Wonder Heading Back to Port Canaveral?

[truck1]

The question is whether they will still be self-serve buffet, or with servers filling plates to hand to passengers.

Ive been thinking about that, and depending on how things go, Id hazard a guess that it would be handed to the guest by the crew, at least initially. Similar to the noro virus precautions. Ill go back and look, but I dont think they clarified what form the buffets will be in. Maybe December or Jan they'll go back to a traditional buffett. But the thing is that lines cant get people to wear the appropriate clothes in the dining rooms. I wouldn't hold my breath on them following rules on a buffet line.

 

[truck1]

Honestly I don't see how they can have open buffets right now, with contact exposure running such a high risk, I am guessing they'll keep the current set ups with minor modifications that will allow crew members to serve portions to guests so there's no contact with the utensils or food from the guests. At least until the risk is eliminated via a effective vaccine (hopefully somewhere in the future). As far a resumption of cruising out of US ports, it's such a unlikely scenario right now as foreign guests have no way to enter the country, let alone board a cruise ship, also many airlines have scaled back flights domestically that ramping up to begin leisure travel seems pretty far down the road. And as you indicated re-crewing the ships for resumption is going to be a very difficult and long process, especially for foreign nationals that want to come back for work on board. The CDC does seem to be dragging their feet on any direction for the cruise industry, maybe they're hoping that a medical breakthrough will give them some guidance, it's hard to say. And lastly, until ports that cruises visit regularly open for cruise ships, it will be pointless to resume operations, I'm pretty sure there are some that would love to get back on board even if they don't visit any ports but, it seems like a majority of cruisers won't want to sail if they're not able to stop anywhere during the itinerary. But who know's it's such a crap shoot right now what will or will not happen. We just can keep guessing and speculating, at least it occupies some of our time!

I agree with all of this. Theres a lot of hurdles that the lines need to get through. But someone, some where needs to get the ball rolling and Royal and Carnival are taking the lead with their task force. There are some islands open to travel, its just a matter of which one, and how do they get the people on the ships. I can see in the near future at least some really good deals on cruises.
I honestly don't know what the CDCs problem is. Unless they've shot themselves in the foot enough times, that there hoping someone else does the job for them.

 

[FWRR3]

The Dream seems to have given the remaining crew a sight-seeing trip along Cuba. PC tomorrow I believe.

 

[Starwind]

The question is whether they will still be self-serve buffet, or with servers filling plates to hand to passengers.

Yep. More like what variation of some semblance of self service up through to servers serving will it be.

It won't be the self serve buffet as previously known.

See RCL blog clarifying-but-not the issue:

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/...fet-royal-caribbean-ships-when-cruises-resume

 

[I_love_Cruising]

Do we know how many crew remains on the Wonder?
Are the sailing with only the main, essential crew?

 

[harriet2]

Not sure on the Wonder, but I know for a fact there is still crew on the Dream who are unable to go home...

 

[BartmanLA]

I believe the last thing I read somewhere said that there were about 250 crew still remaining on the Wonder, this includes some crew that are unable to get transportation to their home country due to the border restrictions imposed on the US and also the EU. The Dream I think have around 180 crew still on board. Not sure about the Fantasy.

 

[KVH]

I believe the last thing I read somewhere said that there were about 250 crew still remaining on the Wonder, this includes some crew that are unable to get transportation to their home country due to the border restrictions imposed on the US and also the EU. The Dream I think have around 180 crew still on board. Not sure about the Fantasy.

This begs the question - how many crew are required to keep the ship in a 'running' state? A full set of watches on the bridge and something similar for engineering, at the least.

 

[T & R]

The Dream I think have around 180 crew still on board

Yes, that's about right. Media stated Dream has 177 crew aboard back on June 30th.

https://www.curacaochronicle.com/post/local/disney-dream-moored-at-bullen-bay/

 

[T & R]

This begs the question - how many crew are required to keep the ship in a 'running' state? A full set of watches on the bridge and something similar for engineering, at the least.

I was wondering the same thing. They got to be getting down to their minimum amount of staff to keep the things running. Reason being is you need 2 to 3 times the number needed to run the ship because you would need to work in shifts. So if it takes 50-100 crew to run the ship, you couldn't just have the same 50 or 100 people working 24/7, they would have to work 12hrs on and 12hrs off or whatever. So if it was 12hr shifts then instead of 50-100 crew you would need 100-200 crew.

 

[auntlynne]

Lol. My bad.

To be honest havent really been paying attention to where the sailings have been released up to this point. I think next set should be in the fall sometime.

The start sailing again is a somewhat easier answer. 2nd Tuesday of next week.

Heres the issue. Main issue is the US CDC has not even looked at cruising to give the lines guidance on how to resume. If I remember correctly, originally the lines were to start in about a week. That's not enough time to implement any changes and get the crews back so it makes sense on why things were moved to Oct. I think its Oct. Anyway the CDC for some odd reason, has not even made any plans for cruising to restart.
Port Canaveral called them out on it, since on the surface it seems that everything else is getting plans, but cruise lines aren't. Now granted theres only 1 line flagged in the US with 1 ship, not counting the casino ships, and river cruises but theres probably 100s of thousands if not more, in the US alone, that depend on the ships for income. The CDC has also publicly stated that the cruise lines are floating petri dishes. Seriously. If there that bad, why do the CDC inspectors continually grade the ships between 90 and 100% on their inspections? Someone else can figure that out.

2nd problem. Not as bad as the first. Several of the islands that lines use are still closed, some until next year. Caymans are 1 if I'm not mistaken. Bahamas are open, but you need a negative test from within 7 days to enter. So that limits the available stops a ship can make. Ill have to go and try and find the list that's out there, on which islands are accepting foreign travel in the very near future or are already.

The good news. Carnival and Royal are working on a plan to get the CDC moving. They formed a task force, with other lines allowed to participate and or get the benefits of what there working on. Basically they are forming the guidelines, and making them open source to give to the CDC. Itll be interesting to see how well that will go over. That should be done in August according to Royal.

Just 1 more little tidbit I picked up along the way. Royal Carribean has publiclly stated that the buffets will be open when cruising resumes. I would assume the other lines would follow suit.

Thanks for the info. I'm just along for the ride, enjoying hearing what the rest of you have researched (or just happen to know, easily access, whatever). I love it.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

This begs the question - how many crew are required to keep the ship in a 'running' state? A full set of watches on the bridge and something similar for engineering, at the least.

About 100-120, including bridge crew, engineering, some cooks, and medical.

 

[grx]

She's back on the grid!

 

[insureman]

I agree with all of this. Theres a lot of hurdles that the lines need to get through. But someone, some where needs to get the ball rolling and Royal and Carnival are taking the lead with their task force. There are some islands open to travel, its just a matter of which one, and how do they get the people on the ships. I can see in the near future at least some really good deals on cruises.
I honestly don't know what the CDCs problem is. Unless they've shot themselves in the foot enough times, that there hoping someone else does the job for them.

Scott from the DCL blog posted this about European guidelines for cruise ships.
https://disneycruiselineblog.com/20...advice-for-restarting-cruise-ship-operations/

 

[BartmanLA]

She's back on the grid!

View attachment 507934

Actually she's not going to Boston, but Port Canveral

 

[FWRR3]

I believe the Dream will be at PC on 7/10.

Yep.

 

[auntlynne]

And she needed a Tow Boat to get there. Just kidding - it is just the source of info.

 

[truck1]

Scott from the DCL blog posted this about European guidelines for cruise ships.
https://disneycruiselineblog.com/20...advice-for-restarting-cruise-ship-operations/

I saw that in a different thread. I only had a chance to glance at it yesterday but on the surface it seems to read like the CDC and WHO recommendations. The only difference I saw in the first few pages was that ships needed to have a plan in place if someone on the ship showed symptoms after boarding. I would expect Royal/Carnivals plan to be fairly similar if not identical.

 

[BCV23]

The Dream arrived at PC yesterday morning and is still there today. The Wonder and Fantasy remain just off the coast.

 

[truck1]

The Dream arrived at PC yesterday morning and is still there today. The Wonder and Fantasy remain just off the coast.

There pretty much taking turns on the pier. Fantasy was there the other day when the Dream reappeared. They seem to have a rotation where 1 ship is on the pier, 1 is offshore, and 1 either going or coming from CC. Then 1 moves out, and another rmoves in from the pier. Occasionally all 3 are offshore next to each other