em.down.the.rabbit.hole

Question: if existing sailings start up this summer for Anthem/Harmony (with the odd itinerary changes etc..) - how will RCI deal with reducing occupancy? I know this would be a total guess, but what/how do people think they will do this? As I think if this is about to happen anywhere I think Europe is topping my list of guessing...

My personal view is if they wait a short number of weeks then RCI will know a lot more about europe/uk going ons.... Harmony was due out of barcelona/Rome and Spain is certainly wanting to open up (along with portugal) ... Anthem existing sailings heavily involve Spain, Portugal etc... I would say Spain, Portugal et al are waiting to see what uk travel review comes up with and that will help shape a view on European sailings and that review is only a couple of weeks away. Well I'm hoping existing sailings happen as British weather is not as good as the Med!

@JeffB our travel update in the UK spigot also involve vaccine passports system (although details about it seems to be leaking out over the last couple of days courtesy of Boris ?)

Nope, Cyprus is open to Brits from 1st May (if vacinnated). If you want to keep an eye on Europe and what will open up...all eyes will be on the travel review in the UK on or before 5th April...as countries with big tourism industries in Europe have a huge British contingent they want back this summer (Greece, Spain, Portugal, Cyprus to name a few)... they want tourists back, what they do with uk tourists is likely to apply to other nations (especially ?? as your vaccine programme is also going really well)

Watching Chris' latest video and scrolling through the comments I came across an interesting comment about Harmony sailing out of Europe in June... Does anyone have access to the Facebook page of Marc Walker the cruise director onboard Harmony...?

Boris just brought forward the Travel report from 12th to 5th April at the latest (maybe next week)... we're clearly not going to hear about RCI out of UK before then....but got my fingers crossed ????

I'm keeping an eye as to best gage what may happen with the kids holiday on Anthem later on in the year, as it was moved a year ago to this year and got a cracking price on oceanview(gty) ... I'm concerned about % occupancy they've sold and need to cancel some people off if it ends up sailing. Trying to see if I need to purchase an upgrade to be on safe side, although this is now very pricey...

Does anyone know yet whether Adventure or Vision are selling balcony and above only, like other Cruise lines, or are interior and ocean view going to go on sail?

Here in the UK, we have licenced the moderna one but won't have vaccine supply until next month. J&J and the Indian vaccine are going through licencing atm, but seeing as government funds are being spent on setting up even more manufacturing sites and one of which is for J&J, I'd say this is likely to be licenced very soon

If everyone in the world gets vaccinated then: Corona virus will still be out there Will still spread Will still cause illness in a very small number globally each year Vaccines are already showing, here in the UK, that hospitalisation has dropped off a cliff Deaths have stopped amongst those that have been vaccinated Everyone knows that Flu kills millions globally each year, but, cos you know that the flu vaccine has a 40% efficacy .... covid vaccines are hitting above 90%... Main focus should be on variants (but those vaccine scientists are already testing out seasonal updates to vaccines, and so far so good But this would only true if everyone gets vaccinated...I believe people should be free to choose whether they have the vaccine, but we also have the democratic choice to mandate vaccine requirements in shared spaces, people can make their choice...

Safe to say AZ vaccine will be on the list (US study has debunked blood clot link; EU really has a lot to answer for this as it was political decision to suspend vaccine, then EU medical Council told them its safe to use...now people wary of this vaccine for no reason, EU holding onto millions of doses claiming shortages and not releasing to Covax countries - which is leaving the door wide open to China to swoop in with their untested vaccine - the EU have made a pigs ear mess of it, but it's unacceptable the knock on effect!!!). Anyho, there seems to be a cluster of vaccines that would make the list...AZ, Pfizer, moderna, J&J... it will be interesting to see what gets added to this list: there's an Indian vaccine that's going through testing rounds in the UK, and then there's the Russian one (which is being rolled out in the UAE, a RCI home port)

I wonder what % occupancy they have sold for the 3 big summer cruises on Anthem (there are 3 x 2 week long cruises that make up the school summer holidays). Judging on the price point these cruises are currently sitting on I think they've probably sold a lot. And considering these prices shot up this much almost a year ago, I think a lot of people had shifted 2020 summer cruises to this years. If they've sold near 100% occupancy and need to reduce to 50% is...I reckon there will be a blood bath across here in the UK, as all of us want is a summer holiday ?

@Ray - I'm self employed and am fortunate to have kept working throughout this pandemic and need to prioritise work and not to be complacent. My main holiday is in July with the nieces and is when I am planning to take some time off. The cruise I have booked in June is more for a change of home office and Royal's Voom will allow me to work with different scenery, no cooking, no cleaning etc... And I get a Spa and hot tubs on tap, which I definitely don't have at home ?... So, not bothered by port stops et al... and no fly from Southampton makes me happy...

Both Anthem and Jewel OTS are off the UK south coast atm. I would like to think they would still sail, and cancel ports where needed (even all ports), and open up the option to passengers with bookings to whether they still want to sail. I would certainly keep my bookings in June and July, as just want a break from the house, cooking, cleaning, etc...

Wondering if we will see any cruises to nowhere out of the UK by royal by June? Or whether they might try and go for normal Med cruising at some point this summer...? As many EU countries that rely on tourism could be very interested in opening up...Barcelona being a biggy I would of thought. @Ray didn't you mention in one of your recent posts that Barcelona may be open...?

We've gone passed 25m vaccinated this week ?... We're looking at getting 32million vaccinated by June (July for over 50 group).

Isn't that the Anthem OTS?

I am booked on the next available RC cruise out of Southampton - well the 1st one that can be booked (4th June on Anthem) - anyho Royal asked me the other day to answer a survey on why I booked, what I wanted from this cruise, and any concerns I had around safety/covid... I thought this was interesting as I have other cruises booked this year and next out of Southampton, and haven't been asked about any of those... Anthem is circling the mouth of the Solent (gateway to Southampton), and interestingly so is Jewel ots... not sure what itineraries jewel usually does...

Alas there's but 1 uk government... its a shame the 4 individual states aren't aligned at the moment, as its so confusing. Wonder which governing body has control of waters and borders? Individual states have responsibility for health etc.. but no idea about security, borders, and water‽

Well the North American announcement may have been canned, but the EU is about to make travel announcement...

@Jill says its cancelled

It's interesting that Virgin have done fully vaccinated...being a British company (usually) In the UK the problem they are trying to work through (as they know it'll be needed by other countries) is vaccine passports. It has legal complexities for us - regarding those that do have vaccines and those that don't at a particular point, the fact that vaccines are voluntary (although think travelling is also a choice), and those that will continue to be asked to practice all the health advise opposed to those that will look like they're able to do what they like (because they have had the opportunity to be vaccinated already)...sure there's other legalities but not sure whatbthey are.... Personally I would like cruises to be fully vaccinated when they start up (negative PCR tests for under 16s), with just contract tracing and improved medical facilities for people who fall ill...cruise lines should be able to sell socialising and non-mask wearing cruises as holidays...a real selling point I think...never happen tho

How do you tell if you have a refundable cruise deposit? Trying to book cruises for 2022 online (Royal's UK site) in lieu of FCC arriving from cruises just cancelled...

Already watched this video...can't wait to see what you get up to next. @CHRIS WONG are you allowed to say which ship you'll be on yet? Or when you're flying out?

I'm hoping that if all adults need to be fully vaccinated, kids under 16 have to have a negative PCR test, that we will be allowed to quarantine anyone that falls ill without turning back to home ports, and just have contract tracing on board. Hoping that masks and social distancing can do one (but why do I get that feeling that they are going to through the kitchen sink at it all) ?