SS Future Re-Open Plan: Timing, Testing Needs??!!

[TLCOhio]

From Barron's, the sister publication of the Wall Street Journal within the past hour, they had this headline: “Stocks Are Dropping as Fed, Virus Cases, Fuel Concern” with these reporting highlights: “It’s a bumpy day on Wall Street. Stocks have rallied strongly in recent weeks as U.S. and global economic data began to emerge from the troughs seen in April or May. Stocks plunged Thursday, however, as fears grow that a second wave of coronavirus infections could slow the economic recovery in the U.S. and abroad.  Several states have seen increases in coronavirus cases since they began lifting restrictions. Last week’s mass gatherings and demonstrations in cities across the nation likely haven’t helped slow the spread of the virus either.”

 

Not good news as the stock values for airlines, hotels and cruise lines have dropped significantly this morning. 

 

Full story at:

https://www.barrons.com/articles/global-stocks-slide-as-asian-and-european-traders-react-to-feds-dark-outlook-51591865765?adobe_mc=MCMID%3D79860487874024084172607791111741738137|MCORGID%3DCB68E4BA55144CAA0A4C98A5%40AdobeOrg|TS%3D1591886167

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

 

Completed last summer Calgary, Jasper/Banff National Parks, Western Canada Rocky Mountaineer rail adventure, Vancouver, sailing up to Alaska, post-cruise excursion to Denali, etc.  Many visuals and details from our first in these scenic areas!  Live/blog at: 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2682584-live-terryohio-silver-muse-alaska-canadarockies-pix’s/

[TLCOhio]

From the Travel Weekly trade publication four days ago, they had this headline: “Martinoli says Silversea is working to 'perfect' Covid protocols” with these highlights: “During the virtual tour of its new ship, the Silver Origin, Silversea's top executive said that Covid 19-related protocols are still a work in progress but that some changes can be expected.  He said that the ships already have the ability to disinfect rooms with a fogging system.  Physical distance will be an onboard requirement, Martinoli said, and passengers 'will have to respect' those measures. A lot of attention is also being paid to the crew in terms of testing, he said; a network of labs is in place to test the crew before they join the ship. Martinoli said each guest and crewmember will be tested in order to intercept anybody who is not in good physical health. The medical centers on the ships are being enhanced, he said. And the line will also have connections with shoreside medical facilities 'in case we need more help,' he added.”

 

When the CEO admits that these medical/health/testing questions are a "work in progress", it says much. Since the CDC has not, yet, outlined the exact re-opening approval, timing and requirements, plus with quick, by mail pre-testing methods still being developed, my guess continues to be that it will be longer, not shorter, as to when the cruise lines can announce with certainty their exact re-opening plans, dates, policies and practices.  

 

Seeing the two top Silversea official in masks also raises the question for whether it will be required of ALL passengers and staff to be wearing masks on the ships at all times as one of the new rules.  

 

Many questions??  Reactions and comments??

 

Full story at:

https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Silversea-Martinoli-talks-about-covid-protocol

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

Barcelona/Med: June 2011, with stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Great visuals with key highlights, tips, etc. Live/blog now at 251,460 views.

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

 

Who are these masked men??  This was the graphic used by this trade publication to illustrate their story.  It was taken during the transfer of the Silver Origin from their Dutch shipyard to the management of Silversea.  Recognize Silversea chairman Manfredi Lefebvre, left, and CEO Roberto Martinoli, center?:

(Open your screen/viewer wider to see these pictures larger/better!)

Edited June 12, 2020 by TLCOhio

[brimary]

TLCohio....understand from SS crew member from a recent cruise who we have maintained contact with that Face Masks will be compulsory for all aboard a ship.Eating meals and swimming in the pool will not be enjoyable occasions they used to be ...must stress this is personal information and have not seen it as company policy yet!

[kimanjo]

This is going to be very challenging, if not downright impossible  for the cruise lines. Socially distancing resturant tables is easy. Elevators, hallways, bars, barstools, theaters, loungers, gyms, staging areas for excursions.  Have you been into a Home Depot recently?? Filled with maskless people who don't understand 6 feet apart. Chatting away face to face in every aisle.  The "doesn't apply to me mentality" is alive and well.

How the crew will be able to enforce this I have no idea.  

 

Cruising is inherently social for most people.  Wouldn't bother husband and I in the slightest. We don't socialize with other people, and dine as a twosome always. But we're not the norm. 

[Observer]

39 minutes ago, brimary said:

TLCohio....understand from SS crew member from a recent cruise who we have maintained contact with that Face Masks will be compulsory for all aboard a ship.Eating meals and swimming in the pool will not be enjoyable occasions they used to be ...must stress this is personal information and have not seen it as company policy yet!

 

I don't doubt that this is a fair description of sailing if Silversea were sailing today.  Perhaps it will be the reality in the short term (as long as a year?).  But I am hopeful that advances in medicine will allow Silversea and other lines to resume much more normal operations at some point in the not too distant future.

[tosteve1]

23 minutes ago, Observer said:

 

I don't doubt that this is a fair description of sailing if Silversea were sailing today.  Perhaps it will be the reality in the short term (as long as a year?).  But I am hopeful that advances in medicine will allow Silversea and other lines to resume much more normal operations at some point in the not too distant future.

I agree. Short term we should all be vigilant and cruise lines especially will need to be hyper vigilant! Their corporate survival depends on demonstrating that they can conduct their business while protecting their customers And staff  and without spreading disease around the globe. Any slip ups will be very costly! I think it can be done but we, as customers, will need to be cooperative if we want to continue with our little obsession! Short term we can do it!

[TLCOhio]

3 hours ago, brimary said:

TLCohio....understand from SS crew member from a recent cruise who we have maintained contact with that Face Masks will be compulsory for all aboard a ship. Eating meals and swimming in the pool will not be enjoyable occasions they used to be ...must stress this is personal information and have not seen it as company policy yet!

 

Appreciate this above posting and the great comments and follow-ups from tosteve1, observer, kimanjo and brimary.   Many questions as to what happens next and when for cruising short-term versus long-term. 

 

From the Washington Post as their lead story this afternoon, they had this headline: “CDC urges organizers of large gatherings to 'strongly encourage' use of face masks” with these highlights: “Federal health officials on Friday urged organizers of large gatherings that involve shouting, chanting or singing to “strongly encourage” attendees use cloth face coverings to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus.”  Would this mean no entertainment programs on cruise ships and at other locations?

 

Now, cruise ships are awaiting hearing from the CDC as to how they can operate for the future.  Also share in this article: "At the CDC briefing -- the agency’s first full-fledged one in more than three months -- Director Robert Redfield acknowledged Americans are eager to return to normal activities. But it’s important for them to remember 'this situation is unprecedented and that the pandemic has not ended,' he said.  Officials said the guidance released Friday is intended to help people stay as safe as possible as the country heads into the summer months and Americans seek to reconnect with family and friends. Large in-person gatherings where it is difficult to stay six feet apart and where attendees travel from outside the local area pose the highest risk for infection, the guidance says."

 

Full story at:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/06/12/cdc-masks-protests-rallies/

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise from Copenhagen, July 2010, to the top of Europe. Wonderful scenic visuals with key tips. Live/blog at 239,494

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

 

Going to a downtown office building this afternoon, here was the sign up outside and inside their elevators.  Plus, markings on the floor for where that maximum of two passengers could stand inside of the elevator cabin.  Had not previously considered how cruise will "manage" and regulate their elevators that often are crowded at times during sailings.:

(Open your screen/viewer wider to see these pictures larger/better!)

 

[Observer]

17 minutes ago, TLCOhio said:

 

 

 

From the Washington Post as their lead story this afternoon, they had this headline: “CDC urges organizers of large gatherings to 'strongly encourage' use of face masks” with these highlights: “Federal health officials on Friday urged organizers of large gatherings that involve shouting, chanting or singing to “strongly encourage” attendees use cloth face coverings to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus.”  Would this mean no entertainment programs on cruise ships and at other locations?

 

Now, cruise ships are awaiting hearing from the CDC as to how they can operate for the future.  Also share in this article: "At the CDC briefing -- the agency’s first full-fledged one in more than three months -- Director Robert Redfield acknowledged Americans are eager to return to normal activities. But it’s important for them to remember 'this situation is unprecedented and that the pandemic has not ended,' he said.  Officials said the guidance released Friday is intended to help people stay as safe as possible as the country heads into the summer months and Americans seek to reconnect with family and friends. Large in-person gatherings where it is difficult to stay six feet apart and where attendees travel from outside the local area pose the highest risk for infection, the guidance says."

 

 

I really do not see that this much applies to Silversea.  It speaks of "large gatherings," and at most there might be 600 guests on a Silversea ship and even fewer crew.  They are only together at muster or weekly crew drills, and these could easily be held multiple times to reduce crowding.

 

Why would there be no entertainment on Silversea?  Consistent with the large gatherings context, I believe that "shouting, chanting, and singing" refers to group activity, not listening to a handful of performers. I think immediately of religious activities in large congregations.  I don't recall group shouting, chanting, etc., on Silversea.  But, then too, I am generally not up very late.

 

CDC will probably be producing guidance for cruise ships.  A portion of that guidance will probably be far more relevant to mega ships than to Silversea's ships.  Again, I doubt that -- apart from muster in its current form -- Silversea has many "large gatherings" such as Dr. Redfield references.  

 

I believe that Silversea has many decisions/challenges ahead.  But I do not believe that the dangers of chanting in large gatherings are among them.

Edited June 12, 2020 by Observer

[Stumblefoot]

1 hour ago, TLCOhio said:

Had not previously considered how cruise will "manage" and regulate their elevators that often are crowded at times during sailings.

Thankfully, SS has such small ships the elevator is rarely needed as there are at least three separate staircases to use.

[jpalbny]

12 minutes ago, Stumblefoot said:

Thankfully, SS has such small ships the elevator is rarely needed as there are at least three separate staircases to use.

 

They have elevators?

[crusinbanjo]

10 hours ago, jpalbny said:

 

They have elevators?

Mrs Banjo and I always prefer the stairs as well.  Also, we are not part of the chanting / yelling crowd either, that’s one of the reasons we cruise on SS

 

Edited June 13, 2020 by crusinbanjo

[dawntrdr]

Dr. Fauci was interviewed yesterday on NPR's "Science Friday" radio program.  He reported that at least three vaccines were going into stage 3 human trials by the beginning of summer and they would involve tens of thousands of participants.  He anticipated that there would be at least one, maybe more, effective vaccines available by the end of 2020 or beginning of 2021.  By "effective", he said they were looking for 70% effectiveness.

 

When asked about how long the vaccine would be effective, he said that the big hurdle was finding an effective vaccine in the first place.  Once you had that, waning effectiveness could be addressed with booster shots.

 

I found this to be very encouraging inasmuch as some have said it would take up to two years or more.  Of course, there will be enormous logistic problems in manufacturing enough and distributing it fairly, but I look forward to the day when this can be just another vaccination you get for travel.

 

Link at:  https://www.sciencefriday.com/episodes/june-12-2020/

[zqtchas]

Beijing goes into ‘wartime mode’ as virus emerges at market in Chinese capital

[Lois R]

Call me a cynic....when the end of the year rolls around or the beginning of 2021 and an "effective vaccine" is implemented?

I will believe it when I see it.   I mean it would be wonderful but it sounds a bit------well, like I said, an effective one in less than a year? Sounds a bit "too good to be true". 

 

 

[TLCOhio]

On 6/12/2020 at 8:46 PM, Stumblefoot said:

Thankfully, SS has such small ships the elevator is rarely needed as there are at least three separate staircases to use.

 

Great above point that many of the Silversea ships are smaller and do not have as many different levels as used by certain other cruise lines.  From our experiences on the Silver Spirit and Silver Muse, however, you do have more levels than with some of the other SS ships.  The Muse has eight different floors and for those of us who are not as young, active and vigorous as J.P., my one one marginal knee does like to ride on those elevators, depending as to how many floors I need to go up and down. Many good questions where the cruise lines must consider the best set-ups and standards for their passengers and crew to use.    

 

From an in-depth interview with Cruise Critic's Managing Editor post two days ago, they had this headline: “Royal Caribbean Chairman Richard Fain: Cruise Changes Will Come, Innovation Remains” with these highlights: “The cruise industry and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. will have to make changes to adjust to COVID-19, but they will be 'evolutionary' and be aimed at still giving passengers a consistent experience, CEO and Chairman Richard Fain said.  He emphasized that changes will come, but that change has long been a consistent in cruising,  "If there had never been a COVID-19, it would be different today than it was a year ago. Because one of the things that we're proudest about the industry is that the industry is constantly changing and adapting to people's tastes.'  RCCL has four cruise lines within its corporation: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara and Silversea Cruises. All are currently on pause, due to a 'no sail' order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which extends through July 24. Celebrity, Royal Caribbean and Azamara have extended their suspension dates through August 1, while Silversea has taken a ship-by-ship approach to resumption of service.”

 

Here is more from this interview that explains, in part, why it is requiring so much time to determine the future schedules and details: "Unfortunately for Cruise Critic readers who are anxious to hear details of the changes coming to their favorite ships, Fain would not commit on anything, noting only that the company would look to a 'holistic approach' to health standards, rather than approaching it a piece or area at a time.  Part of the delay  is because public health experts at the CDC, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other governmental agencies have yet to build a consensus around COVID-19 and best practices to fighting it.  Fain pointed to the confusion from the WHO over asymptomatic spread as just one example of how advice can come out -- and then just as quickly be rescinded. Two things that Fain pointed out, in regard to health authorities. For one, his company has to deal with more governmental regulation than the CDC, as the ships in the lines' fleets span every continent. And for another, the conversations about best practices and what the cruise lines need to do are a dialogue, not an edict.  Fain said he recognized that all the uncertainty was difficult for all involved, be it passengers or people in the industry."

 

Many different and varied aspects for the cruising future were covered during this interview, including this point: "In the interview, Fain articulated what many in the cruise industry already know: It could be a while before people who have never taken a cruise decide to go on one."

 

Full story at:

https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/5394/

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

Sydney to NZ/Auckland Adventure, live/blog 2014 sampling/details with many exciting visuals and key highlights.  On page 23, post #571, see a complete index for all of the pictures, postings.  Now at 230,220 views.

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

[Tudorcruisers]

On 6/13/2020 at 12:42 PM, crusinbanjo said:

Mrs Banjo and I always prefer the stairs as well.  Also, we are not part of the chanting / yelling crowd either, that’s one of the reasons we cruise on SS

 

Same here.

[TLCOhio]

From the super experienced travel writer, Gene Sloan (formerly with USA Today), this story from two days ago had this headline: “When will cruise ships resume sailing? A line-by-line guide” with these highlights: “When will the Great Cruise Shutdown end? That’s the question many cruise fans are asking now as they eagerly await the day when they can get back on the high seas.  The bad news, for those who are itching to cruise again, is that many ships might not return to service for many months. Every major cruise line in the world suspended departures in mid-March as the coronavirus outbreak grew, and it's likely many lines will remain completely shut down through the end of summer and even well into the fall. While we may see a handful of river lines and small-ship cruise specialists resume operations in Europe and North America in the coming weeks (with trips mostly aimed at local vacationers), most major lines have canceled all sailings through early August. A few lines, such as Cunard, Holland America, Princess Cruises and Windstar Cruises, already have announced they won’t be resuming sailings with most ships until the fall at the earliest.”

 

For the cruise line fitting many of our interests, he detailed: "Silversea has canceled most departures into the fall, with most ships now scheduled to resume operations in September or October. Silversea also has pushed off the debut of two new ships scheduled to debut this year. Silver Moon now is scheduled to debut on Oct. 2. Silver Origin won’t arrive until Aug. 22."

 

Full story at:

https://thepointsguy.com/guide/when-cruise-ships-lines-resume/

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

Venice: Loving It & Why??!!  Is one of your future desires or past favorites? See these many visual samples for its great history and architecture.  This posting is now at 87,615 views.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1278226

[Lois R]

I am thinking about putting a deposit down on a cruise that departs in APRIL.......it is a GREAT DEAL----actually, 

the FCC that is now on my account will pay for 99% of the total.😃........it is a Caribbean cruise that sails out of 

Ft. Lauderdale so it is not like I am flying to Europe for that first one LOL.........I still have time to decide but it would

certainly give me something to look forward to......that cruise would be exactly 1 year from when I should have taken

my TA crossing..........(this past April). 

[TLCOhio]

On 6/13/2020 at 9:01 AM, Lois R said:

Call me a cynic....when the end of the year rolls around or the beginning of 2021 and an "effective vaccine" is implemented?  I will believe it when I see it.   I mean it would be wonderful but it sounds a bit------well, like I said, an effective one in less than a year? Sounds a bit "too good to be true". 

 

Great summary by Lois about "effective vaccine" in stating that she "will believe it when I see it".  We can all hope for the best (and soon), but these types of medical challenges take serious time to research, test, perfect, manufacture, distribute, etc.  Glad that Lois has a booking made for next April. Good luck with that timing!!   

 

From the Wall Street Journal yesterday, they had this headline: “How Exactly Do You Catch Covid-19? There Is a Growing Consensus” with this sub-head: "Surface contamination and fleeting encounters are less of a worry than close-up, person-to-person interactions for extended periods." 

 

Here are some of their story highlights from their comprehensive reporting: “Six months into the coronavirus crisis, there’s a growing consensus about a central question: How do people become infected?  It’s not common to contract Covid-19 from a contaminated surface, scientists say. And fleeting encounters with people outdoors are unlikely to spread the coronavirus.  Instead, the major culprit is close-up, person-to-person interactions for extended periods. Crowded events, poorly ventilated areas and places where people are talking loudly—or singing, in one famous case—maximize the risk.”

 

In recent months, there have been many "twists and turns" as to how this virus spreads and the debate as to how best to protect people from infection.  That is part of the challenge for cruise lines and the governments to determine the future strategies and plans.  Here is more from their story: "Two recent large studies showed that wide-scale lockdowns—stay-at-home orders, bans on large gatherings and business closures—prevented millions of infections and deaths around the world. Now, with more knowledge in hand, cities and states can deploy targeted interventions to keep the virus from taking off again.  That means better protections for nursing-home residents and multigenerational families living in crowded conditions, they said. It also means stressing physical distancing and masks, and reducing the number of gatherings in enclosed spaces.  'We should not be thinking of a lockdown, but of ways to increase physical distance,'  said Tom Frieden, chief executive of Resolve to Save Lives, a nonprofit public-health initiative. 'This can include allowing outside activities, allowing walking or cycling to an office with people all physically distant, curbside pickup from stores, and other innovative methods that can facilitate resumption of economic activity without a rekindling of the outbreak.'  The group’s reopening recommendations include widespread testing, contact tracing and isolation of people who are infected or exposed. One important factor in transmission is that seemingly benign activities like speaking and breathing produce respiratory bits of varying sizes that can disperse along air currents and potentially infect people nearby."

 

Dr. Frieden is the former head of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 2009-20017, and New York City Health Commissioner, 2002-2009.  His viewpoints and suggestions have both good and bad messages as to how certain policies/approaches might affect cruise lines and their future re-opening plans. 

 

Full story at:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-exactly-do-you-catch-covid-19-there-is-a-growing-consensus-11592317650?mod=hp_lead_pos5

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

 

Amazon River-Caribbean 2015 adventure live/blog starting in Barbados. Many visuals from this amazing river and Caribbean Islands (Dutch ABC's, St. Barts, Dominica, Grenada, San Juan, etc.).  Now at 66,486 views:

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2157696

[Lois R]

Hi Terry, I haven't booked anything yet..........I am still thinking about it. 

[TLCOhio]

51 minutes ago, Lois R said:

Hi Terry, I haven't booked anything yet..........I am still thinking about it. 

 

Yes, Lois, sorry I did not mention that you are only looking and thinking now.  Before booking, putting money down and/or paying up the full fare, it does require some serious considerations.  Right now, the three main cruise line owners are fairly stable with their finances.  BUT, until more time passes and we know added information on the "recovery" timing/plan, I would not want to have too many thousands of dollars at risk in the event of a worse-case financial situation with the cruise lines.  From my research, the protections from credit cards and/or travel insurance are kind of, maybe, there.  BUT, the legal details should be carefully checked and researched to be 100% certain as to how you would be protected, if and if.  And, how fully??

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

 

AFRICA?!!?: Fun, interesting visuals, plus travel details from this early 2016 live/blog. At 49,530 views. Featuring Cape Town, South Africa’s coast, Mozambique, Victoria Falls/Zambia and Botswana's famed Okavango Delta.

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2310337

[TLCOhio]

From the Wall Street Journal and the PR Newswire this morning, they had this headline: “Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. Announces Extension of Suspension of Voyages ” with these highlights: “Suspension Includes All Voyages for Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises with Embarkation Dates from August 1 through September 30, 2020.  Voyage Cancellations Exclude September Seattle-based Alaska Itineraries. Select Voyages Cancelled Through October 2020 Including Canada and New England Itineraries.”

 

Full story at:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/PR-CO-20200616-909958

 

Kotor/Montenegro:  Exciting visual samples, tips, details, etc., for this scenic, historic location. Over 47,617 views.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1439193

[Will Work for Tiramisu]

On similar thread for other high end cruise line, they speculated masks come off once seated for dinner (or drinks, presumably).  I have thought perhaps we'd make small hole in our masks and carry about a straw, for happy hour.  I have contemplated my DW & I arriving for a nice dinner wearing full-body hazmat suits and flip-down plastic visors (DW with string of pearls, natch), grabbing menu with tongs, spritzing table and settings with handy bottle of Lysol.  Who says romance is dead??  

 

Prior to the current unpleasantness, I felt that a nice cruise on a good ship to a stellar location was just about heaven on earth, for lots of people.  Now - maybe more like purgatory.  We will watch with interest how this unfolds - really hope we haven't taken our last cruise - and the lines are making some pretty tempting, low risk offers currently, for future bookings.  

[Daveywavey70]

1 hour ago, Will Work for Tiramisu said:

On similar thread for other high end cruise line, they speculated masks come off once seated for dinner (or drinks, presumably).  I have thought perhaps we'd make small hole in our masks and carry about a straw, for happy hour.  I have contemplated my DW & I arriving for a nice dinner wearing full-body hazmat suits and flip-down plastic visors (DW with string of pearls, natch), grabbing menu with tongs, spritzing table and settings with handy bottle of Lysol.  Who says romance is dead??  

 

Prior to the current unpleasantness, I felt that a nice cruise on a good ship to a stellar location was just about heaven on earth, for lots of people.  Now - maybe more like purgatory.  We will watch with interest how this unfolds - really hope we haven't taken our last cruise - and the lines are making some pretty tempting, low risk offers currently, for future bookings.  

I missed the part about the Jazz pianist tinkling away in the background. Assumably because you couldn’t hear them through the hazmat.  

[Will Work for Tiramisu]

Ah, yes - the pianist will be tinkling dutifully away, but he/she will be tickling the ivories while being towed on a raft secured by a stout rope to the aft rail.  Social distancing thus assured - they will allow a larger diameter tip jar, given that one will have to fling your tippage across some wet real estate to hit the mark.  But, you know what they say - the show must go on!