New cruising Realities?

[pinotlover]

I thought I’d start a new dedicated thread on this subject after my lovely wife touched on a couple issues. Thinking of past Noro responses and other issues, once sailing restarts, what will it look like? A couple starters:

 

1.  Have we seen the total end of self service buffets? How about in the various Lounges?

 

2.  Will various condiments, including salt and pepper shakers, ever be returned to tables?

 

3.  Status, use, operating procedures of Libraries and common use equipment such as in the computer rooms?

 

4.  Will quarantine orders be aggressively enforced?

 

5.  Will embarking cruisers be checked for fevers and/ or other ailments before boarding?

 

6.  How rapidly will those with contagious diseases be disembarked?

 

What might the new Realities of sailing be when it returns?

[LHT28]

#1  I am all in favour  of NO self serve  food

 

 #4  I do hope they are enforced  but short  of locking the door from the outside  

people will not obey the rules  as proven on the  Riviera cruise a few years back  where red tape was placed on the cabin doors & room cards being taken away from pax in quarantine & some  were still out spreading the joy

 

#5  how will that work with Americans  since  they  invoke their rights  with everything

even  the ADA  has  it stipulated that no one can ask what disability people have  so how will that work  for cruise lines/airlines etc ?

As already stated  doing the temperature checks does  catch those that are asymptomatic  or may  still be ill  & not have a high temperature

Noro  you usually do not have a fever  & until you have it  you do not know you have it  ...been there done that

 

#6 if pax are contagious  how many ports  are going to be willing to allow them ashore ..just look at the past few  months

 

JMO

[Paulchili]

Let's just remember that these are unprecedented times.

Cruising was an extremely popular an successful industry until now despite the occasional Noro (and the "cruise cough"). I don't think that stopped many (if any) of us from sailing. This is an entirely different matter

 There will be essentially no sailing until a cure or vaccine for COVID is found and if it will be effective - as we hope - COVID can be treated as the Flu which doesn't stop us from cruising nor does it require any of the measures in OP' post (other than self service buffet which O does not have).

I can see requirement for COVID vaccine like they do for Yellow Fever.

[Hawaiidan]

2 minutes ago, Paulchili said:

Let's just remember that these are unprecedented times.

Cruising was an extremely popular an successful industry until now despite the occasional Noro (and the "cruise cough"). I don't think that stopped many (if any) of us from sailing. This is an entirely different matter

 There will be essentially no sailing until a cure or vaccine for COVID is found and if it will be effective - as we hope - COVID can be treated as the Flu which doesn't stop us from cruising nor does it require any of the measures in OP' post (other than self service buffet which O does not have).

I can see requirement for COVID vaccine like they do for Yellow Fever.

Figuring  a 18 month fast track for a vaccine, that started in Feb 2020,  That  puts us at August 2021 ....

[tropicalkerry2002]

I'd like to see a bottle of hand sanitizer on each table!

[victoria81]

I would also like to see hand sanitizer.  It's one thing to sanitize prior to entering the dining room.  It's a whole other issue to sanitize after touching the menus.  Either that or have a staff member walking around and dispensing hand sanitizer themselves to ensure everyone is cooperating.  I'm scheduled to be on the October Tokyo-Sydney, followed by a post trip to Cambodia.  I'm afraid I won't be going and if I do go it won't be worth the money as things will not be open.  Unfortunately next year's similar cruise does not have the room category we like available so that's not an option.  So disappointing.  Hopefully we will still get the Oceania cruise credits if the cruise is cancelled as I heard Regent is giving the days?

[LHT28]

1 hour ago, tropicalkerry2002 said:

I'd like to see a bottle of hand sanitizer on each table!

I carry one in my evening bag  to use after handling the menus

You never know  😉

[tropicalkerry2002]

I do too Lyn, but would be nice to have it there to remind you for after touching menus, chair arms, S&P, everything!

[RJB]

1 hour ago, tropicalkerry2002 said:

I'd like to see a bottle of hand sanitizer on each table!

A few years ago when we wound up with Noro a week into our cruise they put a bottle of sanitizer in each cabin besides bottles everywhere on the ship. But in reading these boards at that time it was said that most of them do nothing for Noro.  Best thing was soap and water.  Should wash all the time.  

Edited April 26, 2020 by RJB
spelling

[clo]

2 hours ago, LHT28 said:

#5  how will that work with Americans  since  they  invoke their rights  with everything

even  the ADA  has  it stipulated that no one can ask what disability people have  so how will that work  for cruise lines/airlines etc ?

THIS^^^^^^^

[LHT28]

20 minutes ago, tropicalkerry2002 said:

I do too Lyn, but would be nice to have it there to remind you for after touching menus, chair arms, S&P, everything!

true

As long as people do not pinch it  LOL

 but some of the things going around are in the air

It seems one or both of us get something  URI  usually  no matter how many precautions  we take

[clo]

2 hours ago, Paulchili said:

There will be essentially no sailing until a cure or vaccine for COVID is found and if it will be effective

I would delete "cure" and say yes to this. I can't imagine any government approving the resumption until such time.

[LHT28]

17 minutes ago, RJB said:

A few years ago when we wound up with Noro a week into our cruise they put a bottle of sanitizer in each cabin besides bottles everywhere on the ship. But in reading these boards at that time it was said that most of them do nothing for Noro.  Best thing was soap and water.  Should wash all the time.  

hand washing is the best  but sometimes it is not possible

The bottle we got on the cruise   were not the same quality as the Dollar store  stuff

if fact I still have  a part bottle that we have been using when going out  now

[pinotlover]

My #5 question had more to do with those noticeably physically ill. Fevers, extreme shortness of breath, sweats, etc.

 

I’ve written this multiple times, per the Agreement between the cruise lines and the US government, the Americans with Disabilities Act ( ADA) only applies to those cruises traveling in US waters visiting American ports. It has Zero (0) effect on the large percentage of Oceania Cruises never touching either..

 

I acknowledge Oceania might end up with ever so lightly differently enforced rules depending upon originating port.

 

I want to beat my head against the wall, when visiting foreign lands, hearing US tourists talk or complain about ADA violations! That, however, is for a different thread!

Edited April 26, 2020 by pinotlover

[edgee]

5 hours ago, pinotlover said:

I thought I’d start a new dedicated thread on this subject after my lovely wife touched on a couple issues. Thinking of past Noro responses and other issues, once sailing restarts, what will it look like? A couple starters:

 

1.  Have we seen the total end of self service buffets? How about in the various Lounges?

 

2.  Will various condiments, including salt and pepper shakers, ever be returned to tables?

 

3.  Status, use, operating procedures of Libraries and common use equipment such as in the computer rooms?

 

4.  Will quarantine orders be aggressively enforced?

 

5.  Will embarking cruisers be checked for fevers and/ or other ailments before boarding?

 

6.  How rapidly will those with contagious diseases be disembarked?

 

What might the new Realities of sailing be when it returns?

What about multiple people touching casino chips, cards as well as slot machines. Chairs, shared surfaces at bars. Dishes of nuts at bars. Exercise equipment. Indeed, many of these issues are, of course, the same issues as what we will be facing in our daily lives outside of cruising. But for cruising, the microscope, so to speak, will be more focused since ships have been declared to be virtual petri dishes by media and health officials.

[Jancruz]

3 hours ago, tropicalkerry2002 said:

I'd like to see a bottle of hand sanitizer on each table!

They have them at every door.. If they dont use it walking in they will not use it sitting on the table..

 

Jancruz1

[ORV]

8 minutes ago, edgee said:

What about multiple people touching casino chips, cards as well as slot machines. Chairs, shared surfaces at bars. Dishes of nuts at bars. Exercise equipment. Indeed, many of these issues are, of course, the same issues as what we will be facing in our daily lives outside of cruising. But for cruising, the microscope, so to speak, will be more focused since ships have been declared to be virtual petri dishes by media and health officials.

On Oceania they don't have shared nuts. Each individual table(couple) gets there own container. 

[Jancruz]

I am probably in the minority but after a year or two, I see very little changes..hopefully this is not a forever sickness and when the vaccine is found things should go back to normal..after the Polio scare that I remember well..everything went back to normal..we have the flu every year and nothing changes..in the near future probably some changes..but like everything else people forget..remember the immediate changes after 9/11..only thing I can think of that stayed was airport security and as we know that is iffy at best..

All I want is to get back to our traveling..(and out of the house)

Regards,

Stay Home and Stay Safe..

Jancruz1

[pinotlover]

6 minutes ago, edgee said:

What about multiple people touching casino chips, cards as well as slot machines. Chairs, shared surfaces at bars. Dishes of nuts at bars. Exercise equipment. Indeed, many of these issues are, of course, the same issues as what we will be facing in our daily lives outside of cruising. But for cruising, the microscope, so to speak, will be more focused since ships have been declared to be virtual petri dishes by media and health officials.

This made me laugh! If cruise ships are indeed Petri dishes, what is Vegas? Two people max at a blackjack table? No one around a craps table? Poker!! Slot machines 6 feet apart! 😂

 

 

[Jancruz]

1 minute ago, pinotlover said:

This made me laugh! If cruise ships are indeed Petri dishes, what is Vegas? Two people max at a blackjack table? No one around a craps table? Poker!! Slot machines 6 feet apart! 😂

 

 

Plus 1

Jancruz1

[clo]

1 minute ago, Jancruz said:

when the vaccine is found things should go back to normal.

IF a vaccine is found to be effective.... Sounds like at least preliminarily WHO is hinting to not count on that.

[clo]

3 minutes ago, pinotlover said:

This made me laugh! If cruise ships are indeed Petri dishes, what is Vegas? Two people max at a blackjack table? No one around a craps table? Poker!! Slot machines 6 feet apart! 😂

 

 

Or casinos on a cruise ship. Seems they'd get rid of them.

Since we live in NV we've talked about this probably more than most. We don't play table games but it seems like a lot of the fun, especially at craps, is the camaraderie or whatever. Everybody getting excited. A poker room seems impossible. Etc.

[Hoopster95]

4 hours ago, Paulchili said:

I can see requirement for COVID vaccine like they do for Yellow Fever.

 

2 hours ago, clo said:

I would delete "cure" and say yes to this. I can't imagine any government approving the resumption until such time.

 

Cruise lines will plan to sail at some point, no matter what, else they may as well just throw up the white flag today and immediately go bankrupt. NCL has supposedly about 8-9 months of reserves to last without sailing, that's to year's end 2020. I am strictly assuming here, and putting myself into the shoes of some of the top shareholders/ceo/managers of the company, that "test" sailings have to be/could be attempted by September... short sailings, limited ports, extremely controlled excursions (perhaps you're only allowed off with an O sponsored highly controlled excursion for example). 5 day sailings with 1 or 2 days in between for deep sanitizing.

 

Like Paulchili and clo say above, I just cannot see local governments & CDC allowing sailings, and I can't see the cruise lines accepting the extremely demanding (I would say almost insurmountable) requirements by the current CDC ruling.

But CDC is just the USA... how about home porting in Jamaica? St Maarten? St Thomas??

 

Billions of dollars are at stake. I just don't see any of the cruise lines throwing in the towel without trying first. What an utter mess and disaster it will be if (when?) cruising re-opens prematurely and a few more Zaandam/Coral sailings happen. Then that will truly be the end of cruising as we know it.

 

 

 

 

[Mura]

CC posted today that shipbuilders are starting up again ... with limitations

[edgee]

3 hours ago, pinotlover said:

This made me laugh! If cruise ships are indeed Petri dishes, what is Vegas? Two people max at a blackjack table? No one around a craps table? Poker!! Slot machines 6 feet apart! 😂

 

 

Could not agree more about Vegas, but it is no laughing matter that, deservedly or not, cruise ships are viewed differently by many.