Coronavirus : general discussion focussed on the impact on the cruise industry

[Peter Mugridge]

You can only hope and pray the London railways stations are ready for the onslaught.   

That bit at least we can be certain of.  Overall nationally the railway is already carrying 50% of the pre-virus number of passengers, which is a remarkable bounce-back given that most businesses are still working from home and only a few are doing physical meetings again yet.

Some parts of the system are busier than others; Liverpool Street / Stratford / Shenfield and the related suburban branches are already as busy as they were before, with trains of 7 and 9 carriages at less than ten minute intervals filling up to full and standing before departure in the evening peak.  It's true - I've seen this for myself.

[Rod]

I am so happy.I can decide whether to lie on my bed and watch you  tube, of sit in the living room and do the same. Although the living room is second choice because Deb is in there doing her Disney Vacation Club thing.
These decisions are hard guys!

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

God forbid as a nation we should be singing from the same sheet. 

Well, for the England-Scotland game just ended, this definitely did not apply as far as National Anthems were concerned.

[Rob Lightbody]

Well, for the England-Scotland game just ended, this definitely did not apply as far as National Anthems were concerned.

No.... And what a messy subject that is!  I started with asking why doesn't England have it's own national anthem?  Then realised Scotland's isn't "official" either. And both the ones played had phrasing in them that offends people!

[Rob Lightbody]

Its very sad for Cunard (and all lines).  Even I in my original post had no idea it would go on this long.

What would the cruise companies have done in March 2020, had they known it would be at least 2 years before they could restart...?

I am sorry Cunard can't even offer UK-cruising with their ships, to get them going with a "soft launch".  We talked it through and think we'd be OK to go on one if everyone was vaccinated and they were being very careful (and we could afford it).  The ones that started last month in this way seem to be getting on OK.

The one thing that would make it ultra-tempting for me is a cruise departing from a Scottish port...

So you could have Mary in Southampton, Elizabeth in Liverpool, and Victoria in Greenock or Rosyth perhaps.

In the meantime we've booked a wee self-catering week somewhere lovely in England in September, near the sea.  That will have to do (assuming we're able to get there...)

[Rob Lightbody]

But Football seems to be able to sail on regardless, the clubs and suporters have given us the two fingers by their actions, but pity help us if its even mentioned cancelling the upcoming football stuff . My thoughts wil be with those poor sods serving pints to the mindless arrogant yobs who will make a show tomorrow and if your in London.... lm reminded of the early covid messaging..Stay at home, protect yourself , avoid the thugs . You can ony hope and prey the London railways stations are ready for the onslaught.

Yes indeed.  Very annoying. Absolutely enormous crowds seen in the past few weeks, and many of them are of an age that won't have been vaccinated yet... it was already spreading exponentially in the UK again BEFORE the football.  I have no idea what they were thinking. 

[Rob Lightbody]

Quick question.

Cunard had a lot of crew that had been with them for a long time, that many of you reading this knew well.  Even a fair number that had been on QE2.  Even for the ones that hadn't served on her, there was a link through the ones that had to how things used to be... (QV and QM2 formed a link due to being in service at the same time, and many of you have told me that it made you feel at home on QV). This applies to the crew at absolutely all levels.

But how many of their old crew will they be about to get back?  The continuity has gone. Crew will presumably be keen to get any work at all, and similarly Cunard will just want to get going as soon as possible.

[cunardqueen]

But how many of their old crew will they be about to get back?  The continuity has gone. Crew will presumably be keen to get any work at all, and similarly Cunard will just want to get going as soon as possible. 

Given that Cunard is registered overseas, They won't have the same as the UK Furlough scheme, will they?  The contracts of the newer crew will be rolling contracts so would they be entitled to anything like the above. Would Cunard have in place a different contract for the long term crew ? Or as with their ships and the other ships of various companies, has everyone been left at sea ?.
Can you being to imagine bringing a cruise ship back to service ? you cant just flick a switch and turn it back on again.

[Chris Thompson]

Just had an interesting conversation with a pal who works for the head office at Celebrity cruises, I was curious if any modifications had been made to the AC systems onboard ships to combat spread of viruses etc.
Remembering the old days where the air blew in through the ceiling and exited via a grille in the door....Hallways full of germs!

See this link for more info.....
https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/23688-royal-caribbean-commits-to-fresh-air-with-hvac-systems.html

[Rob Lightbody]

Just had an interesting conversation with a pal who works for the head office at Celebrity cruises, I was curious if any modifications had been made to the AC systems onboard ships to combat spread of viruses etc.
Remembering the old days where the air blew in through the ceiling and exited via a grille in the door....Hallways full of germs!

See this link for more info.....
https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/23688-royal-caribbean-commits-to-fresh-air-with-hvac-systems.html

I'd been waiting to see something like that, thanks.

It's deliberately vague so you don't know whether the system has always been setup like that, or if they've altered it...?

I would want to know this for any ship i travel on, or indeed for my workplace office when I'm called back in...

[Rob Lightbody]

Scots captain on bringing cruise liner Azamara Quest to Glasgow, the city where he honed seafaring skills

As hundreds of Scots gathered on the banks of the river Clyde to witness the rare sight of a cruise liner arriving in Glasgow, most were unaware that one of their own was on the bridge.

Link to Sunday Post Article

[QE2forever]

https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/25660-cunard-makes-final-touches-to-queen-elizabeth-for-return-to-sailing-on-friday.html

Crossing fingers. All the best...

[June Ingram]

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/13/27-vaccinated-people-test-positive-for-covid-on-a-carnival-cruise-ship.html

[Rob Lightbody]

Cunard Cancels Transatlantic Cruises of the Queen Mary 2


https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-02/cunard-cancels-4-cruises-delays-return-of-the-queen-mary-2

[Rob Lightbody]

Cunard Cancels Transatlantic Cruises of the Queen Mary 2


https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-02/cunard-cancels-4-cruises-delays-return-of-the-queen-mary-2

"The first trips will be short round trips from Southampton"

- Sounds like a nice chance to get back on board relatively cheaply, for anyone who feels safe doing so at this point (I don't).