanation, and read it as "what level of restrictions are you willing to put up with?" That would be a different answer for me - then I would vote "Somewhat restrictive".

 

[jrapps]

I read this as "what minimum level of restrictions would have to be in place for you to sail in the foreseeable future (ie. while COVID is still in widespread circulation)", and voted accordingly (answer: none - I would cruise tomorrow with zero restrictions if it was allowed).

But I think some people will probably just look at the poll options, without reading the explanation, and read it as "what level of restrictions are you willing to put up with?" That would be a different answer for me - then I would vote "Somewhat restrictive".

Interesting...I had not considered that a person would have both a minimum level in place AND put up with more. To me, selecting none means you won't consider cruising at all UNLESS there are no restrictions of any kind. But in your case, that is not how you read it. You selected None meaning you want none, but would be willing to cruise if Somewhat Restrictive. I wonder how I could have phrased the question differently. By your description, I suppose I would say your choice is Somewhat Restrictive in that if DCL were to enforce vaccines, masks, and Social Distancing, you would choose not to go, but once it relaxed enough to be "Somewhat Restrictive" then you feel the cost/experience is worth it. yes?

 

[sullivan.kscott]

Interesting...I had not considered that a person would have both a minimum level in place AND put up with more. To me, selecting none means you won't consider cruising at all UNLESS there are no restrictions of any kind. But in your case, that is not how you read it. You selected None meaning you want none, but would be willing to cruise if Somewhat Restrictive. I wonder how I could have phrased the question differently. By your description, I suppose I would say your choice is Somewhat Restrictive in that if DCL were to enforce vaccines, masks, and Social Distancing, you would choose not to go, but once it relaxed enough to be "Somewhat Restrictive" then you feel the cost/experience is worth it. yes?

That’s interesting to me, too. I chose “somewhat restrictive,” because I personally think cruise lines can operate most normally within those guidelines. Seeing what DCL is doing in the UK actually gives me hope for next July from Dover to Copenhagen. In the year+ from now until we sail, more age groups will be authorized/approved for vaccines. The fact that the EU recently stated that vaccinated Americans will be welcome soon, that DCL has lifted the required mask age from 2 (in US parks) to 11 (DCL), and that we have a year to learn even more gives me great hope.

Maybe in a year the pandemic will have dwindled. But, answering in today’s world and climate and considering where we look to be headed in Europe and North America with vaccines and the virus, I think a “vaccine bubble” gives us the best hope for a 2019 approximation.

 

[Clojel]

I read this as "what minimum level of restrictions would have to be in place for you to sail in the foreseeable future (ie. while COVID is still in widespread circulation)", and voted accordingly (answer: none - I would cruise tomorrow with zero restrictions if it was allowed).

But I think some people will probably just look at the poll options, without reading the explanation, and read it as "what level of restrictions are you willing to put up with?" That would be a different answer for me - then I would vote "Somewhat restrictive".

This! Completely. I think the OP conceived of the post as “what restrictions do you need to feel ready to sail” rather than “what restrictions will you tolerate”...so I chose “somewhat less restrictive”, but I, like you, would sail tomorrow with none of this!

 

[Traveling on cc points]

I chose somewhat restricted. I saw Disney’s UK sailing rules and 100% would not sail with anything close to those restrictions.
I will not travel anywhere that requires masks outside.

 

[finchy3]

Masks are a big no for me, we won't go until they have gone.

 

[DCLDVC1]

I don't care about wearing a mask or requiring vaccines. I'm fine with both. It's all about the Oceaneer Club & Lab restrictions for me.

 

[Chrislovesdisney]

It’s not really what my experiences will be ON the ship (I’m pro-mask, pro-vaccine (vaccinated since January), pro-social distancing and none of having to do these bother me too too much), but rather what are the policies in terms of completing my vacation. Will it be that no one can re-board if someone tests positive? Cruise-ends-here type thing? What if I need to be quarantined? Will I be allowed to travel back into the US? Are there hospitals available in these small port cities just in case? I’d also like an independent assessment of the risk factors on a cruise ship in terms of air circulation, etc. Basically in addition to covid-related mitigation factors onboard, how does the vacation look from day 1 to day 8 if anything goes askew.

 

[mab2012]

By your description, I suppose I would say your choice is Somewhat Restrictive in that if DCL were to enforce vaccines, masks, and Social Distancing, you would choose not to go, but once it relaxed enough to be "Somewhat Restrictive" then you feel the cost/experience is worth it. yes?

Yes, this. I would be comfortable sailing with no restrictions, but would be willing to accept a vaccination requirement, for myself and for my kids. We will do that eventually anyway, not for our own sake, but out of a sense of civic duty, and to do our part so that all of us can have our lives back.

I wasn't certain I understood your intent, so that's why I commented.

I should probably qualify my "no restrictions" vote though. It does assume that in this hypothetical world where we are actually allowed to cruise with no restrictions, a COVID case onboard would not cause mass panic or an immediate termination of the cruise. The world clearly isn't there yet, so for practical purposes, I suppose I'm back to "Somewhat Restrictive" as the point where the risk of COVID wrecking my expensive cruise would be acceptably low.

A general mask requirement is a hard no for me. If it was only in limited situations, then maybe, but I feel that's unlikely. If they are required at all, they're probably going to be required basically everywhere, or at least everywhere indoors. Distancing might depend on the scope and practical impact, but I'm probably not going to shell out for an expensive vacation as long as we are all awkwardly trying to avoid each other, and treating strangers (not to mention friends, neighbours, and even family) as though they are ticking time bombs.

 

[mevelandry]

I’d be more comfortable if everyone was vaccinated. (Truth be told, before COVID I already had a cold/flu phobia so a world where handwashing, masks when sick and mandatory flu shots would be an absolute dream for me LOL)

We’ll travel when everyone in my family is vaccinated (which will most likely be at the end of August) which will bring us better protection.

I hope social distancing will still be a thing then as some areas on the ships tend to be overcrowded to begin with.

Now about the mask... Obviously, I would prefer not having to wear one but I will sail even if they are mandatory. I’m so used to wear one every day for 8 to 10 hours a day, it wouldn’t make much of a difference anyway.

 

[Chrissy-Mickey]

I couldn't vote since I'm good with whatever (although I'm loving this social distancing). I just want to cruise!

 

[Calantha]

I don't care about wearing a mask or requiring vaccines. I'm fine with both. It's all about the Oceaneer Club & Lab restrictions for me.

That's about where I fall on things now. I wouldn't mind wearing a mask in general and I think vaccines should be required...but if on top of that, if there are additional restrictions - specifically on kid's activities, that's a deal breaker.

 

[lorimay]

Vaccines and masks are good for me.

A mask is like a bra these days, you just have to do to go out in the world.

 

[TheBigErn]

I'm ready now. I don't need any restrictions or conditions. No masks, vaccine or distancing.

 

[mzspaz]

We were on the Dream March 6-9, 2020 and I would honestly be comfortable with the measures that they had in place at that time. There was an RN with a digital scanner taking your temp as you boarded, there were hand sanitizing stations everywhere as well as CMs passing out disinfectant wipes or more sanitizer (especially as you entered the dining rooms and Cabanas). The buffets were still self serve but the ice cream station was not (this was a good thing as the attendant slowed down my Son and he could only consume 12 ice cream cones LOL).

I wouldn't mind social distancing and/or masks, but masks only for the interior and not outside or on Castaway Cay.

 

[MomOTwins]

I’m fine with vaccines and masks. Obviously I’d love to be mask free, but I havent gone anywhere mask free in 13 months.... so it’s not a dealbreaker. I’m okay with distancing measures to some degree. But if it’s done by preplanning every activity and limited pool/kids club time, that’s where I’d pull back. The menu on the phone is a silly maybe dealbreaker for us too. It’s just the restrictions by degrees, any one or two is fine, but all is tough. Plus our upcoming cruise is 12/27.... so premium pricing holiday cruise.

I don't care about wearing a mask or requiring vaccines. I'm fine with both. It's all about the Oceaneer Club & Lab restrictions for me.

Same with me—tests, vaccines, masks no problem. Having everything as reservations (which will get gobbled up by gold and platinum) or same-day virtual queue lottery (like ROTR, which I loathe because it is just a recipe for disappointing the kiddos) is awful.

 

[TestingH2O]

I am finding the early results of the poll interesting. Despite all the squawking about vaccine requirements on this board recently, early voters don't seem put off by it. Obviously this is a very small sample size of a group that has a vested interest in cruising, so I wouldn't attempt to extrapolate it to the general population, but it's still interesting.

 

[insureman]

I can live with masks inside but I think masks outside are ridiculous.