Negotiable and non negotiable to cruise

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

We're platinum, so no sweating the shows - seen them all many times. Big thing for us is no masks outside on deck. That's a hard stop for us

 

[squirk]

Mask requirements of any kind are my 100% deal-breaker. I simply have no interest in going on a Caribbean cruise with a mask on my face.

That’s not a criticism of DCL if that’s how they want to go. I’m just saying I would rather wait to sail until such a requirement was lifted.

All of the other ideas that have been knocked about? None of them are deal-breakers in and of themselves (though “pool reservation times” comes reallllly close), but when you start adding them all together, eventually you get to a cruise experience that, IMO, doesn’t carry sufficient value in exchange for what DCL charges.

 

[DisneyConvert]

We are vaccinated, and my wife is super-concerned, so I suppose a non-negotiable would be sitting in a large crowd (during a show) if everyone wasn't wearing masks.
So, by logic, ok with wearing masks in public areas (or at least the shows) . . . not really as necessary walking around in the halls and atrium.
Ok, with ending the buffets.

Also, we really like to explore cities on our own, so unless it's a Nassau or CCay special, not allowing on-one's-own port visits, would be a non-negotiable.

 

[sethschroeder]

There isn't really anything on my list. I would have to see what the restrictions are to make a choice.

Its all a trade off in the end so if there was no shows but they had more small group entertainment that would be fine. If they didn't do room service but the ship was 50% then it would be fine.

I think I said this a couple months back but basically my limit is if they made you swim the last mile instead of docking.

Now that doesn't mean I will go on my cruise in December but that has 0 to do with restrictions or COVID19 or any of that.

 

[tvguy]

Well, I'd have to go alone since my wife has made it clear she is waiting until 2022 before even staying in a hotel room, let alone going on a cruise. And if covid spikes again here like it has in Japan and India even that may be off the table.

 

[CamColt]

I currently have a 4 night cruise booked for August. At this point it would take a lot for me not to go on it, if it sails. As long as I could eat, drink, sit in Satellite Falls and out on deck, I'm good to go. Sure I would miss things like the buffet, I would not love having to wear masks, etc... but for a quick 4 night cruise, I'd suffer through it. Just about anything to get back on a ship!

 

[wideeyedwonder]

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

This. Vaccinated, and no way am I going to pay that kind of money, only to have to wear a mask everywhere. I'd wait until no mask required.

 

[melmel]

My biggest deal breaker is limited kids club. The whole reason we're sailing Disney and paying the premium is for the kids to be free to do what they want the whole time. It loses all of its appeal if they limit that, we might as well pay less and go on NCL. I would also have to think hard if there aren't any vaccine requirements, I understand not all kids can be vaxed yet, but I think that they should have some requirements for people who can be. We're booked for January and I've gone back and forth since we booked on if I think it'll pan out. Every time I start to get hopeful something else happens to make me rethink the whole thing. Right now I'm just hoping both my kids will have been vaxed by then if not I'm not sure it'll be an option for us no matter what the restrictions are.

 

[ajgardner]

Any required mask wearing will be a deal breaker for our family. Also limited shows and scheduling pool time or teen club time would likely be a deal breaker. We could live with no buffet.

 

[Cruising Engineer]

We're not scheduled for the next cruise until July 2022. By then, I think everything will either be back to normal or something new and completely worse. During this last year+, we have learned what works and what didn't. Being fully vaccinated and mask-free, I don't want restrictions from enjoying our cruise.

 

[KKKKCS]

Masks or vaccine requirements. I had the virus last November and have natural immunity. My blood is positively swimming with Covid antibodies (verified multiple times by my local blood bank that tests every donation). Can't catch it, can't spread it.

 

[Cheburashka]

For me to pay to sail DCL, I would require the following:

• No Covid testing required at any time
• No routine temperature testing
• No masks required at any time
• No chance of not being allowed to board initially or to reboard at a foreign port due to any issue related to Covid
• No chance of being stranded at sea due to someone onboard getting Covid
• No reductions in major attractions (same pool hours, shows, games, bingo) or service onboard (I expect room service, twice daily cabin service, etc.)

We're fully vaccinated so wouldn't mind a vaccination requirement. I don't care if Cabanas is altered to a "they serve you" format, but I expect all of the food options to still be there.

I realize this means we won't be cruising with DCL for a while, and I'm fine with that. We used to sail once or twice per year, but we're now taking an extended break. The first cruise I'm planning to book will be for late fall 2022 when those itineraries come out. And if somehow restrictions continue through that point, we'll cancel.

Disney cruises are about escapism for us, so Covid protocols and Covid worries are a no-go, unless they gave us a free cruise. But since that isn't going to happen, we'll simply wait. We're not Florida residents or in the military, so we can't get those kinds of discounts. We have to fly in with all of the costs associated with that, and because I'm a teacher and my son is in high school, we can only cruise in peak season when school is out. That is expensive and we're not rich, so I'm just not willing to spend that kind of money on a compromised cruise.

 

[kathi]

We are booked in concierge for September (re-booking from concierge last September). We are fully vaccinated and do not want to pay concierge prices for a lot of restrictions. I think that probably means that if they don't sail with 95% vaccinated passengers we are likely going to cancel/re-book or switch to Celebrity. Sailing with less than 95% vaccinated is almost certainly going to result in far more restrictions. I just wish DCL would announce their intentions so people can make alternate plans, if necessary.

Specific issues: mask wearing outdoors, reserving times for pool/loungers/movies, reduced options/service in dining rooms due to social distancing restrictions (which I think could result in them needing to add another rotation, thus shortening dinner and likely options). I really don't want to be restricted to only DCL port adventures - but I'm not sure it's a deal breaker for the Caribbean.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

None of the ones mentioned are a deal breaker..

my kid is 4 and literally remembers nothing of pre mask time so not a deal breaker

we watched more shows on tv than in theatres so not a huge loss

my kid turn 3 onboard our last cruise (Jan 2020) and with grandma onboard never has gone alone to kids club so doesn’t know what she’s missing

while the characters would be a harder loss she’s adapted to them at WDW so Whatever

I just need a veranda and ocean..

 

[Chrissy-Mickey]

I just need a veranda and ocean.

This! I've got a 4 day in September booked. I just need 'no masks' on my own veranda.

 

[Cruising Engineer]

I just need a veranda and ocean..

I totally agree ...... AND "Hand me a menu, please".

 

[Chrislovesdisney]

I personally would feel better sailing WITH higher levels of restrictions in place (high or all percentage of people vaccinated, testing, social distancing, reduced capacity, etc.). However, the reality is that with two young children, it won’t be worth it financially until 1) character meet & greets and kids club are fully operational and 2) I feel comfortable with my children doing these activities. I’ve mentioned it before in another thread but for me, the biggest factors are how the “what if’s” will be handled. I’d like to know if and how Disney will assist if we can’t resume the cruise. What the plan is if someone shows symptoms that can also be explained by something else (like a cough/allergies) - will that person have to be quarantined until pcr test results are in? Rapid results? Honestly, for me, the issues of wearing masks or social distancing are trivial (I wear masks 8 hours a day at work, as do my kids at school - we don’t mind them and are happy to partake in such a simple and effective mitigation measure) in comparison to these real meat and potatoes issues that i feel are glossed over.

 

[Husker Mike]

Some of my opinions are going to vary on the overall level of the virus, both in the US and worldwide. At some point, these restrictions won't be necessary. But not yet, and not initially.

Requirements
Vaccinations required for those age 12+.
Masks required in indoor, public spaces.
Reduced capacity of the ship.
No self-service buffets.
90% of pre-COVID activities available.
Plan to handle handle people who test positive, both before the cruise and during the cruise. (I'd argue that for the amount you are spending, it should be something akin to "Concierge Quarantine")

 

[Princess Merida]

I thought there would be many non negotiable things for us, but we want to sail pretty bad. Mandatory vaccines for under 18 would be the breaking point for all 4 families we are traveling with.

 

[mmouse37]

I would not want to have to make reservations for shows, kids clubs or pools. I would not want to have wear a mask. I don't mind being served at the buffet (if there is one).

I am vaccinated but I would have no problem being with non vaccinated people since the powers that be tell me I am pretty well protected and very little risk to others. I would feel safe.

MJ