Can the Cruise Industry survive ?

[BruceK]

I'm not sure I see the cruise ships gratis medical treatment and free transport or accommodation as benevolent. More likely a bribe. On one ship infected passengers were locked into their cabins to minimise risks to others. A comfortable prison perhaps, but a prison still.

Nor I. More likely an admission of guilt and responsibility.

 

[HTurner]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stopped reporting coronavirus levels for cruise ships in U.S. waters, ending a pandemic-era program that allowed the public to monitor the spread of the virus at sea.




https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2022/07/18/cdc-stops-sharing-cruise-covid-data/

 

[twistedtree]

What`s happening elsewhere, USA, Canada, etc?

It seems to me that everyone is getting it, and nobody cares. Newer strains are much more contagious so pretty certain you will get it no matter what you do. But they don’t make you as sick, esp if you have been vaccinated. Life goes on.

 

[Comodave]

We had a large family gathering and my DIL and I tested positive. My symptoms were very mild, coughing and very tired. I had 2 vaccinations and 2 boosters otherwise the outcome probably would have been much much worse. Took 9 days before I tested negative. But I never reported it, didn’t have the mechanism. And all the unreported cases is a very good reason not to take a cruise.

 

[Hippocampus]

Some folks miss the point.
Covid is a respiratory virus. It’s spread overwhelmingly by aerosol not touch.

As I said about a year ago if a virus is quickly lethal it will kill before many are infected by that individual. Natural history of almost all viruses be it measles, mumps, Covid or others is they mutate to become more infectious but not necessarily more lethal. That is what has occurred with Covid. Covid is of particular difficulty has some are minimally effected and the virus is most infectious before symptoms appear or short there after. However it still kills or permanently disables a significant percentage. It will be endemic in humans from this point forward much like influenza. Like influenza some variants with more or less mortality or morbidity.
Cruise ships are a travesty ecologically and grossly distort the local economies of ports they visit if those ports are not first world. Both are to the detriment of local populations although the local elites are enriched. I sincerely hope they fail.

 

[smitty477]

But like I said if people are self testing but not reporting results, the data is not accurate anyway.

It never really was that accurate.

 

[Comodave]

Ok, Hippo, tell us how you really feel about cruise ships…. I do agree though.

 

[slowgoesit]

Warning, Thread Drift.

Folks, please stay on topic as to whether the cruise industry can survive or not. This is NOT a vaxing/masking thread. Thanks for understanding.
Trawler Forum Site Team

 

[backinblue]

Respectfully though, the thread was started asking if the cruise industry will survive specifically in the face of Covid, not just whether it will survive or not for any other reason. Seems like discussions about Covid transmission and prevention are very relevant to the topic. As long as it's discussed in a non-argumentive manner, I find the information useful.

 

[O C Diver]

Clearly the cruise industry is suffering from economy of scale. While larger ships probably lower costs per person, higher passenger volumes seem to almost guarantee the likelyhood of health problems. What I'm wondering is whether small ships / boats are having similar problems or if their market share is improving from lower infection rates.

Ted

 

[backinblue]

Clearly the cruise industry is suffering from economy of scale. While larger ships probably lower costs per person, higher passenger volumes seem to almost guarantee the likelyhood of health problems. What I'm wondering is whether small ships / boats are having similar problems or if their market share is improving from lower infection rates.

Ted

My limited experience, never on a big cruise ship but recently on a small one, I suspect infection rates may be similar. So on a small boat a handful of people, vs. hundreds on a big ship. I did notice by the time we left our small boat cruise, a number of people were coughing and likely had Covid. Didn't know we did till we got home and tested.

Something kind of interesting.....

There was a guy at our dinner table that seemed to be getting sicker toward the end of the cruise. On the last day, he went to their medical guys who said that he likely had a cold and didn't bother testing him. A positive test would be bad for the cruise company and for him because he would not be able to fly home that day as planned and would have to quarantine for a week. Another reason not to fully trust the data.

 

[Gdavid]

Personally, the risk of a norovirus outbreak on a cruise ship is a larger factor to my lack of desire to take a cruise than covid. I'm not saying norovirus is as deadly but norovirus would be more likely to ruin my trip. I'm also younger and arguably healthier than the average trawler owner, so my perspective is skewed.

 

[Gdavid]

Clearly the cruise industry is suffering from economy of scale. While larger ships probably lower costs per person, higher passenger volumes seem to almost guarantee the likelyhood of health problems. What I'm wondering is whether small ships / boats are having similar problems or if their market share is improving from lower infection rates.

Ted

Interesting question, I would guess that the demographics of large versus small cruise ship customer base would play a factor. I believe the smaller cruise ships tend to provide a higher level of service and have an older and more affluent patronage compared to the Carnival crowd. I would guess that the Carnival crowd is less concerned with Covid compared to the smaller ship patrons.

 

[CharlieO.]

On our cruise taking our new to us boat to our summer slip, our son tested positive on day 2 of a 4 day trip neither I nor his mother caught it. Very tight quarters on a 34'er. We didn't isolate or wear masks. She even tested every day for a week after the trip as she works with young children.

I know that's not exactly what this thread is covering, just our first hand experience.

 

[smitty477]

Quote....

"Bayley noted that the CDC shared some information with him about the "millions" of people who have sailed from U.S. ports over the past 12 months.

"And the number of people who died from COVID who'd sailed on ships over the past year was two," Royal Caribbean Blog reported. "Two is terrible. But against the context of everything we've seen, [that's] truly been a remarkable success.""

Here is the link...
https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/ne...pc=U531&cvid=c3bccfaaf5704a0490d812d2b89caa0f

 

[twistedtree]

The cruise ships all appear to be in full swing here in SE AK, as well as up to Prince William Sound and Seward. I don’t know how full they are, but there is no shortage of ships in operation, both large and small.

 

[CaptTom]

Personally, the risk of a norovirus outbreak on a cruise ship is a larger factor to my lack of desire to take a cruise than covid. I'm not saying norovirus is as deadly but norovirus would be more likely to ruin my trip. I'm also younger and arguably healthier than the average trawler owner, so my perspective is skewed.

I had a norovirus on a cruise ship, and I've had COVID. The norovirus lasted about 12 hours. Admittedly, 12 miserable hours. But after that I enjoyed the rest of the cruise.


COVID had me in bed for 1-1/2 to 2 days, feeling sick for one or two more. That certainly would have ruined a cruise, especially if I'd been forced to quarantine for the rest of the cruise, or put off the ship.

 

[Larry M]

Of course they’ll the cruise ship industry will survive as in evidenced in todays market closing. The CDC program for testing and other Covid guidelines which were voluntary earlier this year ended today. Who bought at the bottom?

Carnival shares gained about 7% on Tuesday to close at $10.36, while Royal Caribbean shares gained almost 6% to $36.36 and Norwegian shares rose roughly 3.5% to $12.85.

 

[BruceK]

Piecing it together, it sounds like "yes we`ve got Covid onboard, and we`re cruising,we`re boarding and disembarking, as usual". Same impression cruise PR flacks here seem to want accepted:"Go Cruising, with Covid".

Wonder if its more or less a gamble than the wretched onboard casino? We will see, but not until October, by which time Omicron may have peaked. Or been replaced. Or....

 

[smitty477]

The cruise ships all appear to be in full swing here in SE AK, as well as up to Prince William Sound and Seward. I don’t know how full they are, but there is no shortage of ships in operation, both large and small.

Same here in Florida now - it appears they are mostly full from looking at the cruise parking lots, people boarding and the availability/pricing of cabins within 1-2 months of departures.

 

[Seevee]

I really hope the industry survives, just don't need a big failure that will affect so many folks.


I'm not a cruiser at all. Did one, never again. Don't like being captive on someone elses boat when I have zero choices and crowded in with thousands of other people. Don't like crowds and meals prepared for the masses absolutely suck.



Why the hell would anyone with their own boat want to go on a cruise?

 

[CaptTom]

I'm not a cruiser at all. Did one, never again. Don't like being captive on someone elses boat when I have zero choices and crowded in with thousands of other people. Don't like crowds and meals prepared for the masses absolutely suck.

I haven't been on a cruise ship in a while, but I have a different perspective. You certainly have choices on a cruise ship. It's only crowded if you like to frequent the "popular" places, like the pool deck in the daytime, or the bars and casinos at night. We like to be on deck under the stars at night, and down below or ashore during the day. We hate crowds too.

For me, any meals I don't have to cook are good. If your standards are higher, there are other options on these ships.

Why the hell would anyone with their own boat want to go on a cruise?

For a change. It's like asking why anyone who owns a house would go to a resort hotel.

 

[smitty477]

I really hope the industry survives, just don't need a big failure that will affect so many folks.


I'm not a cruiser at all. Did one, never again. Don't like being captive on someone elses boat when I have zero choices and crowded in with thousands of other people. Don't like crowds and meals prepared for the masses absolutely suck.



Why the hell would anyone with their own boat want to go on a cruise?

"Why the hell would anyone with their own boat want to go on a cruise?"
I can think of a few....
- when visiting places that are 100's or 1,000's of miles away
- when traveling with extended family and friends
- when going to places that the 'little' boat might not be safe/preferred

 

[Benthic2]

Why the hell would anyone with their own boat want to go on a cruise?

Entertainment Density.

Where else can you have a movie theater, a live comic, a live band with singers and dancers, a casino, a driving range, skeet shooting, multiple pools and more within 800 feet of you. Add in unlimited food, no dishes to wash, someone to make your bed and the chance to see some foreign ports and its hard to beat a cruise for entertainment options per dollar.

You can always minimize the crowds and costs by going in the off season when ships are generally only half full, and prices are considerably lower.

 

[Hippocampus]

Believe the idea of travel is to not bring your house and culture with you. At present if you take a Caribbean cruise you might as well go to Vegas , Miami Beach or Disney. Even if not by personal yacht but a hotel, resort or B&B there’s a chance you will contribute to local businesses and might even interact with local people in their not your culture. The tourist traps sell Knick knacks made in south east Asia or China not locally. The alcohol comes from international firms. Cruise ship people eat on the ship when possible not local non chain restaurants. Tours go through the cruise ship company and even most transportation. As a cruiser have talked to local car and taxi folks. Even they don’t like cruise ships. Going on a cruise ship is like putting on a virtual reality headset with the added risk of infection and pleasure of contributing to a ecological disaster. So yes I don’t like cruise ships. Also not too keen on a fair number of charter boat companies and charterers.

 

[rslifkin]

Believe the idea of travel is to not bring your house and culture with you. At present if you take a Caribbean cruise you might as well go to Vegas , Miami Beach or Disney. Even if not by personal yacht but a hotel, resort or B&B there’s a chance you will contribute to local businesses and might even interact with local people in their not your culture. The tourist traps sell Knick knacks made in south east Asia or China not locally. The alcohol comes from international firms. Cruise ship people eat on the ship when possible not local non chain restaurants. Tours go through the cruise ship company and even most transportation. As a cruiser have talked to local car and taxi folks. Even they don’t like cruise ships. Going on a cruise ship is like putting on a virtual reality headset with the added risk of infection and pleasure of contributing to a ecological disaster. So yes I don’t like cruise ships. Also not too keen on a fair number of charter boat companies and charterers.

Agreed. I can think of a lot better ways to spend money on a vacation than a week on a large ship where they're trying to make it as much like I'm not on a boat as possible (save for the view outside).

 

[smitty477]

Believe the idea of travel is to not bring your house and culture with you. At present if you take a Caribbean cruise you might as well go to Vegas , Miami Beach or Disney. Even if not by personal yacht but a hotel, resort or B&B there’s a chance you will contribute to local businesses and might even interact with local people in their not your culture. The tourist traps sell Knick knacks made in south east Asia or China not locally. The alcohol comes from international firms. Cruise ship people eat on the ship when possible not local non chain restaurants. Tours go through the cruise ship company and even most transportation. As a cruiser have talked to local car and taxi folks. Even they don’t like cruise ships. Going on a cruise ship is like putting on a virtual reality headset with the added risk of infection and pleasure of contributing to a ecological disaster. So yes I don’t like cruise ships. Also not too keen on a fair number of charter boat companies and charterers.

Which cruise or cruises made you feel like this?

 

[koliver]

It is all in how you define cruising.
If it includes all the things specified above, which you will find in all of the giant cruise ships, then there is little to recommend it to many of this audience.
Personally, I am with those who say "you won't catch me on a cruise ship".

OTOH, we enjoy cruise ships that have restricted themselves to the things we enjoy. Where there are no: Huge numbers of passengers, Casinos, Ship photographers, smoking, passengers under 18. And where you have the choice to prepay (included in your initial price) for: drinks, most shore excursions, tipping. That way surprises are few.

 

[backinblue]

Never been on a big cruise ship and likely never will, just doesn't appeal to me. I did just return from a small boat "adventure cruise" with Uncruise.com in SE AK. So the question of why go on a cruise if you own a boat, it was to experience places that I couldn't on my own boat. Food was better than expected and the whole experience was very boat and nature centric. I know that's not at all the case on a huge ship. But I don't fault people who want to spend their vacation that way. The experience is not that unlike going to a big hotel or resort somewhere.

 

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
We went on a 5 day Yangtze River cruise. Experience and scenery was outstanding BUT the menu was European/North American and sucked, big time. Lasagna for dinner???? In the heart of China? Locked through at the Three Gorges Dam-WOW! Still worth it IMO.