rcdave

Okay Royal lets update your health protocols to eliminate the pre-board testing. Our cost is $95 a piece plus I have to drive 25 miles for the tests (leaving 10/13 on Adventure of the Seas for a NE cruise). We were on an Alaskan cruise the end of June where everyone needed to be tested. My daughter wore a mask all the time and wiped both the plane and the ship down with Lysol wipes (ok, maybe not the whole plane and ship) - but, three days after the cruise all 3 of us came down with Covid. Not sure how effective the pre-testing is since folks are flying to the port, going on excursions, etc. so they can be exposed in any number of places just before and during the cruise.

Just wondering: Do RC ships carry Covid-19 antiviral medication onboard? Do RC ships monitor "black" water waste to detect Covid existence onboard?

So a now show for my 4 pack test from Optum ordered last Wed. (9/8). No response to my email sent to support. Just implemented plan B at a cost of $190 (not counting the $140 for the non-received kits) for an appointment at a location 45 miles away on Sept. 29. two days before our Oct. 1st cruise out of Seattle. Having invested $330 so far for this test - I would pay Celebrity (RCL) and additional $100/person to have them do the testing at the port.

I'm having doubts that my Jan/2022 cruise on the Anthem will take place. I know things are changing day by day but RC needs to take a stand and start cruising from the US - you will not please everyone. I have an August/2021 cruise (not with RC) scheduled leaving out of a foreign port. No one under 18 and all must be vaccinated - I know this is not family friendly, sorry. To get started, RC could relocate a ship to NJ, Maryland, or NY - restrict passengers to fully vaccinated ages 12 and up and begin cruising. To comply with Florida and Texas no-ask laws schedule hybrid (vaccinated/un-vaccinated) cruises for all ages. At least folks would have a choice and RC along with the associated cruise business could start making money.

I sit here with head in hand - RC/NCL/Carnival relocate some ships to northeast ports (Boston, NY, Baltimore, Bayonne) and start vaccinated sailings only. Lets get cruising started now. Having non and vaccinated pax on the same ship is asking for trouble - once a non-vaccinated passenger has a few drinks (or not) there will be trouble if they decide they do not want to follow the protocols. Sorry Celebrity (and other lines), no cruising for me on your ships if you are not requiring pax/crew to be vaccinated. It is still to early in the game to cruise without vaccination protection.

Come on RCCL get two ships relocated to NJ and quit screwing around and start sailing. I am booked for a cruise in August and it is not from a US or Caribbean port and it is a vaccinated only cruise. Hate to take my money outside of the US.

As mentioned before - why aren't these cruise lines moving up to NJ (or other state that allows them) and start sailing with vaccinated cruises only. Everyone has a lot to lose if there is a Covid outbreak on any ship during this startup period. Testing is not reliable, note Jon Rahm who tested negative then tested positive - testing was done during consecutive days, a chance at $1.5 million down the drain, ouch. I am getting the feeling that the cruise lines are reluctant to start US cruising and are waiting for one of them to be first to see what happens. I also think both Texas and Florida are painting themselves into a corner - I hope they do not drag Alaska into the mess.

Maybe this as been covered before - but why isn't RC not sailing out of NJ? I would think to get started they would move a couple ships into Port Liberty and start fully vaccinated cruises - no test cruises required. If I understand correctly if they did this cruising could start before July or at least early July.

Ho-Hum

My wife & I have had both shots - we have no problem wearing a mask.

whenismynextcruis had it correct - the example was hypothetical. So just wondering if the "touch and go" meets the maritime requirement of a cruise ship leaving a US port must stop at a foreign port before returning to a US port? Well aware of Canada/US border/port restrictions - I live just across the lake from Canada.

Okay, I can’t let this go since I am in the “old f**t” category. It seems to me that cruise lines should have been requiring a doctor’s permission slip for 65+ years of age passengers for the last few decades. Look at the CDC stats for the common flu at https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/2017-2018.htm . Oh, remember there is a vaccine and treatment for the seasonal flu. Also, the lines should require that all passengers have their flu/pneumonia shots before boarding since they are more deadly than Covid-19. See the chart at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid19/index.htm It appears that the seasonal flu and pneumonia are more deadly with vaccines and treatments than Covid-19 is without a vaccine or treatment.

Not sure if this meets the maritime regulations, but. If a ship does a touch and go at a foreign port does that count? The XYZ ship, registered in Timbuktu, leaves Seattle headed to Alaska does a touch and go in Victoria/Vancouver – pulls into the dock, secures the lines , 1001, 1002,1003,1004, cast the lines and good bye – no one gets off or on the ship. Of course the cruise line still pays a port fee. Does that meet the requirements? If so would the Canadian government allow this before July 1st?

So, RC posted new temporary (not sure if these will be in place after the CDC 100 day ban) regulations describing eligibility to cruise with them. Under the section listed as “Regardless of nationality, boarding will be denied to” they list the following: · Any person who has traveled from, to or through mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Europe (See list of restricted European countries below), Iran, or South Korea 15 days prior to embarkation. · Any person who has come in contact with anyone with 15-day prior travel to mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Europe (See list of restricted European countries below), Iran, or South Korea. The CDC characterizes contact with an individual as coming within six feet (2M) of a person. · Any person who within 15 days prior to embarkation, has had contact with, or helped care for, anyone suspected or diagnosed as having COVID-19, or who are currently subject to health monitoring for possible exposure to COVID-19. · For Caribbean Itineraries Only: The above parameters will also include Japan, Singapore and Taiwan, along with travel or contact occurring 21 days prior to embarkation. Note, the European list is quite long. I have two thoughts: 1. The country that has the most confirmed cases of Covid-19 is the United States. 2. Since folks with Covid-19 may not show any symptoms, how do I know if I have been within 2 meters of someone who has it? So, I can fly from New York, which has more Covid-19 cases than any country in the world (assuming China is truthful with its data), I can board the ship if I do not fall under one of the categories listed above, life is great. It seems to me RC should list the United States on the “15 day prior travel” restricted list.

100 days will not be enough. Realistically, the cruise industry ought to be thinking January 2021 to resume limited operation. In the meantime they should upgrade their ships, develop new policies to reflect the new world of cruising, hire additional medical staff, do whatever upgrades are needed for the private islands, and come up with a reasonable plan to recoup current financial losses (you all know that rates will increase, nickel & diming will be more prevalent, less perks, etc.). The only real hope is a therapy drug is developed, on-site testing/analysis is developed and rolled out, and God forbid, there is not a upsurge of Covid-19 cases in the fall.

100 days will not be enough. Realistically, the cruise industry ought to be thinking January 2021 to resume limited operation. In the meantime they should upgrade their ships, develop new policies to reflect the new world of cruising, hire additional medical staff, do whatever upgrades are needed for the private islands, and come up with a reasonable plan to recoup current financial losses (you all know that rates will increase, nickel & diming will be more prevalent, less perks, etc.). The only real hope is a therapy drug is developed, on-site testing/analysis is developed and rolled out, and God forbid, there is not a upsurge of Covid-19 cases in the fall.

What medical resources (equipment/technology/staff) do cruise ships have available on board? I know it will vary by size of the ship and cruise line. For example is there x-ray capability, dialysis equipment, lab resources, number of doctors/nurses, etc. What surgery capabilities are there, can they cast broken limbs, and are there ventilators? I don’t recall seeing information about this when reading ship descriptions so was just wondering.

Sad to say, I think we are looking 2-3 years out before cruising and global travel start to return near what it was prior to the outbreak. Until a vaccine, antidote, reliable on the spot test are developed and proven to work every country is going to think twice about opening its border to foreign travelers.

Will the mega ships become just “day at sea” and private island ferries? I just can’t imagine what the logistics would be to transport 6,000 plus folks to quarantine centers/countries/etc. Think an Oasis size ship having been the one involved in the Covid-19 incidences instead of the Grand Princess and the Diamond Princess (yikes). I would think most ports (for the few years) are going to be a little gun shy about letting these size ships dock. I would think the smaller size ships will be in vogue for the foreseeable future.

I do not see a doctor signing any such form without performing a complete exam of you just before signing/or not - she/he may want their own lawyer to read over the form as well (I would think most lawyers would tell the doctor not to sign). So if after, whenever that is, we get past this crisis will the cruise lines still require the form for over age 69 passengers?

On the buffet - not sure how this would work, how about with each silver/napkin you get your own set of tongs - so no tongs available at the serving stations you carry your own.

Just a few thoughts for policy changes and future ship updates/enhancements: Install Voice technology – Alexa turn on the TV, Alexa call room service, Alexa turn bed light on, and etc. to help eliminate/minimize touch points (TV remote; phone; light switches) within the cabin. Add motion sense faucets at sink. Use anti bacteria/antimicrobial material/coatings on all flat surfaces. Use long lasting cleaning products – one is advertised on TV that “supposedly” kills bacteria for up to 24 hours. Install auto open/close doors where feasible. Mandatory (supervised) “washy- washy” stations before entering buffet and dining areas, (On a late January cruise, not on RC, no one was stationed at the entrances to the buffet and few hand sanitizer dispensers, the ones that were available were empty, the same for the dining room.) Use the small packets of salt/pepper – no shakers. Require mandatory travel insurance for all passengers - high medical/medical evacuation coverage. Enhance onboard medical facilities/services/staff. Install limited laboratory capability for onsite testing. * No more self serve in the buffet * Hepa filters in all HVAC units * complimentary wipes in the cabin

With a vaccine more than a year away I am thinking that cruising of the past is at least 2 years away. However once an antidote is developed and distributed may be limited cruises would start. I would think startup will be made up of short (5 days or less) duration cruises. I also would think that Oasis class size ships will be used for sea day and private island excursions. Most “itinerary” destinations will be hesitant for these ships to dock in their ports until a proven vaccine/cure for the virus is found. With all of the unknowns – when will drugs be developed to prevent/cure the virus, how fast does the virus mutate, is this going to be a seasonal event - all bets are off until more answers are found.

I agree.

Now we are talking: https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/5214/