Ampurp85

@jticarruthers Exactly what I meant, notice I said we could have.......If people had headed the warning we could get down to fewer cases in 2 to 3 months. But people aren't doing what is being asked to slow the virus. Which will lead to a desperation to get things back to normal and will cause more problems in the long run. We are very much still in the dark, cold and flu season starts back again in late October. This virus appeared in November so who is to say it won't repeat itself? That could mean no cruising or traveling for 18 months+, I don't want that at all.

Best case we end up with only "local" itineraries for a while. I don't mind cruising to only Cococay or the Bahamas but that can get old real fast.

My issue is the lack of awareness. My 79 y/o grandmother and her friends went out to vote this past Tues. Same for venturing out to stores even though they all watch the news, several times a day, and had been warned. My 36-44 year old friends have been hanging out at Starbucks, Chipotle, home depot and anything that is open. Crowds and crowds of people have more than doubled our cases...known cases...in a mere two days. We could have flatten the curve and be cruising by May imho....but things are getting worse. I am frustrated because very few people are taking this seriously, yet are the same ones who seem to be the biggest complainers.

So Illinois is a stay at home state as of 5pm on Saturday March 21st.  On March 19th we only had 230 cases and 1 death. Today we have 770 and 6 deaths. We had been asked to limit gatherings to 10 or less on March 14th. Sure those who could started working from home and events were cancelled. But lots of people hung out at the malls, shopping centers, grocery stores and fast food places that were deem essential. There are lines for stores out to the parking lot, nobody is keeping their distance. I don't know why its so hard to head instructions.

I was convinced that we would be back to our new normal by late May. I am sorry but we probably won't be cruising until late summer or maybe even Labor day.

If all else fails you can always hook your laptop up to your largest TV. Put on your cruising clothes and watch live blogs of cruises....I am sure we are all stocked up to make our own DBP.

If that makes you sad, given this trying time, do what I do. Look at videos of cats, or any animal, riding out social distancing.

@Crazycruiser50 Well that sucks if that is the case. I cannot travel during the summer so my next cruise is in October. I highly doubt, if available, most cruise lines will not start as soon as they can. It could be ship and itinerary related as August is almost 6 months away....I cannot fathom that cruising would be able to survive that long without any sailings. I won't be delusional and say April but I also won't be pessimistic and say July either.

We should be on lock down in Chicago but...people do want they want. My mother works for a grocery store called Jewel and she says people are crazy. They crowd on each other, buy up all the resources and seem to be just hanging out. All the malls are closed, there is no dining in most restaurants and downtown is a desert. Yet all I hear is traffic outside my window because I live on a busy street....worse all I see are older people just out. My grandmother normally never leaves, has spent 3 or more weeks at a time inside. Now she is itching to go places, said the government cannot tell her what to do...beside black people are immune. I had to remind her that the first death in Illinois was a 61 y/o black woman. We need to take care of ourselves so that we can take care of others.

@Crazycruiser50 This is possible but has no bearings on all of the cruises schedule. It could be they foresee the industry starting back in May or June and these particular workers contracts ended during this time ...thus they start back in August.

I think COVID will need at least 60 days to run its course. Maybe another few weeks after to get things to a new normal.

I will guess Memorial day for "all travel" but as far as cruises I would too agree that the first week of June is looking good.

April is not going to happen.

Something could last a long time and not be a detour to more than 70% of the population. It is estimated that a vaccine is 12-14 months away, that doesn't mean everything like travel will be affected until then. Stay positive that the worse will more than likely occur over the next 30-45 days. After that the hysterics and lack of information should lead way to a sense of normalcy.

@accio7 I love Europe and have been to France, the Uk, Germany, Switzerland, Poland, Denmark and Italy. So it will not be a bummer to visit. I originally saw this itinerary and was tempted to book but it had Jersey in there....not at all my favorite place to visit...hence why I changed it going to a better place like Cococay.

I love Ireland and Scotland so I definitely would add as many ports from there as I could.

I never answered my own question but I would love a TA on a quantum class ship. Somewhere between 11 and 14 days would be perfect. I think I would like maybe a cruise that departs from Southampton but ends up in a Western Caribbean itinerary including CocoCay. I would definitely book a Jr suite or higher depending on who is traveling.

So in keeping with building a fun vibe...I mean we have to past the time until we are no longer dry.

I want to know if you could build your own Itinerary on a particular Royal ship what would it be?

How many days?

What ports would you visit?

What type of cabin would you book?

How about what you might add to an existing ship or Itinerary?

 

I really didn't want to bring this thread down... my keeping positive is May...Late May.

In Chicago we are supposed to be practicing social distancing. I work for a law firm doing Accounts Receivable and I waitress every other weekend for extra money (I wanted to be an early retiree, don't judge). We did the Covid testing on the 5th of March, I was negative and we went into work from home March 6th. My restaurant shut its dining room down on March 15th until the 30th. Because that's what the Governor of Illinois advised. The law firm had a bunch of conferences and such from Jan 6th to the 24th in Hartford and Seattle. Me and everyone at my company became, 14 people in all, sick with the flu starting around the 30th of January. I had the flu shot and I was sick on and off for almost 3 weeks. As an avid hand washer and germaphobe, I did my due diligence. I stayed home the 1st week because I assumed I had the flu. Just found out today one of the lawyers is positive for COVID 19, completely asymptomatic...probably because the virus ran its course as he was sick almost 2 weeks ago. My doctor is convinced I had it in early February but because it wasn't a pandemic, they passed it off as the flu. I share this to say I did my part, I didn't quarantine because I had no reason to think I had COVID. But I was always concerned and respectful, keeping my distance. My family was recently tested and none have a positive because I always wash and disinfect. If we all do what we should, which is covering our mouth and being conscience of germs, this thing could be over fairly soon. I have a cruise in October and I plan to be on it.

@Wnuk If RCCI cancels then you will get a refund.

I am sure the government will bail out the cruise industry but they will ask for a bit of restructuring. I will say that I expect Memorial Day to be the inaugural return of cruising and not a day before. If everyone follows the advised quarantine of 2 to 3 weeks then we should be seeing a shift in the virus cases.

Doubt RCCI will go bankrupt for several reasons. The main being that the government will bail out, to a certain extent, at least Carnival and Royal. Cruising is good for the economy and a favorite among the older more well-off traveler. While millennial's mostly prefer to "gram" experiences, those with  actual sense want a vacation that provides a good time and value.

In the infinitesimal case of RCCi filing bankruptcy they may choose to do a few combined bon voyage cruises to appease those with FCC or current bookings.......or yes you will lose the money.  This is an unprecedented time, who knows how many businesses will have to restructure.

I definitely notice prices have gone up as I keep trying to upgrade my Liberty sailing in Oct. But I am wondering if it has nothing to do COVID 19 and everything to do with ship amps. I have been stalking RCCI for years and prices of cruises have increased after every amp across most ships. They go down the closer it gets to sailing for some but there always seem to be a spike. Even before the cruise industry hit hard times my Liberty sailing has been almost double what I paid for during black Friday.

I doubt RCCI plans to gouge consumers because they want people to cruise. I am sure they will offer some great deals to get repeat and new customers aboard.

I have always been a germaphob so I won't be changing a thing. I have only stayed in an interior room once. Will book if I travel solo, only.

We had a group birthday cruise scheduled for April 20th and cancelled because 17 of 23 people going cancelled. I got back 50% of my fare as a FCC and the rest a a refund. I told them to wait but most believe it will be May before the cruise industry can resume. I don't really like CCL but its aesthetics...I find the decor to be ugly and garish

Like @twangster said things really boil down to semantics as the offer really isn't that great. Although they are giving high FCC and OBC it won't work out that great as the price for a future cruise in a decent room will eat up the 125% and you will still owe more. Plus they have like one drink package capped at 15 drinks total, they don't do "washy, washy" and since its 'budget friendly" there seems to be tons of filthy children.

Royal has a better loyalty program, internet and interior decorating....imho.

Lol it really sucks because I am on work from home from my full time job and the Gov of IL declared restaurants unsafe...hahahahah... so I am pretty much on vacation but with no where to go. Also I literally just came from the grocery store and saw two ladies fighting over the last bottle of dish soap.

I am more worried about how much higher fares will be after this pandemic. I was planning to update my balconies to suites for the double C&A points. The difference between the two staterooms is already more than $1000. I have 2 cruises scheduled for Oct/Nov and I am now worried that the ban may still be in affect and my 80 y/o grandmother may not be able to go.

@Christine 67  I don't really consider that bad press. The cruise contract basically tells you that there are associated risk and what would constitute as reasons to get money book or not. A national emergency had not been declared where it was said to be good practice NOT to travel. I meant bad press as in people actually getting COVID-19 on a RCCI ship.

Wow I never expected things to get this far. I guess since there is talk of a certain amount of government bailout it is easier to suspend operations than to garner any negative press.

@SteveinSC Cruises exist in a pocket universe where things are all Topsy turvy. I seem to recall you can't be drunk....just either delightfully or annoyingly tipsy.  That 14th slice of red velvet will never go to your highs...you had so many pieces because it disappears. We all know only good things happens on a cruise .

Also I love room service but a little tip is to ask for any juices without ice. We did Continental and regular breakfast on the Mariner and by the time it arrived, the Oj and Apple juice had 2 distinct lines of demarcation. To say it was disgusting would make it seem good. I always tip for room service, but I tip for a lot of stuff so

I have a group/Birthday cruise with CCL next month and I plan to go. I am currently on work from home duty, so being quarantined would not affect me too negatively. I am super tempted to take advantage of these current cruise deals...but I need to work more than cruise this week as ugh....I have a bunch of calls