Updated: February 2021.  The cruise industry continues to be battered by covid, border closures and money issues.  The 2021 Alaska cruise season has been canceled already.  Cruise lines are extending vouchers and still advertising for cruises. Once the vaccines are more widely distributed, expect to see tenative sailings occur likely in September/October 2021. 

I think it’s safe to say we all want to escape our homes right now –escape to blue waters and sandy beaches with a pineapple rum drink in hand.  The current pandemic situation is fluid with governments around the world limiting people movement and restricting travel and borders. When can we cruise again is one of the top questions I see in the various groups followed by opinions on what cruise changes we can expect to see.  Valid questions as folks are itching to get back onboard and explore the world. The cruise community of travelers is like no other – passionate, loyal and fun folks from all walks of life that share their love of cruise life with friends from around the world.

Recent high level PR nightmares, quarantined ships, environmental fines and scandals hasn’t helped the cruise industry. And there’s no love for the fact that they are flagged outside the U.S. as foreign companies avoiding U.S. wage/income laws, federal tax and other fun things which kept them from receiving bailout funds. Unfortunately, for the cruise industry,  recovery will require a complicated and multi-layered response over the next few years, yes, years.

So what does the cruise industry do now?  Well it’s on a 30 day+ time out for now.  As a reminder, the cruise industry is massive $45 billion in revenue industry dominated by a few cruise lines – Carnival, Royal Carribbean, Norwegian and Genting Hong Kong with about 300+ ships sailing in a normal week. More than 20 million passengers in a year!  That’s a lot of passengers now add in the additional crew and staff, supply vendors, destinations, governments, taxi drivers, tour guides, tour operators, restaurants, wineries, liquor vendors and so many more people in the supply chain.

When Will We Cruise Again?

When can I cruise again? While I was hopeful that some cruise lines would have restarted in December 2020, it wasn’t to be.  The Alaska summer sailing season for 2021 was canceled as Canada won’t allow the ships to dock in popular cities such as Victoria and sail from Vancouver. The dates continue to push out as vaccine distribution and mandates are being discussed by all parties around the world. Cruise line marketing of low fares will be all around you once there is an all clear and travel restrictions/warnings are lifted.   You may be tempted to jump on that low fare and if you do, please know that there could be disruptions, itinerary changes and other changes as this is a work in progress for everyone in the travel industry. There will be a learning curve, a trial and error period for everyone going forward as we find a new normal. 2020, 2021 and likely 2022 will be slow starts and stops and create a roadmap for the future.

Always Research Cruise Destinations

Research for all travel is important and even moreso for cruise vacations as the ports are many, the uncertainty of weather and backup plans are often needed.  I’ve seen more than my share of folks stranded in the unknown because of cruise ship changes.

Dept of State Information for Cruise Ship Passengers 

Register travel with U.S. Dept of State STEP program  when traveling internationally.  This will allow you to access embassies notifications by email and text and have local U.S. Embassy information for rapidly changing environments.

Cruise Ship Ports Open or Closed

The biggest uncontrollable unknown will be ports – will they be open, accept ships and have staff available to process passengers while also keeping their city, town, country safe?  Will they remain closed to mega-ships? What government changes will need to be adopted in order for a ship to dock and spill out their guests for a few hours a day? Will you want to be on a cruise to nowhere if ports aren’t open?

Set Expectation:  Itineraries may change enroute.  Ports may close and deny docking.  Ships may visit their private island(s) more.  Don’t have your heart set on any one destination/port. 

Airline Schedules to Cruise Port Cities

Airlines will also need to have flights available.  Many airlines have drastically scaled back their schedules and equipment to limit travel. Can they quickly ramp up service once the cruise line cities are back on line.  Summer months would mean Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Seattle, New York are main cruise ports, Fall ports are limited to Florida generally. Seats may be limited for a while I rarely recommend buying flights from the cruise line, given the current environment, it’s best to research and consider their options as they handle arrangements.

Set Expectation: Airports are still open and flights are drastically curtailed. Fly out the day before your cruise sails in case of delays or flight cancellations. You don’t want to literally miss the boat on this one.

5 Cruise Ship Potential Changes

There are many moving parts to how each cruise line and ship will adapt, adopt and evolve their current procedures, policies and processes in the next few months to restart sailings.  With four major cruise lines dominating the landscape, you may see some brands adapt quicker than others.  A few thoughts on first round changes I anticipate –

Vaccine Required

It’s likely that proof of a covid vaccine will need to be presented.  Not unlike “no shoes, no shirt, no service”, the vaccine will help cruise lines avoid a potential disaster and outbreak.  Now can people cheat this requirement?  Never say never…..we don’t know yet. I had to get a yellow fever vaccine in order to enter Botswana.  I chose to comply and travel.  If you choose not to get a vaccine there are likely many places you will be excluded from.  Yes, you have personal freedom to do as you wish with your body and businesses have freedom to enforce government, local and firm wide rules.  If you want to travel out of the country you need a passport, you can choose not to get a passport and therefore not travel out of the country.  Similar arguments here.

Here is the current CDC website for Covid-19 Cruise Ship Travelers. For the many folks with pre-existing conditions, invisible illnesses, immunocompromised but medicated, etc. will they be able to sail at all?  If there is a risk of exposure or outbreak to a vulnerable population the cruise lines might try to mitigate the risk with doctor’s notes to decide whether or not to accept a passenger onboard.

Set Expectation:  If you have any concern about traveling with a medical condition, talk to your travel agent and/or cruise line directly before making reservation(s).  Make sure you have submitted all required documents in advance and bring copies with you.  The cruise line contract allows the cruise ship to deny boarding, disembark you at any time and confine you to your cabin if you are a risk. 

No More Self-Service Cruise Model

This seems like a no brainer to me.  While all dining areas have staff to Purell you upon entry or direct you to sinks to wash your hands, passengers do sneak by (I know I have).  The “washy -washy” song is cute and catchy but now even more important all over the ship. It’s hard to manage hundreds of people at one time swarming the buffets at key times. Cruise lines will need to staff all buffets and close self-service kiosks such as free stations for coffee/tea and ice cream.  They already do this during outbreaks.   Dining tables will not be pre-set with silverware, place settings and glassware. Staff will bring out individual salt/pepper, creamer, sugar packets as needed.

Temperature at Check In on Cruises

Anyone can fill out the paper health form and lie about being sick in the past 24 hours to two weeks.  Relying on people to be honest after they’ve paid thousands for a vacation and could be limited or denied boarding isn’t the best option in my experience.

I think the cruise lines will require proof of vaccination (unless bullied into testing only which has flaws) and continue to do a temperature check upon boarding (similar to what is done in many Asian cities) at each port and at the end of the cruise. Every time you swipe your keycard, you will undergo a temperature check. To accomplish this will require staggered times to limit the crowds and delays and massive staffing increase. Cruise lines (and captains) will need to establish procedures for those with a fever at each port.

Set Expectations: What are your plans if you are denied boarding?  Confined to your cabin because a family member (or traveling companion) is flagged? 

Cruise Ship Medical Staffing & Space

On our last cruise, my friend was bitten by a dog (long story) and we had to go to the medical facility.  It was closed (limited hours) so the crew called ahead so my friend could be treated.  There was a small staff of doctors and nurses with a few treatment rooms.

I think the ships will need to increase medical staff, increase hours, add isolation rooms (or areas) in the medical center to keep infected folks away from the general population to slow spread and set out a treatment policy for future infections.  Quarantine in cabin works for norovirus (I was on a ship with outbreak in Turkey) but not for covid-19 based on what we’ve seen on the Princess ships and others in the past few months.

Set Expectations:  Know your medical insurance coverage regarding medical treatments on cruise ships.  The costs can be exorbitant as you are not in network and often not treated by a U.S. Medical professional (ships are flagged in countries outside the U.S. and follow different regulations).   What type of medical coverage (if any) will be available to buy as travel insurance coverage?  What if the ship decides you need to be evacuated off-ship to the nearest medical facility and/or hospital?  Will you need a medivac by helicopter?  The costs will quickly, very quickly add up.  Also Medicare does not cover you outside the U.S. so you need to be aware of your coverage, rights and alternatives.

Muster Drills Changes

I’m not sure how to change this mandatory requirement which ensure all passengers know where to go in the event of an emergency.  Each cabin is assigned to a muster area which can be outside on deck or inside a bar, showroom or restaurant.  Folks are packed like sardines in my many experiences.  Crew take attendance to ensure all passengers are accounted for.

Update: Royal Caribbean & Celebrity new muster policy

Set Expectation: BYOM (Bring Your Own Mask) to crowded gatherings like this.  Sadly you don’t have the opportunity to sing “Don’t Stand so Close to Me” by the Police although it might rattle in your head during this exercise.

Summary of Cruise Ship Sailings and Changes

Demand for cruises will be lower than normal in 2020 despite the summer vacation season and pent up need to escape stay at home orders. With high unemployment and folks fearing job security, a cruise vacation will be a luxury most won’t be able to afford this year.  For those that can, they will see ships sailing less full, crowds dispersed the best they can and new procedures in place for safety of guests.  2021 cruise bookings are already seeing uptick in interest and reservations so many travelers realize it might be a while before they can sail again.

I’ve sailed many cruise lines and ships solo paying a single supplement (solo cruise cabins), with friends and with family on Disney cruise and I will sail in the future with some changes (i.e. book balcony cabin instead of the cheaper inside cabin). Mom is now banned from cruises and travel (which she isn’t thrilled with) due to her immunocompromised status. When a vaccine is available, Mom will be back in the bingo game on the ship!

I hope this time out will give the cruise industry and cruise lines time to regroup and reimagine the cruise experience.  We all want to be together again but maybe not that close together?  Let’s see how they respond and adapt.  When can I cruise again is a date that continues to change.