Negotiable and non negotiable to cruise

[Junebug1029]

We have an October cruise booked out of San Diego and we don’t even know if it is a go yet, but since it looks like Wonder is planning to be in Seattle in July, it looks good so far. I know we don’t know the guidelines for when cruising starts, but we have some idea of what the cruise lines are thinking. I was wondering what reasons you would (negotiable) or would not cruise (non negotiable), as long as Covid numbers stayed where they are now?

Here is my list so far, although this changes from day to day, depending on my desperation for a Disney cruise.

non-negotiable:
- no shows
- masks in pictures
- no character meets and pics with them

negotiable:
- wearing masks
- no cabanas buffet

unsure:
- having to use DCL shore excursions
- making reservations or limited time in kids’ areas

 

[mevelandry]

I’m fine with pretty much anything but COVID tests. Not because of COVID tests themselves but the fact that they are expensive here (when done for travel) and there are non-realistic delays (Ex: I may not receive my result in time for flying, and then, it’s expired before I can board the ship).

And honestly, once I’ll be fully vaccinated, I don’t wanna have to wear masks.

For everything else, I can adapt.

 

[cvjw]

I’m fine with pretty much anything but COVID tests. Not because of COVID tests themselves but the fact that they are expensive here (when done for travel) and there are non-realistic delays (Ex: I may no receive my result in time for flying, and then, it’s expired before I can board the ship).

And honestly, once I’ll be fully vaccinated, I don’t wanna have to wear masks.

For everything else, I can adapt.

Do you not have Walgreens? They have an IDNOW test where the results are sent to your email in 15 minutes. It is a drive thru test and is free. It is accepted for travel to Hawaii, and they are very picky about the types of tests they will accept.

 

[heathernm6]

We're crossing our fingers and holding out for Alaska this Summer. I think the only real deal breaker for us would be no shows. I would very much prefer to not wear a mask (especially outside) but could deal with it if we HAD to. We're three adults and have met the characters plenty of times, but I do think that makes the cruise feel more magical and "Disney" and would hope that's possible too!

I can do without the buffet (I'm sure there will still be plenty of food somehow) and we don't have kids so the kids clubs aren't a priority. Selfishly, I hope they go the 95% vaccinated route as it seems that leads to very little restrictions on board based on guidance from other cruise lines. However, I know young children not being eligible will make it a challenge for Disney to go that route.

 

[I_love_Cruising]

Booked for November

I will definitely cancel if there is:
No daily shows
No port excursions on our own
No vaccination requirement

Would make me think twice and probably I would still decide to go
No FE'S
Pre-determined boarding time on every port

I'm okay with whatever they decide about the buffets, masks, character interactions and pool time.

 

[DisneYE]

Only thing non-negotiable for us is not being able to be on our own at ports.
Especially at port intensive sailings like Europe in 2022
I can't imagine not being allowed to see so many places I'd like to visit in Italy, France, Greece.

I'm OK with every other restriction they put in place.

 

[aliceinvunderland]

Deal breakers for us:
-Reservations and/or time limits for kids clubs
-no independent excursions
-masks in outdoor locations (pool deck, etc.)

We can deal with any other restrictions, and my kids are so used to wearing masks at school that they don’t care if they’re required at all times!

 

[Junebug1029]

Do you not have Walgreens? They have an IDNOW test where the results are sent to your email in 15 minutes. It is a drive thru test and is free. It is accepted for travel to Hawaii, and they are very picky about the types of tests they will accept.

Do you know how much are the Walgreens tests are?

 

[ahain]

Do you know how much are the Walgreens tests are?

According to cvjw, "Do you not have Walgreens? They have an IDNOW test where the results are sent to your email in 15 minutes. It is a drive thru test and is free. "

 

[Junebug1029]

Booked for November

I will definitely cancel if there is:
No daily shows
No port excursions on our own
No vaccination requirement

Would make me think twice and probably I would still decide to go
No FE'S
Pre-determined boarding time on every port

I'm okay with whatever they decide about the buffets, masks, character interactions and pool time.

vaccination requirement was one that slipped my mind. But this is a tricky one for a cruise like DCL, as it is a kids cruise line. For our October one, I don’t know if my kids will be vaccinated in time. I think I would be ok with Covid tests for kids who aren’t eligible and can’t get a vaccination before a cruise.

 

[Junebug1029]

According to cvjw, "Do you not have Walgreens? They have an IDNOW test where the results are sent to your email in 15 minutes. It is a drive thru test and is free. "

Sorry, totally missed that. Free?!?! Why would they do it for free?

 

[mevelandry]

Do you not have Walgreens? They have an IDNOW test where the results are sent to your email in 15 minutes. It is a drive thru test and is free. It is accepted for travel to Hawaii, and they are very picky about the types of tests they will accept.

No Walgreens here in Quebec. Air Canada is asking us to use a private company to do a PCR test... 250$!!

 

[bbel]

We're thinking of cancelling our UK staycation. Maily because there's a long list of what you can't do, but hardly any confirmation of what you can do. And while a lot of the stuff you can't do isn't a direct deal breaker for us (like the spa or nursery or open house) it just means that there will be extra people wanting to be at the few things that are available....
Its a lot of money to spend to not be guaranteed much.

That and only one show a cruise lol.

 

[heathernm6]

Sorry, totally missed that. Free?!?! Why would they do it for free?

I don't know lol - but we did this for our trip to Hawaii and I can confirm it's very fast and free!

 

[ahain]

I don't know lol - but we did this for our trip to Hawaii and I can confirm it's very fast and free!

I think it's likely "free to you" but that Walgreens is being reimbursed by the government.

 

[JWG]

Having no cruise plans until 2022, we're not so worried about this but we'd be pretty flexible. We did WDW in March with the mask policies and were fine.
I think for us it would come down to capacity vs. activities.

We'd be fine without a show or not having certain things available as long as capacity dropped to offset that issue. If I can't play bingo because 200 people want to do that since they can't do (character meet, BBB, tastings, etc.) then I'd be upset.

 

[orum]

I have a pretty short list -

Non-negotiable - The cruise must not be cancelled and the ship must leave the port.

 

[Clojel]

I’m fine with vaccine requirements provided that they are AVAILABLE to everyone in my party before we sail! And, I really don’t want to wear a mask or have to reserve kids club/edge. Other than that, I’m good.

 

[Junebug1029]

Thanks everyone for good food for thought for my list. Super helpful! I hope our cruise either gets cancelled soon or we know what to expect before our July PIF date.

 

[Sykes]

Activities are the most important thing for me, what I'm really looking for is:
- Ability to go to a full show every night.
- Relatively little reduction in other on-board activities (adult activities, trivia, etc.).
- Easy to get into bars and the other adult venues.
- Easy entry to kids clubs for those that want it. (I don't have kids, but it's hard to imagine how other venues and activities would cope if kids didn't have a reliable place to go.)

Masks are fine (I'd prefer not to have them but they don't bother me that much). I don't care a ton if shore excursions are limited to approved excursions or if dining is limited to single party.

Having said that, if they open up bookings again, there's a solid chance I'd try to be on the first Disney revenue sailing regardless of the restrictions. I might not bring my wife, though, because she's a bit less gung-ho than I am.