As cruises resume, avid cruisers are finding several changes. Our clients are excited about the return to cruising and are not letting these changes deter them. As a matter of fact, several travelers have stated they welcome the changes and feel completely at ease cruising. So what are some of the differences you can expect?
New Technology
- Touchless check-in. The check-in process starts at home. You will fill out most of the needed paperwork and even upload photos before you even arrive at the port. You will be then given an express pass or code that you can use to speed up boarding procedures.
- Online muster drills. Celebrity Cruises & Royal Caribbean Cruises led the way when they created an e-muster system. The videos will now be available via their app and on stateroom TVs. Once onboard, passengers simply walk to the designated muster area and a small sticker will be placed on your room key.
- Gadgets & apps to make your cruise experience more convenient. While on your cruise order drinks and food via an app and it will be brought to your location. Carnival Cruises had this technology in place even pre-COVID. Princess Cruises did as well with their Medallion Class which provide guests with a medallion. It is used for paying, ordering room service, dinner reservations, spa bookings and other services as mentioned above.
- Monitoring devices. RCL’s Tracelet records when people come into close contact. The Tracelet™ is a comfortable, water-resistant, hypoallergenic wearable worn by all guests and crew during the cruise. It will allow for contact tracing in the unlikely event of an onboard health concern. For the time being, everyone will be required to wear one. Virgin Voyages has a WiFi reader to track your whereabouts via a smartphone App. Viking River Cruises is providing guests with a medallion similar to Princess. Please note these devices are not to travel personal information, but rather to identify close contacts just in case there is a suspected positive case onboard.
- Telemedicine at sea. Some ships will use SeaConsult, a telehealth solution accessible via laptop or mobile device that equips cruise lines to offer virtual cabin visits to assess suspected illnesses among crew and guests.
- Some ships have touchless thermometers around the vessel for regular temperature checks.
Crowd Control
- Ships are sailing at reduced capacity for now, though how reduced depends on the cruise line, but you will see fewer travelers for the time being.
- Gone are the days when you arrive at the port early in the morning to be one of the first to board. You will be assigned a time slot for boarding to avoid large crowds gathering in the port check-in area.
- Your cabin will now be available once you board versus having to wait until 1 or 2 pm. This will minimize the number of people hanging around public areas.
- Capacity in public rooms and dining venues will be limited amounting to less crowding and shorter lines.
Experiences will vary by ship, but here are additional things you can expect.
- COVID vaccine. Some cruise lines require a COVID-19 vaccine for all travelers, where other cruise lines like Royal Caribbean have select cruises where unvaccinated passengers can travel, but they will have to follow specific guidelines including wearing a mask in public areas and some venues on the ship will be off-limits.
- COVID testing. In many cases even vaccinated travelers are being given a rapid test, even after providing proof of vaccination and a negative COVID test. In the case of Viking Ocean cruises, guests are provided a COVID PCR test in their cabin to self-administer along with masks, sanitizing wipes, and hand sanitizer.
- Every ship has enhanced sanitization protocols. You will find hand sanitizers place throughout the ship. All have upgraded their purification systems in public areas to ensure 99% of airborne viruses and bacteria are eliminated.
- The buffet is open, but you will not be serving yourself unless you are on a Carnival Cruise. On the cruise lines just point out what you would like and you will be served by ship staff.
- No paper menus. On most ships, there will be a QR code you will need to scan to see the days menu.
- In some ports, you will only be able to participate in ship shore excursions versus going out on your own. For example, Barbados only allows for approved shore excursions run by the cruise ship, wherein Aruba you can go out on your own. You may also find that your favorite shops and restaurants in port may be closed or have limited hours.
- Cabin attendants will only enter (clean) your cabin once per day. If you need anything you can call your stateroom attendant during certain hours. The goal is to limit crew and passenger contact.
The bottom line is you can still have a great time on a cruise. Just expect the protocols can and will likely change from the time you book your cruise until the time you sail.
