We learned today that Disney has already scheduled Hawaii cruises for 2021. But here’s what we don’t know. How is all that going to work. Ugg.
Commenter Sally G pondered, “We’re scheduled to leave on a cruise from San Francisco on 12/23 to Hawaii, with 5 sea days before arriving in Hilo. next day Maui, then Kauai, then Oahu. How does this one day in each port itinerary work with the testing requirements? Are the ports open?”
Good questions Sally. We don’t have any information yet about Hawaii ports. When they will open and what additional tests may be required for passengers is not set.
No sail order now scheduled to expire on October 31.
The CDC said previously that up to 4,000 cases and more than 40 deaths were attributable to cruises in US waters earlier this year. At this point, we have seen no indication of whether this no sail order will be extended again or not. The order applies to ships carrying 250 passengers or more. Uncruise, which has small ship Hawaii itineraries, is set to resume sailing on December 5. That will depart Kaunakakai Molokai. Rob and Jeff were able to cruise with them some time ago.
Many of the cruise line websites have not been updated and do not reflect when they actually plan to resume Hawaii cruises. We expect that will all chance whenever the no sail order expires.
What each Hawaii cruise line is planning.
Carnival Cruise Lines has canceled its Hawaii cruises through the end of the year. Line president Christine Duffy said, “As we have said throughout this pause, our return to operations will be gradual and phased in.”
Celebrity Cruises has canceled all sailings through November 30. The company said last week, “As we work with the CDC and others toward this shared goal, Royal Caribbean Group will be extending the suspension of sailings to include those departing on or before November 30, 2020.”
Holland America has canceled sailings through December 15 although it appears that Hawaii itineraries will be paused until later, possibly early 2021.
Norwegian Cruise Lines. The only all-Hawaii cruise operator is renowned for its 7-day Honolulu round trip cruise that normally operates weekly. The company said last week, “We are extending the suspension of 2020 cruises to include all cruises embarking through November 2020. The first Hawaii cruise is on their schedule beginning December 5.
Princess Cruises does not plan to resume cruising until December. Their schedule shows a 15-day Hawaii cruise from Los Angeles and another one from San Francisco, departing December 21 and 23.
Big changes ahead on Hawaii cruises.
Two major cruise lines, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian have just submitted 74 new health and safety protocols to the CDC as part of the agency’s process on safely resuming cruises. All passengers and crew will be tested for COVID-19 before embarking and will be required to wear masks and practice social distancing onboard. Ship medical facilities are also to be expanded.
Other plans include improved ventilation and more limited shore excursions. BOH: since Hawaii cruises are all about shore excursions, this is a big question mark.
NCL’s CEO recently commented when asked about resuming cruises, that it was “absolutely” safe to do so. “There is not one silver bullet, it’s layer on top of layer on top of layer. We’re going to test it, make adjustments along the way.”
CDC commented however that it “does not have enough information to say when it will be safe for cruise ships to resume passenger operations. CDC will continue to work with cruise lines to ensure that all necessary public health procedures are in place before cruise lines begin sailing with passengers.”
It will take cruise lines about a month to get ships ready to sail again.
Recommendations for changes from the cruise line industry include the following:
- All passengers should be tested for COVID-19 between five days and 24 hours prior to boarding.
- Crew should be tested in their home countries before leaving to join a ship and then again at the end of a seven-day on board quarantine period, ideally using PCR tests.
- Both passengers and crew should have their temperatures taken daily.
- Cruise companies should visit only ports that agree to evacuate and repatriate sick people on board. BOH: how can that work on neighbor islands?
- All ship heating and air-conditioning systems should be upgraded to MERV 13 filters, similar to those used by hospitals.
- Ships should lower doctor-to-passenger ratios on board.
- Crew should live in single cabins whenever possible and be allowed limited shore leave.
- Passengers who don’t attest that they agree to protocols not be allowed to cruise.
Earlier in the pandemic, the concept of asking passengers over 70 years old to not sail was brought up. That plan was rejected.
PS: One final thought. What will become of the beloved cruise ship buffets?
Beat of Hawaii © photo aboard NCL Pride of America.
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Ah, I do love cruising and I have to say that the all you can eat buffets have never particularly appealed to me. But for those that do, it is my understanding that the buffets are not going away. You just won’t be able to help yourself. Behind partitions of glass a crew member will fill your plates for you. So, that’s not so bad!
Thanks for this update! I’ve been wondering about cruises. As much as I love them, I’m not sure how long it’ll be before I feel comfortable enough to cruise again. And how in the world will the required social distancing work on a cruise ship, where people are pretty much packed in everywhere onboard???
Hi Wendy.
Your concerns make perfect sense. It will be interesting to see the first few come back. Jumping on a cruise right now doesn’t sound wonderful.
Aloha.
ALOHA, thanks for all that BOH has done. the protocol for transpacific tourists precludes Canadian Visitors who visit and winter in the islands. Canada has gold standard testing PCR NAAT Testing but is not on the HI state approved list of testing so unless they go to an American approve site they have to quarantine 14 days..this is also the case for European visitors. Is this “America First”? Our usual 4 months stay brings $40,000usd to the Island. Is Hi only interested in US mainland visitors??
Hi Russell.
Thanks. Hawaii Lt. Gov. Green has mentioned Canada multiple times as well as Japan. We do think something will be announced shortly.
Aloha.
Thank you for for your informative updates. The article speaks only to the protocols for the cruise ships. What about the Hawaii testing requirements? Cruise ship travelers need to be held to same standards for passengers of incoming flight protocols- negative NAAT testing as well as specific island requirements. It would seem only fair to the safety of populace already on the islands.
Cruise ships disembarking in Kahului is not a smart thing to do. Already we are seeing tourists on Maui with NO masks on. In Costco, Lahaina and around town. With the pandemic we have to wait to shop at Whole Foods and the lines will get longer.
I’m sure those tourists would ask you why you were worried? They have been just been tested recently and declared virus free, thus giving them an ultimate pass to roam all over your island at will. I am sure they would respond to any concerns by saying that they are fine, and you need to realize that the “real danger” is…”all the untested Hawaiians running around?” Seriously though, it doesn’t surprise me in the slightest that tourists are not wearing masks, as far too many are not doing it back at home either…their “rights” you know…and they seem happy to assist in blindly wiping out a generation of Americans…but of course those are just “old people”, warehoused someplace most never go or see, so in their mind its just a bunch of geezers they don’t know and who were going to die soon anyway…right? So sad how disconnected we are from our elders in the US…and that Coronavirus kills more than older people.
Cruise ships? People must have a death wish.
A response to one of the questions in your article-“One final thought. What will become of the beloved cruise ship buffets?” The cruise lines could continue offering buffets if they can copy what Golden Corral, the buffet restaurant, is doing. Customers can walk in a prescribed area around the buffet at a slight distance from the food – they don’t touch any serving tools or plates. A designated staff person guides you around, plate in hand, filling it with whatever you want. It remains an all you can eat buffet — you just don’t serve yourself. I’ve never seen a long line waiting to be served. It’s worked really well.
No way would I even consider cruising with all them stupid rules. I have a cruise scheduled for the western Caribbean in May. If those rules exist in May, I will definitely be canceling.
Perhaps the no sail order will be removed but not the no port of call order, therefore, a ship can sail but not dock in any port of call. I was only on a cruise once and there were lines wiating to do things and lines to deport the ship. With the close quarters on a ship social distancing is difficult and waiting to do things on lines makes preventing a possible virus spread impossible.
As a Hilo resident l find this frightening. We have only limited hospital space.
Mahalo guys for putting this info out so promptly!
The cruise ships, and COVID-19, are in uncharted waters. (Pun intended)
This whole mess is just that. A mess.
It’ll be interesting, to say the least. I sure as heck wouldn’t want to be a guinea pig in that situation.
Aloha and blessings to all 🌺
Hi Pam.
Thanks. Concur, being first on a Hawaii cruise doesn’t sound like a good idea. But they are definitely trying to restart, and we’ll see what happens.
Aloha.