Cruising in January Should we stay or should we go? . Opinions please

I am in the same position as you. We fly to Dubai in two weeks and join a cruise around UAE. The itinerary has been changed and basically, we will spend 4 full days and nights on board the ship, as two ports of call have been cancelled. I am feeling totally overwhelmed by the entire process of arranging tests, Gov UK guidance, downloading apps. updating Covid test certificates et al...not to mention all of the extra costs involved in having tests both in UK and Dubai, before, during, and after the cruise......wondering if it is all going to be worth it. If we hadn't been travelling with a dependent friend, I might have cancelled by now.

Having been on cruises before I know how hard the crew work to keep everything clean and passengers healthy BUT - you can't MAKE the passengers follow the rules! Going into the restaurants there are numerous sanitising hand sprays to use, however the number of people who don't use them is awful, as is leaving the public washrooms without washing hands! If there are children on board then there is the problem of breathing over food in any eating place. It amazes me there are not more outbreaks of ill health on the huge cruise ships. Much as I like cruising, as a single oldie I think it is a safe way to holiday, I certainly won 't be doing it in the current covid situation.

Take emergency undies supplies in case you end up stranded at sea! Oh and extra prescription meds too......

Gosh, this is a dilemma for you. I can imagine you are torn between your head and your heart. Honestly, I think if I were you, I wouldn't go. But - on the other hand - the ship will be covid safe, you will be triple jabbed, wear a mask, comply with all covid rules and regs. So, yes, follow your heart, stay safe and go!

Far too problematic and uncertain. Maybe people have been on cruises in the last few months but the situation is different now - personally I would feel rather indignant about any cruise ship setting sail in January and getting stranded, requiring the British Government to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds air-lifting thoughtless passengers back to Blighty when we've had to stop cancer treatment to cope with yet again another covid spike. It's selfish to knowingly place oneself in an uncertain and potentially risky position and then to expect (as everybody does) that somehow or other the taxpayers in their country of origin will rescue them.

I wouldn’t touch a cruise with a barge pole at the moment. It isn’t just about you contracting Covid. The risk of being stranded out at sea on a plague ship that no port wants, is what puts me off. There are currently 1000 cruisers stranded on a Cunard ship because 60 people have tested positive and are confined to their cabins. Hubby and I enjoyed cruising before Covid, but we won’t cruise again whilst the virus us still an issue.

Good luck if you go.

Difficult decision isn’t it. Having read the current news about covid on cruise ships I think I would cancel and avoid a very real risk of getting covid.

What is more important? The money, or your own and perhaps other peoples' health?

Of course you should stay at home!

We had a cruise booked for early January but decided last weekend to cancel it & book another for next November. Disappointed of course, but we want to relax.

There was an article about flying, that it was safer to fly business class under these Covid circumstances so if I was cruising it would be the equivalent accommodation.
If it's a " one-off " cruise up the ante. I would.

We went on the Iona shakedown one nighter this year and whilst it was lovely it wasn’t the same as precovid.

We love cruises and can’t wait to book another. But, it won’t be for a while yet as wearing a mask all the time is no fun and having to prebook everything on board is a pain
We will probably wait until september at the earliest and just do us trips as and when we fancy it

We can’t hide in our homes forever, I’d say go enjoy yourself after all if anything covid as taught us life is too short and we should enjoy every min while we can. You should get back in time for your 4th or 5th jab lol

I think that the cruise ships will or should have made changes to how they operate - contact the company for how they have done this and make sure that you follow protocol.
Read your travel insurance carefully to see if you are covered at all for anything connected to Covid.
If you are all happy, I'd still go as you are all vaxxed - just perhaps try to spend as much time outside as you can and wear a face covering while indoors - the ship might have an air cleaning system installed.

I think you should go if the countries you are visiting allow you to. You might yet find the option might not be yours.

I am so sorry to read your post as I can imagine how you must be feeling.

We enjoy cruising but despite some wonderful offers at the moment, would not consider doing so at the moment.

The latest I read is that some cruise lines are requiring all passengers to wear masks everywhere around the ship except for eating, so not much fun really. Additionally, when in port, you would have to think about Covid levels/inoculations in each country etc. Not very relaxing.

I wonder - but who knows - if there will be a ban on Brits entering countries by their governments or a Foreign Office ban on us entering others.

The main reason though for us not contemplating a cruise is the thought of being quarantined in a cabin, oops, stateroom, for a fortnight or more. I think I would go mad!

Are you positive that your insurance won't cover your cancellation costs?

I think I would wait it out (unless of course, your cancellation costs increase with time) and see which way the wind blows re. Covid but it isn't going away anytime soon.

Go and enjoy.

I'd go! What a delightful prospect at this damp and dismal moment.

DH and I have just booked for a cruise in June - really looking forward to it!

Yes Avekine, but it’s a lottery isn’t it? The couple I know were on Cunard line and lots of people went down with it. Luckily they weren’t very ill as they were vaccinated, but it’s still not the holiday anyone wants is it?
I love cruises and have been on a few to really interesting destinations such as Japan and other places, but I wouldn’t advise anyone to chance it just now.

Equally maddyone I know a couple who went in a round Britain cruise this year and were absolutely fine. Very well managed ship - they have to be!

At the end of the day.. Floating Petri dish of germs.

It’s madness to go. I know a couple who took a cruise round Britain this summer just gone, and there was a Covid outbreak on the ship. They came home with Covid. I speak as one who normally loves cruises, but at the moment, absolutely not.

I certainly wouldn't go, all the tests form filling and hassle are constantly changing. Never mind the horror of having to self isolate in a cabin with limited food and drink options.

Have one booked for next August, so fingers crossed things may be more back to normal by then. I follow an independent group on Facebook for this company, and reports from passengers are that things are good on board. No independent exploring in ports though, only organised excursions.

I wouldn't go yet, as I'd feel very far from relaxed about it. The thought of perhaps being ill and far away from home is so off-putting.