Harmony OTS - will she sail in early January

[zekekelso]

Oh she’ll sail. The question is whether there will be passengers on board 🙂 

[Oxo]

9 hours ago, bgoff60 said:

Short question... We are slated to sail on JANUARY 3RD 2021 on Harmony OTS.  What do you think the odds oar that it will actually set sail?

Lord, Do I miss cruising.!!!  

The bigger question is....

Will we have a vaccine by then? If we do.

Will there be enough to treat all people?  

Who who'll get it first? 

Will we trust it?

How many people will not want to get it? 

Where does it stop with these type questions to answer if CRUISING will begin and when? 

Lord, thank you for keeping us safe. AMEN!

[bouhunter]

1 hour ago, Mapleleafforever said:

Yeah I'm ok with that, the money is already spoken for and won't affect our day to day at all. The reason I don't want an FCC Is that not only have Royal jacked the prices until 2022 (so far) but also we're not so sure we want to cruise for the next few years depending on what "safety precautions" are in place. While I wear a mask in stores right now I do not want to wear one on a cruise nor do I think social distancing is a viable option. 

 

I'm confused.  You're not too sure you want to cruise for a "few years", but are making a final payment for January 2021?  FYI, if that ship sails in January, there WILL be mask requirements and limitations on venues/dining/activities for "social distancing".

[Mapleleafforever]

2 minutes ago, bouhunter said:

I'm confused.  You're not too sure you want to cruise for a "few years", but are making a final payment for January 2021?  FYI, if that ship sails in January, there WILL be mask requirements and limitations on venues/dining/activities for "social distancing".

We are most definitely making our final payment for our January 2021 cruise because I don't want to cancel and be held hostage with an FCC. If Royal cancels we'll gladly take the refund (on cruise and flights through Choice Air) and if the cruise is still on we will gladly go as we are in the very low risk group and aren't concerned about catching Covid (we most likely already had it when we got off Allure this past Feb). 

 

BUT, if the cruise goes on as planned but with restrictions, ie masks ,we'll gladly take the refund in that case as well as those restrictions weren't in place at time of booking and we are ok with not cruising as long as those restrictions are in place. Mind you if the only restriction is a 50% full ship that's a bonus and we'd love to do it. 

 

So basically making the final payment is the only way to ensure the refund is given. 

[Crazy planning mom]

I disagree with those who sail there wont be sailings in 1st quarter.   It still is pretty far away.

However, if Europe is any guide, they will likely only have the 3-4 day Mariner and Navigator sailings in the first quarter.

Edited July 31, 2020 by Crazy planning mom

[torpeedo]

27 minutes ago, Mapleleafforever said:

Or just not let the high risk groups for awhile, that's a lot easier and a lot cheaper. 

 

That would be very difficult to do.  How would you know who has Asthma, diabetes, overweight (well that's easy I guess),  or who's immune compromised?.  Some would not want to admit to these risks and be unable to travel.  

[Lionesss]

1 hour ago, BND said:

We just cancelled our b2b on Harmony for 1-15 Nov and there are still people on the roll call hoping to go.  I highly doubt it,  I expect more cancellations soon.  As for Early Jan, I just wouldn't bet on it.  We're booked in May on Freedom and are hoping that one happens.

 

 

Sadly we agree, we are just waiting for the FCC (125%) before we make it official.

 

Stay healthy 

Edited July 31, 2020 by Lionesss

[Mapleleafforever]

8 minutes ago, torpeedo said:

 

That would be very difficult to do.  How would you know who has Asthma, diabetes, overweight (well that's easy I guess),  or who's immune compromised?.  Some would not want to admit to these risks and be unable to travel.  

Would probably start with the at risk age groups and go from there. Nothing will be off the table in order for the cruise lines to get back to business. 

[torpeedo]

4 minutes ago, Mapleleafforever said:

Would probably start with the at risk age groups and go from there. Nothing will be off the table in order for the cruise lines to get back to business. 

 

Could be but when you start to exclude people it becomes a real slippery slope on where to stop or start.  If the cruise lines don't want Covid on the ship then they would have to exclude all the young people 20--40 who sometimes feel invincible and don't practice masks or social distancing ( NOT EVERYONE OF COURSE).

 If I knew the answer I guess i would be in very high demand!     SOME DAY this will be under control with vaccine and proper therapeutics and until then it's all a crap shoot.

[Mapleleafforever]

4 minutes ago, torpeedo said:

 

Could be but when you start to exclude people it becomes a real slippery slope on where to stop or start.  If the cruise lines don't want Covid on the ship then they would have to exclude all the young people 20--40 who sometimes feel invincible and don't practice masks or social distancing ( NOT EVERYONE OF COURSE).

 If I knew the answer I guess i would be in very high demand!     SOME DAY this will be under control with vaccine and proper therapeutics and until then it's all a crap shoot.

The statistics don't lie. Those who contract Covid-19 who are 20-40 overwhelmingly have mild to no symptoms. Make no mistake, mask use and social distancing are only in place to protect the more at risk.....and I agree with these precautions. 

 

Someday this will be under control even without a vaccine and proper therapeutics. 

[fletch1027]

We have a 9 night on Explorer in February that we are trying to be optimistic about but we're now thinking about what "Plan B" options we can come up with. 

 

I'm curious how long the cruise lines can stay afloat (no pun intended) without cruising. At some point they will not be able to survive...

[centurycruiser]

I think covid19 will scare alot of elderly cruisers from cruising, which could explain why Carnival is selling (sold) Holland America ships.

[Sun and Fun]

We were on Oasis Jan 10, 2021. We did a lift and shift to January 2022.

[Milwaukee Eight]

8 hours ago, Oxo said:

The bigger question is....

Will we have a vaccine by then? If we do.

Will there be enough to treat all people?  

Who who'll get it first? 

Will we trust it?

How many people will not want to get it? 

Where does it stop with these type questions to answer if CRUISING will begin and when? 

Lord, thank you for keeping us safe. AMEN!

There is an entire thread regarding this?

[PhillyFan33579]

I will be thrilled if our cruise on Symphony next July actually happens. I have already accepted the likelihood that the 5 cruises we have booked before that one will be cancelled.  

[oddmartinsn]

Maybe a bit off topic, but In Norway, Hurtigruten has resumed their operations. In late july, they did two trips, and four crew are now confirmed with covid-19. Number of passengers where 209 and 177, and crew 160. 

Operations is temporary shut down

[mets123]

On 7/31/2020 at 1:12 AM, bgoff60 said:

Short question... We are slated to sail on JANUARY 3RD 2021 on Harmony OTS.  What do you think the odds oar that it will actually set sail?

Lord, Do I miss cruising.!!!  

Definitely maybe. No that's too strong. Maybe a maybe.

[John&LaLa]

23 hours ago, Crazy planning mom said:

I disagree with those who sail there wont be sailings in 1st quarter.   It still is pretty far away.

However, if Europe is any guide, they will likely only have the 3-4 day Mariner and Navigator sailings in the first quarter.

 

Maybe utilize the Oasis ships for short cruises

[kruzinkel]

Really don't know when they can start.  I have a November 5th on Indy, which i am not optimistic about.  It was a casino comp, so no huge loss if I don't go.  Have a TA on Harmony in April of 2021, and starting to wonder about that one.  That one would be heartbreaking as it was a 30th anniversary present to ourselves.  

 

The "wait and see" is the worst part

[Cruzingal#9]

We just booked (our first suite😋) on Liberty for October 2021.   We had a future cruise deposit that was purchased on our cruise last year and had to apply it to something or lose it.  I'm hoping that ships will be sailing in a little over a year!  Final payment is not due until next June and we will not be making that payment if there still is no sailing.  I love cruising more than anything, but if cruising has not started up again by next summer I highly doubt it ever will.  I just don't see how the companies can stay "afloat"!  But, my optimistic side is excited to plan this cruise!!!

[Ashland]

On 7/31/2020 at 8:34 AM, Mapleleafforever said:

The statistics don't lie. Those who contract Covid-19 who are 20-40 overwhelmingly have mild to no symptoms. Make no mistake, mask use and social distancing are only in place to protect the more at risk.....and I agree with these precautions. 

 

Someday this will be under control even without a vaccine and proper therapeutics. 

Hmmm. "mask's and social distancing are only in place to protect the more at risk "  Really 

[villager70]

We are booked on Harmony Nov. 15th . Had two cancelled in April, May 2020, one in Sept. Have two in Oct but know that"s not going to happen. I guess good thing we have 14 more pending so keep using those FCC to pay off finals. All our ports here in Florida really look  different with all the  lines  gone. Just visits every few days for fuel,food than out again .

[compman9]

I am going to say there will be cruises in January.

 

Where, what cruise lines, and what ships, is harder to guess.

 

The virus was at its worst in March.

In four months it has dwindled dramatically as treatment improves daily, and we have learned what types of people die from it. In some parts of the world, it is done.

 

Something many overlook is that if cruise lines are not earning money in five month's time, the whole world's businesses would have suffered as well. Politics will play a major role, as will monthly international excess death figures.

 

 

 

[bouhunter]

1 hour ago, villager70 said:

We are booked on Harmony Nov. 15th . Had two cancelled in April, May 2020, one in Sept. Have two in Oct but know that"s not going to happen. I guess good thing we have 14 more pending so keep using those FCC to pay off finals. All our ports here in Florida really look  different with all the  lines  gone. Just visits every few days for fuel,food than out again .

I can't imagine trying to keep track of all those FCC's.  Sounds like a full time job 🙂

 

[cruisegirl1]

37 minutes ago, compman9 said:

I am going to say there will be cruises in January.

 

Where, what cruise lines, and what ships, is harder to guess.

 

The virus was at its worst in March.

In four months it has dwindled dramatically as treatment improves daily, and we have learned what types of people die from it. In some parts of the world, it is done.

 

Something many overlook is that if cruise lines are not earning money in five month's time, the whole world's businesses would have suffered as well. Politics will play a major role, as will monthly international excess death figures.

 

 

 

Perhaps in your area.  Summer in SC has had dramatic increases.  Our worst month was July.  Spikes in cases and  sadly,  deaths.  Now I can't visit family in many other states without  quarantining for 14 days when I arrive.  That makes a trip to visit family in NJ and NY  almost  impossible.   The 6 day visit turns into 28 days,  14  days in each state.    

 

With cases developing when ever there is  even a small group ( think baseball teams),  I can't see how large scale cruising can resume.  

 

I am concerned about the  solvency of the  industry.  I took a refund for all cancelled cruises but do have several cruises booked in 2021 and 2022.  I may cancel since we are not within final  payment, take whatever loss on NR deposits and get out while I can.   

 

BYW - we are booked for early January ( 7 night)  but can't L&S because it is a casino comp. I do not expect to sail.     

 

M