Mrs. Thomas

I agree ... and the cruise lines are their last whipping boy ... and they aren't about to give that up. Everyone else has stood up to them, and like all bullies, they ran and hid. I hope the cruise line exec's have that leverage to bring to bear on them to.end this insanity.

I am frustrated by the lack of, how do I say this...junk holding a lot of agencies and people in power are doing. I totally agree that if you let something like Disney or Vegas open, cruise lines should be considered. But let's be real, there are news, well think-pieces, everyday about how those states who opened up early and/or disregarding the CDC/WHO recommendations are fairing. I can speak only for Chicago but a whole chunk are ignoring the guidelines. We are at phase 3: outside dining, no more than 10 people gathering. Yet when I go for my walks I see full inside dining at small restaurants. My mother attended a funeral that had more than 50 people inside, while allowing 10 people at a time to view the body. People are choosing what they want, a cruise line doesn't have the luxury of that. It is weird that states only have to post the CDC guidelines while cruise lines must obey them...I think it is both an optics issue and a flex of power. Even if the "floating petri dish around the world" hadn't happen, I am sure cruise lines would still be suffering as this is the only thing the CDC has control of.

The CDC seems to be hanging out and leading by just waiting, which is not leading at all.  This is so annoying as they have a chokehold on cruising.  It would be nice if the CDC would publish more and give some more guidance.  As it is part of the executive branch, I hope that the cruises can use lobbyists to get some pressure placed on them for leadership.  I generally hate the idea of lobbyists, but it would probably be okay with me in this case....

Here’s what I posted in @DunwoodyDad’s thread: 
 
At what point do we passengers grab our torches and pitchforks? I’m about ready to start making some noise. ?
If you can sit in a movie theater on land, you should be able to sit in a theater on a ship. 
If you can sit in a restaurant on land, you should be able to sit in a restaurant on a ship. 
If you can fly on an airplane that can have upwards of 1,000 passengers in a day, all smooshed together breathing recirculated air, why not a cruise ship? 
So if we all did start being squeaky wheels, WHO do we complain too?Senators/Representatives/Governors of port states? 
Inundate the CDC phone lines and socialmedia? 
I think it’s time they hear from US! 
 

I agree, at least the CDC is supposed to meet with the cruise lines this Thur, Just HOPE they give the lines some guidance and DATES. I am trying to be optimistic. They need to get their poop together. 

Just posted something very similar a few minutes ago.

That’s very interesting and would seem to indicate they are at least planning on trying to cruise in Aug/Sept.  Great indicator, IMO.  I wish we had some kind of indication of how Royal is going to cap capacity on their early sailings.

Things like this and the Carnival CEO seeming less sure about August make me worry about my late September 2020 cruise on Enchantment of the Seas out of Galveston....

So I saw that NCL had taken off cruises from the schedule to book for August and Sept. The first thought I had was more cruises are cancelled or going to be cancelled. That is not the case as i found out. I was told those cruises are not cancelled but "at capacity" and to my mind that means they are planning to sail at a much reduced capacity and won't/can't sell anymore cabins. Seem to be correct or I'm reading too much into this? 

Warning: This is mostly rant.
I want to say that I'm not upset at RCCL. It isn't their or any of the cruise lines fault as to how they are being treated. They are doing their best to roll with the punches. The media was all too happy to make them look like "floating petri dishes" as if they are the ones that brought this mess over to the US in the first place. HOWEVER, the CDC is starting wear on my patience. They don't have power over much of anything except the cruise industry. They are saying one thing one day and something different the next about this virus. I'm not trying to downplay the virus, I have seen the numbers. But I also know that this is something that will be a part of us from now on. We are going to have to start learning how to live with it in our world as we did the flu in the early 1900s. I understand that getting things ready to go isn't easy, but how is it that everything else seems to be on a one way track to normalcy and the cruise lines are being told to just "hurry up and wait"? Most, if not all, of the cruise companies are trying their best to do what the CDC wants and yet they are still told that they must continue to lose money on a daily basis and the rest of us are stuck at home. If they cancel to many more cruises a few of these companies may never recover. There are small businesses in my area closing for good due to all of this. I'm usually a pretty perky and optimistic person, but all this is starting to get to me. It ticks me off when people try give others the run around.

Warning: This is mostly rant.
I want to say that I'm not upset at RCCL. It isn't their or any of the cruise lines fault as to how they are being treated. They are doing their best to roll with the punches. The media was all too happy to make them look like "floating petri dishes" as if they are the ones that brought this mess over to the US in the first place. HOWEVER, the CDC is starting wear on my patience. They don't have power over much of anything except the cruise industry. They are saying one thing one day and something different the next about this virus. I'm not trying to downplay the virus, I have seen the numbers. But I also know that this is something that will be a part of us from now on. We are going to have to start learning how to live with it in our world as we did the flu in the early 1900s. I understand that getting things ready to go isn't easy, but how is it that everything else seems to be on a one way track to normalcy and the cruise lines are being told to just "hurry up and wait"? Most, if not all, of the cruise companies are trying their best to do what the CDC wants and yet they are still told that they must continue to lose money on a daily basis and the rest of us are stuck at home. If they cancel to many more cruises a few of these companies may never recover. There are small businesses in my area closing for good due to all of this. I'm usually a pretty perky and optimistic person, but all this is starting to get to me. It ticks me off when people try give others the run around.

Warning: This is mostly rant.
I want to say that I'm not upset at RCCL. It isn't their or any of the cruise lines fault as to how they are being treated. They are doing their best to roll with the punches. The media was all too happy to make them look like "floating petri dishes" as if they are the ones that brought this mess over to the US in the first place. HOWEVER, the CDC is starting wear on my patience. They don't have power over much of anything except the cruise industry. They are saying one thing one day and something different the next about this virus. I'm not trying to downplay the virus, I have seen the numbers. But I also know that this is something that will be a part of us from now on. We are going to have to start learning how to live with it in our world as we did the flu in the early 1900s. I understand that getting things ready to go isn't easy, but how is it that everything else seems to be on a one way track to normalcy and the cruise lines are being told to just "hurry up and wait"? Most, if not all, of the cruise companies are trying their best to do what the CDC wants and yet they are still told that they must continue to lose money on a daily basis and the rest of us are stuck at home. If they cancel to many more cruises a few of these companies may never recover. There are small businesses in my area closing for good due to all of this. I'm usually a pretty perky and optimistic person, but all this is starting to get to me. It ticks me off when people try give others the run around.

Warning: This is mostly rant.
I want to say that I'm not upset at RCCL. It isn't their or any of the cruise lines fault as to how they are being treated. They are doing their best to roll with the punches. The media was all too happy to make them look like "floating petri dishes" as if they are the ones that brought this mess over to the US in the first place. HOWEVER, the CDC is starting wear on my patience. They don't have power over much of anything except the cruise industry. They are saying one thing one day and something different the next about this virus. I'm not trying to downplay the virus, I have seen the numbers. But I also know that this is something that will be a part of us from now on. We are going to have to start learning how to live with it in our world as we did the flu in the early 1900s. I understand that getting things ready to go isn't easy, but how is it that everything else seems to be on a one way track to normalcy and the cruise lines are being told to just "hurry up and wait"? Most, if not all, of the cruise companies are trying their best to do what the CDC wants and yet they are still told that they must continue to lose money on a daily basis and the rest of us are stuck at home. If they cancel to many more cruises a few of these companies may never recover. There are small businesses in my area closing for good due to all of this. I'm usually a pretty perky and optimistic person, but all this is starting to get to me. It ticks me off when people try give others the run around.

@Jill  That was my thinking too, L&S was designed to gauge interest in sailing. If a bunch of people rushed to cancel a ship or itinerary, then they would be able to reason away that sailing. We have been speculating, since they said they would start with limit ships at a certain capacity, for awhile. My guess would be other than holiday cruises, none are more than 80%.

I would imagine one reason for lift and shift was to get people off these late summer/fall cruises to reduce capacity. If they still need to reduce the numbers, my guess would be offering a healthy FCC to move. I don’t think they would bump people off. It’s not like the airlines where you can just catch a later flight that day. I think that would really upset people. For those that work, some companies aren’t flexible moving your vacation time. 
We’ll all have to wait and see....

@YOLO If we go with the theory of cancelling and rebooking I would say booking the new sailing just a smidgen over capacity, i.e 75%. They are already cancelling ships and offering refunds or higher FCC, so they probably wouldn't offer too many incentives......other than being one of the first to cruise or extra OBC. I cannot see them keeping any of the current Itineraries as is and sailing...unless they are perfectly stacked with pax at 50% or less.

That's what I was thinking.  If/once they determine the sail capacity per ship, will they need to have everyone re-book just for the ships currently booked over their new max capacity?  Or will it be like the air lines (doubt it) where they offer you additional future incentives if you back out?

I think it will be maybe 60-70% depending on ships, given the Allure fiasco, I'm thinking new bookings. I doubt they will just kick people off. More like announce new sailings and allow people to book. That way they can avoid some backlash, not all.

I've been wondering the same thing. This is especially troubling when flights are involved. I've two sets of flights for my family that are both future flight credits. If we end up walking the plank as it were, those flight credits will eventually expire. Those cannot be claimed on the CFAR insurance, as I have found out. I'm sure there are many others wondering the same.

When cruising starts back up do you think it will be at 50% capacity? maybe 40%?   So let's say a cruise is going with 40% and they are currently 80% sold. when do you think the 40% getting left on shore will be notified? 

@Mrs. Thomas I wouldn't get too excited. I think it is a tourist site, not a historical site. But still looks like it could be fun.

@DunkelBierJay Oh, my bad. Then it's even better. Now to see if they are closed because of COVID or because of damage.

It may not be what you are thinking it is. It is more of a historical site with a small restaurant, bar and pool...
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g147405-d148109-Reviews-Blackbeard_s_Castle-Charlotte_Amalie_St_Thomas_U_S_Virgin_Islands.html

I'm glad that I'm not the only one as well. People who don't have kids with ADHD don't understand how challenging it is in just a normal day, let alone something like this. He has sensory issues as well which can just make things even worse. If they really want to see a parent look like a tyrant then have them make my son wear one and me trying to keep it on him or not mess with it constantly. It'll suck the fun out of more than just OUR vacation.

My son is 7 and we are behind with the therapies but he has been going to speech, occupational for this school year. The "school at home" stuff really made that hard on us as his therapies were then being done at home over the computer. My husband wants us to exhaust non-medication helps before looking at giving him medications. He doesn't want him to think that medicine will cure everything and that he doesn't have to try or take responsibility for his decisions in the future. In other words, outside play is our friend!  The cruise we have planned for August will be a great week for him energy wise. It is a time that he can just be a kid not in a classroom for a little longer. I truly hope that we can all get back to cruising very soon and that our kids can start truly having fun again!