The Safest Way to Travel?

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After months of preparation and delays, ocean cruising has been pushed back again for Americans, despite  cruise lines chalking up outstanding track records for travelers from other countries, such as MSC for Italians.

Most major cruise lines won't be carrying Americans until June 1.

Sound familiar?

That's what they said last year, only now we are one year further down the road.

Disappointed?

Undoubtedly.

When cruises do return, will they be safe?

A cynic would undoubtedly fret that thousands of passengers will share public spaces, as they always have on cruises.

However, there's a better argument to be made that cruising will be the safest form of travel.  With all the precautions in place, you should have less chance of contracting any virus or infectious disease.

In fact, did you know  there have been almost no cases of the flu reported this year?  All that hand-washing, social-distancing and mask-wearing has had an impact.

Then again, many have taken similar precautions in packed Asian cities for years, intent on avoiding common viruses and other infectious diseases.

And yes, for better or worse, those same precautions will be part and parcel of cruising, at least immediately upon return, if not indefinitely. 

Hand-washing has always been a top priority for cruising, with hand-sanitzers outside of dining facilities onboard common for years.  On our Princess South America cruise last year, there was already an emphasis on using hand-washing stations in addition to the hand-sanitzer, which at the time seemed like overkill to me.

Masks when not eating or drinking have become the norm outside the home.  Perhaps we will permanently be like women in societies that are strict adherents to Islam, forced to wear masks the rest of our lives.  I must confess I dislike this, except when it is freezing cold outside and the mask keeps my face warm.

I like seeing smiles.

Social distancing, however, will be a good thing on ships, regardless of safety.  Sometimes, people just crowd too close.  I've found this particularly true on long ocean voyages with a lot of sea days at my favorite hangouts, like the Plaza atrium during Princess Hawaii cruisses as I try to listen to musicians performing while other guests chat loudly about something totally unrelated. 

It wouldn't hurt my feelings to always sail at 50% capacity, although I think mainstream cruise lines will be looking to close the gap in occupancy ASAP.  

Early cruises on mainstream lines like NCL or Princess might feel more like Oceania or Azamara in terms of space, which is not a bad thing based on my experience.

When going ashore, you will be required to take ship-sponsored shore excursions.  While most of us have toured ports independently for years without incident, it is true that when problems do arise on shore, it is usually because someone is not on a ship-sponsored excursion.  Missing the sail away time (which can get expensive) as well as roaming into the wrong neighborhood becomes unlikely on sponsored excursions.

As with travel in general, we've learned there is safety in numbers.

More specifically related to the actual Corona virus, what other form of travel will bring along its own hospital, quarantine space and Covid-testing laboratory?

That adds to traditional safety advantantages found when dining on board, traveling between ports, and having experts at every turn to answer questions.

Let's cruise as soon as they let us!

Wes