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

[lanejudy]

im assuming they would have to give a grace period once approved for children.

I only see that happening if DCL is calling the shots. If the vaccination requirement is dictated by a foreign government, there may not be any grace period. Approval for kids may come at different times in different countries; as I recall there was a 2-3 week lag between US an EU approval for ages 12-15 and UK followed that and Australia just this month. The Bahamas isn’t likely to have a convoluted rule with different dates based on where the visitor originates.

 

[Cheburashka]

Does anyone think Disney could sell a 7 day cruise out of Port Canaveral with port stops in Key West, Miami and Cozumel?

Has Key West been required to allow large cruise ships again? Last time I heard, they were still in the midst of a legal battle about that.

 

[Lewisc]

Has Key West been required to allow large cruise ships again? Last time I heard, they were still in the midst of a legal battle about that.

I has forgotten about that. For some reason I thought that had be blocked, guess not. Not at lot DCL can do without requiring vaccinations. I'm not that up with current geography. Is there some island Disney can work with? A port stop at less desirable port as a way to market what is basically a cruise to nowhere?

Marketing to vaccinated and stopping at desirable ports, like CC, seems to make more sense.

I agree with ladyjane, Any grace period after approval of vaccine to children is likely to be limited. DCL has to decide if they will allow for cancellations with full refunds or if they will tell passengers at booking to assume children will be probably be required to be vaccinated prior to cruising.

 

[Clojel]

I only see that happening if DCL is calling the shots. If the vaccination requirement is dictated by a foreign government, there may not be any grace period. Approval for kids may come at different times in different countries; as I recall there was a 2-3 week lag between US an EU approval for ages 12-15 and UK followed that and Australia just this month. The Bahamas isn’t likely to have a convoluted rule with different dates based on where the visitor originates.

Agreed…I don’t think there will be a grace period for this reason as well. I think it’s more likely that DCL will allow impacted families - I.e. families with children who become eligible to be vaccinated but do not have enough time to be fully vaccinated before sailing - to have more flexibility in rescheduling/cancelling. At least I hope that’s what they will do!!

 

[TestingH2O]

Re a grace period: I feel like I remember that there was a 3 month lag between when 12-15 year olds were approved and when the next vaccine requirement started on other cruise lines. Obviously this was a business policy decision not a government regulation, but I would assume countries would do something like that and announce ahead of the change in regulations.

And, of course, all of this is idle speculation.

 

[DCLMP]

You were always going to get that group of people but right now you have a larger set of people just waiting or completely unaware. So I don't agree that they have the call volume the same either way. Additionally someone calling and CMs telling people "no information" take a few mins compared to the much longer and indepth calls that will come from actual changes/cancellations.



Destination, limited sailings, and valuation of US vs EU cruise budget.

Just like Mexico it works when its limited. You have like 3 Norway Fjord sailings and 8 Med sailings for the whole year which is on a smaller ship.



Yup and part of the issue right now is the limitation of on ship entertainment. Said it earlier they could remove Castaway but they would need to go back to pre-pandemic levels of entertainment if not surpassing it.

Limited sailings on DCL , but there are tons of options. You really have to love the mouse to pay those prices.

 

[HiStitch626]

Has Key West been required to allow large cruise ships again? Last time I heard, they were still in the midst of a legal battle about that.

The Florida legislature passed a law stating that local ordinances could not prohibit cruise ships. I do not know if Key West has appealed this or if there was a pending court case on it but the Key West cruise calendar does show ships starting to make visits there in September.

 

[kathi]

So what’s the best estimate? 10 am tomorrow?

 

[jrapps]

So what’s the best estimate? 10 am tomorrow?

Fingers crossed!

 

[sethschroeder]

So what’s the best estimate? 10 am tomorrow?

If it's morning I am guessing 8am EST otherwise I am thinking it would be around 2-3pm EST or unfortunately possibly Tuesday.

 

[jrapps]

If it's morning I am guessing 8am EST otherwise I am thinking it would be around 2-3pm EST or unfortunately possibly Tuesday.

I wonder if they will attempt to do this in phases. Tomorrow will be 11 days before the first impacted sailing...if they do release new info tomorrow, there could be a flood of people trying to cancel or move sailings. I see another major PR nightmare on the horizon if they don't reach out by phone to call everyone on the 9/3 sailing. Not too much of a stretch to see un-vaccinated people showing up next week claiming they had no idea of the new Bahamas rule.

Unless they make a major effort to reach out to cruisers, I see some more free cruises being doled out.

 

[kathi]

I wonder if they will attempt to do this in phases. Tomorrow will be 11 days before the first impacted sailing...if they do release new info tomorrow, there could be a flood of people trying to cancel or move sailings. I see another major PR nightmare on the horizon if they don't reach out by phone to call everyone on the 9/3 sailing. Not too much of a stretch to see un-vaccinated people showing up next week claiming they had no idea of the new Bahamas rule.

Unless they make a major effort to reach out to cruisers, I see some more free cruises being doled out.

As soon as the first calls are made, word will get out. They would be wise to manage their message rather than let all of us do it!

 

[n2mm]

I’m thinking dcl has their hands full changing all the sept seven-night cruises and are suppose to be done before Wednesday because that’s when the newly converted cruises are suppose to be able to let those folks remaining on the new cruises book their excursions with the general booking opening on Thursday.

 

[Roughians_satchel]

The lack of communication is unacceptable. MCL sent an email the day the Bahamas restriction was announced, RCL communicated right away as well. In fact, the RCL president last week released a huge FAQ where he reported on all kinds of information about their cruises and protocols. At one point he said "maybe this is too much information." We can only "Dream" about that kind of transparency!

We've had similar lack of communication over at DVC, which makes me wonder if this is bigger than DCL. At what point do we start blaming Josh D'Amaro??? Everyone seems to love him, but he's completely mismanaged DCL and DVC.

 

[jrapps]

There is someone in our Facebook group (for the 9/3 sailing) who as of an hour ago did not know that their children had to be Covid tested 5 days before the cruise.

Can you only imagine how many are not going to know that everyone 12+ need to be vaccinated?

This is going to be a DISASTER.

 

[TinkerMouse]

There is someone in our Facebook group (for the 9/3 sailing) who as of an hour ago did not know that their children had to be Covid tested 5 days before the cruise.

I'm genuinely confused as to how. Are these people struggling with their internet connections? I know DCL hasn't been the most forthcoming or quick with information but we've known for weeks that the DCL website (in the full "Know Before You Go" breakdown) and some confirmation emails say all unvaccinated people are required to be tested once before the cruise and again once they get to port. They also say to register with Safe Passage and make sure their status says "clear to sail."

 

[Maggie'sMom]

There is someone in our Facebook group (for the 9/3 sailing) who as of an hour ago did not know that their children had to be Covid tested 5 days before the cruise.

Can you only imagine how many are not going to know that everyone 12+ need to be vaccinated?

This is going to be a DISASTER.

I can understand at this point people not knowing that everyone 12+ needs to be vaccinated since there has been no communication from DCL on that, but if someone didn't know their children needed to be COVID tested before arriving at the port, then that is on them. DCL sent out emails directing cruisers to the "Know before you go" information and it is clear there that anyone unvaccinated, regardless of age, needs to be tested between 5 days and 24 hours before the cruise. There is no excuse for not being aware of that requirement.

 

[n2mm]

There is someone in our Facebook group (for the 9/3 sailing) who as of an hour ago did not know that their children had to be Covid tested 5 days before the cruise.

Can you only imagine how many are not going to know that everyone 12+ need to be vaccinated?

This is going to be a DISASTER.

same for us in our group too. They had no idea either. They thought only 12+ had to do it. And we leave a week from tomorrow. Not me, I’ve read know before you go more than once and check every morning for any updates. And I hang on disboards more than I should lately. Plus I’ve gotten emails from dcl and my TA.

 

[jrapps]

same for us in our group too. They had no idea either. They thought only 12+ had to do it. And we leave a week from tomorrow. Not me, I’ve read know before you go more than once and check every morning for any updates. And I hang on disboards more than I should lately. Plus I’ve gotten emails from dcl and my TA.

I truly believe that people don't read anything. There is no other explanation.

 

[Dust2]

same for us in our group too. They had no idea either. They thought only 12+ had to do it. And we leave a week from tomorrow. Not me, I’ve read know before you go more than once and check every morning for any updates. And I hang on disboards more than I should lately. Plus I’ve gotten emails from dcl and my TA.

I booked through Costco and have yet to receive an email from DCL. I called Costco and they confirmed my information and said everything looked good on their end. I called DCL and they told me that Costco had never entered my email or physical address on their end so Disney could see it. If I hadn’t called I wouldn’t get my luggage tags let alone emails. I can easily see how people don’t know what the latest rules are. Lesson learned, I’m booking with Dreams next time!