SandyW

On 7/23/2020 at 8:08 AM, coneyraven said:

Here's a photo of Monarch and Sovereign together one last time.

I have been on both, Sovereign in 1995 and Monarch in 2008.

Sad to see this happen.

What has interrupted bar service at 3:30 in the afternoon on the first day of sailing for over 30 years?  Mustering.  Now there is going to be a new format.

https://presscenter.rclcorporate.com/press-release/106/royal-caribbean-group-reinvents-cruise-industryrsquos-safety-drill/

This should hopefully allow those who like having a constant cocktail or adult beverage in their hand on the first day some relief.

But beware, you still need to remain coherent during the process as you either gather the rules on the app from your phone or in the stateroom TV and then you will still need to report to a crew member at your muster station (location found on the back of your stateroom door) prior to the ship leaving the port.

Hopefully this will satisfy at least one aspect of the requirements set forth and regulated by the CDC.

At this rate, we might be back to sailing in (?), who knows.

On 7/22/2020 at 8:36 AM, princevaliantus said:

Ummmm....if CDC didn't have an impact on current or future cruises, then why aren't we cruising????? Why aren't the U.S. ports open??? Cruise lines ONLY have say of when they start cruising WHEN & IF the CDC gives the okay to lift the NO SAIL ORDER and U.S. ports are re-opened. Marketing has diddly-squat to do with the current situation or re-opening of any U.S. ports.

You said that a whole lot better than I could have.  There is a huge push by all the cruise lines to get your money way ahead of the sail date right now.  The theme cruises are especially eager to get the money ahead and get everything fully booked.  

The CDC has 100% control.  To say it does not, that is not an accurate statement.  In fact, other countries, like the smaller ones down in the Caribbean are following the CDC and the suggestions about masks, social distancing, etc.  They do this because they can't afford to fund their own CDC.  And they are also not reopening yet either.  

Worse yet is that all the cases that are false positive and how this is perceived globally is also causing it's own issues.  Other countries do not want American tourists because it looks like we do not have anything under control.  

I check the website daily.  That is the first sign of the company cutting off the sailings.

I am waiting for my 10/4 sailing on Harmony to be cancelled so I can get my money back.  Not even booking anything else until I physically put my eyes on people getting on ships.

We can all thank the sea dee sea for their over reach in this.  I am all about safety first, but this has gotten out of control.

14 hours ago, crisgold52 said:

Yep, both air and sea borders have been closed to Americans till Oct. 1 which is the presumptive date of cruises resuming which at this point isn't very likely. This will put a damper on the 3 and 4 nighters at this point. If we quantify this in terms of months one would be hard pressed to figure out what would change in 12 months from now other than maintaining the current status quo. Eventually someone has to give.

And here we are again, another flu season is right around the corner.  I anticipate that alone will make them shut down until next year.  But if not, here is what you might expect at check-in:

Have you in the last 7 days had any flu-like symptoms such as cough, runny nose or fever?  Have you been exposed to anyone who has had any flu-like symptoms?  Have you in the last 48 hours had any vomiting or diarrhea?  Have you transited through the following countries (might as well say "planet") in the last 14 days?  Have you tested positive for COVID-19 or been exposed to anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19?

If you answered no to any of those questions, may I please see your boarding pass and passport?  And through the plexiglass they go to the pier agent who is required to wear a mask for hours on end and wear gloves to handle all that paperwork and id's.  So much for the WOW at check-in.

On 7/16/2020 at 6:03 PM, Scrumps said:

I still believe that Oct 1st is going to be make or break for the industry. I know they have cash available until next year, but they are not going to wait until they run out. If the CDC refuses to hear their plans and just extends to 2021, and they lose all the holiday income too, at least 1 of the 3 will reorg, or worse. I just can't see status quo continuing through the end of the year.

What I do not understand is the mixed messages coming from the gov. They want kids in school and parents back to work, but have shutdown an industry that employees hundreds of thousands and brings in billions into the tourist industry. 

There is a lot of people that are not working right now because of this.  Each port has a lot of people that work there from port staff, porters, pier agents, security personnel and others.  Then, the hotels surrounding the port whose great percentage of income is the influx of people coming in the day before.  Shuttle vans and drivers that take passengers from hotel to terminal and back.  Off-site parking lots are empty and all their staff are without work.  Restaurants in close proximity to port are hurting.  Shops that people would visit for last minute essentials are hurting.  Car rental companies are hurting.  Airlines are hurting.  Food suppliers are hurting for the lesser amount of food they would be bringing to the ships.  Other suppliers who provide other types of supplies  the ship would need are hurting.  And many more.

The Sea Dee Sea has made rules governing the ships and the current crew on the ships.  It is on their website what they are requiring.  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/crew-disembarkations-commercial-travel.html

On 7/17/2020 at 11:49 AM, ehw51 said:

I didn´t think we had a chance to make 9/15, with panel not handing in report till end of Aug, I am thinking now 10/15 or 11/1, that at least gives them time to get the report, get it approved and then implemented and round up the crews. JMO

I listen to WINN on https://coolestcarib.com/caribbean-island-st-kitts.php

A couple of weeks ago they said they were going to have conversations with US officials towards the beginning of September.  Right now, St. Kitts is requiring quarantine of anyone coming in whether citizens or workers for a minimum of 2 weeks in addition to testing when coming in and at the end of the 2 weeks.

20 hours ago, crisgold52 said:

It most likely and logically will  unless the US gets the cases under control. The Bahamas has also barred ships into their region till at least Sept 30 for the same reasons while meanwhile in canada we continue to be edgy about prospects of opening the land border in 2020.

Because there is very little conversations about traveling right now, it tells me they have no intention of lifting the restrictions.  This is affecting millions of people.

21 hours ago, Marlena said:

For the cruise lines sake, and mine...lol, I really hope they dont lose their holiday season.

You can pretty much count on it.  This, in my opinion is why the ships have very little crew on them right now.

Further, when trying to book the shows on Harmony, it tells me that I have to wait to board the ship.

On 7/17/2020 at 7:28 AM, princevaliantus said:

On July 16, 2020, CDC extended the No Sail Order and Suspension of Further Embarkation; Notice of Modification and Extension and Other Measures Related to Operations signed by the CDC Director on April 9, 2020—subject to the modifications and additional stipulated conditions as set forth in this Order. The Order is effective upon signature and will be published in the Federal Register.

This Order is in effect until one of the following occurs:

• The expiration of the Secretary of Health and Human Services’ declaration that COVID-19 constitutes a public health emergency,
• The CDC Director rescinds or modifies the order based on specific public health or other considerations, or
• September 30, 2020.

See the attached order (print-only) pdf icon[PDF – 20 pages] for the full requirements.

I am calling out over reach on this one.  If they continue in this manner and in the format presented therein, they are going to make it impossible for the industry to sail with passengers again.

I am not bashing RCCL at all.  But if my 10/4 sailing is cancelled, I will defer to get my money back.  My email box gets about 2 emails a day with offers from them to book a cruise.  I do not want to put any more money out until I see people actually getting on the ship.  I know that they are following the rules governed by the port home country, but this is ridiculous.  Enough is enough.  Florida has had a false spike in cases.  Fox station in Orlando caught the state red handed with the fake numbers.  And seriously, anyone with a runny nose is going to get cited for having the virus.  This is having a devastating effect on a lot of the economy.  Perhaps if everyone held on to their money instead of booking, we might see a change.

Loyal to cruising since 1990, but this has crushed me.

I am going to sail on 10/4 on Harmony.  I have watched the prices starting to go through the roof.  Right now, same category is almost $600 more than I paid (ocean view balcony).  If the sea dee sea does not stop regulating and ordering the ships, I predict the ships are going to pull out of all US ports and go somewhere else.  This one agency is doing a great job at destroying an entire industry.  They are also destroying the economies of countries the ships sail to.  The other problem associated with this is the countries visited by the ships are following the sea dee sea and incorporating the rules in their country.  Not just masks and social distancing either.  They are putting people who get there in quarantine for 14 days and then they have to get tested at the end of the 14 days.  If they are negative, they can get out of the quarantine.  How are these countries with these regulations in place going to allow thousands of people to infiltrate their land for a day?  Even the private islands, like Cocoa Cay are a problem because it is the locals that work on the island.  

If the ships do sail out of US ports, they probably will just be sailing at sea and not visiting anywhere if the regulations are not removed.  

And, what is going to go on while being on the ship is a whole other topic.  Cruising is the ultimate social gathering experience like no other.