Port Canaveral: Projecting No Cruises Until July

[Husker Mike]

https://www.floridatoday.com/story/...illion-loss-no-cruises-until-july/6698008002/

In projecting that the major cruise lines would not resume sailing from Port Canaveral until July, "we decided to rip the bandage off" in projecting a worst-case budget scenario, Port Canaveral Chief Executive Officer John Murray said.
When Port Canaveral's 2020-21 budget was being prepared last summer for approval by port commissioners in September, port officials were projecting that the port's four major cruise lines would resume sailing in January, with one ship each.

 

[Ursula J]

Oh, geez. We are scheduled for our first cruise in June and thinking of cancelling to plan something else (maybe WDW?) We've rescheduled twice and are just tired of waiting/uncertainty. I'd rather have something to look forward to than something to worry about!

 

[sabrecmc]

Our July 2, 2021 cruise doesn't look promising. I'm not surprised. I think Fall maybe before they start really doing anything approaching normal.

 

[tvguy]

Sadly. all of 2021 is going to be iffy. The virus is running the show.

 

[Cruising Engineer]

Oh boy, and we were holding on by our fingertips for the May cruise. That will make 4 canceled cruises if the prediction comes true.

 

[ghtx]

I've got the Fantasy cruise that straddles the end of June and the start of July. Maybe we'll be the first!

 

[sullivan.kscott]

We’re currently scheduled for a November Merrytime (originally May ‘20), but have been seriously considering Aulani in late July or August. I’d assume some sailing happens in November, but we might feel better I. Land and not ending up on a shortened or quarantined cruise. Because Hawaii has been largely open for some time, and we’re likely to be 3/4 vaccinated (I’m guessing kids 12+ get approval by summer), it’s enticing to us personally.
If we do that, it’ll be summer 2022 for our 20th anniversary in the Med. Not to shabby a compromise.

 

[otten]

I think that is a widely optimistic projection to be honest.

 

[brentm77]

It's interesting that the port sees it as a "worst-case" scenario. I do think we are going to see a drastic change in case numbers in the next few months. It appears we have begun the trend downward, and it is trending down at a quicker pace than any other time in the pandemic in the U.S. But as others have pointed out, the big unknown is the variants of the virus and whether they will disrupt the trend, existing immunity, vaccinations, and possible seasonality developing. I remain hopeful.

 

[bakerworld]

DCL just notified us that April 2021 was a 'no go' - time to rebook

 

[tvguy]

It's interesting that the port sees it as a "worst-case" scenario. I do think we are going to see a drastic change in case numbers in the next few months. It appears we have begun the trend downward, and it is trending down at a quicker pace than any other time in the pandemic in the U.S. But as others have pointed out, the big unknown is the variants of the virus and whether they will disrupt the trend, existing immunity, vaccinations, and possible seasonality developing. I remain hopeful.

As I have posted before, I think what is happening the U.S. is a smaller piece of the pie to get cruises restarted. The bigger, and vastly more complicated part of the picture is getting the International staff vaccinated so they can return to work on the ships. No staff, no cruises. Many are in third world nations with limited or no vaccine programs in place as of yet. And are they going to give priority to citizens who want the vaccine so they can LEAVE the country and work in the west? And in many of these nations, they are using the Chinese vaccine Sinovac not the vaccines being used in the West and Europe. Will the U.S. allow people in with this vaccine instead of the Pfizer and Moderno? Will ports of call accept this vaccine as being adequate.? Are these workers even willing to get a vaccine?
Once they get staffing settled, they can start doing the required test cruises. And only after successful test cruises can they think about resuming service.

 

[brentm77]

As I have posted before, I think what is happening the U.S. is a smaller piece of the pie to get cruises restarted. The bigger, and vastly more complicated part of the picture is getting the International staff vaccinated so they can return to work on the ships. No staff, no cruises. Many are in third world nations with limited or no vaccine programs in place as of yet. And are they going to give priority to citizens who want the vaccine so they can LEAVE the country and work in the west? And in many of these nations, they are using the Chinese vaccine Sinovac not the vaccines being used in the West and Europe. Will the U.S. allow people in with this vaccine instead of the Pfizer and Moderno? Will ports of call accept this vaccine as being adequate.? Are these workers even willing to get a vaccine?
Once they get staffing settled, they can start doing the required test cruises. And only after successful test cruises can they think about resuming service.

It's a fair point. On the other hand, some lines might start with one ship or a few ships, requiring much less staffing. Would it be possible to pull enough staffing from the U.S. or other vaccinated countries, or is there simply not the right labor skills in those markets? I wonder why the port, which presumably has a pretty good finger on the situation, thinks it is the worst-case scenario.

 

[DCLDVC1]

It's a fair point. On the other hand, some lines might start with one ship or a few ships, requiring much less staffing. Would it be possible to pull enough staffing from the U.S. or other vaccinated countries, or is there simply not the right labor skills in those markets? I wonder why the port, which presumably has a pretty good finger on the situation, thinks it is the worse-case scenario.

Has anyone ever had a server or stateroom host from the U.S.? I don't recall ever seeing one.

 

[kanerf]

I heard on the news today that we may have a normal Thanksgiving. I guess the next 10 months are iffy.

 

[mevelandry]

Strangely, I find this encouraging. I’d be happy if we could return to a somewhat normal life by July.

 

[brentm77]

Has anyone ever had a server or stateroom host from the U.S.? I don't recall ever seeing one.

I have only cruised a few times, but no. That said, would it be possible to train someone from the U.S.? I don't see why not. I think there may be other positions that might be more difficult, and the pay/hours offered won't help. It's probably not realistic.

If the lines could offer better pay (which they should anyway - federal law should require it when their primary customers are from the U.S.), then I think it would be a great option. There are many people looking for work and they have the time to train them. If they can safely keep WDW open without employees getting infected, I don't see why the couldn't safely start training U.S. people to staff a ship. That said, I don't think it will happen.

 

[otten]

It's a fair point. On the other hand, some lines might start with one ship or a few ships, requiring much less staffing. Would it be possible to pull enough staffing from the U.S. or other vaccinated countries, or is there simply not the right labor skills in those markets? I wonder why the port, which presumably has a pretty good finger on the situation, thinks it is the worse-case scenario.

It isn’t about a lack of the right labour skills, it is a lack of people willing to work for the below US minimum wage wages that cruise ships pay their housekeeping, serving and other key crew. If they decide they are willing to pay wages that North Americans would accept then sure maybe they could do that.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Has anyone ever had a server or stateroom host from the U.S.? I don't recall ever seeing one.

No. Only in the kids clubs.

 

[DisneYE]

We’re currently scheduled for a November Merrytime (originally May ‘20), but have been seriously considering Aulani in late July or August. I’d assume some sailing happens in November, but we might feel better I. Land and not ending up on a shortened or quarantined cruise. Because Hawaii has been largely open for some time, and we’re likely to be 3/4 vaccinated (I’m guessing kids 12+ get approval by summer), it’s enticing to us personally.
If we do that, it’ll be summer 2022 for our 20th anniversary in the Med. Not to shabby a compromise.

We're on a Merrytime in Nov as well (Fantasy) - you think its going to sail? I give it 50/50 chances.

How are you feeling re: your 2nd vax dose? Any other effects?
It's been what a couple of weeks?

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

It isn’t about a lack of the right labour skills, it is a lack of people willing to work for the below US minimum wage wages that cruise ships pay their housekeeping, serving and other key crew. If they decide they are willing to pay wages that North Americans would accept then sure maybe they could do that.

Cruise lines intentionally sail under foreign flags so US labor laws don't apply. Besides minimum wage we have required breaks after so many hours worked, overtime laws, FMLA, disability, medical insurance, etc. None of this applies to the cruise world.