Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[Lewisc]

This should put to rest any notion of vaccines being a requirement for cruising.

That puts a rest to the theory that cruises won't resume with a mask requirement.

Cruise industry will be able to shift responsibility. If one port requires proof of vaccination or a negative test passengers will need to comply before boarding.

 

[Pyotr]

According to Jim Hill and Len Testa, they filmed both mask and maskless commercials. It means nothing and a million things could change between now and when cruises can sail again.

For me personally, cruising is the absolute last thing I would do until the corona is past us.

 

[mattpeto]

If vaccines are required for a cruise by everyone on the cruise, then who is being protected by the wearing of masks on a cruise ship? I know there are many who believe that when enough folks are vaccinated that masks will go away from the parks, but if you are in a bubble with a 100% vaccination rate and still think masks will be required then masks will be a requirement in the parks for a LONG LONG while. While I may be taking the ad too literally, the sight of masks while on deck staring out at the ocean to me means that they aren't going to require vaccinations for cruising. Just my opinion - don't shoot me for it.

It’s all valid points but basically the cruising experience is similar to attending the highest risk activities at a theme park. Think indoor dining, buffets, casinos, dancing, inside entertainment with packed seats. It’s the type of experience that’s hard to pull off social distancing and masks restrictions unless capacity is also very low, which would really make it hard for the cruise lines to turn a profit.

I was on record that I thought WDW may require immunity certs, but if they are okay with taking the slow steady pace increases towards normalizing capacity, they probably won’t have to.

 

[sullivan.kscott]

If vaccines are required for a cruise by everyone on the cruise, then who is being protected by the wearing of masks on a cruise ship? I know there are many who believe that when enough folks are vaccinated that masks will go away from the parks, but if you are in a bubble with a 100% vaccination rate and still think masks will be required then masks will be a requirement in the parks for a LONG LONG while. While I may be taking the ad too literally, the sight of masks while on deck staring out at the ocean to me means that they aren't going to require vaccinations for cruising. Just my opinion - don't shoot me for it.

I think you’re right that they may try it (or are gauging interest in such a cruise), but count DW and I as a family who won’t pay DCL prices for that experience. We just had that talk today. Hopefully by next November (2021) it’s a moot point, anyway.

This is from a family that has done WDW twice since reopening. But cruising is a way different animal. Until vaccines and the natural course of the pandemic have rolled through, whichever comes first, we just won’t cruise again. So much of the experience is being out and about socializing; it’s completely different than 20k+ family unit bubbles sharing MK for a day.

 

[sullivan.kscott]

If someone gets sick while at WDW for example it’s largely not Disney’s problem. Those people can very easily go home should they feel sick while there and hopefully spread it minimally with precautions.

Cruises are going to put a much larger burden on the company should something go wrong even if it has nothing to do with the cruise line and they boarded with Covid. We all saw what happened when various ships had cases then outbreaks. I see cruises being as strict as they can get away with in terms of restrictions and precautions, which is helpful in attracting people who are on the fence about cruising. Those who are desperate to cruise are going to come regardless, and might grumble about what they have to do but like current Disney guests will put up with it for the vacation they want.

They can’t require it until it’s fully licensed by fda. Not sure how long that takes.

As has been pointed out, foreign ports could absolutely require it long before full licensure, taking the burden off of the cruise lines. Even for CC or some other line’s islands, that could be Bahamas’ requirement.
Port of registry could also require it since CDC has shifted a lot of the medical burden to nation of ship registry. For a lot of the industry, that’s Bahamas or Panama.

As for timing of full licensure, that could be as soon as April/May for Pfizer and Moderna, based mainly on waiting for time from second injection for phase 3 participants.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

They can’t require it until it’s fully licensed by fda. Not sure how long that takes.

Totally agree with you.

I honestly don’t think cruising will resume for a while yet, but I think that this commercial is just a push to secure some future bookings and to instill confidence in the public that cruising will resume ... at some point. And they’re showing masks so the tone is appropriate for the times, and so people know they are going to implement protocols. In these times, a totally normal cruise commercial could come off tone deaf.

Regardless of whether or not they require the vaccine, I personally don’t see them sailing until the vaccine is widely available to anyone who wants it - including children. And that’s a while off yet.

 

[jlwhitney]

It’s all valid points but basically the cruising experience is similar to attending the highest risk activities at a theme park. Think indoor dining, buffets, casinos, dancing, inside entertainment with packed seats. It’s the type of experience that’s hard to pull off social distancing and masks restrictions unless capacity is also very low, which would really make it hard for the cruise lines to turn a profit.

I was on record that I thought WDW may require immunity certs, but if they are okay with taking the slow steady pace increases towards normalizing capacity, they probably won’t have to.

How will the manage the sardine can of pools? The lines for the aqueduct? Cruising with restrictions is gonna mean very low capacity of which will it even be worth it and the price will be insane that no one wants to pay that much for. Plus the fact that alcohol is a huge part for most and they walk around with a drink in hand all the time and won't be able to do that which will tank alcohol sales. The bars/lounges don't have enough space to space everyone out while they drink.

They won't be easily able to require vaccines anytime soon till full fda approval which Pfizer is wanting to in April but normally full takes a few years for longer term results to be in, so who knows what will happen there.

Cruising will be back when vaccine is widely available and restrictions are gone.

 

[hertamaniac]

Until the non-cruise line owned islands in the Caribbean are able to get vaccinated, I don't see higher capacity sailings out of Florida. The cruises to nowhere will kick-start the industry and then will be followed by the owned islands. The logistics of dispensing a vaccine in those islands is going to be a challenge for sure.

The good news is that I think more vaccines from various companies are in the pipeline to expand bandwidth.

 

[skeeter31]

Until the non-cruise line owned islands in the Caribbean are able to get vaccinated, I don't see higher capacity sailings out of Florida. The cruises to nowhere will kick-start the industry and then will be followed by the owned islands. The logistics of dispensing a vaccine in those islands is going to be a challenge for sure.

The good news is that I think more vaccines from various companies are in the pipeline to expand bandwidth.

Going to be interesting to see if cruises to nowhere will be allowed once the industry starts up again. They’ve been banned since 2016. Now, a line like Disney could easily add in a stop at Castaway Cay to get around the INA laws. But other lines are going to have to either ensure their private beaches/islands are fully vaccinated or find an island somewhere where they would be allowed to dock.

Or will the government relax the ruling regarding cruises to nowhere in order to allow the cruise industry to test out their new safety standards?

 

[hertamaniac]

Or will the government relax the ruling regarding cruises to nowhere in order to allow the cruise industry to test out their new safety standards?

I lean in this direction given the 40 page regulation distributed by the CDC to the cruise lines. I can't see the CDC stating you're all clear for a 7-day cruise to a "qualified" port, initially, while rolling the dice on a newly drafted procedure.

 

[Farro]

I was just making a payment on our trip and was playing around, looking at availability for when we go...oh my gosh, there is so much availability for end of April/beginning of May. Normally when we go, hardly anything left to book!

I know that's typically not a very crowded time regardless, but wow.

Even though we will need masks, lines will "seem" long and everything may not be open, I have to say we are really looking forward to experience Disney with what we would consider to be low crowds. We are used to traveling in October, which is pretty busy.

My sister already brought up, our next big trip will be October 2023, so Micky and I are excited to go this spring and experience Disney in a way we never have before. This is definitely going to be more of a stop and smell the roses kind of trip, which will be handy since it's Flower/Garden.

 

[Lewisc]

I lean in this direction given the 40 page regulation distributed by the CDC to the cruise lines. I can't see the CDC stating you're all clear for a 7-day cruise to a "qualified" port, initially, while rolling the dice on a newly drafted procedure.

Cruise lines are/will be doing test, simulated cruises. At least one line will be using volunteer employees. I'm sure the procedures will be tested, but not necessarily with paying passengers.

 

[Farro]

Is this news or a rehash of what we already knew?

https://allears.net/2020/12/26/more...k-as-disney-world-sees-an-increase-in-guests/

 

[LSUmiss]

I was just making a payment on our trip and was playing around, looking at availability for when we go...oh my gosh, there is so much availability for end of April/beginning of May. Normally when we go, hardly anything left to book!

I know that's typically not a very crowded time regardless, but wow.

Even though we will need masks, lines will "seem" long and everything may not be open, I have to say we are really looking forward to experience Disney with what we would consider to be low crowds. We are used to traveling in October, which is pretty busy.

My sister already brought up, our next big trip will be October 2023, so Micky and I are excited to go this spring and experience Disney in a way we never have before. This is definitely going to be more of a stop and smell the roses kind of trip, which will be handy since it's Flower/Garden.

Only thing is ppl could be staying offsite b/c prices are way cheaper & there is no real incentive to stay on-site right now. We are considering it for the first time.

 

[dislee1164]

Is this news or a rehash of what we already knew?

https://allears.net/2020/12/26/more...k-as-disney-world-sees-an-increase-in-guests/

I was wondering this same thing.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Is this news or a rehash of what we already knew?

https://allears.net/2020/12/26/more...k-as-disney-world-sees-an-increase-in-guests/

I saw this covered on another site as well, I don't think this is anything really new/changed - just there is the quote from the union rep so it is getting coverage now.

I hope it is the case that more CMs are getting called back than initially was going on

 

[mitsukoshi samurai]

Water park cms

 

[Disney Bobby]

We've averaged at least 4 trips a year for a few decades. We live it up and spare no expense and always have a great time. But we haven't been since January. As much as I miss the great time we have, we won't be back until whatever normal is going to be happens. I just don't want to see Disney that way. Kinda like seeing my wife without any makeup at all. Honey, I love you, but no.

 

[andyman8]

Is this news or a rehash of what we already knew?

https://allears.net/2020/12/26/more...k-as-disney-world-sees-an-increase-in-guests/

There was a round of callbacks back in early/mid November but I haven’t heard of any ones since.
Given how early ‘21 bookings are shaping up, I have to imagine we won’t see many more call backs until at least March sadly.

 

[Davdingo]

We've averaged at least 4 trips a year for a few decades. We live it up and spare no expense and always have a great time. But we haven't been since January. As much as I miss the great time we have, we won't be back until whatever normal is going to be happens. I just don't want to see Disney that way. Kinda like seeing my wife without any makeup at all. Honey, I love you, but no.

oohh boy lets hope wifey isn't a member on this page as well. She may get you for that one