APPROPRIATE ACTIONS OR EXTREME MEASURES?

[Spif Barwunkel]

                                  

I’ll use Celebrity as the example here since X is the cruise line of choice for my three currently booked cruises. This is what I want to see when next I attempt to acquire my sea legs onboard Silhouette in April 2021, if indeed worldwide cruising has started again.

 

Prior to the resumption of global cruising whatever the protocols and guidelines are, as established by the CDC, the CLIA and each individual cruise line, there should be total commitment by all to ensure that those directions are adhered to and enforced. Information regarding the new criteria and the consequences for non-compliance should be copiously disseminated through various media outlets. In addition, each cruise line should have the same information at the forefront of their website, in plain view for all to see. There should be no doubt, no confusion and no obfuscation as to what is expected of us, whether a passenger or a crew member.

 

Once final payment is made, the cruise documents one receives should overtly include those same guidelines, expectations and consequences along with a form requiring the signature of each passenger, acknowledging receipt, understanding and compliance. That form will be surrendered during check-in at the terminal.

 

Folks, from the time we set foot in to the cruise terminal until the day we disembark, there should be complete understanding of how things are going to be. If one’s intent is to fake it and once onboard try to circumvent the rules, he/she may be unpleasantly surprised. I am not averse to confinement, fines, being escorted off the ship or even the creation of a no-sail list, on which one will be placed for a minimum of two years. After all, it’s not just about you and me and a few days at sea. The negative effects of stubbornness, ignorance and selfishness extend far beyond my enjoyment and someone else’s pious self-indulgence.

 

If standards are set and expectations are met, we cruisers can help the industry recover. Those who shun the idea of additional rules and regulations, and compliance with same, have no place on a ship and deserve what befalls them.

     

   

 

Edited September 15, 2020 by Spif Barwunkel

[Dr. Pam]

YES!

[dani negreanu]

Another resounding YES 👍

 

[marieps]

If the rules are clear and unambiguous, I'm with you.  It would have been nice to have rules posted before final payment, but until CDC actually publishes that was clearly too much to ask for.  Sadly, there will be those who attempt to end-around.  There always are.

[Fouremco]

Absolutely! 👍👍👍

[Ravbo]

I totally agree and support the above.

Your comment "we cruisers can help the industry recover" is very important for everyone to understand.

I couldn't have said it better.

 

 

 

Edited September 15, 2020 by Ravbo

[Pickels]

I agree 100%, that's why I'm not going back to the office but, instead working from home.  People who ride public transportation, know the rules but, try to circumvent the rules.  Some don't care.  Same would apply to cruising; so, enforce the rules.

[jelayne]

👍👍

[bama4cruisin]

Absolutely!  

[cruisestitch]

Remember when there were ships that tried to implement “no smoking anywhere on the whole ship”.  Passengers had to sign agreements that they wouldn’t smoke.  Guess what?  Many did anyway.  Yes if they got caught they were kicked off the ship but many didn’t get caught.  Keep that in mind.........

[Ken the cruiser]

1 hour ago, Spif Barwunkel said:

Once final payment is made, the cruise documents one receives should overtly include those same guidelines, expectations and consequences along with a form requiring the signature of each passenger, acknowledging receipt, understanding and compliance. That form will be surrendered during check-in at the terminal.

 

Folks, from the time we set foot in to the cruise terminal until the day we disembark, there should be complete understanding of how things are going to be. If one’s intent is to fake it and once onboard try to circumvent the rules, he/she may be unpleasantly surprised. I am not averse to confinement, fines, being escorted off the ship or even the creation of a no-sail list, on which one will be placed for a minimum of two years. After all, it’s not just about you and me and a few days at sea. The negative effects of stubbornness, ignorance and selfishness extend far beyond my enjoyment and someone else’s pious self-indulgence.

Sounds great to us, with one caveat. If you choose not to sign the form at either embarkation or anytime prior to that point after final payment, you will receive a full refund in FCC. 

Edited September 15, 2020 by Ken the cruiser

[Life Buoy]

I understand that Celebrity and other lines have banned passengers for life for serious behavior problems. Any passenger who intentionally puts fellow passengers or crew in harms way should be banned for life! Every cruise line should be sent the names and details of behavior for their own consideration of action. I have absolutely no sympathy for people who put MY health, safety or life at risk!

Edited September 15, 2020 by Life Buoy

[sanger727]

1 hour ago, Spif Barwunkel said:

Information regarding the new criteria and the consequences for non-compliance should be copiously disseminated through various media outlets.

 

 

This is the only part I think it unnecessary.  I think the cruise lines should be very upfront and forward with the information for their current and future customers but randomly media dissemination isn't necessary. If someone wants to cruise they will find out when they a. contact a TA or b. go to the website and again before they make final payment. 

 

I still think the mask wearing will be somewhat unobtainable to enforce. How do you deal with the person who wears the mask around their chin all day holding a glass in their hand who claims they just pulled it down for a minute to take a drink. How are you going to define the length of time it's reasonable to pull it down for food/drink. 

[mnocket]

Sounds nice and would be effective if the "rules" were black & white.  Unfortunately, rules like "face coverings must be worn in areas where social distancing isn't possible"  leave a lot of room for personal judgement - and different people will make different judgments.  

 

Heck, even the NFL can't seem to get compliance from head coaches to wear face masks.  After Sunday's games, where many coaches were caught on camera with their masks pulled down, the NFL threatened to discipline coaches who didn't wear their face masks.  Fast forward to Monday Night Football and we see head coaches continue to flaunt the mask requirement.  Most notably we see coaches pulling their masks down whenever they speak - precisely the time it's most important to be wearing a mask.

[Life Buoy]

1 minute ago, sanger727 said:

 

This is the only part I think it unnecessary.  I think the cruise lines should be very upfront and forward with the information for their current and future customers but randomly media dissemination isn't necessary. If someone wants to cruise they will find out when they a. contact a TA or b. go to the website and again before they make final payment. 

 

I still think the mask wearing will be somewhat unobtainable to enforce. How do you deal with the person who wears the mask around their chin all day holding a glass in their hand who claims they just pulled it down for a minute to take a drink. How are you going to define the length of time it's reasonable to pull it down for food/drink. 

You could restrict where drinks are consumed! I would not like to see that, but drastic times call for drastic action. As I said before: Those who willingly place passengers or crew at risk should be dealt with . When you take a cruise you become a member of a community and must follow the rules of that community or face the consequences.

[wrk2cruise]

Just now, Life Buoy said:

You could restrict where drinks are consumed!

 

I'd love to see that.  Can't tell you how many times since the advent of drink packages I've been in an elevator with a half tipsy person with a full glass of red wine sloshing around.

[MisterMet]

Just follow the rules.  

[riredsox]

55 minutes ago, MisterMet said:

Just follow the rules.  

As The Beach Boys like to say ‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice’.  

[Gracie115]

2 hours ago, Ravbo said:

I totally agree and support the above.

Your comment "we cruisers can help the industry recover" is very important for everyone to understand.

I couldn't have said it better.

 

 

 

 

THIS is so true and all of us willing (me, me, me) to be on those 1st cruises should be prepared to do everything possible to make the cruise a success...

 

With every successful MSC sailing in Italy I cheer.....it's a beginning and they sure seem to have it right.....

[jelayne]

1 hour ago, Life Buoy said:

You could restrict where drinks are consumed! I would not like to see that, but drastic times call for drastic action. As I said before: Those who willingly place passengers or crew at risk should be dealt with . When you take a cruise you become a member of a community and must follow the rules of that community or face the consequences.

 

I think that we will need to be seated to be served.  No sitting at the bar or ordering from the bar.  Maybe it needs to be no eating or drinking unless seated while  in public areas.  So I could still take my Bailey's and cookie from Al Bacio to my cabin, I just would have to keep my mask on til I got there.

 

I think there a plenty of crew in all areas of the ship who could gently remind someone whose mask had slipped  to pull up their mask .

[Ravbo]

1 hour ago, sanger727 said:

How do you deal with the person who wears the mask around their chin all day holding a glass in their hand who claims they just pulled it down for a minute to take a drink. How are you going to define the length of time it's reasonable to pull it down for food/drink. 

 

Easy answer.

Mask can only be removed for eating/drinking when you are sitting down.

Walking around drinking without mask not allowed.

Walking around eating without mask not allowed.

The cruise lines have to get this right if they are going to survive.

They have no choice.  If they screw this up and get shut down again after being allowed to restart, they are out of business.

 

[Ashland]

I would say that you shouldn't have to print out all the documents...just the one page or just sign the form at checkin much like the health questioner you used to have to fill out....What ever happened to those anyway?

[dogs4fun]

3 hours ago, marieps said:

If the rules are clear and unambiguous

We have a Baltic cruise scheduled for August 2021 - a L&S from September 2020. We will adhere to all rules but we really need to know the rules before we sail. The deal breaker for us ... shore excursions - if X mandates that cruise tours are the only available way to disembark in ports of call we will cancel and rebook for a time when DIY is again a possibility.

Those that do not wish to adhere to the policies imposed by the cruise lines (or airlines, etc.) can simply elect not to sail. I am quite fatigued by the entitled minority that feel their desires trump the safety of the majority.

I am hoping that a vaccine, when available, is a requirement for boarding.

Edited September 15, 2020 by dogs4fun

[gerelmx]

2 hours ago, cruisestitch said:

Remember when there were ships that tried to implement “no smoking anywhere on the whole ship”.  Passengers had to sign agreements that they wouldn’t smoke.  Guess what?  Many did anyway.  Yes if they got caught they were kicked off the ship but many didn’t get caught.  Keep that in mind.........

 

That reminds me of a day at sea, and I still wonder why the police were checking my neighbor's cabin, was he smoking? and they are looking for the evidence. My assistant as mute without saying anything, I just asked him to please keep the balcony locked.

[MamaFej]

APPROPRIATE ACTIONS OR EXTREME MEASURES?

 

How about, "These measures are extremely appropriate?

 

 

I don't think the media blitz is necessary, but I imagine there will be press releases as business resumes. A brief summary of the rules could certainly be included.