What is the Deal Breaker for you?

[OceanCruise]

I am not here to debate mask wearing or what changes are necessary for passenger and crew safety but rather just to express extreme sadness and vent that cruising may never be the same. We pay a big premium to cruise in suites and have a truly relaxing, pampering vacation. We really enjoy room service, twice daily room cleaning, the comraderie in Michael's Club, casino and trivia games, etc. and I am very sad thinking that many of the small pleasures that entice us to cruise may never be the same. Will staterooms now be cleaned, perhaps, only twice weekly? Will room service no longer be set up in the stateroom? I don't want to be on a vacation where it looks like a hospital with everyone wearing masks. Who wants embarkation pictures or formal pictures wearing masks? I don't want a spa treatment where I can't relax because I can hardly breathe with a mask on. Forget about having any meet and greets with the Captain or dining at the Captain's table. I don't want to see passengers yelling at each other if someone doesn't use sanitizer, wear a mask or happens to intrude on social distancing space. How is that a fun and relaxing vacation that I am spending a ton of money on? I am so bummed and wondering for the first time ever if a cruise will be worth going on, given the costs and likely decline in services/experiences. I think of all the heated discussions on these boards when just the little things were eliminated like chocolates on the pillows, towel animals, free sodas and midnight buffets. This situation will take changes to a whole new level.

[ECCruise]

Even though we have 11 booked in the next 18 months, I fully expect to cancel or be cancelled for most if not all of them.

The experience you describe is fairly close to the one we envision for cruising going forward.  In the way they have been operated in the past (which is what made them special to a large degree) cruises are horrible incubators for any kind of disease.  You just have to look at the Noro outbreaks confirm that, let alone 2 Princess ships, the Eclipse, sick crews worldwide to verify that.  There is literally no evidence that hotels and airline travel contribute anywhere near that level of problems.

 

When you add the very real danger of having your itinerary altered drastically because of flare-ups, something we had close experience with in February and March I am afraid that cruising is rapidly losing it's attraction for us.  And that is, unfortunately, a sad fact of life.

 

[TeeRick]

Many are worried with you.  And you can say that about theme parks and alot of other things.  We can definitely say that cruising will not be the same as we experienced it right up to the pandemic shut downs.  It will be less enjoyable for some period of time.  Maybe a year or two?  But not forever.  The cruise industry will at some point in the future figure out a way to offer a vacation product that we all want to enjoy.  Or they will be out of business.  Until that time we will need to just deal with the current situation.  But it is our choice of how we spend vacation money.

[Georgia_Peaches]

I agree.  It will be different for a while, but not forever.  Things will slowly go back to the way they were...especially when we have the vaccine.  And no, I don't want to turn this into a vaccine thread.  We all have our opinions about that so no need to rehash.  

 

The cruise lines know that they must offer a certain product in order to fill ships.  They won't fill ships if the product is so diminished that it no longer feels like a vacation.  It will go back...eventually.

[PTC DAWG]

Masks, I’m not wearing one...I don’t care to be around people wearing them either..

[phoenix_dream]

24 minutes ago, ECCruise said:

Even though we have 11 booked in the next 18 months, I fully expect to cancel or be cancelled for most if not all of them.

The experience you describe is fairly close to the one we envision for cruising going forward.  In the way they have been operated in the past (which is what made them special to a large degree) cruises are horrible incubators for any kind of disease.  You just have to look at the Noro outbreaks confirm that, let alone 2 Princess ships, the Eclipse, sick crews worldwide to verify that.  There is literally no evidence that hotels and airline travel contribute anywhere near that level of problems.

 

When you add the very real danger of having your itinerary altered drastically because of flare-ups, something we had close experience with in February and March I am afraid that cruising is rapidly losing it's attraction for us.  And that is, unfortunately, a sad fact of life.

 

Regarding your statement that "there is literally no evidence that hotels and airline travel contribute...…".  I would agree that cruise lines, with their enclosed environments, likely spread diseases faster.  But the main reason there is no evidence is twofold:

 

First, cruise lines are required to report the number of certain illnesses onboard.  That is not true of hotels or airlines.  That's how norovirus became known as the cruise ship illness - other venues like schools, hospitals, work places, nursing homes etc..  spread it just as hard and fast but they don't need to report their numbers.  So cruise ships are singled out as they DO need to report numbers.

 

Second,  when you are on a cruise you are onboard for an average of 7 days (some of course longer or shorter).  So it is much, much easier to determine where and how illnesses spread.  People come and go regularly in hotels and airlines (the latter, in literally a matter of hours).  They could be spreading illnesses like crazy but there would be no way to track that down without hours and hours of detailed analysis.

[Pinboy]

28 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said:

Masks, I’m not wearing one...I don’t care to be around people wearing them either..

Good for you . I'm on your side .

The " Deal Breaker " for us is when cruising has too many restrictions that will impede our enjoyment.

( I just thought of 100's of " Little Police " on board--- forget it ) .

Please, no Bye Bye -- I get it.

 

 

 

 

[PTC DAWG]

4 minutes ago, Pinboy said:

Good for you . I'm on your side .

The " Deal Breaker " for us is when cruising has too many restrictions that will impede our enjoyment.

( I just thought of 100's of " Little Police " on board--- forget it ) .

Please, no Bye Bye -- I get it.

 

 

 

 

Seems fair to me...I’m ready to cruise..

[Marelaine]

The deal breaker, for us, is beyond Celebrity's control. During quarantine, my husband was diagnosed with recurring throat cancer and will need chemo/immunotherapy. We will not be able to cruise until there is a covid 19 vaccine, if ever.

We wear masks when we go out and have gotten used to them. We are thankful to others for wearing the masks that protect us and other community members. As my husband's nurse told me, masks are much more comfortable than ventilators.To the comment that required masks for cruising would be a dealbreaker - I wouldn't consider cruising until after the CDC discontinues the mask recommendation, even if neither of us were high risk.  

[marieps]

We won't really know what the deal breaker would be for us until we cruise again.  No way I'm wearing a mask everywhere.  Our cruise routine is quite set and we are outside a lot.  I'm not that worried.

[ECCruise]

1 hour ago, phoenix_dream said:

Regarding your statement that "there is literally no evidence that hotels and airline travel contribute...…".  I would agree that cruise lines, with their enclosed environments, likely spread diseases faster.  But the main reason there is no evidence is twofold:

 

First, cruise lines are required to report the number of certain illnesses onboard.  That is not true of hotels or airlines.  That's how norovirus became known as the cruise ship illness - other venues like schools, hospitals, work places, nursing homes etc..  spread it just as hard and fast but they don't need to report their numbers.  So cruise ships are singled out as they DO need to report numbers.

 

Second,  when you are on a cruise you are onboard for an average of 7 days (some of course longer or shorter).  So it is much, much easier to determine where and how illnesses spread.  People come and go regularly in hotels and airlines (the latter, in literally a matter of hours).  They could be spreading illnesses like crazy but there would be no way to track that down without hours and hours of detailed analysis.

Except airlines DO need to report any illnesses or death to the CDC.  This rule has been in place for a number of years and amended in 2017 so nothing to do with current situation.

Guidance for Airlines on Reporting Onboard Deaths or Illnesses to CDC

[yorky]

2 hours ago, OceanCruise said:

I am not here to debate mask wearing or what changes are necessary for passenger and crew safety but rather just to express extreme sadness and vent that cruising may never be the same. We pay a big premium to cruise in suites and have a truly relaxing, pampering vacation. We really enjoy room service, twice daily room cleaning, the comraderie in Michael's Club, casino and trivia games, etc. and I am very sad thinking that many of the small pleasures that entice us to cruise may never be the same. Will staterooms now be cleaned, perhaps, only twice weekly? Will room service no longer be set up in the stateroom? I don't want to be on a vacation where it looks like a hospital with everyone wearing masks. Who wants embarkation pictures or formal pictures wearing masks? I don't want a spa treatment where I can't relax because I can hardly breathe with a mask on. Forget about having any meet and greets with the Captain or dining at the Captain's table. I don't want to see passengers yelling at each other if someone doesn't use sanitizer, wear a mask or happens to intrude on social distancing space. How is that a fun and relaxing vacation that I am spending a ton of money on? I am so bummed and wondering for the first time ever if a cruise will be worth going on, given the costs and likely decline in services/experiences. I think of all the heated discussions on these boards when just the little things were eliminated like chocolates on the pillows, towel animals, free sodas and midnight buffets. This situation will take changes to a whole new level.

Personally I don’t believe the changes will be permanent. In my view when we have a vaccine things will slowly return to the way they were.

[yorky]

5 minutes ago, ECCruise said:

Except airlines DO need to report any illnesses or death to the CDC.  This rule has been in place for a number of years and amended in 2017 so nothing to do with current situation.

Guidance for Airlines on Reporting Onboard Deaths or Illnesses to CDC

Ha ha, because everyone on a flight let’s the crew know they are ill as they board the aircraft. I’m pretty sure I’ve picked up viruses at airports and on long haul flights that became apparent days later.

[ECCruise]

2 minutes ago, yorky said:

Ha ha, because everyone on a flight let’s the crew know they are ill as they board the aircraft. I’m pretty sure I’ve picked up viruses at airports and on long haul flights that became apparent days later.

Ha ha.  Thankfully every single person on a cruise ship reports their illness when they get on a ship.  That is a huge difference.

[ECCruise]

11 minutes ago, yorky said:

Personally I don’t believe the changes will be permanent. In my view when we have a vaccine things will slowly return to the way they were.

I agree with that.  But do you think the cruise lines can survive the 18 months to 2 years before a vaccine?  Even if there is one?

Not sure that they can.

Edited May 17, 2020 by ECCruise

[yorky]

1 minute ago, ECCruise said:

Ha ha.  Thankfully every single person on a cruise ship reports their illness when they get on a ship.  That is a huge difference.

The big difference is everyone on a cruise ship is onboard for a prolonged period of time so for many anything contracted becomes obvious, you are on a plane and in the airport for a few hours, contract something and you are often on the cruise or at a hotel before it shows. 

[yorky]

3 minutes ago, ECCruise said:

I agree with that.  But do you think the cruise lines can survive the 18 months to 2 years before a vaccine?  Even if there is one?

Not sure that they can.

No I think cruises will start again in a limited way towards the end of this year.

[Quo Vadis?]

Masks on a cruise ship 🤣

There is no way one can continuously eat and drink with a mask on... but that would slow down consumption.

 

I seriously doubt that masks will be required by the time it is again safe to cruise...

 

Deal breaker... age 70 note is gone but Celebrity is still not communicating with passengers what changes they will be introducing.  I never want to sit again at a table for two in the dining room four or five inches away from the next table.

[Cachecara]

9 minutes ago, ECCruise said:

 

9 minutes ago, ECCruise said:

Ha ha.  Thankfully every single person on a cruise ship reports their illness when they get on a ship.  That is a huge difference.

I would absolutely never trust this as being reliable.
If a person wants to cruise they will.  A little white lying will not hurt them. 
The deal breaker for us is having 3 past co-workers(nurses) die from this virus while caring for others with it.
The deal breaker being the lost of our neighbor and close friend of over 25 yrs who decided it would be ok to continue working when most of us were staying home.  He contracted, was on a vent for a month and then succumbed. 
The deal breaker will be a possible 2 week post cruise quarantine in our stateroom. 
Cruising will have to be modified and some course of treatment for us before we cruise again. 

Edited May 17, 2020 by Cachecara

[ECCruise]

4 minutes ago, Cachecara said:

 

I would absolutely never trust this as being reliable.
 

Nor would I.  My post was sarcasm. 🙂

[OuiOnboard]

Don't know yet. Still playing wait and see before considering re-entry to the booking games.

[Fouremco]

There are numerous potential deal breakers for me, but I'm not going to spend my time ruminating on them until such time as cruise lines announce the changes they plan to implement at the time of my next booked cruise. Only then will I know how different cruising will be and whether it will be something I will continue to enjoy.

 

In the mean time, I'll deal with the more immediate problems of COVID-19 and its impact on family, friends and our community at large.

[OuiOnboard]

12 minutes ago, Argo. said:

I never want to sit again at a table for two in the dining room four or five inches away from the next table.

Agree 100%. Thank you for saying what I've long been thinking.

[yorky]

5 minutes ago, OuiOnboard said:

Agree 100%. Thank you for saying what I've long been thinking.

To be fair it was getting to be a bit of a joke, really just a table for four. 

[hcat]

Medical note requirement or exclusion for certain conditions would be a problem for us...esp if we could not board,  Big headaches after final payment date.

 

Masks  would be a turn off,  and not being allowed off the ship in ports also a big neg.

 

Cruise ship disasters related to  handling of  the virus made big headlines, but airline travel certainly brought the disease  to many  places, and led to  spread worldwide. Will follow that before we fly again.