Captain Mickey wants to sail again…Since I live in the Orlando area, I am also not too far away from several cruise ports. There has been a lot of talk about cruises lately. Part of the news is that the maiden voyage of the Disney Wish is scheduled to take place in the summer of 2022. That is not all of the cruise-related buzz, though. I’ve mentioned cruises here since the industry shut down, but since we’re getting closer to the possibility of cruising again I thought that I would talk about them again.
One thing that will be a given is that all crew and passengers will receive a rapid COVID-19 test before being allowed to board. The Cruise Lines International Association has stated:
“CLIA ocean cruise line members worldwide have agreed to conduct 100% testing of passengers and crew on all ships with a capacity to carry 250 or more persons — with a negative test required for any embarkation. This is a travel industry first and an example of the cruise industry leading the way. We see testing as an important initial step to a multi-layered approach that we believe validates the industry’s commitment to making health, safety and the well-being of the passengers, the crew and the communities we visit our top priority.”
While this is an important step to take, there are two things that you need to keep in mind. The rapid tests have a lower accuracy rate than some of the other tests. There will be both false positive and false negative test results. The other consideration is that COVID-19 does not always show up immediately after someone has been infected. Someone could be exposed and have a negative test, only to test positive a few days later.
Ports of call are another thing to think about. Cruising is a fun way to see the world. If you do book a cruise, make sure you know what the requirements for each port are. And be careful, you don’t want to take any chances.
I can honestly see some cruise lines requiring a second test several days into the cruise, especially if it is a longer voyage. I also would not be surprised if daily temperature checks would be required for all passengers. Until there is a vaccine or a cure, I also think that masks and social distancing could be required as well. On Disney Cruise Line, the characters will most likely wave from a distance for a while.
I do think that cruising safely will be possible. We just need to all take extra precautions. If I had the opportunity (and the money) to cruise again in the next couple of months and I felt confident with the precautions, I would not think twice about going. I would not worry about the cleanliness of a Disney ship, because I already know that Disney is making extra efforts. I can’t control the other passengers, but I can stay out of areas where I don’t feel comfortable. Disney Cruise Line has currently suspended departures through December 6. Here’s hoping that they don’t have to cancel any more cruises.