cruiseypop

54 minutes ago, mellon1 said:

Bob, EXCELLENT question.  We are doing 7 B2B in 2022, Jan/Feb, canceled all for 2021, so we would like to know too.  In addition to that, on turnaround days, will we be permitted to leave the ship and go to Walgreens and back?  Or then will we be required to have another test.  So many unknowns.  Waiting to see what the responses will be to your question.

Why are you waiting for responses here?  Why would Princess use this forum as official response to your questions?

If you have questions for Princess call them up directly on the telephone and ask them.  And if they don't know at the moment, trust that "they don't know at the moment" and wait.  I'm sorry you have to wait to find out.  I'm sorry that so much is up in the air.  Coronavirus be damned. 

But, if there is one thing I am sure of, is that Princess as a business will figure out how to handle your issue as a business when the time comes and I am fairly certain their rules will be their rules whether you like it or not.

54 minutes ago, brianmarx said:

If the cruise lines require a pre cruise covid test in British Columbia that test is not available to those who do not have health issues how to comply with rules in place

According to the press release by the Cruise Lines International Association, the recent recommendations apply to U.S. Ports.

10 minutes ago, muffydawg said:

Requiring passengers to wear a medical device ie: mask that has not been prescribed by nor recommended for you in consultation with your physician with an explicit threat of negative consequence should IMHO really be reconsidered by the cruise industry. If they want to prevent one passenger from harassing another passenger onboard and the situation escalating into a physical assault then the travel industry has bigger problems than they are letting on--kinda like the State Department issuing a Level 4 do not travel to The Bahamas.  

 

Are the cruise lines implying  "bare face" is a type of criminal activity with bans for failure to comply? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One would hope someone that didn't want to wear a mask would simply exercise their free right to not go on the cruise.  For those that think otherwise, perhaps the method employed by the airlines would work?  I really feel sorry for the people that have essentially ruined their future travel lives by trying to make a political statement by not wearing a mask on an airline and being banned from flying on that airline... for life. 

IMHO I find it absurd that people don't stop patronizing businesses they don't like. Yet, time and time again, people continue to patronize the business and then complain and complain in the hopes the business will do business the way they want them to?

I simply don't go to one of grocery store in my hometown because the checkers are slow, floors are dirty and the vegetables are rotten.  I'm sure as heck not going to stand out in the front of the store and protest my right to faster checkers, cleaners floors and fresher vegetables.

25 minutes ago, memoak said:

There is still the issue of false negatives and positives. It will only take one false negative and the virus could be on board

When my doctor does blood tests, if the result is positive, my doctor will test again.  If it is positive again, then it's confirmed positive (statistically).  If the second result is negative, then a third test is done to confirm.  If the third test is positive, then it's confirmed positive.  If the third test is negative, it's confirmed negative.

I would think the two test approach (one before port) and again at port is designed to reduce statistical positives.

But, you are right, it never will be 100%.  For that there is the further mitigation of masks and social distancing.

Everything in my life is chance.  Nothing is 100% (even a vaccine).  And even in 20 years when this virus is "eradicated" it will crop up again somewhere and those of us still alive that went through this will say, oh my gosh, I remember when that Covid thing was a big deal as we tell our great grandchildren stories of masks and no public events.  And they will be amazed in wonder in how we handled it.

6 minutes ago, XBGuy said:

If supply is reduced and demand is high (i.e., cruise lines are finding that their capacity limit is consistently being reached), the inevitable consequence is that prices will increase.

I was thinking of something similar when I was writing my previous response.

Freak possibility they triple their prices because of the induced demand and they make "more" money with reduced capacity than they did prior!  Lowered expenses with lower people too!

I've seen it happen already, some restaurants in my area love having their dining room closed.  And they are doing twice or more business with take out and delivery.  I realize not all restaurants are having a good time, we've lost many so far that can't make it.  But, I've seen weird things happen with some businesses during Covid, boom for some, bust for others.  Some businesses have really figured out how to capitalize on the virus.

3 hours ago, EatonDoolittle said:

 

I got this email last Thursday from my TA's parent company.  I even said to a friend, "Hmmm, they must know something is coming". 

Sure enough,  the now well publicized  "healthy sail" recommendations have the same 5 days to 24 hours wording about tests.  

I have replaced the agency name with (deleted), and removed any links for more info so as not to break the TA mention rules here. 

 

Agree, a lot would be banking on Fed EX and the lab to do their part correctly and timely. 

 

(Deleted) Your Expert in Post-COVID Travel As part of our ongoing commitment to the health and safety of our travelers, (deleted)  is now offering a suite of options for expedited COVID-19 testing.  Accessible COVID-19 testing is an integral part of the world's pandemic recovery. To ensure safety, many local governments are requiring travelers to present proof of a negative COVID-19 test result. Effective immediately, you have access to an array of convenient COVID-19 PCR testing options and expedited results.

At-Home RT-PCR Saliva COVID-19 Test Kits Shipped throughout the United States In the comfort of your home, you can take a simple saliva test and receive reliable COVID-19 test results within 24-36 hours. Through (deleted), you can request a test to be shipped via FedEx 2-day delivery. Simply follow the included instructions to take the saliva sample and drop the completed test kit at a FedEx dropbox. Results from the FDA EUA approved test are available within 36 hours. PCR Nasal Swab Testing with 24- to 48-Hour Turnaround in New York & Los Angeles Individuals located in Los Angeles and New York have the following testing options available to them through (deleted): At-home testing performed by medical professionals Testing at health centers located in Manhattan & Beverly Hills Onsite testing for groups of 10 or more

 

 

 

I think they could come up with a variety of ways to make this work...

For example, the rapid covid test would be done in port at time of check-in, so they would see you, just before you enter the ship.

The pre-travel test could be done at a rite-aid or similar testing facility, and you would come to the port with your test results printed with your name, etc. 

Granted there are tons of issues/problems/one-offs with this approach as well.  But, this is what is so good about Cruise Critic forum, it is loaded with people who can think up all the issues/problems with things, so whomever is reading here can take the issues in account when coming up with the real plan 🙂

I don't think the cruise lines would decide on who goes first and who doesn't .  Just like a hotel they would take rooms out of inventory.  For example, 50% of the rooms would be "sold" from day one.  Then booking begins, first come, first served (they might send out an email to past guests or cancelled people). Then when it's "full" it's full.  Just like a hotel doesn't decide who books and who doesn't, if you get a room, great, if not, it's "sold out".  Granted there could be a variety of options, they might take out all the inside cabins, use those for staff and only open up the balconies and higher.  Or 50% straight down the line for all room types. 

I'm so hoping cruising starts up again soon.  I'm really hoping Covid-19 mitigation efforts will allow cruising start up up again sooner rather than later for U.S. ports.  

It's a lot of mitigation, but I will take it!

Just today, I read several new reports on starting back up.  Sorry if it is old news for you, it was too exciting for me not to post. From these articles and a radio story, I gathered:

• Crew will be quarantined for 14 days before starting their contract
• Crew will be tested at the beginning and middle of each cruise
• Crew will be required to wear face masks on board and practice social distancing
• Temperature checks regularly during the cruise

• Passengers will be required to take a test at home prior to arriving at port.
• Passengers will have assigned staggered loading times to have social distancing
• Passengers will take a Covid 19 rapid swab test right before boarding
• Passengers will be required to wear fase masks on board and practice social distancing
• Temperature checks regularly during the cruise

For more background here are some links for your flavor of news:

Team Blue (Fox News article)

Team Red (CNN News article)

Here's a link to it on YouTube.  It says it is 10:00 AM pacific time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKomv_fs-XE

It never fails to amaze me the wealth of information that can be had from Cruise Critic when one asks a question!  Thanks everyone!

And from the deck plans it is deep, so there could even be 3 deep of interior cabins behind it.  There could be as many as 72 cabins in this space.  It  may even have it's own elevators from lower decks and/or to the bridge!

Seems pretty cool.  I've always wondered what the captains cabin looks like.

Captain Stubings was fancy with wood paneling.

Does anyone know what the secret cabins are at the front of Royal Princess?  They do not show on deck plans, but simply empty space, yet the windows are there.  Also, the suites in the corners have the deck on the side, but no window, so it appears even the end windows are to something else?

Anyone know what these are?