Neil Palomba (Carnival’s Chief Operating Officer) shares cruising updates to protocols and procedures

[nmackovski]

Neil discusses the realities of cruising during a pandemic.

The main points:

• 100% testing of all guests and team members
• face masks and physical distancing
• enhanced medical facilities
• reduced capacity
• enhanced cleaning and disinfection
• only CCL shore excursions

When cruising does restart, it will be interesting to observe guest expectations vs. pandemic cruising.

Stay safe.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=642209146490661

 

[cgolf]

Neil discusses the realities of cruising during a pandemic.

The main points:

• 100% testing of all guests and team members
• face masks and physical distancing
• enhanced medical facilities
• reduced capacity
• enhanced cleaning and disinfection
• only CCL shore excursions

When cruising does restart, it will be interesting to observe guest expectations vs. pandemic cruising.

Stay safe.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=642209146490661

I am guessing that the buffets will no longer be self serve either. Buffets are huge for us because it is a great way to try a small amount of new foods and not waste a lot of food, so I really hope they keep the buffets. Will be interesting to see how they handle things like stage shows etc. Guessing people may have to sign up for times or they limit the number of people that come in. Maybe they offer more showings so all have an opportunity to see them. Also be interesting to see how they handle the bars and the potential of people walking around with a drink with their mask off claiming they are drinking

Sounds as if MSC has had success with a similar model, hope it works for CCL. Only bit of a bummer is in some ports we would just get off to shop for a watch, jewelry, or small gifts for family, wonder if they will now do a shopping excurion

 

[T & R]

Also be interesting to see how they handle the bars

Was wondering that too. What are they going to do, not let us sit at the bar due to social distancing? If so, what's the point in going to the bar? It then just becomes a drink serving station, like the soda machines on the pool deck and not a bar where you can hang and mix it up with people. Going to get pretty loud in there when everyone has to be 6 feet apart and you're trying to have a conversation.

 

[MomOTwins]

Was wondering that too. What are they going to do, not let us sit at the bar due to social distancing? If so, what's the point in going to the bar? It then just becomes a drink serving station, like the soda machines on the pool deck and not a bar where you can hang and mix it up with people. Going to get pretty loud in there when everyone has to be 6 feet apart and you're trying to have a conversation.

Most of the bars do have seating that could be pretty easily spaced with "do not sit" markers on some of the tables. Any bars that don't have table seating (e.g., the one in the main lobby) will either be grab and go or simply not operating (given reduced capacity, I'm sure not everything will be open).

I can't think too many people will want to mix up it up with strangers during a pandemic, regardless of DCL's policies. It makes me sad because we always enjoyed, for example, making friends with our table mates at dinner, but I'm sure people will be dining with their own parties only from now on.

 

[Ila Sikorski]

Now the question remains..Once things are up and running, how long do they keep these new rules in place?

 

[disneygeek401]

Now the question remains..Once things are up and running, how long do they keep these new rules in place?

No one knows for sure but my guess is sometime between June 2021 and September 2021.

They will likely have these procedures in place until a vaccine is more widely available.

 

[cgolf]

No one knows for sure but my guess is sometime between June 2021 and September 2021.

They will likely have these procedures in place until a vaccine is more widely available.

It will also depend on how effective the vaccine appears to be as well. If cases don't slow down significantly, they may be around a lot longer than any of us want. Or this becomes the new normal.

 

[Snowwhyt]

No one knows for sure but my guess is sometime between June 2021 and September 2021.

They will likely have these procedures in place until a vaccine is more widely available.

Since the vaccine is likely to only be a repeatable short-term fix. We will probably always have the quarantine rooms available on ships now.

It will also depend on how effective the vaccine appears to be as well. If cases don't slow down significantly, they may be around a lot longer than any of us want. Or this becomes the new normal.

Dr. Fauci said tonight that five vaccines are promising, two are currently in the third phase. I don’t feel this first return to sailing will be the new normal. But the vaccines will bring the numbers down but not eradicate them, especially since not everyone will get the vaccine. So the ventilation systems will change and a few quarantine rooms might be created going forward. But you’re right it’s hard to talk on the rest.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

I am wondering how face masks will be accepted on the pool decks (which is where a lot of people spend their days). Are they going to have to wear them while lounging in the sun on the top decks? That just seems..... like it wouldn't work. At the resorts, they do not have them at the pools. If the masks are only indoors when not dining, that is a very limited time to be wearing them (shows and stores).

I feel like I am missing the catch.

 

[cgolf]

I am wondering how face masks will be accepted on the pool decks (which is where a lot of people spend their days). Are they going to have to wear them while lounging in the sun on the top decks? That just seems..... like it wouldn't work. At the resorts, they do not have them at the pools. If the masks are only indoors when not dining, that is a very limited time to be wearing them (shows and stores).

I feel like I am missing the catch.

Speculating here that since they will have reduced numbers of people onboard, they will put away some chairs for now and properly space the remaining ones. Other wise people are going to have some strange tan lines. This of course will probably start a new batch of chair hog threads too

The one thing it doesn't answer is the walking and talking or sitting at a table under a covered area talking to other people. Even outdoors if within the 6 foot circle should have a mask on. It will be really interesting to see how they handle it.

 

[brentm77]

It would be interesting to see if frequent rapid testing is effective at keeping the virus off board. To the extent the repetitive nature of it weeds out false negatives and catches new cases quickly, social distancing becomes less important. That is a big "if" but it would be fantastic if it opened the doors to closer-to-normal cruising.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

Speculating here that since they will have reduced numbers of people onboard, they will put away some chairs for now and properly space the remaining ones. Other wise people are going to have some strange tan lines. This of course will probably start a new batch of chair hog threads too

The one thing it doesn't answer is the walking and talking or sitting at a table under a covered area talking to other people. Even outdoors if within the 6 foot circle should have a mask on. It will be really interesting to see how they handle it.

Yeah, I figured on the chairs. That's what most hospitality areas are doing for pools (like WDW). I am just thinking that generally - at least on DCL - you can break the areas down to:
Pool and Deck - Assume no mask while social distant on your chair
Cabanas - no mask while sitting and eating (but I assume mask while getting food/drink/ice cream? No self serve, so maybe a walk down cafeteria line?) Again - very limited mask here - just while standing and walking
Palo / Remy - no mask while eating, just while waiting for your table
Clubs / Bars - No mask while sitting social distant, but mask while moving.
Desk 3/4 - probably totally masked (other than dining locations) . Probably no mask while sitting and watching a show - requires families to sit together with 2 seats between and every other row blocked.
The rest of the ship is rooms, so no mask in your room.

In other words, there is just not a lot of masking going on other than while moving between location to location. Unless as I said, I am missing something big.