Fain says early cruises will be at reduced capacity

[downsmead]

10 minutes ago, SunsetPoint said:

I have no idea what they're going to do to reduce capacity if attrition due to guest cancellations doesn't work, but I would hope that some preference is given to people who've rebooked with FCC due to cancelled cruises.  They've already been disappointed/inconvenienced once, and they may have limited opportunities to use their credit.  

On another post on cc, the same point was raised. One person suggested the suites would be filled as that would bring in money! Then the higher paying cabins. 
As you say it is a fine line for the cruise companies, the cruises need to generate money but if the cruise companies claim that over 55% of people took FCCs, then that is a lot of cabins and a lot of people, that as you say, they would be wise not to upset, but that want to sail using their FCC.

[LXA350]

30 minutes ago, SunsetPoint said:

I have no idea what they're going to do to reduce capacity if attrition due to guest cancellations doesn't work, but I would hope that some preference is given to people who've rebooked with FCC due to cancelled cruises.  They've already been disappointed/inconvenienced once, and they may have limited opportunities to use their credit.  

 

So far I doubt that any sailing also for 021 i at 100% capacity, hence once the protocols have been setup the cruisline can start blocking capacities. For cruises this year if and when they will restart you will have enough cancelations due to travel, health or even just not being confident to start cruising. In addition especiallyy cruises out of North America have a lot of last minute deals to fill the ships, these things we will not see for the forseable future. Hence as long as X or RCL will not decide to change rules few days before sailing a reduction in capacity on a given cruise will mostlikely not effect anymore directly.

[yorky]

1 minute ago, LXA350 said:

 

So far I doubt that any sailing also for 021 i at 100% capacity, hence once the protocols have been setup the cruisline can start blocking capacities. For cruises this year if and when they will restart you will have enough cancelations due to travel, health or even just not being confident to start cruising. In addition especiallyy cruises out of North America have a lot of last minute deals to fill the ships, these things we will not see for the forseable future. Hence as long as X or RCL will not decide to change rules few days before sailing a reduction in capacity on a given cruise will mostlikely not effect anymore directly.

There is no way they are going to run at a reduced capacity right through 2021, just not going to happen.

[Spif Barwunkel]

7 hours ago, upwarduk said:

When asked about return on August 1st:

”That’s a heavy responsibility,” Fain said of making sure that every precaution is being taken to guarantee the health and safety of guests and crew members. “The one thing we won’t do is rush to judgment on that. We will not go back before we’re comfortable.”

Can the health and safety of passengers and crew be guaranteed? I think not. That goes for pre-corona virus as well as now, and, on into the future. Not fair to lay that on any cruise line. Passengers and crew, at times, unknowingly bring too many unpleasant conditions to the ship's table. It's always been that way. Hopefully, our immune systems are strong at those times and capable of keeping us safe.

 

Sorry, there will never be health and safety guarantees. Where humans gather, you join the party, you take your chances. 

[LXA350]

55 minutes ago, yorky said:

There is no way they are going to run at a reduced capacity right through 2021, just not going to happen.

 

At first the cruiselines need to be in a position to utlize most of their fleet again which will take time. Hene we might first see most of th fleets back in service with a 80-90% capacity or a reduced offering where ships can operate at 100% however which will require a specific safety concept.

[miched]

14 hours ago, Baron Barracuda said:

If only 50% load factor then what level of staff?  Obviously need fewer cabin stewards and wait staff but will need additional servers in Oceanview.  Don't want long lines at bars or Cafe al Bacio.  Knowing X they'll certainly keep all the art auctioneers  

 

This would make sense also.   Less passengers less crew.  

 

People thinking that there would be better service because of less passengers may be in for a surprise and disappointed.  Years ago I work at a car manufacturing plant.  They were starting up a new model that would require a new assembly line producing 10 cars per hour.  The regular model made 60 per hour.

 

For this new line they needed to hire more workers and gave preference to those already working there the chance to transfer.   To most it was simple math, 10 cars/hour instead of 60 meant way less work.  Wrong.  They had to now learn 6 to 7 more tasks and had to cover more distance in their work space as the line moved very slow and they had to basically walk to each station instead of the car coming to them.  They weren’t happy about the new job as it was more work instead of less.

 

The same will result in less capacity on a ship.  I am sure that many venues will be closed off and the workers will be performing more duties and jobs. 
 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅
 

 

[jojo1966]

2 hours ago, ipeeinthepool said:

 

Maybe.  If someone coughs or sneezes as you walk past each other.  Timing is everything.

so thats assuming whoever coughs or sneezes doesnt cover their mouth/nose - and you honestly think that if someone coughed or sneezed without covering and you were 2m 10cm away that you wouldnt be splattered??? the risk is never going to go away and saying its too dangerous to walk past someone within 2m of each other is just ridiculous to even think of ever being achievable.

[phoenix_dream]

If I had to guess (and that's all any of us can do as they are being about as transparent as a brick wall) I would guess that Celebrity would start bumping those passengers who paid the least $$ for their cabins.  Now whether they do that overall, or do it by type of cabin so they can space them I couldn't predict.  I also think they will find some way to keep all the suite passengers as that is where the bigger money is.  Would mean changes in suite specific areas like Luminae but even in good times Celebrity is all about the suites and all about the bigger money so I think anyone who thinks it will be a method we would all consider 'fair' is kidding themselves.  Just my opinion and honestly I would like to be wrong about this.

 

I also agree that with fewer passengers there will definitely be less crew.  Think about how Disney World runs things.  Go at an 'off' time (if there is such a thing anymore, at least pre-corona), and think your wait times will be short?  Nope, they run a smaller passenger load through their attractions.   There is no way they will staff fully with passengers at lower capacity.

 

One other thing I wonder about in general is their ability to get enough staff at all.  I think it will be particularly hard for them to entice live musicians and live performers like singers and dancers.  Unlike many of the rest of the crew, these folks tend to be from countries where there is much more employment opportunity.  Not fair, but the way it is.  At the same time, with much in their home countries shut down maybe they would be more willing to take the chance for a paycheck.  I guess time will tell.

[fizzy1]

Can the health and safety of passengers and crew be guaranteed? I think not. That goes for pre-corona virus as well as now, and, on into the future. Not fair to lay that on any cruise line. Passengers and crew, at times, unknowingly bring too many unpleasant conditions to the ship's table. It's always been that way. Hopefully, our immune systems are strong at those times and capable of keeping us safe.
 
Sorry, there will never be health and safety guarantees. Where humans gather, you join the party, you take your chances. 

Agree


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[SHIP TRAVELER]

16 hours ago, ipeeinthepool said:

 

I guess, I'm not really sure that I understand what markets he's talking about.  Is Miami/Fort Lauderdale a drive market?  Can enough people drive to southern Florida to make it work?  The other choice would be New York/New Jersey and Baltimore (1 RCL ship).  Do you really want to restart cruising with people from the country's biggest Covid hotspot? Or maybe Galveston for RCL ships?  Do that many people really drive to Galveston?

We cruise quite a bit out of Galveston Texas and can attest to the size of the drive in cruise crowd using that port.  We see people from Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas and Louisiana in addition to Texans from the big metro areas.  We live just north of Fort Worth, about a six hour drive one way.  I am always amazed that anyone flies into Houston to sail from Galveston because that is a BIG hassle.  There is always a long line (big crowd) to walk off with luggage on the last day because people want to get on the road home.  I notice that Galveston is also high on Carnivals list of favored ports when they return to sailing. 

[yorky]

1 hour ago, phoenix_dream said:

If I had to guess (and that's all any of us can do as they are being about as transparent as a brick wall) I would guess that Celebrity would start bumping those passengers who paid the least $$ for their cabins.  Now whether they do that overall, or do it by type of cabin so they can space them I couldn't predict.  I also think they will find some way to keep all the suite passengers as that is where the bigger money is.  Would mean changes in suite specific areas like Luminae but even in good times Celebrity is all about the suites and all about the bigger money so I think anyone who thinks it will be a method we would all consider 'fair' is kidding themselves.  Just my opinion and honestly I would like to be wrong about this.

 

I also agree that with fewer passengers there will definitely be less crew.  Think about how Disney World runs things.  Go at an 'off' time (if there is such a thing anymore, at least pre-corona), and think your wait times will be short?  Nope, they run a smaller passenger load through their attractions.   There is no way they will staff fully with passengers at lower capacity.

 

One other thing I wonder about in general is their ability to get enough staff at all.  I think it will be particularly hard for them to entice live musicians and live performers like singers and dancers.  Unlike many of the rest of the crew, these folks tend to be from countries where there is much more employment opportunity.  Not fair, but the way it is.  At the same time, with much in their home countries shut down maybe they would be more willing to take the chance for a paycheck.  I guess time will tell.

Not good news for us on a cheap inside cabin if it works out that way, although we did book early.

[Baron Barracuda]

Expect to have no problem social distancing.  If they bump all the cheap cabins Luminae and Blu will be at full capacity each night, a bunch will head off to specialties and I'll have MDR all to myself.

Edited May 23, 2020 by Baron Barracuda

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

I'd think they'd also want to take into consideration people who used an FCC on the cruise - having already been disappointed in the original cancellation, it would NOT be good optics to cancel a second cruise on them as long as cruises are going and would likely result in even higher credit being given for a future cruise if the passenger even wanted to try again.

[Rmyoung]

22 hours ago, 39august said:

Just watched the Fain Csnbc interview. Most of the answers dodged the questions, understandably as no hard and fast plans have been formulated yet. But he did state that early cruises would be at reduced capacity. The interviewer stated she had been on Oasis, so knew the challenge there. We are booked on a late Nov.-Dec. cruise on Reflection in a suite. This may be among those early cruises. I am wondering how X will limit the number of pax. I believe the ship is fairly well sold at this point.  My guess is that the most expensive cabins will be allowed and the least delayed and given some sort of incentive to more to a different cruise.

I think priority will be given to those that don’t have to fly. Keeps control of virus spreading 

[39august]

I have driven to Galveston to sail RCI many times. Yes, lots of people including those from states mentioned above and New Mexico and Arizona will drive there. I have even met people as far away as Nevada and California that haven done so. I would guess at least half of the pax out of Galveston drive to the port. Now that we have "discovered" X, we would not sail on RCI again, no matter that we could drive to Galveston. 

[MISTER 67]

7 hours ago, ipeeinthepool said:

 

One-way corridors, just like grocery stores in the US

That would be impossible, when you are coming or going from your cabin you will have to walk in the opposite direction.

[Fouremco]

12 minutes ago, MISTER 67 said:

That would be impossible, when you are coming or going from your cabin you will have to walk in the opposite direction.

Impossible? Not at all. You would always walk in the same direction, either clockwise or counter-clockwise. Walk forward on the port side, for example, and walk aft on the starboard side.

[grandgeezer]

5 minutes ago, Fouremco said:

Impossible? Not at all. You would always walk in the same direction, either clockwise or counter-clockwise. Walk forward on the port side, for example, and walk aft on the starboard side.

What do you do when your cabin is all the way front or back.? You hit a dead end either way, they aren’t like the promenade or top deck, where the walking track is, an oval.

[Elevatorman]

I know I’m repeating myself but I truly think they are experimenting on the early cruises to see how many are sick, how the medical staff responds and such

[jelayne]

I think it is unlikely that to reduce capacity and facilitate social distancing they would fill all the higher level cabins and reduce the lower level.
Most  S Class ships  have 50 Suites the majority of the suites are on Deck 11& 12 and the 130 or so  AQ cabins are all on Deck 11.  Blu, Luminae  and the Retreat  would be at capacity so social distancing wouldn’t work.  If the occupancy of elevators is limited, as some casino hotels will do, then waits for elevators would be problematic.  
Carnival has said they are considering reducing capacity as they start up by filling every other cabin.  That makes some sense as it spreads passengers across all decks and makes setting up the dining venues so tables in all of them can be spaced farther apart. 

[jelayne]

40 minutes ago, grandgeezer said:

What do you do when your cabin is all the way front or back.? You hit a dead end either way, they aren’t like the promenade or top deck, where the walking track is, an oval.

On the S & M class you can walk thru from port to starboard in the aft, that doesn’t work on everry deck forward.  

Edited May 23, 2020 by jelayne
Typo

[Fouremco]

20 minutes ago, grandgeezer said:

What do you do when your cabin is all the way front or back.? You hit a dead end either way, they aren’t like the promenade or top deck, where the walking track is, an oval.

On most decks on most ships the stern cabins are accessible whichever way you approach them; no dead end. I agree that on some decks on some ships the forward cabins are sometimes on dead ends, and the passageway fro those cabins would have to be two way. Nevertheless, the overall concept of one way traffic is a good one, IMO, and certainly possible to implement. FWIW, the local grocer was one of the first to introduce one way traffic, but the configuration of the store doesn't lend itself to 100% unidirectional travel. The minor exceptions don't negate the benefits of the overall traffic flow.

[Bill Miller]

What, Me worry?

I volunteer to sail as soon as the cruise lines are ready. I choose not to live in fear. 

(Oh boy, I'm sure I'll be in trouble after this post.)

[reallyhooked]

8 hours ago, SunsetPoint said:

I have no idea what they're going to do to reduce capacity if attrition due to guest cancellations doesn't work, but I would hope that some preference is given to people who've rebooked with FCC due to cancelled cruises.  They've already been disappointed/inconvenienced once, and they may have limited opportunities to use their credit.  

We moved our paid  in full canceled  March cruise / air fare to December. Will be disappointed, but not surprised if this one gets canceled to. Will request full refund, so we can take our time and not be under pressure to use FCC by a set date.  If social distance is still in effect,  don't see how a cruise will be enjoyable. Stay safe. 

[phoenix_dream]

5 hours ago, yorky said:

Not good news for us on a cheap inside cabin if it works out that way, although we did book early.

No one really knows, and certainly not me.  I think the fair way to do it would be to pick people booked the earliest, but not sure they could even do that easily given their archaic computer system.  Unfortunately, it would probably be much easier to look at cost per cabin.  But who knows.