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Will cruises get cancelled this year

2

Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,816 ✭✭✭skooterblue2


    Caranica wrote: »
    Is it Norwegian that have the single levels? To encourage people to cruise alone and mingle. I heard the end of a radio interview about them last year. Would consider one, even now.

    yeah, you have a tiny room with single bed, shower and toilet and small wardrobe TV and phone. You have a large singles common area and notice board. So you dont have to pay the "single supplement".


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,220 ✭✭✭✭Lex Luthor


    If you dont want to go on a cruise please dont book.
    There is a lot more to a cruise than all you can eat buffets.
    I notice you dont comment on Jamies Italian and Sabor over at Royal Caribbean. You also fail to mention the fine dining in the formal restaurant with its many levels. You make it sound like a bad Vegas Casino at sea.

    There is no "all inclusive package". You pay for your room and food. You want drinks or a drinks package that extra. You want a dining experience, that is extra. You want to go to the spa, thats extra. You want to go on a day excursion, that is extra.

    I dont think you know anything about the industry. No its not perfect but dont go commenting about something you clearly have a gaping lack of knowledge of.

    like I said previously I have never been on one, but was planning one in a couple yrs for an upcoming landmark bday

    based on what I have been told it doesnt appeal to me anymore


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,816 ✭✭✭skooterblue2


    Lex Luthor wrote: »
    like I said previously I have never been on one, but was planning one in a couple yrs for an upcoming landmark bday

    based on what I have been told it doesnt appeal to me anymore

    And you are right its not for you, please dont get on a ship with preconceived notions while knowing very little about the industry. What you will see is only the stereo types you have in your mind set to see.

    You will see overweight Americans, retired, two burgers away from a heart attack. The noise of the casino will be unbearable. The tourist that refer to everywhere south of Galveston as Mexico. Unless you have priority boarding you are going to feel like cattle being ushered up the gang plank. There are about 20-35 decks on a ship, with port stops most days.

    You are going on a luxury holiday with 4,500 people all different nationalities and background. I saw things on the cruise I didn't like, I saw a family dressed in tracksuits and gold chains in the formal dining, being photographed giving gang signs. Yes, completely crass and inappropriate, but I put it out of my mind and carried on with my honeymoon. Sometime you have to make little compromises. Wouldn't I be one those people who you dont want to go on holiday with if I was complaining every two hours?

    I hope you really great birthday but dont be that guy down a reception every two hours, complaining the pool is over crowded. Instead be the guy who takes his wife to dance lesson everyday, does his first massage, goes to a musical every night, swims with stingrays and goes quad biking into the rain forest. That is the guy I want to go on holidays.

    Cruising has changed so much in the last 15 years. Its no longer for the elite and has relaxed alot. The profile has changed from the over fed, newly wed and nearly dead. Its family orientated with kids clubs, autism friendly, relaxed. That is not your holiday, fine. You always get moaners and whingers on holidays (I used to work in hotels), no matter how your prostrate yourself before them, they will find fault. I know my wifes friend is a picky eater and my sister in law is whinger. This is due to an inferiority complex. Dont be that guy, beating on some poor 2nd world worker because there is a statin in your carpet in your room.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,217 ✭✭✭✭ELM327


    And if you want the elite cruise then go for the transatlantic cruise with cunard.

    Before this hit, I was considering it.
    I'm obsessed with Titanic style cruising. (dress style, not sinking)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,220 ✭✭✭✭Lex Luthor


    You are going on a luxury holiday with 4,500 people all different nationalities and background.

    I can think of safer ways going forward to have a luxury holiday

    unless a vaccine comes in a cruise is not for me and I personally feel there will be a lot of sentiment thinking the same which will put that industry into jeopardy


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,816 ✭✭✭skooterblue2


    Lex Luthor wrote: »
    I can think of safer ways going forward to have a luxury holiday

    unless a vaccine comes in a cruise is not for me and I personally feel there will be a lot of sentiment thinking the same which will put that industry into jeopardy

    Well then that is sorted. There will be no vaccine within 4 years (not one that is developed safely). There are going to be many new potential cruisers who will be put off due to peer pressure and then there will be travel restrictions on those over 70.

    If it is any consolation, my missus wants to go on safari to East Africa. NOT a F&*kin'g chance. My family has been out there on the missions which were a failure to make Africa both socially and financially independent. I am not getting a load of vaccines to go there in the state it is in.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,217 ✭✭✭✭ELM327


    Right fine. We don't want you on our cruises anyway!

    Cruises are generally booked 12-24+ months in advance. I'm still looking at end of year or q1 '21 for a med cruise (ncl epic) and for a cunard b2b transatlantic for '21 or '22. Best time to book is now.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,816 ✭✭✭skooterblue2


    ELM327 wrote: »
    Right fine. We don't want you on our cruises anyway!

    Cruises are generally booked 12-24+ months in advance. I'm still looking at end of year or q1 '21 for a med cruise (ncl epic) and for a cunard b2b transatlantic for '21 or '22. Best time to book is now.

    I second that motion.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,220 ✭✭✭✭Lex Luthor


    I'll wave ye all off on your imaginary boats


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,920 ✭✭✭cee_jay


    Royal Caribbean have announced an enhanced cruise with confidence program - so can now cancel my cruise departing end November, and I will receive future cruise credit which is valid up to Dec 31 2021.
    They have also added a "Best Price Guarantee" and "Lift and Shift"

    https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-with-confidence

    We only have a deposit paid so far, going to give the travel agent a buzz this week to see what our options are. I would love to do the cruise (it was our first time, for a significant birthday), but unsure if the Lift and Shift will work for us as the itinerary we have isn't running at the same time next year. There is a similar itinerary for number of nights and countries, but the ports are different - we would happily do the new one, but it looks to cost an extra €700 per person than what we paid.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,816 ✭✭✭skooterblue2


    cee_jay wrote: »
    Royal Caribbean have announced an enhanced cruise with confidence program - so can now cancel my cruise departing end November, and I will receive future cruise credit which is valid up to Dec 31 2021.
    They have also added a "Best Price Guarantee" and "Lift and Shift"

    https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-with-confidence

    We only have a deposit paid so far, going to give the travel agent a buzz this week to see what our options are. I would love to do the cruise (it was our first time, for a significant birthday), but unsure if the Lift and Shift will work for us as the itinerary we have isn't running at the same time next year. There is a similar itinerary for number of nights and countries, but the ports are different - we would happily do the new one, but it looks to cost an extra €700 per person than what we paid.

    Congratulations. I hope ye have a great time. Keep up to date with Sheri on CruiseTipsTV and Gary Bembridge on tips for Travellers on Youtube.
    There are tough times ahead for the industry to survive the next two years.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,816 ✭✭✭skooterblue2


    Have any of ye seen the Virgin "Scarlet Lady"? What an eye sore.
    They are offering 200% cruise credit for cancellations.
    Money wouldnt pay me to be on it. Ben and David the Youtubers sold out and gave it great reviews.

    Norwegian are issuing extra shares and have raised $4Bn capital to carry them through at 12%.
    They are great businesses but grounding an air plane like Ryanair and mothballing a ship arent the same thing. The ships have to be at sea because of docking port costs and they need to be run with constant maintenance.

    RCC Boss Fiennes has been making Youtube videos from his home about what the future will look like post-pandemic. I have to see that yet.


  • Posts: 2,078 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    There will be no vaccine within 4 years. The virus changes so rapidly.

    Not true. Coronaviruses are genetically very stable compared to influenza viruses. And the "different strains" story doing the rounds is about very tiny differences in DNA, not wholesale changes like influenza or HIV. Now maybe it will take 4 years, or never come, but it won't be because of the virus changing rapidly.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,816 ✭✭✭skooterblue2


    Not true. Coronaviruses are genetically very stable compared to influenza viruses. And the "different strains" story doing the rounds is about very tiny differences in DNA, not wholesale changes like influenza or HIV. Now maybe it will take 4 years, or never come, but it won't be because of the virus changing rapidly.

    I think we would be better off waiting for the Virus to run its natural course. There is no way you would get me within an asses roar of a vaccine that has been rushed through like the Swine and Avain ones.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,200 ✭✭✭hots


    Have any of ye seen the Virgin "Scarlet Lady"? What an eye sore.
    They are offering 200% cruise credit for cancellations.
    Money wouldnt pay me to be on it. Ben and David the Youtubers sold out and gave it great reviews.

    What don't you like about it? Looks cool enough to me.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 771 ✭✭✭munstergirl


    I can't see cruise ships back in business anytime soon even 2021 they are still sending their crew home by cruise ship all over the world at the moment. If cruises so go ahead in August where will they get the crew from?
    Also there has been 4 suicides in last 10 days onboard different ships. Rest in peace.

    Where will these cruises go? What country is going to want to let a cruise ship dock with thousands of passengers mainly from USA?

    Mixing lots of different nationalities onboard, some countries doing a good job trying to control coronavirus, some not so good. It would be impossible to social isolate on ship.

    Even if they check people for coronavirus, you might not have symptoms starting cruise but develop symptoms during cruise. Plus most cruises you have to fly to get there. Even if no-one has covid on ship, what's to stop them getting infected in one of the ports.

    It's not looking good for cruise ship industry at the moment and lots of new huge ships ment to be launched this year.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,816 ✭✭✭skooterblue2


    hots wrote: »
    What don't you like about it? Looks cool enough to me.

    Firstly its very pricy for minimal furnishings.
    Have you seen the size of the pool?!?!?!?
    The RED everywhere drives my anxiety mad.
    Complaints about dimensions from larger cruisers.

    I would give it a hard pass in favour of older ships from more established cruise lines. I think with the exception of "Emma Cruises" on youtube, they all gave it stellar ratings despite the obvious short comings


  • Registered Users Posts: 317 ✭✭gooseygander


    Just about to press go on booking a cruise after Christmas from Florida to Bahamas, am I crazy ?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 645 ✭✭✭Annabella1


    No vaccine ever invented for malaria/HIV
    Who knows where we are with Corona
    Gonna take a long time to manufacture billions of vaccines
    HCW and the elderly will rightly be first in the queue
    3-5 years for a cruise(?) Sorry..


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 68,317 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    Just about to press go on booking a cruise after Christmas from Florida to Bahamas, am I crazy ?
    Just get yourself some good insurance so you're not out of pocket if it's cancelled.

    Cruising will change; you'll find decent offers because fewer people want to do it, and in the short term there will be restrictions about when and where you'll be permitted to disembark. Someone countries will allow it once the ship has been following certain guidelines, others won't at all.

    As time trundles on and the worldwide capacity to test for Covid increases, it'll be possible to do things like having people tested the day before they board, and intermittently throughout their journey, with strict and effective procedures in place for positive tests.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,816 ✭✭✭skooterblue2


    Annabella1 wrote: »
    No vaccine ever invented for malaria/HIV
    Who knows where we are with Corona
    Gonna take a long time to manufacture billions of vaccines
    HCW and the elderly will rightly be first in the queue
    3-5 years for a cruise(?) Sorry..

    Malaria could be wiped out but there is no will power to do it. It was done in Panama in two short years bu the US Army pouring oil over the stagnant water surfaces. There is too much money in HIV to attempt to develop a vaccine (£18kpa per patient). Its all good business.

    Develop and manufacture are two different things.
    Develop a vaccine is the hard part, manufacture could be done in weeks.
    I believe the virus will have run its course in 3 years more.
    Tough times are ahead for everyone.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,816 ✭✭✭skooterblue2


    Just about to press go on booking a cruise after Christmas from Florida to Bahamas, am I crazy ?

    Yeah, I can see us still in lock down in the second wave. Also there will be another Stock market collapse in October November.

    Keep your powder dry and invest immediately after the collapse.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,644 ✭✭✭✭punisher5112


    Just about to press go on booking a cruise after Christmas from Florida to Bahamas, am I crazy ?

    I would honestly hold off until you know what the world is going to be like.....

    There are cruise ships sitting out at sea with 100s of staff stranded on these as they can't dock anywhere as the amount of them and size....

    These ships aren't designed to be sitting up and taking on storms as they are at the moment, I'd be staying well clear for a while as could you imagine what it will be like especially staff that are worn out and most likely worried and depressed and so on....

    If you have me an all expenses paid one and I honestly wouldn't go the way the world is right now.... No chance


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,220 ✭✭✭✭Lex Luthor


    Yeah, I can see us still in lock down in the second wave. Also there will be another Stock market collapse in October November.

    Keep your powder dry and invest immediately after the collapse.

    another stock market crash is emminent, but probably after elections rather than before


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,220 ✭✭✭✭Lex Luthor


    Just about to press go on booking a cruise after Christmas from Florida to Bahamas, am I crazy ?

    I wouldnt


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,816 ✭✭✭skooterblue2


    Lex Luthor wrote: »
    another stock market crash is emminent, but probably after elections rather than before

    You can see the war going on, The Federal reserve are printing money to cover up this collapse which will compound the problem and the markets are due to collapse deeper which will result in a deeper mess. Its not going to be pretty


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,816 ✭✭✭skooterblue2


    I can't see cruise ships back in business anytime soon even 2021 they are still sending their crew home by cruise ship all over the world at the moment. If cruises so go ahead in August where will they get the crew from?
    Also there has been 4 suicides in last 10 days onboard different ships. Rest in peace.

    Where will these cruises go? What country is going to want to let a cruise ship dock with thousands of passengers mainly from USA?

    Mixing lots of different nationalities onboard, some countries doing a good job trying to control coronavirus, some not so good. It would be impossible to social isolate on ship.

    Even if they check people for coronavirus, you might not have symptoms starting cruise but develop symptoms during cruise. Plus most cruises you have to fly to get there. Even if no-one has covid on ship, what's to stop them getting infected in one of the ports.

    It's not looking good for cruise ship industry at the moment and lots of new huge ships ment to be launched this year.

    Hospitality staff are easily recruited and disposed of, one of the pluses and downsides of the industry. There are people dying every day on cruise ships, you never hear about it because the staff never tell you. Over what period and how many cruises ships did this happen? I would say it is slightly more than average.

    I dont think working on cruise ships is great for your mental health as you are always on call and no matter hard to try it is almost impossible to get alone time. You almost always a death on a ship and one or two heart attacks, family friend is a nurse onboard. I would do three weeks back to back no problem, after the euphoria..... I could see it getting depressing.

    Ships have to pay massive fees to dock relative to how long they dock for. Of course the port authorities want them back.


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 27,264 CMod ✭✭✭✭spurious


    Just about to press go on booking a cruise after Christmas from Florida to Bahamas, am I crazy ?

    I would be very wary of anything at the moment involving large numbers of Americans. Their policy seems to be just to let the virus run unchecked.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,344 ✭✭✭Thoie


    I'm in a lot of cruising groups/forums in various places, and it looks at the moment that it could be November this year at the earliest before cruises start up again (though that's all just hearsay). There's a lot of talk among crew and admins about how cruising will change - temperature checks etc, but without a vaccine I probably won't be booking one. The changes they're talking about would, for me as a solo traveler, probably change my decision to cruise. Generally traveling alone I like to eat breakfast/lunch alone, and find quiet corners to read etc. But I also enjoy sharing a table at dinner with other people, and the odd conversations that start up in the bars/by the pool.

    I'm not sure what transmission rates in swimming pools are like, but I doubt they'd be great places to spend time. If they introduce physical distancing in dining rooms etc, it's unlikely that a solo traveler would be "allowed" join other groups for meals.

    I'd definitely be booking a balcony when/if I next go cruising - on the off chance that I did end up in a quarantine situation, having a balcony would definitely make things easier.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,816 ✭✭✭skooterblue2


    Thoie wrote: »
    I'm not sure what transmission rates in swimming pools are like, but I doubt they'd be great places to spend time.

    I'd definitely be booking a balcony when/if I next go cruising - on the off chance that I did end up in a quarantine situation, having a balcony would definitely make things easier.

    If you like swimming pools then you are going to Lurve the hot tubs dotted around the lido deck. My wife calls them "human pot noodles". I think you only live once. We often go to our graves worrying about what we didnt do rather than the things we did do.

    I would be happy with an inside double room as long as it wasnt over the engine room or under the night club, but I could see the advantage of it in a pandemic. I used to wake up at 7am every morning and look out though the mist to see the first glimpse of the next island we were going to dock at that morning.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,329 ✭✭✭owlbethere


    Still in limbo about my cruise holidays. The travel agents is still working on holiday cases for this summer so they will get around to us at some stage in June or July.

    From reading these boards, I get a sense that some European countries want to get back on track quickly regarding opening up their economies and get travel and tourism going again. I read on the main virus section on boards that Spain will be open for holidays by July.

    I'm not comfortable going away on holidays this year at all. If it comes to it, I would nearly prefer to lose my deposit but I'm travelling with my partner and I don't want him to lose his deposit.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,123 ✭✭✭✭Gael23


    If any cruise operators survive Covid 19 then it’s proof that miracles do happen.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,816 ✭✭✭skooterblue2


    Gael23 wrote: »
    If any cruise operators survive Covid 19 then it’s proof that miracles do happen.

    Why do you say that?
    The cruise ships were running on full capacity for the last few years. They say they can run profitably on 30% occupancy when they were running at 110% booking for the last few years, with no last minute bargains. They were buying liqour at bulk tax free rates, they were hiring staff at well below any minimum wage and their gaming is unregulated. No permanent staff and good share price. Why wouldnt you believe any of the big four companies will see this to the other side?


  • Registered Users Posts: 9 Albert12


    Have any of ye seen the Virgin "Scarlet Lady"? What an eye sore.
    They are offering 200% cruise credit for cancellations.
    Money wouldnt pay me to be on it. Ben and David the Youtubers sold out and gave it great reviews.

    Norwegian are issuing extra shares and have raised $4Bn capital to carry them through at 12%.
    They are great businesses but grounding an air plane like Ryanair and mothballing a ship arent the same thing. The ships have to be at sea because of docking port costs and they need to be run with constant maintenance.

    RCC Boss Fiennes has been making Youtube videos from his home about what the future will look like post-pandemic. I have to see that yet.


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    Albert12 wrote: »
    Have any of ye seen the Virgin "Scarlet Lady"? What an eye sore.
    They are offering 200% cruise credit for cancellations.
    Money wouldnt pay me to be on it. Ben and David the Youtubers sold out and gave it great reviews.

    Norwegian are issuing extra shares and have raised $4Bn capital to carry them through at 12%.
    They are great businesses but grounding an air plane like Ryanair and mothballing a ship arent the same thing. The ships have to be at sea because of docking port costs and they need to be run with constant maintenance.

    RCC Boss Fiennes has been making Youtube videos from his home about what the future will look like post-pandemic. I have to see that yet.

    I would say the insurance companies will suffer greatly as well,alot of the cruiseships are covered by the marine liability insurance,but that also means higher future insurance for the cruise liners.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,009 ✭✭✭✭titan18


    Hospitality staff are easily recruited and disposed of, one of the pluses and downsides of the industry. There are people dying every day on cruise ships, you never hear about it because the staff never tell you. Over what period and how many cruises ships did this happen? I would say it is slightly more than average.

    I dont think working on cruise ships is great for your mental health as you are always on call and no matter hard to try it is almost impossible to get alone time. You almost always a death on a ship and one or two heart attacks, family friend is a nurse onboard. I would do three weeks back to back no problem, after the euphoria..... I could see it getting depressing.

    Ships have to pay massive fees to dock relative to how long they dock for. Of course the port authorities want them back.

    That part isn't necessarily true. I'm seeing a lot of places making noises about banning cruise ships as the people onboard often spend very little and make it worse for other tourists staying in the city due to overtourism.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,816 ✭✭✭skooterblue2


    Albert12 wrote: »
    Have any of ye seen the Virgin "Scarlet Lady"? What an eye sore.
    They are offering 200% cruise credit for cancellations.
    Money wouldnt pay me to be on it. Ben and David the Youtubers sold out and gave it great reviews.

    Norwegian are issuing extra shares and have raised $4Bn capital to carry them through at 12%.
    They are great businesses but grounding an air plane like Ryanair and mothballing a ship arent the same thing. The ships have to be at sea because of docking port costs and they need to be run with constant maintenance.

    RCC Boss Fiennes has been making Youtube videos from his home about what the future will look like post-pandemic. I have to see that yet.

    Those were my thoughts exactly.

    The "Scarlet Lady" is only one ship in hundreds of cruises, I wouldnt be caught dead on it dont base all ships on one disaster. Did you get a look at the pool? Did you see all the Red? You would need a year to re model that ship to make it presentable. As for those pair of muppets, give them a few grand and they will say anything. However Emma Cruises slatted the whole ship on every level and Virgin made her take down the bad review.

    Those ships are burning money running engines and staff with no income. They must have been doing well because Royal Caribbean said they could run with 33% occupancy.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,644 ✭✭✭✭punisher5112


    I'd say if you were staff stuck on them now, they'll need treatment for the rest of their lives....


    Shocking business model.., fcuk the tycoons


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,816 ✭✭✭skooterblue2



    Shocking business model.., fcuk the tycoons CDC

    FYP ..... Its the CDC that wont allow the staff to rotate.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,644 ✭✭✭✭punisher5112


    FYP ..... Its the CDC that wont allow the staff to rotate.

    Well still they ain't paid enough anyway.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,816 ✭✭✭skooterblue2


    Well still they ain't paid enough anyway.

    That is true but they pay no tax and most (2nd and 3rd world employees) are paid well. Sometimes your early career (acupuncturist, massage therapist, chef, hotel manager, Nurse, DJ, Photographer) requires you to work in these positions to colour your CV. Others they are getting paid way more than at home.

    I think if it is something you want to do then do it. Relative to your country it can be a very lucrative career. On top of our prepaid gratuity I also tipped the room attendant, coffee girl, wedding officier, photographer and DJ/Technical officer.

    Would I do it? No I am not at that stage in life anymore but I would do it for a year if I could regardless of the pay.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,329 ✭✭✭owlbethere


    I read a piece online from a different cruise operator - carnival cruises. It looks as if they are aiming for July to get back sailing and operating cruises. They will be implementing measures and social distancing and the requirement to wear masks. More than likely other operators will probably follow.
    It looks like maybe the cruises won't be cancelled.

    The virus is suppressed now but it's still out there. I don't feel comfortable with continuing on with the holiday plans. Maybe if I lived in the same country as the port of departure it might not be too bad. Driving to the port and parking up won't be so bad. But I'm leaving from Ireland. It means travelling from my home by bus to the airport. Doing all that airport rigmarole, then transfers from the arrival airport to the docklands and then onto the ship. There's far too much travelling and risk right there.

    Also I think staff conditions on the ships can be poor. I don't feel comfortable with cramped living conditions for the staff. I mean like, surely the virus will just spread around the staff quarters.

    Then there is the arrival back home to Ireland. I really don't want to pick up the infection out abroad and bring it home. I live with my mother.

    It probably means losing the deposit. I don't care about my deposit but my partner might not be too happy about that.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,816 ✭✭✭skooterblue2


    owlbethere wrote: »
    I read a piece online from a different cruise operator - carnival cruises. It looks as if they are aiming for July to get back sailing and operating cruises.
    It looks like maybe the cruises won't be cancelled.

    The virus is suppressed now but it's still out there. I don't feel comfortable with continuing on with the holiday plans. Maybe if I lived in the same country as the port of departure it might not be too bad. Driving to the port and parking up won't be so bad. But I'm leaving from Ireland. It means travelling from my home by bus to the airport. Doing all that airport rigmarole, then transfers from the arrival airport to the docklands and then onto the ship. There's far too much travelling and risk right there.

    Also I think staff conditions on the ships can be poor.

    Then there is the arrival back home to Ireland. I really don't want to pick up the infection out abroad and bring it home. I live with my mother.

    It probably means losing the deposit. I don't care about my deposit but my partner might not be too happy about that.

    There is going to be no big return to cruising this year. The cruise companies are trying to hold on to your deposit, not illegally but more by incentive. Most cruises wont be happening this year. Next year will be tough too.

    Sit tight and wait for the cruise company to cancel and rebook. Staff are well paid relatively to the country they work in. They get rotated every 4-6 months on contract. Its great for a single person wanting to see the world. Its not for me at this stage but I would have done it when I was younger given the chance. Most are 2nd and 3rd world employees and are making relative fortunes.

    As for staff conditions, we live in this air fairly land where everything has to well and balance. Life isnt like that, no pain no gain. I cant understand why my wife slaves for a bit better than minimum wage in a shop with no prospect to rise. She cant understand why I do education with no immediate payment. These people from third world are raking it in and when their tours are up will go home and set up businesses.

    Hold your powder and wait. It will all pan out. You will have your cake and eat it. The cruise will be cancelled, you will get offered 125% credit and you rebook for 2022.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,816 ✭✭✭skooterblue2


    titan18 wrote: »
    That part isn't necessarily true. I'm seeing a lot of places making noises about banning cruise ships as the people onboard often spend very little and make it worse for other tourists staying in the city due to overtourism.

    Do you think $40,000 is a relatively large amount of money to dock for 12 hours? Consider how much loca produce is bought and transferred aboard every day and rubbish taken off? I am not saying the small traders on shore make a fortune but the the large local contractors do. That is where the money is. The whole caribbean is built on tourism and banking. Most cities in the Caribbean have at least one ship in a day.

    How do you propose to fill 600 meters of port space with another ship at 40k per day? because they manufacture very little in these poorer parts of the world.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,816 ✭✭✭skooterblue2


    Lex Luthor wrote: »
    its for this reason why I think the cruise line industry is doomed
    No company can afford to be without revenue for 18 months and survive

    Allow me to trash that post for you. Goldman Sachs have stepped in, there have been bonds issued at 12%. Extra shares have been allocated. they have raised 4Bn liquidity. I am not saying they go cheap credit. RCL is up 40% since the bottom.
    I know why Goldman Sach invest and it wasnt out of pure benevolence. They wanted the private offshore islands to maintain their servers. This virus will be over and the world will return to cruising. Its going to be a very tough time for everyone and especially the tourism industry, but they will get through it.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 929 ✭✭✭sternn


    I had flights and cruise booked for 4 people that I was meant to be on this week. I paid €1,000 deposit and the balance of around €5,000 was due 10 weeks ago. Not wanting to lose my deposit and presuming the cruise was going to be cancelled, I paid the full amount.

    Low and behold the cruise was cancelled 3 weeks later. But now I'm struggling to get the money back from the travel agent. The cruise is with MSC and I can see they may take up to 120 days to issue the refund. I don't want to go down the chargeback route as the travel agent will have to pay. I didn't want to take the credit option as I don't particularly want to go on a cruise when the virus is still around, and that will be the case next year.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,816 ✭✭✭skooterblue2


    sternn wrote: »
    I had flights and cruise booked for 4 people that I was meant to be on this week. I paid €1,000 deposit and the balance of around €5,000 was due 10 weeks ago. Not wanting to lose my deposit and presuming the cruise was going to be cancelled, I paid the full amount.

    Low and behold the cruise was cancelled 3 weeks later. But now I'm struggling to get the money back from the travel agent. The cruise is with MSC and I can see they may take up to 120 days to issue the refund. I don't want to go down the chargeback route as the travel agent will have to pay. I didn't want to take the credit option as I don't particularly want to go on a cruise when the virus is still around, and that will be the case next year.

    Everyone is struggling to get their money back. Be patient or wait for the Virus to end and rebook. Simples. You arent going abroad on any other holiday either. You cant have it every way, other people have it far worse than you.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,009 ✭✭✭✭titan18


    Do you think $40,000 is a relatively large amount of money to dock for 12 hours? Consider how much loca produce is bought and transferred aboard every day and rubbish taken off? I am not saying the small traders on shore make a fortune but the the large local contractors do. That is where the money is. The whole caribbean is built on tourism and banking. Most cities in the Caribbean have at least one ship in a day.

    How do you propose to fill 600 meters of port space with another ship at 40k per day? because they manufacture very little in these poorer parts of the world.

    I'm not certain on the Caribbean tbh. I was more in about the places that struggle with over tourism that also happen to attract cruises. Likes of Barcelona, Venice, Dubrovnik etc have all made noises about reducing or banning cruises.

    Theres been a move towards sustainable travel and it does bring a different group to a place that will stay longer.

    Just been things I've seen online on travel sites.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,816 ✭✭✭skooterblue2


    titan18 wrote: »
    I'm not certain on the Caribbean tbh. I was more in about the places that struggle with over tourism that also happen to attract cruises. Likes of Barcelona, Venice, Dubrovnik etc have all made noises about reducing or banning cruises.

    Theres been a move towards sustainable travel and it does bring a different group to a place that will stay longer.

    Just been things I've seen online on travel sites.

    So you are going to replace 1 cruise liner by charging 200 fishing vessels 40,000 a day. What about chandalary? what about all that locally sourced food that a ship consumes? A ship has around 5,500 staff and passengers. That is like half the Irish defense forces everyday.

    Italy and Spain arent great examples of common sense when their economies will collapse later this year. They will be grateful for even fish vessels by the end of next year. Venice do want the cruise ships. What they dont want is the ships coming into port and want to use tenders (ferry passengers) instead.

    The Caribbean is almost completely dependent on offshore banking and tourism. You cannot enforce unprofitable thought on what the local government know that make money. These places are far from perfect but thinking these economies can just set up a Dell factory and start making computers for central america is just naive.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,009 ✭✭✭✭titan18


    So you are going to replace 1 cruise liner by charging 200 fishing vessels 40,000 a day. What about chandalary? what about all that locally sourced food that a ship consumes? A ship has around 5,500 staff and passengers. That is like half the Irish defense forces everyday.

    Italy and Spain arent great examples of common sense when their economies will collapse later this year. They will be grateful for even fish vessels by the end of next year. Venice do want the cruise ships. What they dont want is the ships coming into port and want to use tenders (ferry passengers) instead.

    The Caribbean is almost completely dependent on offshore banking and tourism. You cannot enforce unprofitable thought on what the local government know that make money. These places are far from perfect but thinking these economies can just set up a Dell factory and start making computers for central america is just naive.

    Like I said, I don't know about the Caribbean, just what I've read/seen in popular cruise locations in Europe. Those places tend to get a lot of tourism anyway, and can be overtouristed as is. Cruises bring a lot less to the place then someone staying for 4-5 days so as there's a pushback on overtourism and a trend for sustainable travel, cruises will one of the first to be dropped as we've seen already.

    Course, with this coronavirus stuff, might end up with much less tourists anyway for a few years so maybe the overtourism will stop anyway.


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