Viability of late season Alaska cruises

[Cruise Raider]

Does anyone have any further information as to whether or not there will be any August or September sailings up in Alaska this year?  

I am already booked for a late August / early September sailing and am thinking about moving it to next year or the year after that.  It is for a special occasion so, would rather go this year if it's still going to happen.  I know you all have insight into these issues.  We all know that Canada is closed to cruise ships until at least July first but, someone recently posted that the Railroad and Glacier Bay are closed until July.  Makes sense as I think the ports in Alaska are also not accepting cruise ships at this time.  Not sure if you all have heard anything more about Princess sailings out of San Francisco.  I know Carnival has canceled all of its sailings out of the port of SF ... but haven't seen anything more about Princess doing the same.  

I can't get any straight answers from Princess and they are still assuring me that my mid-May sailing up to Alaska is on and going to be so much fun.  Well, that's when I knew they are just telling their agents to be deceitful.  We all know that one has zero chance of happening!  

 

Please, no snarky answers ... just want to know if anybody has heard anything definitive with regards to the sailings in the late Alaska season or anything about the Port of San Francisco.  

 

[npcl]

I doubt anyone can give an official answer. The cruise lines are going to delay their announcements as long as they can do so to keep down refund rates, as well as to keep payments flowing in on booked cruises.

 

I would just point out that Hong Kong had about 40 identified cases, when the Diamond left the port.  When cruising was stopped the US had only a couple of thousand of cases. Yet look at the number of ships where either the passengers or crew have had cases.  Then ask yourself if anytime between before August or September do you see things anywhere near as good as it was then.

 

If not then I think you have your answer.

Edited April 5, 2020 by npcl

[eclue]

I would rebook for net year. I have no knowledge of Princess plans just being realistic.

[memoak]

We had a b2b for Alaska in August /September. We have canceled as we have underlying medical issues. Just hoping that we are ready to sail Mexico and California Coastal in November/December 

[Italy52]

Cruise Raider -  We are in a similar situation.  We both know that our May cruises to Alaska will be cancelled; we are just waiting the official word from Princess.  Like you, we also have an August cruise to Alaska planned.  Our final payment is due 5/4.  I looked at possibly transferring to next August but prices are higher at the moment.  Maybe we will just make final and let Princess cancel us out with some form of compensation.  Ugh, we were so looking forward to our comp. balcony upgrade for this August cruise.  What to do, what to do.  Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

[Cruise Raider]

1 hour ago, Italy52 said:

Cruise Raider -  We are in a similar situation.  We both know that our May cruises to Alaska will be cancelled; we are just waiting the official word from Princess.  Like you, we also have an August cruise to Alaska planned.  Our final payment is due 5/4.  I looked at possibly transferring to next August but prices are higher at the moment.  Maybe we will just make final and let Princess cancel us out with some form of compensation.  Ugh, we were so looking forward to our comp. balcony upgrade for this August cruise.  What to do, what to do.  Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

Thanks!  Good luck to you, too.  

I know my  May cruise to Alaska will be canceled, too and like you, just waiting for the official word from Princess.  As for my August sailing, it was booked as a move over offer so am just going to move it to a 2022 sailing (if they allow it ... at one time, they said I could move it one time only).   If it looks good again for late August, I will just rebook it last minute as we live right near the port.  If they aren't, I'm going to shoot for a land based trip.  

 

[Reina del Mar]

We had an Alaskan cruise booked for 11th. July. Full payment was due.

 

Not wishing to tie up more money, as we already have a FCC, we decided to cancel and 'bank' what we'd paid as flight deposit with travel agent's trust fund.

 

The answer is...nobody knows when cruises will start again, but probably after International borders re open fully.

[westcoastwannabe]

I can't get any straight answers from Princess and they are still assuring me that my mid-May sailing up to Alaska is on and going to be so much fun.  Well, that's when I knew they are just telling their agents to be deceitful.  We all know that one has zero chance of happening!  
 

I have a late May sailing from Seattle to Alaska on the Ruby Princess (the one that is ensnared in the COVID-19 issues with Australia right now). I spoke with an excursion specialist at Princess today, just to verify the refund I would get for canceling my excursions, and he said that they 100% expect the sailing to happen, and that the Ruby would be staffed and disinfected in time for the cruise.
I know they are probably delaying announcing the cancellation for cash flow issues and they are saying that they are “still evaluating” the situation, but with the Seattle and Canada port closures, it seems apparent to everyone but Princess what must happen.
I fluctuate from stressed to resigned to anxious and back to stressed on this.


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[FlorenceItaly]

7 minutes ago, westcoastwannabe said:

 

I have a late May sailing from Seattle to Alaska on the Ruby Princess (the one that is ensnared in the COVID-19 issues with Australia right now). I spoke with an excursion specialist at Princess today, just to verify the refund I would get for canceling my excursions, and he said that they 100% expect the sailing to happen, and that the Ruby would be staffed and disinfected in time for the cruise.
I know they are probably delaying announcing the cancellation for cash flow issues and they are saying that they are “still evaluating” the situation, but with the Seattle and Canada port closures, it seems apparent to everyone but Princess what must happen.
I fluctuate from stressed to resigned to anxious and back to stressed on this.


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No way your sailing is going forward.  I just don't see it.  PURE SCRIPT on his part. JMO.

[fastpitchdad]

40 minutes ago, FlorenceItaly said:

No way your sailing is going forward.  I just don't see it.  PURE SCRIPT on his part. JMO.

 

I agree. There is absolutely zero chance anyone is sailing to Alaska in May (or any other month this year). Our stay at home order has been extended to at least May 4th and schools have been cancelled for the rest of the year. They think we may have peaked this week (we took mitigating measures well before anyone else) but deaths will continue until August. Even if Seattle (and BC and Alaska) are able to return to some normalcy before the rest of the country do you think the Governor (or Mayor) is going to allow thousands of people from other infected areas to descend on the city and board a densely populated vessel and then have to deal with any infections upon their return? 

Edited April 7, 2020 by fastpitchdad

[westcoastwannabe]

  Even if Seattle (and BC and Alaska) are able to return to some normalcy before the rest of the country do you think the Governor (or Mayor) is going to allow thousands of people from other infected areas to descend on the city and board a densely populated vessel and then have to deal with any infections upon their return? 

I really hope you guys are right. You make a really good point about the people coming from all over to the departure city.


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[oldracer]

Once the Feds and private companies start opening up commerce again, the States will follow quickly. Everyday that goes by the people in those states are losing millions of dollars and the little bit the government is giving out will not keep the country afloat. Business HAS to start again or the people killed by the virus will be dwarfed by those suicides, murders, etc., caused by lack of food and money.

[eclue]

Maybe a September cruise to Alaska if all goes well/

[nooptere]

1 hour ago, fastpitchdad said:

 Even if Seattle (and BC and Alaska) are able to return to some normalcy before the rest of the country do you think the Governor (or Mayor) is going to allow thousands of people from other infected areas to descend on the city and board a densely populated vessel and then have to deal with any infections upon their return? 

Well said. I just about to type this. I continue to be surprise how people in other parts of the county don't get that the cruise party to Alaska is likely over this season.

[memoak]

I have already cancelled a back to back in September. Hoping to get in Hawaii and Coastal in November/December

[Rancher Dave]

7 hours ago, FlorenceItaly said:

No way your sailing is going forward.  I just don't see it.  PURE SCRIPT on his part. JMO.

  Agree on that, especially since Canada (a required port of call on all Alaska sailings from Seattle) is closed until July 1st or longer.  Not sure why any cruise line thinks it is ok to give out completely false information.  Princess knows they can't operate the sailing in May. 

 

As someone else pointed out Seattle doesn't really want folks flying in and possibly causing #s to climb there again.  In Texas travelers from some airports around the country, and anyone crossing on leisure travel from Louisiana are required to quarantine for 14 days and have to report to state police where they will quarantine and are subject to unannounced inspections. It will be a while before all states are comfortable allowing domestic travel in an unlimited manner, and until folks can fly in, the ships really can't re-crew or fill up with passengers. 

 

If you want to see Alaska, once air service is restored fly in and explore an area in more depth. I hope to go to Kodiak and fish for a few days and enjoy some time in the cooler weather. 

[brisalta]

5 hours ago, eclue said:

Maybe a September cruise to Alaska if all goes well/

 

A bit late in the season to say the least.

[the_thunderbird]

1 hour ago, Rancher Dave said:

  Agree on that, especially since Canada (a required port of call on all Alaska sailings from Seattle) is closed until July 1st or longer.  Not sure why any cruise line thinks it is ok to give out completely false information.  Princess knows they can't operate the sailing in May. 

This!

 

Living in Victoria, where a significant majority of the Continental USA to Alaska ships dock for their Jones Act requirement, that July date is really optimistic. Hopefully this holds true, but we are weathering the storm pretty well here and public opinion is very, very strongly against the industry right now (and somewhat tedious before that to begin with). 

 

Honestly, for a Canadian port it could be tied to whenever there's a vaccine. Or the old school Jones Act gets dumped.  

[voljeep]

a half-full view would be that April, and May are the critical months , of course … maybe, and that's a huge maybe … cruise lines could possibly begin crew only operations in June,  getting ships in place, and any kind of re-certification necessary

 

limited, closed loop cruises beginning July 1 or so, and full cruise schedules beginning 8/1 - and that's highly optimistic ...

[memoak]

Plus the fact that Canada is closed till July 1and you need to hit a foreign port. You can forget about the Alaskan season

[wrongwaywatson]

We are booked on The Grand for May 30th.    I check the website every day, expecting to see that it is cancelled.   The company I work for put out a policy that if an employee leaves the country they will have to quarantine for 14 days before returning to work.  Also, if an employee goes on a cruise they will need a doctor's report before returning to work.   

[brisalta]

1 hour ago, wrongwaywatson said:

We are booked on The Grand for May 30th.    I check the website every day, expecting to see that it is cancelled.   The company I work for put out a policy that if an employee leaves the country they will have to quarantine for 14 days before returning to work.  Also, if an employee goes on a cruise they will need a doctor's report before returning to work.   

 

I doubt very much if that sailing will occur. California has not stated when the SIP will be lifted nor has San Francisco.

[Cruise Raider]

10 hours ago, wrongwaywatson said:

We are booked on The Grand for May 30th.    I check the website every day, expecting to see that it is cancelled.   The company I work for put out a policy that if an employee leaves the country they will have to quarantine for 14 days before returning to work.  Also, if an employee goes on a cruise they will need a doctor's report before returning to work.   

That’s certainly an interesting and proactive approach from your employer.  I believe it’s already a somewhat national policy as isn’t most international travel discontinued for the time being?  But, the doctor’s note for returning cruise passengers ... that one is kind of new to me.  interesting times we are living in.  
 Just curious, did they put an end date to that or is it a TDB.  

[CC Rider 69]

Cruise Raider,

We have an August 11th sailing on the Star, look into your crystal ball and see if SF port will be open. Seriously, living in that area do thank it will make?

[Cruise Raider]

24 minutes ago, CC Rider 69 said:

Cruise Raider,

We have an August 11th sailing on the Star, look into your crystal ball and see if SF port will be open. Seriously, living in that area do thank it will make?

oh, I haven’t any idea.  I know Carnival pulled out of SF for the remainder of 2020.  We  (9 counties in the SF Bay Area) have been under a very restrictive shelter in place order for a month already ... I think we were the first in the nation to receive this order.  I’m definitely not complaining, just stating that they are taking this very seriously here but I don’t have a pulse of what’s going on out there because we really haven’t even left the house, except for twice to get medications and groceries.  What we did notice is that nobody was on the roads and our public transportation (BART) parking lot was barren.  
we are booked on an August 31st cruise out of the City ... I just don’t know what is going to happen.  I may jump the gun and just move it to a cruise somewhere down the road. 
Its just so hard to comprehend what is happening and predict when this will all end.