Cruising choices with an active Pandemic

@VPS - remember at that Viking presentation we went to, someone asked what happens if you test positive and she gave the example of a World Cruiser who was simply isolated in an empty cabin and provided with Room service. Not surprisingly, she did not mention that offloading was an issue at all.
 
Pushka said:
@VPS - remember at that Viking presentation we went to, someone asked what happens if you test positive and she gave the example of a World Cruiser who was simply isolated in an empty cabin and provided with Room service. Not surprisingly, she did not mention that offloading was an issue at all.
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Perhaps that would be the case on an ocean-going ship, so she was stating correct information? The river boats are much smaller of course. Nevertheless, the actions and lack of follow up for the river passengers seems lacking. How sad for them to not even be able to rejoin the tour.
 
Port Power said:
Perhaps that would be the case on an ocean-going ship, so she was stating correct information? The river boats are much smaller of course. Nevertheless, the actions and lack of follow up for the river passengers seems lacking. How sad for them to not even be able to rejoin the tour.
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Unfortunately for her, just a couple of days earlier I had read on the same FB page of people being offloaded on an ocean cruise I think in South America and their experiences were awful. Put into a large isolation hostel. Poor food. Little English spoken. The wife who never tested positive was offloaded too. She resorted to bribing the Hostel ‘guard’ to get some decent food. I’ll try find their story.
 
Pushka said:
@VPS - remember at that Viking presentation we went to, someone asked what happens if you test positive and she gave the example of a World Cruiser who was simply isolated in an empty cabin and provided with Room service. Not surprisingly, she did not mention that offloading was an issue at all.
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Yes it would be interesting to contact her again and ask the question
 
Pushka said:
I don't think any cruise is safe until next year. We cancelled a fabulous middle east cruise for this October because we know that positive cases are pretty much dumped off at the next Port which in the middle east is problematic. Europe seems to somewhat better.
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Yes, I think covid is not the problem, as hardly anyone actually gets sick (all these posts seem to be from people who are perfectly well, but test positive), the risk is in the insane response to covid: mass testing, offloading and quarantine if positive test etc. So I won't be risking that until govts/operators actually do start treating covid like a cold/flu.
 
Along with the possibility of being locked up…the cost of some cruising "styles" is eye watering.
Today we received a breathless email from our ta offering a few last cabins for the Silver Explorers Kimberley season
June 14 Broome to Darwin , a notional 10 day cruise.. offers 7 Australian site visits and one in Indonesia.
The cost of the only available cabin , a Silver Suite , is $36,100pp or $72200 for a couple
Divided by 8 "events" = about $9025 .. for a typical 4 or 5 hour shore excursion = $1800 per hour or $30/min.. breathe deeply and walk slowly
Oh yes..also included is "pretentious" tucker and free wine that you can buy at Dans for $25…
 
tgh said:
Along with the possibility of being locked up…the cost of some cruising "styles" is eye watering.
Today we received a breathless email from our ta offering a few last cabins for the Silver Explorers Kimberley season
June 14 Broome to Darwin , a notional 10 day cruise.. offers 7 Australian site visits and one in Indonesia.
The cost of the only available cabin , a Silver Suite , is $36,100pp or $72200 for a couple
Divided by 8 "events" = about $9025 .. for a typical 4 or 5 hour shore excursion = $1800 per hour or $30/min.. breathe deeply and walk slowly
Oh yes..also included is "pretentious" tucker and free wine that you can buy at Dans for $25…
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I'm guessing you're one for premium suite cruising? 🤣
(I'm a lowest deck/porthole sort of girl myself - but willing to accept upgrades. :))
 
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The problem is Expedition cruising has become very popular. Our last booking for the Explorer was a back to back 30 day cruise Fiji-Tahiti- easter Island. the price was 25000 each.Had 3 stops in the Pitcairn islands which was on my bucket list. A few weeks before it was to sail the Explorer went into dry dock instead.

But I still have the invoice for the last cruise we booked pre covid. they definitely were cheaper then. this one didn't sail either.

SHIP: Silver Spirit DURATION: 15 days
EMBARK: Singapore, Singapore EMBARK DATE: 12/03/2021
DEBARK: Mumbai, India DEBARK DATE: 27/03/2021
VOYAGE: SL210312015 SUITE / CATEGORY: 829 / Superior Veranda
PAYMENT SCHEDULE (Currency Australian Dollars)
DEPOSIT DUE 30/05/2019 $ 2,960.50
FINAL PAYMENT 28/06/2019 $ 8,881.50
TOTAL 28/06/2019 $ 11,842.00
 
The Kimberley season for the Explorer has been all but sold out for many months, there are just a few suites left that they are hawking.
Conceptually, I am an "expedition cruiser" , but along with high per diem rates, SS has gone for bigger ships and a softer experience…suits me not.
 
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I love Expedition cruising and my brain keeps saying why don't you book another. But my body says you just aren't up to it. Unfortunately my body is in the right.
 
I just heard about it on TV news. I have emailed my travel agent as well as Coral Expeditions asking if passengers and crew have to wear masks while moving around on board the ship. This is the only way of NOT being designated a close contact and allowed to go home without isolation. (If you test negative, of course.)

Mask wearing has not been a Coral requirement, which I believe is a mistake in the current climate. A simple measure to perhaps not catch Covid, but more important for the ability to return home!

I am due to sail on that ship in just under three weeks’ time, entirely within Western Australia, and I would like to see masks obligatory when moving around within the ship.
 
Pushka said:
Ruby Princess berthed in San Francisco with 143 cases this week.
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Surely this ship will never return to Australia! (Unless they change the name?)

I ditched my Ruby Princess coasters from the film festival cruise in Australia the previous year. No way could I let anyone see “that name” again.
 
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Port Power said:
Surely this ship will never return to Australia! (Unless they change the name?)

I ditched my Ruby Princess coasters from its inaugural cruise in Australia the previous year. No way could I let anyone see “that name” again.
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Apparently they didn't test people unless they reported themselves to the medical centre but anecdotal reports were that people were coughing and sneezing pretty much everywhere. Paid their money. Doing their cruise I guess.
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mrs.dr.ron said:
Virgin Voyages has announced its newest ship Resilient Lady will be homeported in Melbourne.

"You won’t find children. You won’t find buffets. Neither will you find butlers, valets or dress-codes."

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It's an ugly looking thing. But love the hammocks. But maybe they'd get uncomfortable after a while.
 
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Pushka said:
Paid their money. Doing their cruise I guess.
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After what I saw at work over the weekend, money is still the great driver for most (i.e. obviously symptomatic but still coming in)

I guess it's somewhat understandable on a cruise, judging by the posts I've read in this thread. Especially when the company doesn't just confine you to quarters necessarily but throws you in the metaphorical (if not literal) brig and probably dumps you at the next port of call. Maybe if the approach was more sensible people would be more willing to own up to having symptoms?
 

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