Maybe the most realistic cruising suspension...?

[bbel]

Cunard have announced that they have suspended cruises till March and even May next year?

Do you think Disney (and others) should just do the same? Probably the most realistic.

I know people like to bash Carnival Corp, but they're probably being most fair right now, not booking cruises they know won't happen, not taking final payments, not having people worrying/waiting for the next announcement....

 

[T & R]

May? That's not good. From what I can see with DCL inking excursion deals at Nassau and some of the Caribbean islands creating cruiser only zones/beaches, the cruise lines here are working to get back to business and not pause till March-May. Since Cunard doesn't have the presence in the Caribbean like some of the major players here, hard to compare what each cruise lines' capabilities to continue cruising would be. Since Cunard is a transatlantic/Alaska/Asia type cruise line with long week or two itineraries, it's hard to compare to the cruise lines here that have the ability to do short 3 and 4 night cruises. I would say that Carnival, Royal and DCL have a better chance to get going earlier since some of the Caribbean islands are trying to work out areas where passengers can debark and not come into contact with locals and less Covid risk on a 3 night cruise vs. a 2 week Cunard cruise.

 

[truck1]

I've seen signs of the above also, where islands are creating exclusive zones, not counting Europe which is doing its own thing. The 2 things that come to mind, is 1, its easier to cancel long range and be surprised at say a November start for arguments sake, then to plan for a November cruise, and have to cancel 3 ships worth of passengers, adjust compensation, cancelation policies etc,, plus all of the negativity that comes with it. Its inevitable.
2nd thing is some islands, can't make up there minds in what to do. The Bahamas has flip flopped several times over visitors. (I'm on a boating forum that has kept up with it as there are several members that own condos that rent them out. Its getting complicated. )
Its great that islands are doing it, but until the CDC gets there act together, no one is going anywhere.

 

[T & R]

Its great that islands are doing it, but until the CDC gets there act together, no one is going anywhere.

A doubt the CDC will ease the cruise ban. The cruise ban is their sole "accomplishment" during this pandemic, so they're not going to let it go easy. It's all they got to hold onto and to point to as if they are really doing something. Without it, they have nothing to point to and say "see, we're doing something".

 

[lanejudy]

I think OP's point was not as much the exact timeline, but the fact that cruiseline is being honest about plans. DCL continues to sell cruises that are questionable at best (some clearly won't sail as scheduled), and strings folks along before making the next cancellation announcement a few short weeks prior to the scheduled embarkation.

 

[sethschroeder]

I think OP's point was not as much the exact timeline, but the fact that cruiseline is being honest about plans. DCL continues to sell cruises that are questionable at best (some clearly won't sail as scheduled), and strings folks along before making the next cancellation announcement a few short weeks prior to the scheduled embarkation.

Question is are these cruise lines stringing them along? We don't know if most if not all would be back in some capacity by now running their cruises if the government let them.

I think the first question is if the cruise lines would actually cancel the cruises unless required. Or instead would someone like Disney run a 25% capacity cruise with mask requirements, temp checks, and possibly a COVID19 test requirement (that maybe they provide).

 

[DCLCruiseFan09]

I think the first question is if the cruise lines would actually cancel the cruises unless required. Or instead would someone like Disney run a 25% capacity cruise with mask requirements, temp checks, and possibly a COVID19 test requirement (that maybe they provide).

Let the record state, that if they sailed at 25% capacity I would be the first one on that boat even with the temperature checks/masks/etc. A ship that empty sounds like HEAVEN to me.

Although I feel like they would need to be around 50% capacity to really make back the costs of the cruise itself.

 

[sethschroeder]

Although I feel like they would need to be around 50% capacity to really make back the costs of the cruise itself.

Its not about breaking even its about losing less money than canceling. No clue that number.

 

[Karin1984]

It's a grim prospect, but indeed compliments for being transparent to guests and employees. Most likely they will have some agreements with core staff that if they can sail sooner, they will.

 

[bbel]

I think OP's point was not as much the exact timeline, but the fact that cruiseline is being honest about plans. DCL continues to sell cruises that are questionable at best (some clearly won't sail as scheduled), and strings folks along before making the next cancellation announcement a few short weeks prior to the scheduled embarkation.

Exactly this.
Not just here but on other sites, for many different lines, people are questioning if they should pay their balance, will my cruise go ahead, I don't want to cruise even if it does go ahead. People want to make other plans if the cruise isnt going to happen. They dont want to be so stressed about a vacation in an already stressful time.

People are rebooking onto cruises that might not happen.

Cruises lines get a bashing when they cancel with only a few weeks notice.
So why not just cancel till next year, and if cruising does resume, sell those cruises. People will want to go last minute if they really want and it gives everyone else peace of mind.

Sure, cruises could restart in November or December or whenever, it doesn't mean that they should and it means they're safe, and it also doesn't mean that some countries will 'allow' international travel still.

Sure, if you book a cruise now then it's kind of on you, but on those with existing bookings/rebookings it might be helpful.


And also from a crew member point of view: am I going back to work this year? Should I wait it out? Or should I get a job? If I knew there was no chance of going back till March/May, I would be much more likely to go back and get a 'whatever' job to fill the time. As it is I'm look for work that I want a career in as there is no answer, if I get that job I wont go back...Right now it's pretty stressful trying to work out what to do....

 

[BartmanLA]

I've been expecting this to eventually "roll down hill" to this point, I think that DCL still wants to start back up as soon as they can but the realization that really until a viable and functioning vaccine is released, they can't realistically make solid plans for the future. Personally I've pretty much given up on doing the 2021 WBPC we have booked, and looking at getting back on the ship in 2022. It's probably the easiest to accept and deal with and not stress out over dates that are coming up soon with no real promise of actually sailing.

 

[truck1]

A doubt the CDC will ease the cruise ban. The cruise ban is their sole "accomplishment" during this pandemic, so they're not going to let it go easy. It's all they got to hold onto and to point to as if they are really doing something. Without it, they have nothing to point to and say "see, we're doing something".

I doubt there going to lift it either. Im still on the fence if this is an accomplishment like you said or its another screw up. There was an article the other day that's calling them out for allowing outside pressure to dictate a policy, instead of the other way around, contradicting everything CDC has been advised on based on the companies that do the testing for masks, and the individual makers. Personally, I think there in way over there heads and are now paralyzed with fear over their past mistakes in the last few months. There hoping that things will go away if they stick there heads in the sand.

 

[T & R]

the realization that really until a viable and functioning vaccine is released, they can't realistically make solid plans for the future.

What if there never is a vaccine or the vaccine that is developed doesn't work? Do we scrap the ships? I think after November people will just have to accept a world with Covid and move on, just like we do with all the other diseases in the world.

 

[truck1]

I think OP's point was not as much the exact timeline, but the fact that cruiseline is being honest about plans. DCL continues to sell cruises that are questionable at best (some clearly won't sail as scheduled), and strings folks along before making the next cancellation announcement a few short weeks prior to the scheduled embarkation.

I agree. This is me but something has changed at DCL. Like you pointed out selling cruises that are questionable at best, and they seem to be constantly behind every one else in actually canceling and being up front with what there trying to do. Carnival and Royal have stated they are very happy with future cruise bookings for next year. There upfront with,, this is what we are doing for your safety. You don't hear anything about Disney at all. Not even a were preparing the ships with your safety in mind, this is what we are planning.

Eta I think Cunard is probably has the right idea, in planning for the worst but hoping for the best. Rather then multiple cancelations every 6 or 8 weeks.

 

[iannovich]

I'm hoping that Cunard's decision has more to do with their demographic. They cater to a clientele that has a higher perceived risk (age), and for that reason might be less likely to cruise anyway, at least until cruising is definitively shown to be less risky than it currently appears.

In this light, it is potentially Carnival just focusing on starting back up its lines that have a better chance of sailing with better capacity. After MSC, Costa & Aida (hopefully) demonstrate that cruising itself isn't dangerous and can be managed, the CDC can jump on the European's example for guidelines and give the go ahead... Say for funsies that happened with a November start date: DCL/RCL/NCL/Celeb can then add to the European examples and reassure the Luxe line's fans that it is safe and Cunard can start back up in the Spring with a nice sized passenger count.

TL/DR: Cunard may not have had great business anyway, so they shut them down until they will.

 

[Intr3pid]

It's an easier decision for Cunard than the others. All three of their 'Queens' start world cruises in January and don't return until March/April. World cruising is one itinerary that's not coming back until 2022.

If you have a presence in the Caribbeans/Bahamas, South Pacific, or the Mediterranean in the winter and spring, you can't really give up yet. Not after seeing the initial success of the European cruiselines this month.

 

[BartmanLA]

What if there never is a vaccine or the vaccine that is developed doesn't work? Do we scrap the ships? I think after November people will just have to accept a world with Covid and move on, just like we do with all the other diseases in the world.

UGH you CONSTANTLY push back on my posts, I am going on the POSITIVE ASSUMPTION that there will be a vaccine, scientific technology today pretty much is at a point that there will be SOME kind of treatment (vaccine) developed, YES it might take a while to get one that is effective enough, until then give me the respect that if I say I choose to NOT sail until there is one, once that happens I'll be just as happy to sail as I was before this pandemic. Until then people "moving on" just puts more and more people at risk for contracting the virus, if your intention is to indicate that this "moving on" will develop herd immunity, I find that unlikely since the virus has shown it can be re-contracted from someone that has already had the virus. At this point I'm not willing to risk getting sick from the virus just to get on a cruise ship. I am hopeful this will change someday soon, but until then allow me my views as I do yours.

 

[T & R]

UGH you CONSTANTLY push back on my posts, I am going on the POSITIVE ASSUMPTION that there will be a vaccine, scientific technology today pretty much is at a point that there will be SOME kind of treatment (vaccine) developed, YES it might take a while to get one that is effective enough, until then give me the respect that if I say I choose to NOT sail until there is one, once that happens I'll be just as happy to sail as I was before this pandemic. Until then people "moving on" just puts more and more people at risk for contracting the virus, if your intention is to indicate that this "moving on" will develop herd immunity, I find that unlikely since the virus has shown it can be re-contracted from someone that has already had the virus. At this point I'm not willing to risk getting sick from the virus just to get on a cruise ship. I am hopeful this will change someday soon, but until then allow me my views as I do yours.

I hear you but I just disagree that saying we won't cruise again until there is a vaccine is a "positive assumption". I, like almost everyone on the planet, am not high risk and do not require a vaccine to continue on with my life. Almost all people who get Covid do not require treatment and many never even knew they had it. There is no other deadly disease on the planet that we've all had to put our life on hold for to protect the 1 or 2 percent high risk. Keep in mind those 1 or 2 percent high risk are high risk with or without Covid. It is my belief that in 2 or 3 months people will move on and accept that there are diseases in life. In a few months there will be no agenda to under report the Covid fight successes and over report the failures or vice versa. So I am hopeful that in 2 or 3 months we can all move on regardless of vaccine news. Not personal, just respectfully disagree and try to give an example why I disagree. I would never just say someone is wrong or right and leave it at that, just trying to give perspective on why me or others may think differently and respectfully disagree. This is a cruise forum so anyone who states we will not cruise again until (insert reason here) is going to get some push back. Please don't take it personal.

 

[pumpkinqueen93]

I think spring and even summer of 2021 is a more realistic time frame. I do agree that Disney and others should be more like this rather than cancelling every 6 to 8 weeks. November and December don't look likely to happen. Personally I think that they know that cause before October got cancelled I couldn't even pre order a photo package. Like they knew it wasn't going to be possible to cruise by then so they took away that, but still kept booking available so that people can still book with them.

 

[T & R]

I think spring and even summer of 2021 is a more realistic time frame. I do agree that Disney and others should be more like this rather than cancelling every 6 to 8 weeks. November and December don't look likely to happen. Personally I think that they know that cause before October got cancelled I couldn't even pre order a photo package. Like they knew it wasn't going to be possible to cruise by then so they took away that, but still kept booking available so that people can still book with them.

Oh definitely, the slow rolling cancellations has the worst optics and clearly puts profits above clients. They know, which is why they haven't cancelled November cruises but they took the November cruises off of their website. They try to play it off cool like they are just trying to reduce capacity but we know. You take the cruises off of the website because the cruises aren't going out. Just come clean, we all know. Not blaming y'all and understand it's Covid, CDC, CLIA, no ports, ect. but just come clean, we get it and are not blaming, just be up front like apparently Cunard/Carnival is doing.