Who can forget the Diamond Princess? The luxury cruise ship became an unfortunate symbol of the COVID-19 pandemic when, in February 2020, passengers began getting sick. The ship was quarantined for two weeks, but during that time more than 700 people on board became ill, some of them even dying from the strange new virus that nobody yet understood.
After the Diamond Princess’s outbreak made the news, governments around the world became afraid of letting other ships dock. The Howard America Line cruise MS Westerdam also got stuck in limbo, it was refused docking in four different countries! The Philippines, Japan, Guam, and Thailand all turned the ship away until Cambodia finally allowed Westerdam to disembark.
Yet at the end of 2021, early pandemic fears seemed to disappear. Instead, many began planning vacations and dreaming of escaping the all-too-familiar walls of our home offices. Going on a cruise, once again, became a possibility. Cruise companies were happily announcing the official return of travel, and people were eagerly buying up discounted tickets, aching to get back to their favorite vacation plans and leaving travel restrictions behind.
In a cruel twist of fate, the 2-year anniversary of the Diamond Princess incident seems like it will arrive in a world where luxury liners are once again standing by docked in empty ports. The Omicron variant has upended hopes of travel, and many cruise tickets purchased months ago will go unused. The last two months have already given us deja vu, with headlines recounting outbreaks on popular cruises in Florida, New Orleans, and Portugal.
But should those cruise plans be cancelled? If you want to find out more about the current state of the cruising industry in early 2022, you’ll want to listen closely. In this video we’ve compiled all the information you need to know when getting ready to go on a cruise.
Join ViewCation as we look at the current state of cruises and the safety tips you may wish to keep in mind as you embark for unknown waters. Make sure that you watch until the end and learn how to assess if you might want to cancel that trip or not.
Constant Changes
Don’t pay your dog sitter just yet. Even if your cruise is supposed to take off in two days, there might be some last-minute changes. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that the whole world may be upended on a moment’s notice. Be prepared for changes of any kind: delays, cancellations, itinerary shifts, or additional testing requirements.
If you are not comfortable with the prospect of constant changes before or even during your cruise, consider skipping out on an early 2022 adventure. While pre-pandemic cruises may have been as predictable as a newly wound clock, the game has changed.
Some of the most popular cruises have already been cancelled as of early January, with the Royal Caribbean dropping three trips and postponing a forth to March. Even if you are planning to travel with a different company, the cruising industry tends to have similar responses to the pandemic and changing regulations, so if all the cruises close to your departure date are being cancelled that may be a red flag.
Protect Your Wallet
While many cruise companies try to accommodate travelers affected by sudden changes, you should still take precautions to protect the money you’ve spent.
First of all, book flexible tickets, as fully refundable cancellations will save you the extra money you’ll spend on the fare. Second, buy travel insurance for yourself and your family. Make sure to read the terms carefully, including what the policy covers and the process for filing a claim. Some travel insurance policies seem appealing until you realize that getting your claim processed is nearly impossible with excessive evidence requirements.
Boredom
The great resignation did not pass the oceans by. Cruises these days are often short-staffed, with crew members leaving their jobs or even having to quarantine on little notice. With these staffing shortages, a lot of activities might not be available.
Approach your cruise more like a long plane ride, packing enough entertainment options in your luggage that both you and your kids are happy even if there’s nothing to do on board. Plan to relax by the pool and enjoy the slow pace of watching the ocean waters pass on by.
Have a plan B in the worst-case scenario of needing to quarantine on board. If confined to your cabin, you won’t be able to rely on the ambience of the cruise or pop into the casino, so stock up on electronics and the books you’ve been telling yourself you’d read for the past three months. Don’t forget to get the kids their own headphones either to keep everyone’s sanity in check.
The crew may be able to bring you some board games, but you may want to stock up on your own supply instead. After all, Royal Caribbean may not stock your favorite Monopoly spinoff or your heirloom edition of Operation.
Safety
The hottest vacation accessory this season is a stylish N95 mask. Popular cruise liners like those run by the Royal Caribbean have established indoor mask mandates, so if you want to avoid quarantining in your tiny cabin with a fever the entire time you might want to bring the best protection available.
To get on a cruise you also need to get a negative COVID test. With many PCR sites clogged by long lines from dawn to dusk, you might want to try and get your hands on a home test instead. But even home kits sell out quickly, so you might want to order one well ahead of time. Make sure that the test you take is approved by your cruise company to avoid nasty surprises!
If you need to fly to get to your cruise, try to reduce your exposure to other people. If any flights tend to be less crowded, you might want to book them even if they depart at an inconvenient time. Turn the air blower above your seat to maximum strength, and avoid taking off your mask as much as possible, perhaps even skipping on an in-flight meal.
Don’t forget to check in on your home location’s travel restrictions. Safety regulations don’t end with the cruise, and you don’t want to be hit with a nasty surprise at the end of your trip.
Enjoy the Shore
Going on a cruise still means getting to visit cool locations along the way. If you want to enjoy sightseeing but are afraid of getting sick, you can try to opt out for outdoor activities. Some cruise stops offer hikes, beach days, bike rides, or other outdoor tours! Just make sure that you look into the relevant local guidelines beforehand and take your mask if needed.
Do keep in mind that since the Omicron outbreak began, some cruise ships were banned from disembarking on shore. The Mexican government has been avoiding risks of spread with cruise ships that had any confirmed positive cases, rejecting ships before deciding on a strict safety protocol and quarantine procedures for any symptomatic or positive travelers.
Take Advantage of Upgrades
While so many cancellations may scare you off traveling, if you choose to go ahead with the trip you might as well reap the benefits. Fewer people on a ship means there are more cabins available, making upgrades to luxury accommodations more affordable than ever!
Lower occupancy rates also mean that while there are fewer events, it might actually be easier to get into them. You might even luck into getting the best spots by the pool without having to wake up at the crack of dawn.
Cruise companies are also running fantastic deals to encourage travelers to go ahead with their plans. Princess Cruises, the company behind the infamous Diamond Princess voyage, is polishing up its reputation with offers that include 50% off cruise deposits, free WiFi, cabin upgrades, upgraded drink packages, and decreased prices. Royal Caribbean is also promising 30% off its packages with additional discounts for many of this year’s voyages.
Consider Delaying Your Trip
All that said, cruises are not the same experience right now as they were pre-pandemic. If you are afraid of becoming another news headline or simply having a subpar time onboard, consider cancelling your trip.
The CDC has already issued an updated warning for passengers to avoid all cruise voyages even if they are vaccinated. The alert, which was posted in late December last year, mentioned that 88 ships were being examined for not following correct safety protocols.
According to the Washington Post U.S. cruises have confirmed over 5,000 COVID cases between December 15 and December 29 of last year, with those figures reportedly being even higher in January. Travelers are complaining of subpar quarantine accommodations and worries of being stuck at sea are returning with full swing, calling to mind the winter of 2020 yet again.
Maybe this vacation is better spent walking your dog after all.
That wraps up our overview of what you should expect when taking a cruise in early 2022. Have you decided to go ahead with your plans or will you stay at home? Whatever you choose, let us know in the comments and tell us why. And if this video helped you prepare for your trip, make sure to hit the like button and subscribe to ViewCation for more videos about travel and world destinations in the pandemic and beyond!