From Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, MSC to P&O.
What's the plan for cruising's much anticipated return?
Let's take a look at how cruise lines are planning to keep you virus free on their ships.
You may be surprised at some of the lengths cruise lines are going to.
Well ahoy there cruisers.
I'm David and this is Ben.
Together we're Cruise with Ben and David
If you're new to the channel welcome.
Please hit that subscribe button.
It been absolutely disastrous for cruising.
As we all know.
With all of the negative media coverage.
The 2020 crew season has basically been wiped out.
And it's more important than ever that cruise lines protect their passengers
post virus.
The biggest hurdle to get the go ahead are from organizations like the C.D.C. in the USA
and the FCO in the UK.
So, what have cruise lines been working on?
Well Ben, before you even board the ship most cruise lines are providing some
type of cruise with confidence scheme.
This means that you can cancel or change your booking up to 48 hours before
a cruise begins in some cases.
So that's a good addition to the cruise product.
This gives you the confidence to book because you'll be safe in the knowledge
that you can make changes to your cruise without being penalized.
But first let's take a look at what the check-in and boarding procedure is going
to be like for all of the big cruise lines.
Usually this time is super busy with people crammed in long lines going through security,
checking in and picking up things like your cruise card.
So, what's going to change?
Well, cruise terminals will be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized before each cruise.
There will be a health screening that will compromise of at least three different steps.
These steps include a temperature check, a health questionnaire and a rapid swab test.
MSC have already said they're planning to do this with Royal Caribbean saying
the same thing this week.
So how will they do this with thousands of passengers?
Results from rapid tests give a qualitative yes or no result within 10 minutes usually.
New technology such as thermal scanners will be used to make the process smooth and seamless.
And if any concerns do arise during this screening process,
a secondary health screening or testing will take place.
With any guests who test positive or display symptoms or a temperature
being denied boarding.
If you test positive obviously or if you have symptoms and a temperature
you will be denied boarding.
The same goes for crew members as well.
They will all be tested with a swab test prior to the embarkation of guests.
As well as regularly during their contract.
And guests from countries categorized as high risk
by either the CDC or other health organizations, say in Europe,
will be required to take a molecular test.
This should be done 72 hours prior to joining the ship.
So this is basically a full test instead of the swab quick test.
As we known, as we assumed, social distancing is going to play a
large part at all stages of the cruise.
This will be achieved by reducing capacity of ships
to around 50% to 70% is what most cruise lines have said they're reducing their capacity to.
A redesigned embarkation procedure
with digital check-in processes
will be implemented to make the process more seamless and contactless.
With staggered arrival time slots to manage guest flow.
If you've ever gotten a cruise on embarkation day it's usually just a swarm of people
and a frenzy.
Markings on the floor will be placed to maintain social distancing
and check in will be hands-free with
most things completed online before you get to the port.
Luckily most cruise lines were moved in this direction anyway so they have
all them systems already set up in most cases.
Just like airports face masks
will be required to be worn during checking and boarding.
So once you get onto the ship, let's start with some good news.
Masks will only be required where social distancing can't be maintained.
so you're not going to be made to wear these at all times.
This means areas like the cabin isles just by your cabin which can get a little bit tight
and things like elevators were there isn't much room.
And we'll see big changes to the muster drill.
Like Royal Caribbean's e-muster drill.
Meaning that you watch the drill on your stateroom TV or mobile device
and then check in one at a time at your muster point.
There will be no ship gathering for the mustard drill.
So no big crowds there to keep that social distancing.
Bars and restaurants will also be rearranged to provide social distancing.
So that makes masks not required here which is great.
And the buffet will still be there.
But instead of helping yourself with tongs
you'll point out exactly what you like to eat and then the crew member
will serve you.
So you're not cross-contaminating.
Same goes for condiments like salt and pepper.
As well as ketchup, the jars will be replaced with single-use versions to stop any contamination.
This means that all meals and drinks will be served to you at your table.
Ordering a drink at the bar will not be permitted.
And instead of ordering from menus,
smart devices will be used to order such as your mobile phone.
Single use menus will also be available
if you don't have a smart device with you.
Venues will limit capacity on a first come first serve basis.
To ensure that social distancing is possible.
So this will mean that places like the cinemas and the theaters
may require pre-booking beforehand as capacity will be limited.
Activities will be modified to allow for smaller groups
and guests will be able to pre-book services and activities to manage the guest numbers.
Cleaning-wise there will be elevated sanitation and cleaning procedures on board.
Supported by the introduction of new cleaning methods.
The use of hospital-grade disinfectant products
and the sanitation of the air on board with uvc light technology
that kills 99.97 of all microbes.
High traffic areas will be cleaned constantly
and after each guest leaves a restaurant or bar or table where they're sitting
it will receive a full clean down before used by the next guests.
There will also be additional hand washing facilities
as well as hand sanitizing stations
all over the ship.
So they should be easy to find.
There'll be ongoing health monitoring
conducted throughout the cruise.
Guests and crew
will have their temperature checked daily
either when they return from ashore
or at dedicated stations around the ship
to monitor the health status
of every guest and crew member.
A new information center
accessible by telephone
will allow guests to call guest services for information
rather than having to go to the desk to check in person.
So that avoids long lines at the guest services.
On ships that have the new technology installed.
Complementary wristbands will be distributed.
Which basically facilitates contactless
transactions around the ship
as well as providing contact and proximity tracing.
This replaces the classic cruise card.
Making everything touch free.
This is available on several MSC, Royal Caribbean, Virgin Voyages
and Princess ships.
It's really good and it means you don't have to touch things
like your door handle.
Or hand over the card.
It's all contactless which is really good.
We experienced this on
[David] Sky Princess. [Ben] On the ship.
We did a video about it as well.
You can see it in the corner.
Takes you through all that technology what's
involved with it.
But having that technology in place is
perfect for the scenario that way and now so have a look at that video and you
can see what we're talking about.
next up let's have a look at what
excursions are going to be like.
This is possibly the area where they can't control
what's going on on the ship because obviously getting off the ship.
And this is if there is actually excursions going on.
Because lots of ships are just going out for sea days.
Places like Norway with the nice views.
It might happen the same in the Caribbean.
Where you don't actually stop at any ports it's just sea days.
But if you do have the luck of being on a one way just stop at a port what can we expect?
Well guests can only go ashore if they have a booked cruise excursion
through the cruise line.
So you have to book an excursion through the cruise line to get off the ship.
This is to provide guests with the same amount of protection
as on board.
It's a way, I guess, for the cruise line to control the scenario
to control the situation while the guests are on shore.
Buses will be sanitized and tour guides and drivers
will undergo health screenings and will wear appropriate
personal protective equipment more commonly known as PPE.
On a return to the ship temperature checks will be carried out.
Yes it sounds very interesting.
So you're not going to be able to get off the ship
by yourself at the moment.
So what happens if there is an outbreak on board?
Well, cruise lines are required to put together now
a comprehensive plan.
There will be enhanced medical facilities and services
with highly qualified and trained staff.
The necessary equipment to test, evaluate as well as treat suspected patients.
And the availability of free treatment
at the onboard medical centre
for any guests with symptoms.
There will also be medication on board
that improves clinical outcomes.
As well as dedicated isolation state rooms
that will be available to enable
isolation of any suspected cases
and those close contacts to that person.
An emergency response plan will be activated if a suspected case is identified.
In close cooperation with the national health authorities.
The suspected case and close contacts will follow isolation measures
and may be disembarked according to local and national regulations.
There will be ongoing training, education and drills
for all crew in the latest clinical care practices
for managing cases.
Partnerships have been set up
with local and regional medical providers on land.
Finally the disembarkation procedure for when you have to go and leave your cruise
Well, like boarding disembarkation will be strictly controlled.
Time slots will be allocated for you to leave the ship.
We expect temperature checks to be
carried out by the port after you leave the ship
and obviously once you have left the ships and the ports themselves
Will receive a full sanitization
for the next set of passengers.
So there you go.
That's the plans for some of the biggest cruise lines.
So we're talking about Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Princess, MSC.
We've put them all together to give you an idea of what cruising
is going to look like post.
Obviously the finer details may differ slightly between each cruise line
but this is generally what all the cruise lines have said
and have agreed on is best practice to
manage this situation.
But with all this information,
everything we know now,
What do you think?
Do you want to cruise and do you feel safe?
Let us know in the comments section below.
We absolutely love to hear from you.
We love to get your comments
and please if you enjoyed this video share it and give it a like as well.
That helps us a lot
Yeah and please make sure you hit that
subscribe button and the bell notification button.
We've got so much good content coming up
and just before we go a big thanks to
all of our patrons as well
You can become a patron and get things like
behind the scenes footages and episodes
as well as podcasts and a live episode every month just for our patrons
and the details are in the description section below.
The captain of the week this week is Nicole so ahoy.
That's it till next time, Happy Cruising.