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Cruise that doesn’t cruise


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Hotels aren't exactly doing great right now either.   

It would be a tremendous amount of work to convert a ship into a hotel to meet local government requirements and obtain all required permits.  Just the number of inspections to meet code would be ungodly and there would be substantial costs to modify the ship to meet modern building codes or seek approvals for variances.  The width of cabin doors for example probably wouldn't meet local ADA requirements so most cabin doors would be out of compliance.  

This would also require a business license in the local city and they'd be subject to all the things local hotels are.  This includes fire codes, local health inspections,  elevator permits, building occupancy guidelines, and zoning to name just a few.  Plus I don't think local hotels would be too pleased with the idea.  Terminals aren't setup for the constant coming and going of hotel traffic.  The local ports would resume dock and port fees which are pretty significant on a daily basis.  Most terminals aren't in areas that would be appealing for hotel stays.

Bar and restaurants in many cities are closed so food and beverages would be an issue. 

Labor would be subject to local laws and ship crew VISAs wouldn't work so they'd have to staff every position with Americans subject to local minimum wages, taxation, withholdings, etc.  

Casino's would need to be kept closed losing that revenue stream.

The list goes on and on.  

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48 minutes ago, SPS said:

How about a cruise that just sails to BOTH of RC’s private destinations? Maybe even multiple day stays at one

Like: Miami/Sea Day/Labadee/2x sea days/Coco Cay/Coco Cay/Sea Day/Miami

Both private destinations employee hundreds of locals so the risk of infection or spread is not eliminated even if it reduced.  A sick American spreading it to a local who lives on a small island near CocoCay will bring it back to that small community where it could quickly rip through the otherwise more isolated small island community.  Like we see in America, people with symptoms will hide them so they can work so they make money so they can support their family at any cost.  I'd expect no different from a Bahamian or Haitian local desperate for money.  

Haiti is probably easier to buy off.  CocoCay is in the Bahamas so it's subject to Bahamian laws and any cruise ship restrictions.  While America and Florida especially has surging numbers it's unlikely the Bahamas wants Americans showing up.  There is also no guarantee that the CDC would change its policy to reflect private destination only itineraries.  

Unfortunately this virus is highly spreadable and much of that spread including the first cases around the world involved people who didn't show symptoms at the time.  The CDC won't change it's policy until the risk of spread is significantly lower than it is today.  As long as the ships sail from the U.S. or wish to stop in the U.S. the CDC policy is in play.  As long as this virus is killing people ships will be restricted by countries around the world.  If we reach the point people just get sick and the death potential is low then we have turned a corner.  

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13 hours ago, SPS said:

How about a cruise that just sails to BOTH of RC’s private destinations? Maybe even multiple day stays at one

Like: Miami/Sea Day/Labadee/2x sea days/Coco Cay/Coco Cay/Sea Day/Miami

I was booked on Lauderdale-CocoCay-Sea Day-Labadee-Seaday-Lauderdale .... for Sept 14th ?

Figured that itinerary has to be one of the most likely to sail with no true "outside" influences .... reluctantly rebooking it for end of October ... no longer feeling optimistic but at this point its just bouncing forward my weekend getaway money from March ... to May ... to Sept ... to Oct ... 

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2 hours ago, USCG Teacher said:

Out of curiosity, what ship was this on?

Independence of the Seas. 

It is available for a couple of times in October when the weather is still good and then a couple of times in Jan/Feb on other ships when the weather is less good.

I really like the itinerary, if it was offered more often i would have moved to next year instead of sliding back to Octboer.

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1 hour ago, jticarruthers said:

Independence of the Seas. 

It is available for a couple of times in October when the weather is still good and then a couple of times in Jan/Feb on other ships when the weather is less good.

I really like the itinerary, if it was offered more often i would have moved to next year instead of sliding back to Octboer.

It really sounds like something that would appeal to my family, it's just too bad that it doesn't run when we can go (typical Spring Break/Summer Break limitations!). ?

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On 7/2/2020 at 2:00 PM, USCG Teacher said:

It really sounds like something that would appeal to my family, it's just too bad that it doesn't run when we can go (typical Spring Break/Summer Break limitations!). ?

So happy that my son was finally old enough this year for that not to be a problem .... now if springbreak would just end so i can go on a cruise it would really work out well !!

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On 7/1/2020 at 12:48 PM, nrgMike said:

I wonder if RC has gone over the idea of just opening the ships up as a resort hotel that doesn’t cruise anywhere not sure if that falls under CDC guidelines. I’d be interested in that idea. Just a thought.

Actually before the C19 outbreak Richard Branson was going to introduce the Scarlet Lady in NYC as a restaurant for a weekend.   You would pay a fixed fee/pp to get on-board and eat at the buffet.  Was a good marketing move but cancelled.

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19 hours ago, michelle said:

Yep watching for sure what Richard Branson is going to do with his new ships. 

 

 

I was very excited when it was first announced, loved Virgin Atlantic for many years and looked forward to what they would do from a cruise standpoint ... completely disinterested in Virgin Voyages once it was "revealed" though. Will probably give it a try at some point just to be fair but not excited the way i was during the build up.

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