Someone help me figure out what to do! Please?

[Jennie Smith]

Hi, friends!

We currently are booked for the August 9 cruise (4 night, Bahamian). I also have a reservation for January 3 (same cruise, different date), 2022.

I honestly don't know what to do at this point! I don't want to end up going in August if we'll have to wear masks. Mind you, we are all about masks, distancing, sanitizing, etc when we are at home, but don't want to have to deal with them on a vacation! The lack of info from Disney about future cruising restrictions/protocols is frustrating and not helping me make a decision. If we wait till January 2022, my kids will have to miss a week of school (which is ok) but there's a better chance (I think/hope) of things being more "normal" on the cruise.

If we cancel August, we will go to a resort in the Catskills for a week at the end of June instead, and keep the January.

Help! What would you do in this situation?

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

Personally I think masks will be around for the rest of this year. If that is a deal breaker for you, I would go with the January trip.

 

[Deb T.]

IMHO, the only way masks won't be required on cruises is if the majority of the world has been vaccinated against covid, which is looking more and more unlikely to occur by August. Instead of being in constant worry of what to do (which drains the fun out of planning a vacation), I'd cancel August and start preparing for the January '22 cruise. Then, if a miracle happens and cruising returns to "normal" by August, you could always rebook at the last minute.

 

[tvguy]

No way for Disney to know, so don't be frustrated with them. Be frustrated with the virus, it is running the show. But I agree, masks on cruises will be with us for a long time, probably beyond this year. And I would say even your January cruise is at risk of not happening. We are just days from the peak death rate from covid, and 6 weeks past the first vaccines in the U.S. It's complicated. Like I have posted before, I really think the big issue now is finding people to staff the ships that have been vaccinated. Many of the staff are from nations just now trying to put vaccine plans together, and I suspect the priority for vaccines in those nations will not be people looking to leave the country to work on cruise ships.

 

[tvguy]

IMHO, the only way masks won't be required on cruises is if the majority of the world has been vaccinated against covid, which is looking more and more unlikely to occur by August. Instead of being in constant worry of what to do (which drains the fun out of planning a vacation), I'd cancel August and start preparing for the January '22 cruise. Then, if a miracle happens and cruising returns to "normal" by August, you could always rebook at the last minute.

I think August is a pipe dream. I'm an "at risk" person AND essential worker in California and my projected vaccine time is September. Like I posted above, the nations that cruise lines draw staff from are far behind the U.S. in vaccine programs, and I think people looking to stay and work in their homeland are going to have priority for vaccines over those citizens looking to leave to work on cruise ships. No exact science here, but I have seen some suggesting it could late 2022 before Indonesia gets most of it's citizens vaccinated, and of course that is a Nation where a big chunk of cruise line workers come from.

 

[Karin1984]

Cancel, I would guess the chances of still having some sort of measures like masks and distancing are over 80%. And that's being generous.

 

[ghtx]

There is very little chance that there will not be mask requirements and other social distancing requirements (and probably reductions in offerings) in the August cruise, even if (a big if) the cruise isn't canceled. If that's a deal-breaker then you might as well cancel.

We have a June cruise scheduled and are feeling the same way. We are going to wait until summer 2022 itineraries are released then re-book.

 

[CaseyCruiser]

Sorry to say it but cancel August

 

[ngl]

Have to agree with the majority opinion. We have a cruise planned for Oct 2021 to celebrate my 50th bday with friends & family and I am not sure if that will even be a go but pretty certain if it is, it will still be with masks. We will be faced with the same decisions to make. My guess is we will push it to Oct 2022. I hope I am wrong but I think masks are around at least until early 2022.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Cancel August, and be prepared to find out masks will be required in January as well.

 

[magicfan1985]

I would reschedule it. We have two cruises this year September and December. We pushed our Sept one till May 2022, simply because we don't want to be the first ones back. Hopefully we don't have to push the December one back too.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

I think August is a pipe dream. I'm an "at risk" person AND essential worker in California and my projected vaccine time is September. Like I posted above, the nations that cruise lines draw staff from are far behind the U.S. in vaccine programs, and I think people looking to stay and work in their homeland are going to have priority for vaccines over those citizens looking to leave to work on cruise ships. No exact science here, but I have seen some suggesting it could late 2022 before Indonesia gets most of it's citizens vaccinated, and of course that is a Nation where a big chunk of cruise line workers come from.

The point about staff is a really good one. Getting all of those folks cleared to travel to the embarkation point might even be tricky now, since they would have to test, travel, quarantine and then test again. Then they have to do test cruises before they can do one with paying customers. Since cruises are canceled through mid-May, I think August might even be a stretch to sail at all, even with mask restrictions for staff and guests.

 

[tvguy]

The point about staff is a really good one. Getting all of those folks cleared to travel to the embarkation point might even be tricky now, since they would have to test, travel, quarantine and then test again. Then they have to do test cruises before they can do one with paying customers. Since cruises are canceled through mid-May, I think August might even be a stretch to sail at all, even with mask restrictions for staff and guests.

I think testing and vaccines will be required because apparently someone who is vaccinated can still spread covid. The vaccine just keeps THEM from getting sick

 

[Laundress]

my guess is you will have to wear a mask if that sailing happens. We are on a long slow winding road of C-19. We have a mediterranean sailing booked for 2nd week of June. waiting for new sail dates to be released so we can try for 2022.

 

[Meriweather]

And Disney is a family cruise line. Children vaccines may not be out for a long time

 

[otten]

Hi, friends!

We currently are booked for the August 9 cruise (4 night, Bahamian). I also have a reservation for January 3 (same cruise, different date), 2022.

I honestly don't know what to do at this point! I don't want to end up going in August if we'll have to wear masks. Mind you, we are all about masks, distancing, sanitizing, etc when we are at home, but don't want to have to deal with them on a vacation! The lack of info from Disney about future cruising restrictions/protocols is frustrating and not helping me make a decision. If we wait till January 2022, my kids will have to miss a week of school (which is ok) but there's a better chance (I think/hope) of things being more "normal" on the cruise.

If we cancel August, we will go to a resort in the Catskills for a week at the end of June instead, and keep the January.

Help! What would you do in this situation?

If cruises are sailing at all in August you can be sure that masks will be required, along with other restrictions. If you want a more ‘normal’ cruise experience you’ll want to push your sailing out as much as you can.

 

[Chemist]

Agree with the others. Honesty, I think its unlikely that the cruise will sail. If it does, its not going to be "normal".

 

[Chrissy-Mickey]

It's sad, but I have to agree with most people here. August and no masks... not happening.

Honestly, with your 2022 cruise being in January, which is flu season, I would not be surprised if we'll still be wearing masks. Perhaps Spring 2022 will be better.

 

[gwynne]

And Disney is a family cruise line. Children vaccines may not be out for a long time

Kids were discussed in today's covid-19 briefing. Dr. Fauci said trials with kids continue, they are hoping to start vaccinating children late spring/summer this year.
(I'm sure depending if all goes well.)

 

[AZMermaid]

August probably won’t happen regardless, but if it does, I thinks masks are a certainty. I’d cancel. I think there’s a good chance you’ll still be masked in January too. I’m Dec 27, and I’m feeling we have a 50/50 shot of sailing and am expecting masks and distancing.