Cruising and Coronavirus - How to get going again?

[Rob Lightbody]

Regarding Quarantine Hotels, interesting article here.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/feb/17/what-australia-has-learned-from-a-year-of-covid-hotel-quarantine

Especially some of the Australian findings that it can jump between rooms, and jump out to the corridor.

[Rod]

To be honest Rob, and others, from what I have read, the virus has a lot of similarities to bedbugs!

[Rob Lightbody]

The trouble is you cant simply restart right away, it takes time to get everything going again. Its not like switching on a light switch

If we take the actual ship maintenance out of the picture, the next big problem - the biggest problem - is the people - the crew.  They're all in the wrong places, and it took lots of months to get them all home when this thing started, and it will take the same again this time.

I had also wondered if the ships will end up with at least some of their original crew, or if they'll end up scattered around on all different ships.  Would be a shame, as the crew are so vital to the atmosphere on board - and with the Cunard ships there was still a link with some of them back to QE2.

[Rob Lightbody]

I see Cunard are saying they've had their busiest day of bookings in a decade today.  I'm pleased for them, the demand is there, clearly.  Lots of vaccinated, wealthy, bored older people champing at the bit!

Now was it QE2's retirement announcement, or the opening of the new QE to bookings that was what they're referring to a decade ago?

They're offering UK Cruises - and also "sun voyages" - sailing from Southampton to the Sun, but nobody gets off anywhere.  Actually sounds quite nice...

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

A massive volcano has erupted on the island of Saint Vincent in the Caribbean :

www.nytimes.com/2021/04/09/world/americas/volcano-St-Vincent-eruption-caribbean.amp.html

The BBC reports this morning that evacuations from the island are mostly to cruise ships standing by, because the other islands in the same State are worried about evacuees bringing in Covid.

I found this video about the cruise ships racing to the scene. It will be very interesting to see how this can work.

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Jonathan Boonzaier went on a three-night cruise on Dream Cruises' World Dream out of Singapore in order to write a series of articles on how cruising could be re-started.

Here is one that is free to read for non subscribers :

https://www.tradewindsnews.com/cruise-and-ferry/full-steam-ahead-the-show-has-to-go-on-for-cruise-but-is-no-easy-task-with-covid-19/2-1-1004293

And his second article follows :

https://www.tradewindsnews.com/cruise-and-ferry/masks-and-magicians-cruising-in-the-covid-19-era/2-1-1002837

[Rob Lightbody]

Cunard's Queen Elizabeth was about to resume sailings, but new crew joining the ship brought Covid on board with them...

Shows how hard it is to "keep it out" despite every possible precaution.

https://eu.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2021/07/07/crew-members-cunards-queen-elizabeth-ship-test-positive-covid/7885169002/

Is anyone reading this going on any sort of cruise this year?

[Thomas Hypher]

Cunard's Queen Elizabeth was about to resume sailings, but new crew joining the ship brought Covid on board with them...

Shows how hard it is to "keep it out" despite every possible precaution.

https://eu.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2021/07/07/crew-members-cunards-queen-elizabeth-ship-test-positive-covid/7885169002/

Is anyone reading this going on any sort of cruise this year?

My Dad and his fiancé are going on QM2's first passenger sailing since the restart, in November, if things go to plan. QM2 is due to refit, and needs it, sometime before then...

I will be joining my first ship for work sometime in the New Year, albeit it won't be a cruise ship through personal choice.

[Trevor Harris]

No cruise this year, but I'm carving out plans to do something as a treat for myself after I graduate from school in June 2022. However at the rate that things are going with covid I don't think I can see it happening. A matter of time, I guess.

[Pete Hamill]

We have booked one of the 7 day sunshine cruises at the end of September on QE. No itinerary, no stops, just follow the best weather.
Here's hoping!

[segura]

Not exactly cruising related but if you want to slake your thirst for going on a one-day trip on a boat I can suggest the ferry services between Cesme and Chios. As far as I understood there are no tests or vaccination documents required since no one asked to see neither before boarding nor during the trip. You just need to buy a Greek visa before you leave though it's not so costly. The last boat trip we have had with my family was 3 years ago before the pandemic to buy house in Cannes and this one is the first trip we had since then. I can't express how much I missed the feeling...

[June Ingram]

The Jimmy Sturr Orchestra is booked for a cruise on Sky Princess at the end of January 2022. It remains to be seen if it actually takes place, or if nervous people cancel their bookings.

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Not exactly cruising related but if you want to slake your thirst for going on a one-day trip on a boat I can suggest the ferry services between Cesme and Chios. As far as I understood there are no tests or vaccination documents required since no one asked to see neither before boarding nor during the trip. You just need to buy a Greek visa before you leave though it's not so costly. The last boat trip we have had with my family was 3 years ago before the pandemic to buy house in Cannes and this one is the first trip we had since then. I can't express how much I missed the feeling...

Yes, ferries and all kinds of little ships would interest me now. I have no idea whether I would ever want to go on a cruise again. I think to a very large extent it would depend on who else comes... and not because of an interest in a particular ship.

[cunardqueen]

  Cunard's Queen Elizabeth was about to resume sailings, but new crew joining the ship brought Covid on board with them...

Shows how hard it is to "keep it out" despite every possible precaution.
 

I was surprised on my recent trip to London Its all very well pushing the NHS Track and trace and asking everyone to scan that QR code. I scanned it on multiple times at various locations. It wouldn't work as my postcode wasn't accepted.(its a scottish one)  so then the marvelous system swung into action , for some places you were just ushered through, 2 places had the form to leave your details but no pens, use your own l was told , but l had no pen.  one place took down my details.and the rest were not really bothered. A charming little cafe l was served by an old dear, she asked "But you will have had both vaccines " l said Yes and im past the 3 week stage , but l just dont have proof on me. " she looked straight at me and said "But you have a kind honest face " l wasn't sure if l should laugh cry or give her a big hug .

As was mentioned onboard Easyjet "We can all help reduce the spread by wearing masks, so we ask that all passengers wear masks"
l was enjoying  a cuppa onboard and was finished and nodded off and was prodded by a member of the crew. She was polite, but firm and l was mortified that l had let my regime slip. l must say they were very good in the mask department.

My thoughts were on the poor staff at that football place.  dealing with the ******* l fear they might have had a better response by peeing in the wind, and we know how effective that is.

It would be nice to be able to travel like the old days, but l fear those days are long gone.

[Rob Lightbody]

This is hardly surprising...

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/carnival-cruise-ship-vista-covid-cases/index.html