Uhm....Bahamas is now requiring vaccinations for all passengers over 12..

[nancipants]

I do not think they will stop cruising. The Dream is sailing with passengers again, and the Fantasy is brining new crew on every day in anticipation of test cruises very soon. Also, it looks like the Wonder is sailing to Panama now.

 

[Cheburashka]

I sort of see it if it is actually something sorry about that didn't have a clue. Let me know I can remove it.

You know I was joking, right?

 

[Lewisc]

I totally agree with you 100%. I also feel bad for the cruise lines(not Disney, they'll be fine). The cruise lines are trying to survive, but they are going to be hurt no matter what they do. Mandating vaccines will hurt them financially and so will not mandating vaccines.

The cruise lines are going to have a hard time attracting first-time cruisers after all this. It's going to be a rough few years. I have a hard time believing the CEO's when they say sales are through the roof. I know they putting a positive spin on things so their stock doesn't tank.

Some people, some cruise lines, accepted future cruise credit, in excess of what they paid, instead of cash refunds. Some say "sales are through the roof" because people need to book before they expire.

 

[Cheburashka]

Where are you seeing 7 weeks?

There is no firm timeline at this point. Pfizer is hoping to have the data to request EUA for kids under 12 by the end of September (probably where the PP got "7 weeks"), but that is only Pfizer's "hope" for when their research will be ready, and is also not an indication that the request will be instantly approved by the government.

 

[Southern Pirate]

I found this article dated 18 Aug 2021. This may be why the sudden vaccine requirement.
https://www.284media.com/regional/2...-the-brink-of-collapse-following-covid-surge/

 

[disEAR]

I have come to the conclusion that this is exactly what Disney and other Cruise Lines secretly want. It takes the ambiguity away and ‘ties their hands’ where they can now say, “well we tried this, but now we have no choice but to require vaccinations for everyone (12+).

 

[isabellea]

I have come to the conclusion that this is exactly what Disney and other Cruise Lines secretly want. It takes the ambiguity away and ‘ties their hands’ where they can now say, “well we tried this, but now we have no choice but to require vaccinations for everyone (12+).

And we have to remember that with only 5 ships, DCL is a minor player in the cruising world. So if all the big guys told the Bahamas please help us go around FL law, they might have agreed even if DCL said nothing or was against.

 

[sethschroeder]

And we have to remember that with only 5 ships, DCL is a minor player in the cruising world. So if all the big guys told the Bahamas please help us go around FL law, they might have agreed even if DCL said nothing or was against.

See this is what I suspect is the case. I think Disney was caught completely blind in this coming down. Flip side if they knew this was coming then I guess its just another tally in the poor decision category for Disney.

 

[Cheburashka]

I think Disney was caught completely blind in this coming down.

Agreed. They would have made a vaccination requirement part of their initially published protocol if they had thought this was coming.

 

[Cheburashka]

I do not think they will stop cruising. The Dream is sailing with passengers again, and the Fantasy is brining new crew on every day in anticipation of test cruises very soon. Also, it looks like the Wonder is sailing to Panama now.

Absolutely. Weird that someone would actually think they would stop cruising, just because they have to add a new requirement for cruisers.

 

[jrapps]

See this is what I suspect is the case. I think Disney was caught completely blind in this coming down. Flip side if they knew this was coming then I guess its just another tally in the poor decision category for Disney.

I think this is what all the lines (even Disney) wanted all along. I also think Disney was caught off guard by it. Perhaps there is not as much behind the scenes communications as we thought there was.

At the same time, Disney could have known this was coming but not the "when". I realize DCL is a small operation, they don't have the staff of a large company like Carnival or Royal. Especially IT staff. Between converting all the 7-day Fantasy itineraries to 4 days and issuing refunds, getting the Wonder off thru the canal, and maintaining normal operations with potentially a reduced staff due to Covid, they may just not be able to react as fast as we want.

Not an excuse, I'm still annoyed I can just see the how we got here.

 

[jrapps]

Absolutely. Weird that someone would actually think they would stop cruising, just because they have to add a new requirement for cruisers.

I think it all comes down to legal exposure. All of these companies have teams of lawyers advising them. Some lines have obviously been more accepting of pushing the boundaries with FL than others. Disney, as in everything they do, has always played a more cautious tone. They have so much invested in FL (not just cruises) they can't afford to make as much waves as the other lines.

 

[Cheburashka]

They have so much invested in FL (not just cruises) they can't afford to make as much waves as the other lines.

I think it's the other way around. Disney probably has more clout and power in Florida than the other cruise lines. Disney is very important to Florida's economy.

 

[lodge]

Anything yet? I’d rather check here than other sources!

 

[jrapps]

I think it's the other way around. Disney has a lot more clout and power in Florida than the other cruise lines. Disney is very important to Florida's economy.

Actually, I think BOTH are true. It is a very symbiotic relationship for sure.

 

[Chrissy-Mickey]

Well did my research this evening.

Our other option is possibly doing a Eastern Caribbean on Celebrity on the Edge. We will wait to see what Disney is going to do but hopefully they release Monday morning like they did the bombshell for the Fantasy.

I'm looking at that one too, but the testing 3 days before is stressing me out... I haven't found a place within a 1-hour drive from where I live that offers a test that qualifies.

 

[Joe Brig]

The order ends on Nov 1. With the new variants effecting the vaccinated I wouldn't be surprised if the restrictions get worse. Look at Israeli with 80% vaccinated and a huge spike in cases.

 

[disEAR]

If Disney had any insight into this coming, they could have easily made their cruises available in the capacity they already have knowing it would have to switch down the line. It’s a win win for them in the sense they simply won’t look like the “bad guy”. The Bahamian government takes the hit, and Disney can just throw their arms up Like..

 

[Clojel]

There is no firm timeline at this point. Pfizer is hoping to have the data to request EUA for kids under 12 by the end of September (probably where the PP got "7 weeks"), but that is only Pfizer's "hope" for when their research will be ready, and is also not an indication that the request will be instantly approved by the government.

Okay…I’ve been following this very closely…DD turns 12 during our December cruise….I was surprised bc to hear “7 weeks” as though there’d been some sort of announcement that I missed!! Using the Pfizer timeline as a guesstimate makes sense. I really hope it’s that soon…or sooner!

 

[randumb0]

Isn't Pfizer is hoping for the end of September to release their results? If that is the case then there will be a week or two before filing for EUA. EUA approval may or may not take longer than prior groups due to age