The new « rules » for cruises in 2021?

[brentm77]

Not being allowed to wander around a port on my own is a dealbreaker for me. No thank you.
They would need to come up with amazing *included* port excursions for me to even consider it.

Not only would they need better options, but availability would need to very very high. For those without the higher-level status, you often can't get spots in some of the only good options (often maybe 1-2 options that even look appealing based on past experience). It would really stink to be forced to use the DCL excursion and not be able to get spots in the good ones. You would be left with touring a chocolate shop or something silly and couldn't even just walk around the port instead.

 

[mevelandry]

If these become standard, I'd expect 1 or 2 of the big cruise lines to go under. Who would pay for a cruise, airfare, hotels, etc only to get a positive test 5 days before going then be told sorry, no refunds? Or better yet, show up with a negative test and they tell you they don't accept it. Sorry, no cruise no refund. No way you risk thousands of dollars with so much risk. There are numerous alternatives for vacation. The cruise industry is not going to come out of this and return to 2019 policies for a long time. Considering the vaccines aren't proven effective against new variants, it could be deep into 2022 before we see cruises even think about sailing again.

That’s what travel insurances are for.

When it comes to the negative test you bring, the website said that if they don’t find it satisfactory they will do another test free of charge.

 

[otten]

That’s what travel insurances are for.

When it comes to the negative test you bring, the website said that if they don’t find it satisfactory they will do another test free of charge.

It’s unlikely that any travel insurance is going to cover covid related cancellations and issues right now. In the future probably yes but not while the pandemic is active.

 

[Garyjames220]

I’m hearing rumours that anyone with out a vaccine won’t be allowed on a cruise including kids even though they can’t get it yet

anyone think this will happen

 

[Evita_W]

Sorry, but the possibility of not getting back on after an excursion and masks outside the state room make it a no go here. It's one thing at the parks where you can always leave, but on a ship, you are stuck.

 

[mevelandry]

It’s unlikely that any travel insurance is going to cover covid related cancellations and issues right now. In the future probably yes but not while the pandemic is active.

Some of them do... But not the vast majority.

 

[mevelandry]

I’m hearing rumours that anyone with out a vaccine won’t be allowed on a cruise including kids even though they can’t get it yet

anyone think this will happen

I think it could happen but they could possibly accept people with doctor’s papers (stating why they can’t be vaccinated) and let them board after a medical exam?

 

[hubbard53]

. It would really stink to be forced to use the DCL excursion and not be able to get spots in the good ones. You would be left with touring a chocolate shop or something silly and couldn't even just walk around the port instead.

So what is DCL going to do to prevent COVID? Is a DCL excursion like the magical hour of 10pm wher COVID is not contaggious before 10pm but is onthe prowl after? Do the DCL cexcurions paddles ward off COVID?

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

And a lot of people say they're cancelling WDW vacations because of the protections Disney has in place. And if everyone decides to go to the beach, then the beaches will be too crowded and that option won't be what people want either. Some people will lock themselves in their homes for another couple of years, but for those who don't want to, they're going to eventually have to start accepting the pandemic and its consequences and adapt. People can vote against vacationing with their feet and wallets but they can't vote against the virus.

I think there are enough different types of vacations in our country so that people who want to travel can and those who feel it's not worth paying full price for a lesser experience can find an alternative. It's not a matter of not living with the pandemic or not but a matter of perceived value. DCL is expensive to begin with. Paying full price for a mediocre experience where every minute of the day is scheduled in advance is not appealing to a lot of people. Frankly, I might as well just go to work. Alternatively, we have a giant Atlantic coast in the US. I'm sure there will be some spot along there that isn't jam packed where I can veg in the sun, even with a mask on.

 

[Garyjames220]

Be Intresting If kids aren’t allowed what Disney will do as a cruise and what will happen on other lines with FCC if they planned to go as a family as I know with some lines if you accepted the FCC you can’t now change and take a refund. How’s that work if kids can’t go

 

[BadPinkTink]

Be Intresting If kids aren’t allowed what Disney will do as a cruise and what will happen on other lines with FCC if they planned to go as a family as I know with some lines if you accepted the FCC you can’t now change and take a refund. How’s that work if kids can’t go

I have a feeling that what Disney Cruise Line passengers want ie the pre Covid Disney Cruise Line experience and what Disney Cruise Line are planning when they restart cruising are very different. I have a feeling that Disney Cruise Line will do whats best for the survival of the company and are planning a cruise experience which will generate revenue but that cruise experience will not be what the Disney families will expect. I have a feeling that the type of cruise passengers that Disney Cruise Line will be targeting for the first year of restarted cruises will not be the typical Disney families who are are platinum, gold and silver castaway members. I have a feeling that when Disney Cruise Line restarts, this section of the Dis will be full of typical Disney families getting mad cos the cruise experience Disney Cruise are offering is not the cruise experience the expect. I have a feeling that Disney Cruise Line will not care about the moaning typical Disney Cruise Line family, as for every moaning family on Dis, they will get a new first time cruise party of adults.

 

[vacationer1954]

If these become standard, I'd expect 1 or 2 of the big cruise lines to go under.

Nothing is standard. Everything is always what it is for when it is, and it eventually will change again. The only provision being discussed that could "end cruising as we know it" is the prohibition against going off on private excursions or going off on your own, at ports. All the others are things that people can eventually adapt to.

I’m hearing rumours that anyone with out a vaccine won’t be allowed on a cruise including kids even though they can’t get it yet anyone think this will happen

It can happen (I mean, legally). Will a cruise line like DCL cruise without kids whatsoever? I doubt it.

I think there are enough different types of vacations in our country so that people who want to travel can and those who feel it's not worth paying full price for a lesser experience can find an alternative.

Yes. We may find a lot of Seabourn cruisers trying out Princess under these circumstances, and a lot of DCL cruisers trying out Carnival, figuring that if they're already going to be making compromises due to the pandemic, they might as well save money doing so. Still, many fewer people will cruise, overall, accounting for why some of the cruise lines just took this opportunity to thin out their fleets.

 

[TinkTatoo]

.... We may find a lot of Seabourn cruisers trying out Princess under these circumstances, and a lot of DCL cruisers trying out Carnival, figuring that if they're already going to be making compromises due to the pandemic, they might as well save money doing so. Still, many fewer people will cruise, overall, accounting for why some of the cruise lines just took this opportunity to thin out their fleets.

We've only ever cruised Disney mainly for the overall experience but I think that when cruising resumes it will be completely different to what we're used to. I was watching a program on Royal Caribbean Harmony of the Seas and seeing a pre-covid cruise made me realize just how much will have to be done differently especially in the beginning. That got me thinking that if it's not the experience we're used to then we might as well explore different cruise lines where we can pay less for larger accommodation. I know nothing about the other lines but will do some research and make a decision whether to move my future cruise credit (again) or cancel and re-book with another cruise line. I can't imagine I'm the only one thinking this way

 

[jtntx34]

I have a feeling that what Disney Cruise Line passengers want ie the pre Covid Disney Cruise Line experience and what Disney Cruise Line are planning when they restart cruising are very different. I have a feeling that Disney Cruise Line will do whats best for the survival of the company and are planning a cruise experience which will generate revenue but that cruise experience will not be what the Disney families will expect. I have a feeling that the type of cruise passengers that Disney Cruise Line will be targeting for the first year of restarted cruises will not be the typical Disney families who are are platinum, gold and silver castaway members. I have a feeling that when Disney Cruise Line restarts, this section of the Dis will be full of typical Disney families getting mad cos the cruise experience Disney Cruise are offering is not the cruise experience the expect. I have a feeling that Disney Cruise Line will not care about the moaning typical Disney Cruise Line family, as for every moaning family on Dis, they will get a new first time cruise party of adults.

While I agree that Disney will disregard what the repeat customers want or expect, I disagree that adults only parties will flock to DCL. The DCL experience needs to be very different from other cruise lines to get that premium pricing—it needs those special Disney touches.

With little to no character interactions, diminished theater capacities, etc, most adults would take the cheaper cruise on another line with casinos and more pool deck space than what DCL ships offer.

Ultimately, everything now is just speculation and worth a big fat 0. None of us knows what to expect. I am beginning to wonder if even the cruise lines themselves know what to expect since CDC seems quite content to keep cruise ships from sailing anytime remotely soon.

 

[cvjw]

I have a feeling that what Disney Cruise Line passengers want ie the pre Covid Disney Cruise Line experience and what Disney Cruise Line are planning when they restart cruising are very different. I have a feeling that Disney Cruise Line will do whats best for the survival of the company and are planning a cruise experience which will generate revenue but that cruise experience will not be what the Disney families will expect. I have a feeling that the type of cruise passengers that Disney Cruise Line will be targeting for the first year of restarted cruises will not be the typical Disney families who are are platinum, gold and silver castaway members. I have a feeling that when Disney Cruise Line restarts, this section of the Dis will be full of typical Disney families getting mad cos the cruise experience Disney Cruise are offering is not the cruise experience the expect. I have a feeling that Disney Cruise Line will not care about the moaning typical Disney Cruise Line family, as for every moaning family on Dis, they will get a new first time cruise party of adults.

Do not agree. I find it hard to believe that DCL will be able to fill their ships with first time cruising adults. First time cruising adults will most likely try out a cheaper cruise line like NCL or go for a more expensive, adult centered cruise line like Viking. I would venture to say that most adults who choose to cruise with disney do so because they love the disney parks and have great memories cruising DCL with their kids. Also, DCL cruises are more expensive than a lot of other brands - don’t see a lot of normal, first time cruising adults picking DCL over Viking for a first time cruise if they have the funds for either.

DCL will go out of business if the normal, moaning DCL regular families don’t come back to cruising with them. You may not like regular disney cruisers, but we have kept DCL afloat for years, paying extra money for the disney cruising experience. DCL needs families like mine who spend $10,000 to $20,000 per year, every year to sail with them.

 

[mevelandry]

We've only ever cruised Disney mainly for the overall experience but I think that when cruising resumes it will be completely different to what we're used to. I was watching a program on Royal Caribbean Harmony of the Seas and seeing a pre-covid cruise made me realize just how much will have to be done differently especially in the beginning. That got me thinking that if it's not the experience we're used to then we might as well explore different cruise lines where we can pay less for larger accommodation. I know nothing about the other lines but will do some research and make a decision whether to move my future cruise credit (again) or cancel and re-book with another cruise line. I can't imagine I'm the only one thinking this way

If you go for larger and newer on another cruise lines, you’ll usually get closer to a Disney like experience. I find that RCCL is closest to DCL in looks (More classic, more luxurious). If there is one cruise line that I would recommend to DCL fans who want to try something different, it‘s that one.

If you are open to something a little more laid back, look up the new Carnival Ships (Vista and XXL class).

 

[mevelandry]

Do not agree. I find it hard to believe that DCL will be able to fill their ships with first time cruising adults. First time cruising adults will most likely try out a cheaper cruise line like NCL or go for a more expensive, adult centered cruise line like Viking. I would venture to say that most adults who choose to cruise with disney do so because they love the disney parks and have great memories cruising DCL with their kids. Also, DCL cruises are more expensive than a lot of other brands - don’t see a lot of normal, first time cruising adults picking DCL over Viking for a first time cruise if they have the funds for either.

DCL will go out of business if the normal, moaning DCL regular families don’t come back to cruising with them. You may not like regular disney cruisers, but we have kept DCL afloat for years, paying extra money for the disney cruising experience. DCL needs families like mine who spend $10,000 to $20,000 per year, every year to sail with them.

It depends... Our first cruise was on DCL because we were WDW addicts so we picked a DCL cruise just in case we wouldn’t like it. We thought « if we don’t like the cruising itself, at least we’ll love everything Disney ».

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

They could require adults to have vaccines but not children. It’s no different than the way they want to see photo ID from adults but not children.

I can’t see them bending the rules with a doctor’s note explaining why a passenger can't get a vaccine. The same way that they tell park guests, “Don't come if you can’t wear a mask.”

 

[brentm77]

I think there are enough different types of vacations in our country so that people who want to travel can and those who feel it's not worth paying full price for a lesser experience can find an alternative. It's not a matter of not living with the pandemic or not but a matter of perceived value. DCL is expensive to begin with. Paying full price for a mediocre experience where every minute of the day is scheduled in advance is not appealing to a lot of people. Frankly, I might as well just go to work. Alternatively, we have a giant Atlantic coast in the US. I'm sure there will be some spot along there that isn't jam packed where I can veg in the sun, even with a mask on.

Well said. We are rediscovering vacation alternatives. Mostly VRBO at the beach with great local restaurants, relaxing days, and no restrictions. We loved WDW, even with the restrictions, so we can still do Disney when we want to. But cruising is now on hold until it is a mostly normal experience. Even if that is a few years away, there is more than enough to hold us over until then. Heck, when my wife was bedridden with illness, we went something like 7 years between cruises and I never thought I would cruise again (and DCL cruises are my favorite vacations of all time). What is a few years to do it right? Especially when there are great alternatives in the U.S. that are often overlooked.

 

[DCLDVC1]

DCL will go out of business if the normal, moaning DCL regular families don’t come back to cruising with them. You may not like regular disney cruisers, but we have kept DCL afloat for years, paying extra money for the disney cruising experience. DCL needs families like mine who spend $10,000 to $20,000 per year, every year to sail with them.

It's going to be interesting for sure. I'm in a few cruise groups on the site that cannot be named and there are a lot of members who are planning to cancel if the new policies prevent an experience they've come to expect. I think the changes will impact DCL more than the other cruise lines and have a feeling a lot of FCCs are going to turn in to cancellations.