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

[jrapps]

Which is the more likely scenario

1 - renegotiate port agreements this close to sailing to find a destination outside the Bahamas (but close enough for a 3-day cruise)

2 - Cancel all sailings for the next 2+ months

3 - Require vaccines for 12+

This isn't rocket science.

 

[LSUfan4444]

That is so unfortunate, and I feel bad for you. They really should require for passengers who have been eligible for 6 or 8 weeks exactly for situations like yours, instead of right at 12+,

I totally agree. The arbitrary “12 years old” follows no science. If she was born 4 days later or four weeks earlier the protocol she would be subject to is different.
I don’t have a problem with the policy, I have a problem with the laziness of just saying 12 years old when there is no vaccine options for those under 12.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Could the US law change to allow cruising without a foreign port? I would be fine with sea days, Miami, Orlando and Key West. Or they could reroute to Mexico.

That would, basically, involve rescinding the entire PVSA. And I doubt that'll happen. They did allow an exemption for this years' Alaska season, allowing ships to sail from Seattle without a stop in Canada, but that's due to expire at the end of the season.

...

There is a very simple solution require vaccinations, go to a port that doesn't require vaccination, or cruise out of a different US port (example move to NYC or Boston and cruise to Castaway and back).

How would this solve it?

I'm not sure they could do a 3 night cruise from NY or Boston that stops at CC. Maybe not even a 4 night.

 

[DCLMP]

Maybe they are by requiring it. Additonally outside of cruise lines which can use their own testing options everyone else has to test if I remeber correctly.

Their low vaccination rates may always be low by choice.

 

[DCLMP]

So cruises up to September 3 should be ok.

 

[yowcruiser]

Now, the other thing to potentially deal with is the definition of fully vaccinated for entry into the Bahamas. Although a non issue for individuals vaccinated in the US, Bahamas recognizes, to an extent, the mixing of vaccines. From a DCL (and many other cruise lines) perspective, these individuals are unvaccinated, but they would be for the purpose of entry into the Bahamas... The 5% of Canadians that went for a mix and match approach will be watching closely!

 

[sethschroeder]

Im guessing tomorrow, DCL will announce a vaccine mandate for guests over 12 like Royal just did.



This one breaks my heart...our daughter turns 12 four days before our sailing. This was her birthday present. We booked it over a year ago, booked and paid for excursions, booked specialty dining, paid in full, booked airfare, booked hotels and now find out she likely won't be able to sail

It 100% sucks.

For background I have never asked for DCL to ever require vaccination and I am completely fine with just requiring testing on these cruises but unfortunately its the only real option. Like I said earlier in this thread I feel really sorry for anyone who for whatever reason is not able to make the cruise.

 

[sethschroeder]

1 - renegotiate port agreements this close to sailing to find a destination outside the Bahamas (but close enough for a 3-day cruise)

What ports even accept unvaccinated cruises?

 

[jrapps]

What ports even accept unvaccinated cruises?

Not sure. Bermuda? Mexico? Jamaica? Grand Cayman?

None are really options for a 3-day cruise from Canaveral.

 

[ChinaDenver]

Could Disney get around the Order this way - the Order only applies to paying pax. What if Disney waived the cost for all children (unvaxxed) 12-17? That way they're not paying (they're non-revenue), no one has to cancel, and the ship still can call on the port.

 

[sethschroeder]

How would this solve it?

I'm not sure they could do a 3 night cruise from NY or Boston that stops at CC. Maybe not even a 4 night.

Those states would allow for vaccination requirements without any question like it would in FL (if they feel as a company by end running the Governor they will get blowback for WDW).

As far as how long it takes I never said it would be easy or they could keep things exactly the same. I don't think they will do that though I just think they will require vaccination based on the Bahama requirement.

Additionally the post I responded to was talking about temporarily suspending the requirement to hit a foreign port. I was saying cruise lines are not held hostage here they can do lots of things to be allowed to cruise. We don't need to waive US laws over it at this point.

 

[jrapps]

Could Disney get around the Order this way - the Order only applies to paying pax. What if Disney waived the cost for all children (unvaxxed) 12-17? That way they're not paying (they're non-revenue), no one has to cancel, and the ship still can call on the port.

All passengers are passengers, paying or not. The order applies to all of them. And why on earth would they ever do this?

 

[ChinaDenver]

All passengers are passengers, paying or not. The order applies to all of them. And why on earth would they ever do this?

The Order DOESN'T apply to NON-REVENUE passengers. Read the Order. That's why I was asking....

 

[sethschroeder]

Not sure. Bermuda? Mexico? Jamaica? Grand Cayman?

None are really options for a 3-day cruise from Canaveral.

Grand Cayman - outright closed
Bermuda - Non vaccinated must quarantine 14 days so it would not be legal for them to leave the ship and suspect would not meet US requirement for port stop
Jamaica - 14 day quarantine so would not meet US requirement for port stop
Mexico - Open (if people will not outright cancel over going to Cozumel and back) - might be able to do in 4 nights

 

[DCLMP]

It's almost as if keeping unvaccinated tourists away would help protect their own peeps.

The problem with that is vaccinated people are still getting the virus so in order to be "protected" I would think you would need to be vaccinated. The purpose of the vaccine is to protect yourself.

 

[sethschroeder]

The Order DOESN'T apply to NON-REVENUE passengers. Read the Order. That's why I was asking....

Except whatever Disney agreed to with the Bahamas does apply. So there is a chance Disney did agree that all ship crew would be vaccinated while paying guests would either be vaccinated or tested.

Additionally there might be other requirements on the crew that they would then have to apply to those not vaccinated who are given free cruises.

Finally it will leak and people will be pissed at Disney for giving free cruises to unvaccinated (regardless of age) simply because they are not vaccinated.

 

[sethschroeder]

The problem with that is vaccinated people are still getting the virus so in order to be "protected" I would think you would need to be vaccinated. The purpose of the vaccine is to protect yourself.

Except you need to be vaccinated and tested negative. The exception to this is cruise ships which all negotiated different requirements directly with the government. For Disney that agreement likely is they will only go to Castaway and no where else and will test all unvaccinated. For other cruise lines it might mean testing everyone or no one you would have to see their policies.

So for most people though its vaccinated plus testing to get in to the country.

 

[jrapps]

The Order DOESN'T apply to NON-REVENUE passengers. Read the Order. That's why I was asking....

Yes it mentions non-revenue passengers. However it doesn't say they don't need to be vaccinated, it says that they adhere to whatever protocols were previously negotiated between the cruise line and government. We don't know what those are but I would wager that vaccination rates of non-revenue crew and passengers was already a part of their agreements. This also does not define a non-revenue passenger. Those are intended to cover employees who are not "crew", such as rotating variety acts, or vacation club sales people. Not children of paying passengers. The moment that kid buys a drink or puts a credit in a video arcade, they are a revenue passenger.

That said, you are correct, it COULD be interpreted that way.

 

[tvguy]

What’s funny about this is the extremely low vaccination rate in the Bahamas. Maybe they should worry about here own peeps.

Seems like they are doing exactly that.

 

[ChinaDenver]

Except whatever Disney agreed to with the Bahamas does apply. So there is a chance Disney did agree that all ship crew would be vaccinated while paying guests would either be vaccinated or tested.

Additionally there might be other requirements on the crew that they would then have to apply to those not vaccinated who are given free cruises.

Finally it will leak and people will be pissed at Disney for giving free cruises to unvaccinated (regardless of age) simply because they are not vaccinated.

Good points. The pissed part is of little consequence but whatever Disney's pre-existing agreements with Bahamas are will govern.