The Vaccine Discussion Thread

[TestingH2O]

Disneys has never had success selling there San Juan cruises. We did it once it was an 8 hour flight for us. The ship was only 2/3 full and very few kids onboard.

They struggle with alternate ports when they are off season. Most cruises out of San Juan, Galveston, San Diego, etc. are during the low season. The cruises from PC are lower overall and especially with kids during that time too.

Break time cruises from alternate ports are as full as any others (Barcelona, Vancouver, Miami, Christmas week from Galveston, etc.)

 

[MickeySwirl]

There is also too much invested in infrastructure in Florida for DCL to move out of state on any kind of permanent basis.

 

[DCLMP]

They struggle with alternate ports when they are off season. Most cruises out of San Juan, Galveston, San Diego, etc. are during the low season. The cruises from PC are lower overall and especially with kids during that time too.

Break time cruises from alternate ports are as full as any others (Barcelona, Vancouver, Miami, Christmas week from Galveston, etc.)

They don’t have trouble selling their PC cruises off season. Are the they going to have 3 month season?

 

[DCLMP]

There are plenty of direct flights to Nassau. Some are cheaper then flying to Miami.

I doubt flying from the west coast to Nassau is cheaper then a southwest flight to mco. Not everyone that cruises on DCl lives near a East coast hub. What about their European customers coming into MCO on the wide bodies or the Canadians and South Americans?

 

[DCLMP]

FDA recommends halting Johnson & Johnson vaccine “out of an abundance of caution” as it investigates reports of blood clotting issues in 6 women, one of which has died. Another is currently in critical condition.
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/13/us-...n-johnson-vaccine-due-to-clotting-issues.html
This is why we cannot be mandating these right now.

I don’t plan on getting the vaccine unless I need it for international travel or a cruise and I don’t have either of those planned for at least a year. I have time to see how this all works out. Now if they open the borders and I can go on a European cruise this Summer without a mask then maybe I would feel differently, but there is currently no incentive for me to rush out and get something that’s approved only for emergency use with so many unknowns.

 

[TestingH2O]

They don’t have trouble selling their PC cruises off season. Are the they going to have 3 month season?

PC cruises have lower numbers during school time. They also have fewer kids. That is why they offer discounts on them or have added special days like Star Wars or Marvel. Low season is low season. Even Alaska cruises, some of the most expensive options, are less full and less expensive in May and September. That’s not due to Vancouver being inconvenient (it is,) it’s due to fewer people traveling when school is in session.

Like many other types of travel, I think there will be pent up demand for DCL. That demand will probably be enough to overcome any resistance to alternate ports initially. I don’t think any cruise lines would consider long term changes based on the infrastructure they have in FL.

 

[mevelandry]

It will never happen. It would mean everyone going on a cruise would need to fly to islands that don’t have a lot of flights. Not affordable or feasible.
Disneys has never had success selling there San Juan cruises. We did it once it was an 8 hour flight for us. The ship was only 2/3 full and very few kids onboard.

I don’t know about San Juan... But just for kicks, I’ve checked pricing for roundtrips YUL-Nassau, YUL-Barbados and YUL-Bermuda. Only 200-300$ more than a roundtrip to Miami.

When you saved money (and/or points) for a whole year...

 

[DCLMP]

I don’t know about San Juan... But just for kicks, I’ve checked pricing for roundtrips YUL-Nassau, YUL-Barbados and YUL-Bermuda. Only 200-300$ more than a roundtrip to Miami.

When you saved money (and/or points) for a whole year...

You think that might be because no one is flying to the Bahamas right now? Demand goes up and prices go up. What do you think prices are going to look like if cruises are embarking from there? Even with cheap flights right now 300 dollars per person for a family of four isn’t chump change. Who wants to save up for a year just to fly to a Caribbean cruise?

 

[mevelandry]

You think that might be because no one is flying to the Bahamas right now? Demand goes up and prices go up. What do you think prices are going to look like if cruises are embarking from there? Even with cheap flights right now 300 dollars per person for a family of four isn’t chump change. Who wants to save up for a year just to fly to a Caribbean cruise?

I haven’t checked for « now » but for this summer. And cruises that are sailing from there are already available for booking. Pretty sure people have already booked flights as well.

It may be because I live on the east coast but vacation packages to the Bahamas (Freeport/Nassau) have always been part of the « cheap » vacation packages (along with Vegas, Cuba & DR) they have been selling in Canada for years...

Not saying everyone can afford it but those who have been able to save the same amount of money they usually save (for an extra year) will most likely be able to afford a 200-300$ CAD per person extra.

 

[DCLMP]

PC cruises have lower numbers during school time. They also have fewer kids. That is why they offer discounts on them or have added special days like Star Wars or Marvel. Low season is low season. Even Alaska cruises, some of the most expensive options, are less full and less expensive in May and September. That’s not due to Vancouver being inconvenient (it is,) it’s due to fewer people traveling when school is in session.

Like many other types of travel, I think there will be pent up demand for DCL. That demand will probably be enough to overcome any resistance to alternate ports initially. I don’t think any cruise lines would consider long term changes based on the infrastructure they have in FL.

Where would they going to go? I seriously doubt Texas or the other Gulf states are going to require vaccine passports. California and New York in the winter? I’m assuming vaccines are the reason people think they should embark from another state, but maybe DCL won’t require a vaccine. They could just require a negative Covid test or a vaccine.

 

[DCLMP]

I haven’t checked for « now » but for this summer. And cruises that are sailing from there are already available for booking. Pretty sure people have already booked flights as well.

It may be because I live on the east coast but vacation packages to the Bahamas (Freeport/Nassau) have always been part of the « cheap » vacation packages (along with Vegas, Cuba & DR) they have been selling in Canada for years...

Not saying everyone can afford it but for those who have been able to save the same amount of money they usually save for an extra year will most likely be able to afford a 200-300$ CAD per person extra.

I thought this was a discussion about DCL not other cruiselines. DLC has a very different demographic than other cruise lines.

 

[mevelandry]

I thought this was a discussion about DCL not other cruiselines. DLC has a very different demographic than other cruise lines.

Do they? What kind of demographic?

I guess the point I’m trying to make is that cruises from carribean ports are selling... So would DCL cruises from carribean ports.

p.s.: Anyways, this is a discussion about vaccines, not about cruise lines or ports. I’ll try to get back on topic.

 

[cgolf]

I don’t plan on getting the vaccine unless I need it for international travel or a cruise and I don’t have either of those planned for at least a year. I have time to see how this all works out. Now if they open the borders and I can go on a European cruise this Summer without a mask then maybe I would feel differently, but there is currently no incentive for me to rush out and get something that’s approved only for emergency use with so many unknowns.

I saw in a story that now that Moderna has very positive 6 month data, I believe they can go for approval now. It is possible I read this wrong

https://abc7ny.com/covid-vaccine-veterans-connecticut-coronavirus/10513978/

I thought this was a discussion about DCL not other cruiselines. DLC has a very different demographic than other cruise lines.

Not sure that the demographic on DCL is any different. Both are family lines, you just need a larger bank account to sail DCL. Other than the characters, we have found the line in question to be comparable to DCL.

 

[jerry557]

I think you may underestimate the desire for some people to get back on a ship. I think they would sell out at other departure ports in the short term. But I also think it all depends on the vaccine requirements they decide on.

That's somewhat true. I think there is a lot of short term demand, but not long term. When the cruise lines first start up, avid cruisers will book it up, no question. But then it will wane until restrictions are lifted. The pandemic may have also done some damage to the reputation of the cruise industry that may not be as clear until they restart. Some people may also fear if someone contracts COVID on a ship, will the ship be allowed to dock? No one wants to get stranded at sea. And I think that alone is a legit fear that may make people hesitate especially if the procedures aren't fully disclosed beforehand on what happens if a group of people test positive. Even with a 100% vaccinated ship, there is a risk of someone catching COVID.

People like to point to Disney World as an example of pent up demand. But remember, Disney World is capping capacity at 35%. Many hotels are still closed. So it may give the false impression that they are full even though park passes are available most days. There are many on these boards that vow they won't return to Disney until the COVID restrictions are lifted and the experiences return simply because it's right now not worth the price of admission. Theme parks and cruise lines are also different animals in the tourism industry. Just because people are willing to go to Disney World during a pandemic doesn't mean they are willing to go on a cruise ship yet.

Going by reservation volume can be deceiving as well. It will be interesting to see when they restart and have a bunch of rules and restrictions....will the bookings still pour in? Some of these reservations being made may be placeholders. And people will make a decision whether to go or not based on the restrictions in place at the time.

 

[jerry557]

Will the cruise lines possibly move their ports out of Florida? I mean, they dont' HAVE to sail out of Florida, yk? They can go out of Virginia, other ports on the east coast, or even foreign ports. If I was running a cruise line I would frankly say "thank you very much, and FYI not sailing out of Florida ever again." The potential consequences of this has clearly not been considered by the Florida gov IMHO.

Florida is far from the only state doing this.
South Carolina legislature is considering a law right now that if passed will ban employers from requiring the vaccine for employees. It already passed the state Senate I believe. The governor there also lashed out on Facebook last week at the idea of vaccine passports.
So now Texas, Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina isn't going to allow vaccine passports. So you are quickly running out of ports in the South to depart from.

Not to mention the CDC continues to drag their feet.

 

[DCLMP]

Do they? What kind of demographic?

I guess the point I’m trying to make is that cruises from carribean ports are selling... So would DCL cruises from carribean ports.

p.s.: Anyways, this is a discussion about vaccines, not about cruise lines or ports. I’ll try to get back on topic.

When your talking about cruise lines embarking from other ports because of vaccine requirements it is on topic. As far the demographic being different a thousand plus kids on board is a starter.

 

[DCLMP]

That's somewhat true. I think there is a lot of short term demand, but not long term. When the cruise lines first start up, avid cruisers will book it up, no question. But then it will wane until restrictions are lifted. The pandemic may have also done some damage to the reputation of the cruise industry that may not be as clear until they restart. Some people may also fear if someone contracts COVID on a ship, will the ship be allowed to dock? No one wants to get stranded at sea. And I think that alone is a legit fear that may make people hesitate especially if the procedures aren't fully disclosed beforehand on what happens if a group of people test positive. Even with a 100% vaccinated ship, there is a risk of someone catching COVID.

People like to point to Disney World as an example of pent up demand. But remember, Disney World is capping capacity at 35%. Many hotels are still closed. So it may give the false impression that they are full even though park passes are available most days. There are many on these boards that vow they won't return to Disney until the COVID restrictions are lifted and the experiences return simply because it's right now not worth the price of admission. Theme parks and cruise lines are also different animals in the tourism industry. Just because people are willing to go to Disney World during a pandemic doesn't mean they are willing to go on a cruise ship yet.

Going by reservation volume can be deceiving as well. It will be interesting to see when they restart and have a bunch of rules and restrictions....will the bookings still pour in? Some of these reservations being made may be placeholders. And people will make a decision whether to go or not based on the restrictions in place at the time.

I’m at WDW now. Even with half the resorts closed it’s very busy. It feels like 2019 in the park. This is my third trip during the pandemic and wow what a difference from the first two .

 

[DCLMP]

Duplicate

 

[mevelandry]

When your talking about cruise lines embarking from other ports because of vaccine requirements it is on topic. As far the demographic being different a thousand plus kids on board is a starter.

I am not sure they are that different. Those are mass market cruise lines targeting families after all. I don’t think Norwegian is building go karts on their ships to entertain adults.

 

[Birdie dog]

I read this morning that the EU has worked out a deal with Pfizer to get the vaccines they're no longer getting from Astra Zeneca and (now on hold also J&J). The article said that the number of vaccines they're expecting are enough to vaccinate 70% of their residents by late summer. This bodes well for those who are ready to get back over there. I also read that Denmark is no longer going to use the Astra Zeneca vaccine at all.