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

[PrincessShmoo]

This is very interesting information. Thanks. When the ship comes into port and takes on fuel and supplies and then goes back out and circles for a couple of weeks then back in for fuel and supplies like they did when they were not taking on passengers does this not count as a closed loop as it is not revenue generating?

No, it's not considered a "cruise" at all, since the only people onboard are employees.

 

[jujubiee4]

If given the choice between violating a Federal Law or a State Law that has already received a preliminary injunction against it, I do not foresee them choosing to violate Federal Law.

I really hate that cruise lines are put in this position. They are just trying to survive. These are unprecedented
times. Damage to the cruise industry will be felt for quite some time.

 

[Tbird2281]

A "closed loop" cruise is a cruise that departs and returns to the same port for debarkation and has stops in foreign ports. A "cruise to nowhere" is a cruise that departs and returns to the same port for debarkation with no stops in any other port. Ships have been unable to do a cruise to nowhere out of a US port for a number of years now.

It has to do with crew visas. Visas for crew on a "regular" cruise that stops in foreign ports are cheaper and easier to obtain than a visa for crew on a ship with no foreign ports. It's a CBP issue. A cruise to nowhere, since it never stops in a foreign port, it's deemed "employment within the US" and requires visas that are more costly (for cruise lines) and more involved paperwork for them to be issued. Most cruise lines opted to stop doing cruises to nowhere because of this.

Thank you for the detailed info. I didn't know so that makes more sense. I'm hoping our cruise still goes in 20+ days. And it would be even better if it is fully vaccinated. I'm just not very patient. This whole wait and see what DCL says is not very fun.

 

[Weedy]

Just read on my FB group for the sailing tomorrow on the dream that lightning struck the cell tower on castaway cay a few days ago. No cell service. Doesn’t matter to us, our kids are grown. But if your cruise is close, you may not have cell service

My friend was there today and we were texting (I’m in Orlando)

 

[Sherrilatte]

I can't see them doing that (and hopefully, they don't cancel the 4 day cruises they just converted from 7 day).

People have made changes to their travel arrangements. That would be a nightmare for some who just made all the changes to accommodate the first change!

 

[mevelandry]

https://www.msccruisesusa.com/health-and-safety-measures/caribbean-cruises

Thank you.

 

[ChinaDenver]

Not necessarily. The Johnson and Johnson vaccine is an acceptable vaccine and would work for the 2 week post vaccine requirement.

J&J's 12 and up vaccine won't be out until later this year. Kids can't get J&J yet.

 

[sethschroeder]

J&J's 12 and up vaccine won't be out until later this year. Kids can't get J&J yet.

Yes but it covers a majority of cruisers who need to be vaccinated. So yes there is a blind spot but nothing you can do about that except offer them a refund or the ability to move their cruise.

 

[Joe Brig]

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.

 

[sethschroeder]

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

They could but I absolutely do not agree they should not even short term.

These cruise companies fly flags outside the US because they want cheap labor, labor they can push harder, pay less taxes, avoid labor laws, ect.

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).

 

[gkrykewy]

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

There is another option!

 

[Cheburashka]

If given the choice between violating a Federal Law or a State Law that has already received a preliminary injunction against it, I do not foresee them choosing to violate Federal Law.

I really hate that cruise lines are put in this position. They are just trying to survive.

Welcome to the pandemic. I'm a teacher and our school district just had to deal with a very similar conflict. Our governor has banned mask mandates in schools. Meanwhile, our mayor & county judge have mandated masks in schools. Who does the school board listen to, the governor or the county judge & mayor? This is what happens when government becomes so politically polarized. The law can become hard to follow.

 

[LSUfan4444]

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

So yes there is a blind spot but nothing you can do about that except offer them a refund or the ability to move their cruise.

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

 

[jujubiee4]

Welcome to the pandemic. I'm a teacher and our school district just had to deal with a very similar conflict. We have a statewide Covid surge and a dire shortage of hospital beds, and our governor has banned mask mandates in schools. Meanwhile, the city & county have mandated masks in schools. Who does the school board listen to, the governor or the county judge & mayor? This is what happens when government becomes so politically polarized. The law can become hard to follow.

Very Very much agree. At the risk of not getting thread shut down I will just say it is sad all around.
I wonder if things will ever get back to even semi normal.

 

[jrapps]

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 made 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

Oh no! Sorry to hear that. Hopefully we find out more tomorrow and Disney has options to help you move the trip out a bit so she can sail.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

This is very interesting information. Thanks. When the ship comes into port and takes on fuel and supplies and then goes back out and circles for a couple of weeks then back in for fuel and supplies like they did when they were not taking on passengers does this not count as a closed loop as it is not revenue generating?

It is okay because it is not revenue generating. In addition, staff are exempt from certain PVSA requirements, especially in regards to.embark and disembarkation.

 

[Fellow Passholder]

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 made 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

I'm sad for her too. I'm hoping all the disappointment experienced in the past year+ helps these kids to be more resilient than they otherwise would have been. I'm sure you'll still find a way to make her day special for her. Good luck!

 

[orum]

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

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+,

 

[elopes23]

There is another option!

You thinking Bermuda?

 

[Disneyland_emily]

People have made changes to their travel arrangements. That would be a nightmare for some who just made all the changes to accommodate the first change!

i don’t see them changing because it wasn’t just the ports that was the issue. You’d still have much higher chances of outbreaks on longer cruises etc.