Cruise line execs call for return to service in United States

[ontheweb]

1 hour ago, xDisconnections said:

The two ships that couldn’t dock weren’t the last ones to go out. They were just on longer South America itineraries and were impacted. There were short cruises that left the day of the No Sail Order/voluntary suspension and made it back sooner than the Princess/HAL would have been scheduled to disembark.

 

HAL’s brand ambassador, who is actually incredibly kind and professional, was live blogging during his time on the Zaandam because he was onboard. They just wanted to get home but instead were being shunned by the world.

The ships were shunned by the the world, very well stated.

 

And then when they could not offload the few who started with the disease it spread, and they were now labeled floating petri dishes.

[ontheweb]

3 hours ago, Mary229 said:

The CEO said in an interview this week that they will provide details when the CDC offers any suggestions.  Obviously the CDC has decided the cruise lines aren't worthy of a moment's consideration

Isn't that kind of backwards? Didn't the CDC say they wanted the input from the cruise lines and then they would review it? Whose responsibility is it to come up with the plans for mitigating the disease, the industry or the CDC?

[xDisconnections]

14 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

Isn't that kind of backwards? Didn't the CDC say they wanted the input from the cruise lines and then they would review it? Whose responsibility is it to come up with the plans for mitigating the disease, the industry or the CDC?

Based on everything I have read, I'm under the impression it is the responsibility of the industry's leaders to work together and figure things out. If they have been told different, well, they better figure out the proper chain of command on this or the entire industry is at further risk.

[OzCanuck]

35 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

Yep, staying in the media limelight

Right?  Imagine that, the CDC in the limelight during a global pandemic. Damn them! They should be figuring out how to get cruise ships back on the oceans. 

[BlerkOne]

23 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

Isn't that kind of backwards? Didn't the CDC say they wanted the input from the cruise lines and then they would review it? Whose responsibility is it to come up with the plans for mitigating the disease, the industry or the CDC?

 

Yes. The CDC is waiting for the cruise industry to come up with a uniform approach to mitigating the virus.

[Mary229]

56 minutes ago, BlerkOne said:

 

Yes. The CDC is waiting for the cruise industry to come up with a uniform approach to mitigating the virus.

Not really.  The CDC is asking for input from the public and the cruise lines to establish guidelines.  I went to the CDC site and filled out a form.  NOW, if a government agency keeps telling a business you can't operate until the guidelines are in place then they should get the guidelines in place or cede their authority.  The Europeans have had time to establish the rules and in some places are already sailing under those government issued guidelines 

Edited September 12, 2020 by Mary229

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

2 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

We had something happened on that cruise we had never experienced before.  The first night we went to dinner and when we got there there was someone at our table (boot for 4). We went back to maitre’d and he explained we had stopped by earlier asking for a table change (we had not). Since the people at our assigned booth had already started (gotten bread and water and had ordered drinks), he asked if he could put us at a table for this meal and he promised a better situation the next night (which he did), he just said stop at the booth when we came the next night (Captains Gala). ...

 

(Note, slightly OT - but, ah... the memories!)

 

This reminds me of an interesting series of events we experienced early in our cruising years - perhaps 17-18 years ago. I want to say it was on the Pride or Legend, but at this point - it doesn't even matter (what does, lol?) !

 

At any rate, it was a 7 night cruise and we were escorted to our assigned table on the first evening. Everything went as planned and we had some nice conversations with our waiter and assistant (back when they had a tad extra time and were not stretched as thin).

 

On the second night we opted to skip the MDR (no idea why, or what we did). On the third night we returned to the MDR and sat at our table. When our waiter approached us he seemed a little confused - almost as if he didn't know us. After some awkward moments, we proceeded to order and had an enjoyable experience for the remainder of the evening. On the third night, we were obviously out and about on the ship again, and skipped the MDR. Come night four, everything would fall into place... 

On the fourth evening, we sat ourselves at our table and soon noticed a couple nearby talking with the waiter (or some staff person) and pointing our way. Soon enough the waiter (more likely Maitre d'?) approached and asked to see our S&S cards. I had already become adept at this maneuver and quickly pulled out my card and presented it to him. It was then that he informed us that our table (the one on our S&S card) was given to someone else, but that we had never been informed... YIKES. To make it more interesting, the other couple had skipped the MDR on nights 1 and 3.

 

So, with this other couple waiting in the wings to get to "their" table, we got up and left, indicating that we would not be returning to the dining room for the remainder of the cruise (nobody was making any scenes, but it was obvious to all around that something was going on). There were a couple messages left on our cabin phone, and a note, from the Maitre d' - indicating that they had a new table for us and to please return to the dining room. We opted to just wing it the last three nights.

 

Odd series of events which occurred for this to happen, but such is life!

 

Tom

[BlerkOne]

25 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

Not really.  The CDC is asking for input from the public and the cruise lines to establish guidelines.  I went to the CDC site and filled out a form.  NOW, if a government agency keeps telling a business you can't operate until the guidelines are in place then they should get the guidelines in place or cede their authority.  The Europeans have had time to establish the rules and in some places are already sailing under those government issued guidelines 

 

The cruise lines in Europe needed to get permission of their flag state - e.g. Costa and Aida needed to be cleared by Italy. The CDC has given a list of requirements to cruise lines. How the cruise lines meet them is up to the cruise lines, with the appropriate authorities approving the plans or not.

 

One thing that is different is Europe has done a far better job of getting the virus under control. If the US had followed suit, we could be cruising now.

[Mary229]

2 minutes ago, BlerkOne said:

 

The cruise lines in Europe needed to get permission of their flag state - e.g. Costa and Aida needed to be cleared by Italy. The CDC has given a list of requirements to cruise lines. How the cruise lines meet them is up to the cruise lines, with the appropriate authorities approving the plans or not.

 

One thing that is different is Europe has done a far better job of getting the virus under control. If the US had followed suit, we could be cruising now.

They have not issued a formalized list.  That was one of the complaints if one read the entire interview.  The final date to send comment is a few more the days in the future.  The European equivalent to the CDC did indeed issue guidelines which all sailing ships are now using including those owned by CCL 

[lobster1313]

2 minutes ago, BlerkOne said:

The One thing that is different is Europe has done a far better job of getting the virus under control. If the US had followed suit, we could be cruising now.

That statement is no longer true since there has been a resurgence over the last month.

[BlerkOne]

Just now, regoodwinjr said:

That statement is no longer true since there has been a resurgence over the last month.

 

Of course it is true. The US has a number of flare ups as well.

 

[coevan]

5 hours ago, Mary229 said:

The CEO said in an interview this week that they will provide details when the CDC offers any suggestions.  Obviously the CDC has decided the cruise lines aren't worthy of a moment's consideration

 

 

Come on man, nothing nefarious, if they knew more, they would have better guidelines 

[lobster1313]

1 minute ago, BlerkOne said:

 

Of course it is true. The US has a number of flare ups as well.

 

The grass isn't always greener.  

[BlerkOne]

5 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

They have not issued a formalized list.  That was one of the complaints if one read the entire interview.  The final date to send comment is a few more the days in the future.  The European equivalent to the CDC did indeed issue guidelines which all sailing ships are now using including those owned by CCL 

 

Guidelines, not requirements.

https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/COVID-19-cruise-guidance-27-07-2020.pdf

 

The CDC has issued guidelines for crew and I don't know if any cruise lines responded. I think they ended up using the ships to transport crew back home.

https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/cruise/management/interim-guidance-no-sail-order.html

 

 

[bitemyfly]

Business is looking for the gov Agency to spell  out the protocols  of a brand new virus ( weather man made or not) to allow them to continue operating . perhaps they could but in the list of issues they have going on that is way down on the list .

they have asked the businesses to submit their plans . 
in the absence of a effective cure or extremely low death rate the business will have to make their semi closed environment much more safe , palatable and enticing  for the majority of paying customers.

Cruise lines need to show something, and I do believe private enterprise will

have answers not agencies .

[pc_load_letter]

I applaud the industry leaders for speaking up.

 

 

[pc_load_letter]

2 minutes ago, bitemyfly said:

Cruise lines need to show something,

 

They are. Donald specifically sites Costa and their success in cruising in Italy.

[BlerkOne]

7 minutes ago, pc_load_letter said:

 

That's unfortunate but would love to know more details on their testing protocols before even boarding the ship. To be sick to the point a person was hospitalized, I would assume that you had symptoms leading up to that point.

The ambulance chase read your mind

https://www.cruiselawnews.com/2020/09/articles/disease/guests-and-crew-members-on-croisieurope-river-cruise-ship-test-positive-for-coivd-19/

 

[Host Jazzbeau]

34 minutes ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

John Lennon was onto something !

 

This is even more true with the preposition 'on'

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Just now, Host Jazzbeau said:

 

This is even more true with the preposition 'on'

 

LOL - I thought of that as well when I was typing it. 

[firefly333]

23 minutes ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

LOL - I thought of that as well when I was typing it. 

Tom or is it Cheryl, have you looked at the new suite class with perks on mardi gras?  Seems like your kind of thing.

Edited September 12, 2020 by firefly333

[beerman2]

7 hours ago, Mary229 said:

The CEO said in an interview this week that they will provide details when the CDC offers any suggestions.  Obviously the CDC has decided the cruise lines aren't worthy of a moment's consideration

Shouldn't the cruise lines have given the CDC their plans and asked if they were suitable. Del Rio (NCL) has just said they will have plans ready in a week to 10 days.

 

What have the cruise lines  been doing if just Now they are getting plans in place. 

 

The fault lies  somewhere between , not solely on the CDC.

[Mary229]

Just now, beerman2 said:

Shouldn't the cruise lines have given the CDC their plans and asked if they were suitable. Del Rio (NCL) has just said they will have plans ready in a week to 10 days.

 

What have the cruise lines  been doing if just Now they are getting plans in place. 

 

The fault lies  somewhere between , not solely on the CDC.

I think that is a fair statement.   

[beerman2]

3 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

I think that is a fair statement.   

Chengkp75 had said long ago it was his feeling the cruise lines were trying to wait out the CDC. Maybe now they realized that tactic wasn't working. 

 

He has some past knowledge having worked for NCL as a Chief Engineer, before getting into private sector of shipping.

[Mary229]

2 minutes ago, beerman2 said:

Chengkp75 had said long ago it was his feeling the cruise lines were trying to wait out the CDC. Maybe now they realized that tactic wasn't working. 

 

He has some past knowledge having worked for NCL as a Chief Engineer, before getting into private sector of shipping.

Perhaps their position was formed because the Europeans were so proactive in establishing detailed protocols. Here is the issue for a business.  If they establish a protocol and expend the funds to enact that protocol they are spinning their proverbial wheels if the protocols are deemed unsuitable.   If a government wants to regulate they must lead.   You can’t waffle stating it is your domain then saying but business you figure it out and then we will let you know if we like what we see.  The Europeans did it right and thus potentially letting their home based businesses gain market share.  Pandemic management is not rocket science.  The rules should be able to be written on the back of a napkin.   Sure management and installation  of those rules can be difficult but the rules are fairly easy to design