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

[kathi]

Okay. LOL.

What do you find funny? MSC changed their policy in hours and Royal by the end of the business day. We have not heard a peep from DCL and it's been since Thursday (which is more than 27 hours here on Earth).

 

[jrapps]

Aren't these other lines the ones with their own vaccine protocols in place

Not before this was anounced. NCL and Carnival already required vaccines. MSC and Royal did not on sailings from FL... Until about 4-6 hours after this came out.

Disney has had 3 days so far.

 

[jrapps]

What do you find funny? MSC changed their policy in hours and Royal by the end of the business day. We have not heard a peep from DCL and it's been since Thursday (which is more than 27 hours here on Earth).

Now I see my mistake...I was only looking at cruises on Earth! I should have been looking at other planets.

 

[icc2515]

(which is more than 27 hours here on Earth)

I think they meant 72 earth hours, which is why I put that they had some transposition errors. I thought they were lol at that. I was giving them the benefit out the doubt.

 

[tvguy]

What do you find funny? MSC changed their policy in hours and Royal by the end of the business day. We have not heard a peep from DCL and it's been since Thursday (which is more than 27 hours here on Earth).

Well, on the other cruise forums I browse their passengers are upset too.

 

[sethschroeder]

And this thread is about the Bahamas requiring vaccinations for all passengers 12+. Not about how DCL is or is not keeping people informed as to how they're going to handle it.

Actually that is what this thread is about as we sit here waiting 72 hours after the Bahamas released.

 

[jrapps]

Well, on the other cruise forums I browse their passengers are upset too.

In the end of the day every time a new policy comes out somebody's going to be upset.

The problem here is that one of the very real possibilities is that Disney completely cancels the 9/3 sailing. Even if they don't, if/when they implement the vaccine requirement just like all the other cruise lines somebody will get booted from the cruise.

All we ask is timely communication so that people that are affected can make alternate vacation plans.

 

[jrapps]

Actually that is what this thread is about as we sit here waiting 72 hours after the Bahamas released.

If they finally do release something tomorrow morning it will have been 96 hours. Just like Disney to wait 90+ hours longer than everyone else.

 

[epcotrulz]

Here is a summary of other cruise lines responses. (if I’m not allowed share this link, I apologize in advance)

https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/6404/

 

[sethschroeder]

Aren't these other lines the ones with their own vaccine protocols in place

It doesn't matter this should have been planned for months ago. When the shoe drops and a vaccination requirement goes in place the policy should have already existed with just a final once over before making it public and publishing it.

Well, on the other cruise forums I browse their passengers are upset too.

Who cares about being upset? Its called being informed.

People will be upset or happy about anything. The issue we have is that people are not informed, are stuck in a holding pattern, and we are either 8 or 12 days out from the first impacted cruise.

 

[tvguy]

It doesn't matter this should have been planned for months ago. When the shoe drops and a vaccination requirement goes in place the policy should have already existed with just a final once over before making it public and publishing it.



Who cares about being upset? Its called being informed.

People will be upset or happy about anything. The issue we have is that people are not informed, are stuck in a holding pattern, and we are either 8 or 12 days out from the first impacted cruise.

Do you think they anticipated Castaway Cay being included in such an order?

 

[jrapps]

Do you think they anticipated Castaway Cay being included in such an order?

If they didn't, they should have.

I'm guessing the lack of communication from Disney doesn't just come to its customers. If they're this bad of talking to us they must be equally as bad as talking to the Bahamian government.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

You hit the nail on the head. Allowing closed loop cruises only benefits cruise lines and virtually all of them are foreign companies. Almost all the crew is foreign.

And I think the Bahamas restricting the Bahamian ships is another doozy. Not going to try to rally Congress around that.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Thanks. I was wondering why there was a straightforward way to do it in Alaska. It must have something to do with the fact that the Alaska ones don’t go “nowhere “, but go to other US ports in Alaska.

it would be interesting if a Port Canaveral to Miami or another US state would satisfy that if Congress passed a similar waiver for the PVSA.

Thanks

As I understand the Visa rule, Seattle to AK would not satisfy the D-1 visa rule, but maybe there is an exception carved out in the full text if that PVSA exception. Or maybe it was simply decided that CBP going hog on that would be bad optics.

 

[tvguy]

If they didn't, they should have.

I'm guessing the lack of communication from Disney doesn't just come to its customers. If they're this bad of talking to us they must be equally as bad as talking to the Bahamian government.

Yeah, one of the Cruise vloggers (Don's Family Vacations) made the comment about Carnival that they were caught off guard by their private island Half Moon Cay being included in the order. Not sure the basis of his opinion though.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

It doesn't matter this should have been planned for months ago. When the shoe drops and a vaccination requirement goes in place the policy should have already existed with just a final once over before making it public and publishing it.



Who cares about being upset? Its called being informed.

People will be upset or happy about anything. The issue we have is that people are not informed, are stuck in a holding pattern, and we are either 8 or 12 days out from the first impacted cruise.

I agree. It's called having a Plan B. Knowing this could happen at any point in the pandemic, you would think DCL would have been prepared for it and could just say to their employees, "Ok folks. It's time to switch to Plan B. Let's inform all of those passengers impacted and change our website to reflect the new rules."
Really, they should have a Plan C also: What they'll do if the Bahamas stops accepting cruise ships, including CC.
As of right now, DCL's website is allowing more unvaccinated people to book and unless they've heard the news elsewhere, they will really believe they're going to get on the ship.
Sure, DCL is probably happy to accept $$ from more people while they sort out their feelings on what to do next. SMH.

They could have at least acknowledge to those affected guests (and the website) that the law abruptly changed, they're working on a solution and we'll be informed asap. To say nothing at all and keep taking more money from new people booking is just rotten.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Do you think they anticipated Castaway Cay being included in such an order?

I personally wouldn't have expected it. Sure, some locals go there as excursion vendors but couldn't they just limit excursions to those that DCL employees can provide? I know I can still have a great day there without parasailing or deep sea fishing.
We've had all water excursions cancelled due to high winds several times in the past. Sure it's disappointing but out of their control, as is a pandemic.
The Bahamas could have said to DCL: you can dock there but no way are we letting our people be there. You're on your own as to finding ways to entertain all your passengers. But they didn't.

 

[KVH]

I always find it fascinating how many cruise company C-suite execs post on this board. It seems everyone is able to judge DCLs comm policies as deficient.

Yeah, they may come across as fools but I'm sure you judge all other companies the same way. What, none of you have ever worked for a multinational where it isn't similar?

 

[jrapps]

A travel agent on my Facebook group indicated that Disney was in talks with the Bahamian Ministry all weekend trying to negotiate something. I sincerely doubt this story, and just don't understand why Disney feels their solution must be different than the other cruise lines. It just doesn't make any sense.

Another person said they called and were told "We have not yet decided if we are going to the Bahamas". Again, not sure I believe this story either...

 

[sethschroeder]

Yeah, they may come across as fools but I'm sure you judge all other companies the same way. What, none of you have ever worked for a multinational where it isn't similar?

Well when one competitor is slow and the other is fast I think its okay to call one of them slow and the other fast. There are good and bad companies.

My goal is not their profitability my goal is a good guest experience for myself and I will judge them based on my measures not the measure they hold themselves internally to.