What happens to the cruise industry in case of a major war?

[DisneYE]

An extreme topic but never read/heard any about it.
The world has been fairly peaceful for the most part, no large-scale conflicts in the past 30 years.

But what would happen in case of a major war say, in Europe?

The cruise industry didn't become 'mainstream' until the the 80's-90's.
In the 80's there was the Falkland Islands war, Iran-Iraq war, and in the 90's the Bosnia/Serbia/Kosovo war.
What happened to cruising then? - Did cruises in Europe continue to sail during the balcan war, for example?

I'm curious to know what would happen in case of a major conflict in Europe.

That's right, I'm thinking about the current tensions in Ukraine/Russia, some ppl saying war about to break out.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Cruises stayed well away from the Balkans and out of certain shipping lanes.

 

[DLgal]

In the case of a major, global war, cruises will be the least of our worries.

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

For the most part, there would be no ordering of US flagged cruise vessels into service of the military. Sealift (cargo/vehicle) transport is the most efficient large scale transport of military supplies overseas. For example, a C-5 transport can only carry one M1A1 tank, whereas scores can be carried on a transport ship. In addition, most cruise ships are not US flagged for tax purposes, hence, the executive branch can't conscript those vessels.

If, however, the conflict you are imagining is along the lines of the Cold War WWIII, US flagged cruise vessels (such as they are) could be pressed into service as troop transports. This was done worldwide during WWII for transport across the Atlantic and around the Pacific. Nowadays, if the opponent has a credible surface strike capability (from air, surface or subsurface platforms), and they're willing to attack non-military targets (e.g. the Lusitania), then it's feasible that the cruise industry would shut down. Yes, the Russians have such a capability. Are they willing to sink the Disney Fantasy? That's another question altogether.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Cruise ships were changed to carry troops over to Europe during WWII. My Uncle went over in one of the American Hawaii Cruise ships. I believe it was The Independence. We took a cruise on it around Hawaii in 1992.

 

[DCLMP]

An extreme topic but never read/heard any about it.
The world has been fairly peaceful for the most part, no large-scale conflicts in the past 30 years.

But what would happen in case of a major war say, in Europe?

The cruise industry didn't become 'mainstream' until the the 80's-90's.
In the 80's there was the Falkland Islands war, Iran-Iraq war, and in the 90's the Bosnia/Serbia/Kosovo war.
What happened to cruising then? - Did cruises in Europe continue to sail during the balcan war, for example?

I'm curious to know what would happen in case of a major conflict in Europe.

That's right, I'm thinking about the current tensions in Ukraine/Russia, some ppl saying war about to break out.

Cruise lines are pretty risk adverse. They always pull out of Israel, Turkey and anywhere else there’s civil unrest or fighting. We weren’t able to port in Turkey in 2016.
Like one poster said if a war breaks out in Europe I think cruising will be the least of our worries. We’ll be wishing it was 2021 again and that was a bad year.

 

[Cheburashka]

In the case of a major, global war, cruises will be the least of our worries.

Radio announcer: "Germany has invaded Poland. Poland's allies have declared war."

American citizen: "Oh, damn! There goes my cruise."

Lol.

 

[braysmommy]

I'm currently still worried about what happens to the cruise industry during a global pandemic.

 

[DisneYE]

For the most part, there would be no ordering of US flagged cruise vessels into service of the military. Sealift (cargo/vehicle) transport is the most efficient large scale transport of military supplies overseas. For example, a C-5 transport can only carry one M1A1 tank, whereas scores can be carried on a transport ship. In addition, most cruise ships are not US flagged for tax purposes, hence, the executive branch can't conscript those vessels.

If, however, the conflict you are imagining is along the lines of the Cold War WWIII, US flagged cruise vessels (such as they are) could be pressed into service as troop transports. This was done worldwide during WWII for transport across the Atlantic and around the Pacific. Nowadays, if the opponent has a credible surface strike capability (from air, surface or subsurface platforms), and they're willing to attack non-military targets (e.g. the Lusitania), then it's feasible that the cruise industry would shut down. Yes, the Russians have such a capability. Are they willing to sink the Disney Fantasy? That's another question altogether.

Thanks for this - I take it you're a veteran? - If so, Thank You for your service.
I'm not thinking WWIII, there's no way it'll get to that point, I hope.
If it's the case of a conventional war with 2 major actors, Russia & Nato, a prolonged conflict, what happens to sea lanes? - I googled tor 5 minutes to investigate what happened during the Balkan conflict & couldn't find anything.
The example of the Lusitania is interesting but I doubt it'll get to that.
But Ukraine is close to the Med via the Aegean Sea - in case of a long war, wouldn't some supply/troop ships transit thru those lanes? - I'm not worried about cruising, I'm just curious - wouldn't the entire industry just shut down?

 

[DCLMP]

I'm currently still worried about what happens to the cruise industry during a global pandemic.

That’s yesterday’s news

 

[Marrila]

Weren't a number of cruises in the Med cancelled already? (Various cruise lines)
Seems like they would prefer to not be in the same place as recently announced large scale "exercises."

 

[DisneYE]

Cruise lines are pretty risk adverse. They always pull out of Israel, Turkey and anywhere else there’s civil unrest or fighting. We weren’t able to port in Turkey in 2016.
Like one poster said if a war breaks out in Europe I think cruising will be the least of our worries. We’ll be wishing it was 2021 again and that was a bad year.

Thanks - I'm just curious to know what happens in case of a major war (I don't consider flare-ups in Israel, Gaza, Syria, other places in the ME significant enough as to trigger a shutdown)
I know about cruises being too panicky - In 2019 DCL canceled a stop in San Juan because there were a bunch of protests... I'm talking about something larger, like the example of the Balkan war in 91-93..
Again, not only I'm not worried about cruising, I'd *want* cruises to be shut down anywhere close to a major conflict zone.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Radio announcer: "Germany has invaded Poland. Poland's allies have declared war."

American citizen: "Oh, damn! There goes my cruise."

Lol.

Visiting that site in 2009 was the most somber moment of our cruise to the Baltic area.

 

[DisneYE]

Weren't a number of cruises in the Med cancelled already? (Various cruise lines)
Seems like they would prefer to not be in the same place as recently announced large scale "exercises."

Thank you for this - And yes, that's what I was thinking.

Celebrity just canceled 29 sailings in the MED and moved them to the Caribbean.
No mention of a particular conflict or the C-word but I think they're reading the news in Ukraine and they're being proactive. - That's smart on their part.

Won't post the link as it's against Disboards policy - google Celebrity Cruises Mediterranean on the news section.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Weren't a number of cruises in the Med cancelled already? (Various cruise lines)
Seems like they would prefer to not be in the same place as recently announced large scale "exercises."

I haven't been paying that much attention to see if "cruises cancelled" in the Med are related to COVID or the potential for "exercises", but I remember cruises rerouting away from Turkey when things were bad in Syria.

 

[DCLMP]

Thanks - I'm just curious to know what happens in case of a major war (I don't consider flare-ups in Israel, Gaza, Syria, other places in the ME significant enough as to trigger a shutdown)
I know about cruises being too panicky - In 2019 DCL canceled a stop in San Juan because there were a bunch of protests... I'm talking about something larger, like the example of the Balkan war in 91-93..
Again, not only I'm not worried about cruising, I'd *want* cruises to be shut down anywhere close to a major conflict zone.

I think a war combined with all the other mandates, protocols and restrictions might be too much for the cruiselines to even bother sailing in Europe. I don’t know, but it seems like a lot of people on these boards are already cancelling.

 

[tvguy]

For the most part, there would be no ordering of US flagged cruise vessels into service of the military. Sealift (cargo/vehicle) transport is the most efficient large scale transport of military supplies overseas. For example, a C-5 transport can only carry one M1A1 tank, whereas scores can be carried on a transport ship. In addition, most cruise ships are not US flagged for tax purposes, hence, the executive branch can't conscript those vessels.

If, however, the conflict you are imagining is along the lines of the Cold War WWIII, US flagged cruise vessels (such as they are) could be pressed into service as troop transports. This was done worldwide during WWII for transport across the Atlantic and around the Pacific. Nowadays, if the opponent has a credible surface strike capability (from air, surface or subsurface platforms), and they're willing to attack non-military targets (e.g. the Lusitania), then it's feasible that the cruise industry would shut down. Yes, the Russians have such a capability. Are they willing to sink the Disney Fantasy? That's another question altogether.

Given there is only one U.S. Flagged cruise ship, NCL's Pride of America, not sure that is likely to happen.
The luxury cruise ship Queen Elizabeth 2 was pressed into service as a troop carrier in 1982 during the Falklands War. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/mo...ar-Amazing-pictures-QE2-sailed-Falklands.html

 

[bobbiwoz]

We have a Celebrity Med Cruise, round trip from Italy. It includes two stops in Israel. If they disappear, we’ll cancel the cruise. It’s in October. It‘s our third attempt to get to Israel.

 

[KVH]

Define "major war". If Putin moved on Ukraine today, DCL ships will still leave on their next round of sailings tomorrow. So would everyone else (except as noted about the Med cruises). Anything else, which would require multi-state participation with action on more than one front, would probably then come close to matching someone's definition of World War III. At that point, cruising would cease to exist.

Did anyone see this year's reset the other day about the Doomsday Clock?

Just sayin . . .

 

[DisneYE]

Define "major war". If Putin moved on Ukraine today, DCL ships will still leave on their next round of sailings tomorrow. So would everyone else (except as noted about the Med cruises). Anything else, which would require multi-state participation with action on more than one front, would probably then come close to matching someone's definition of World War III. At that point, cruising would cease to exist.

Did anyone see this year's reset the other day about the Doomsday Clock?

Just sayin . . .

Major war=protracted war btw 2+ large(r) countries.
Recent e:g - Iran/Iraq, Falklands, Balkan war.
I know cruises in the Caribbean won't cancel even if Russia invaded tomorrow
But I'm talking Med cruises - I think a couple of days of artillery exchanges btw Rusia-NATO, the Med shuts down.
WWIII is out of the question, imo. I'd like to think Putin & 46 are rational actors.