Would You Go on a Cruise in 2020?

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| Published on April 7, 2020

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Would you go on a cruise in 2020?

UPDATE (2:30pm ET, April 10, 2020): The CDC has extended its “no sail order” stating, per USA TODAY, “that cruise ships can’t board passengers and return to their sailing schedules until one of three events takes place.”

Back on March 27, I retweeted a news story from NBC 6 South Florida that read: “#BREAKING: Four people on a Holland America cruise ship that was trying to get to Fort Lauderdale have died, and dozens of passengers and crew on board have reported flu-like symptoms with at least 2 testing positive for coronavirus, officials said.” I added a comment on my retweet that said: “I don’t think any sane person is going on a cruise for at least a year.”

Like almost everything in life, not everyone agreed with me and some even took offense to my comment. One writer, Tamara Hinson, from the United Kingdom’s Telegraph, even took it a step further when she tweeted me earlier today to say:

“Thank you for inspiring this piece Johnny Jet! https://t.co/XdqzvI251Y.” She linked to her story entitled: The last thing the cruise industry needs is armchair warriors and their tired stereotypes.

In the story, she wrote, “Recently, I’ve seen countless so-called travel experts (most with no knowledge of cruising) air laughable assertions – that the cruise industry is doomed (wrong) and that cruise ships are dirty (they’re not). Let’s remember that Diamond Princess, the cruise industry’s first casualty, was struck down because passengers unknowingly brought the virus onboard, not because of cleanliness issues. Back then, far less was known about the virus, and how to stop its spread. It was unprecedented.

“It’s frustrating that, when the global travel industry is clearly in dire straits, some are intent on tearing down the cruise sector, fuelling misconceptions as publicly as possible. Take travel blogger Johnny Jet’s Tweet to 124,000 followers: “I don’t think any sane person is going on a cruise for at least a year.” The barrage of responses from cruisers professing their insanity proved that the vast majority can’t wait to set sail.”

I tweeted Tamara back saying:

“Thanks for including me! I stand by my statement and I do know about cruising as I’ve been on dozens and loved them all. I’ve even spoken at cruise conferences like SeaTrade. However, you couldn’t pay me to go on a large or medium size ship until they find a vaccine or treatment.”

I’m sure she’s a nice person and we’re not having a nasty fight. It’s just a difference of opinion. Believe me, it doesn’t give me pleasure making negative statements because I’m a positive person and I pride myself on promoting travel. Especially international travel because as corny as it sounds, I truly believe that the more that people travel the world, the less prejudices there will be.

Cruising is a fantastic way to see the world because you can see multiple places without having to pack and unpack. I have met so many wonderful people, seen so many beautiful destinations and I also find it extremely relaxing—especially on small luxury ships like Seabourn. However, I don’t think this is the time to be going on an ocean cruise. And it has nothing to do with cleanliness as Tamara seems to wrongly suggest I’m saying in her article. It’s simply the very nature of cruising. Hundreds, sometimes thousands of people are together in a confined environment where a virus can easily spread.

For me, it’s a no-brainer to not want to be stuck on a vessel that you can’t get off of during a pandemic. And I’m hardly suggesting that cruising is done for. But I do believe that it will take time before people will feel comfortable congregating in such close quarters, especially when they can’t leave at will, unlike a hotel or other building. To each their own, I suppose. I look forward to the time when the travel industry bounces back (hopefully soon, stronger than ever and with new ways to protect our planet) and I will always be a vocal advocate of travel but there are indisputable changes afoot in my beloved industry and we’d all be foolish to ignore our ever-changing reality. My tweet that seemed to rile Tamara up was simply an acknowledgment of that fact.

I know there are a lot of people out there who claim they don’t like cruising and they’ve never even been on a cruise. But I’m not one of those people. My very first cruise was a long weekend cruise from Los Angeles to Mexico in the mid-90s. I instantly loved it and that was on an old Carnival ship. But you can’t beat the price when food, accommodations and entertainment is included.

Since then, I’ve been on dozens of cruises and I have loved every one, even the Baltic cruise where my wife lost her passport in Estonia. Here’s that story and below this article are other stories about ocean and river cruises I’ve been on, along with some stories from our other writers and tons of cruise travel tips.

BTW: The only comment listed on the article at the time of this publishing, was by a man named David Smith and he agrees with me. David wrote:

“Take travel blogger Johnny Jet’s Tweet to 124,000 followers: “I don’t think any sane person is going on a cruise for at least a year.” The barrage of responses from cruisers professing their insanity proved that the vast majority can’t wait to set sail.” I would go further than that. I don’t think any sane person will go on a cruise until there is an effective vaccine for covid19. This may take a year, 18 months, or there may never be a vaccine. If the latter, then the cruise industry will be a thing of the past. As someone in his 70s who has done over 30 cruises, I simply couldn’t justify the risk of going on another cruise ship  until the mortality rate is dramatically reduced by either a vaccine or more effective treatments are available. Yes, I know there are many diehard cruisers who are desperate to get back on board. I think as events unfold over the next couple of years, these diehards will be forced to accept that their cruising days are over.”

So how about you? Do you agree with me or do you think I’m a “so-called travel expert” with no knowledge of cruising?

Let me know in the comments!

Past cruise stories

My cruises:

Cruising tips:

Cruise stories by contributors:

 

45 Comments On "Would You Go on a Cruise in 2020?"
  1. Sue|
    April 10, 2020 at 5:04 pm | Reply

    I would look at the cruise ships individually. Some have better track records in general. We have cruised only with Regent, and they are very diligent about cleanliness. Plus they have a smaller capacity. They did not have the Norovirus when it was going around on other cruise ships. Virus’ can be spread through various other forms of travel, so does that mean you won’t take an airline flight for awhile–a place you can’t get off either, eat their food, close quarters etc. Or stay in hotels, where the virus could potentially still live. I guess I choose to live my life without fear and panic, I mean to be smart but maintain a balance.

  2. Shirley Grabowski|
    April 10, 2020 at 5:04 pm | Reply

    hi johnny, i would not go on a cruise now especially without a vaccine available
    and it surely has changed my mind about the cheap rooms, i bet the people that had a balcony room could at least not feel so claustrophobic. next time i go its a balcony room
    thanks johnny your right
    shirley

  3. Lonny MacLeod|
    April 10, 2020 at 5:04 pm | Reply

    You are so right! I’ve been on seven cruises but there is no way I would ever set foot on a cruise ship anytime in the near future. I am thinking years away if ever!

  4. Arie Boris|
    April 10, 2020 at 5:04 pm | Reply

    I do not believe the cruise industry should be singled out. I don’t think JJ is suggesting he won’t go on a cruise, but he would go to a basketball game at Madison Square Garden under present conditions.
    Society is currently shut down to avoid contagion and the tough love is to keep it shut(social distancing) until sufficient testing allows us to track who has it and who has the anti bodies. As Dr Fauci says let the virus and it’s progression tell us when we can go back and what the new normal will be. I’m sure Arison and Fain, etc will allow medical professionals to establish the new health protocols for guests to board their ships to maintain a safe public health environment once onboard…..too much money involved for them not too.
    Arie Boris. CruiseGourmet.com
    Arie Boris

    1. Johnny Jet|
      April 10, 2020 at 5:04 pm | Reply

      Agreed. I would not go to a basketball game either. But at least at a basketball game you can walk out of the stadium anytime you want.

  5. Cheryl L Edmond|
    April 10, 2020 at 5:04 pm | Reply

    NO CRUISE for 2020. I will consider another cruise when a vaccine is available for the Covid-19 and not before.

  6. Susan Michael|
    April 10, 2020 at 5:04 pm | Reply

    I’ve had 3 cruises cancelled so far, and one is still scheduled for November (16 days between Lisbon and Rio). Due to my April cancellation, the cruiseline has given me 125% of my fare to be used in the future, so I’ve pulled the trigger and booked a Baltic sailing for this October. After 70 plus cruises in which I’ve seen flu and norovirus, I understand that illness spreads (but it also spreads in university settings, airports, housing communities). Not giving up on the opportunity to see new places in comfortable digs. BTW my 112 day around the world cruise is still planned for January 2021.

    1. Johnny Jet|
      April 10, 2020 at 5:04 pm | Reply

      You’re brave. Are you worried about not finding a port to let you dock?

  7. Pam|
    April 10, 2020 at 5:04 pm | Reply

    I agree with you, Johnny. I would not cruise. As far as Tamara’s comment about the cleanliness of cruise ships–even a petri dish starts out sterile.

    1. Johnny Jet|
      April 10, 2020 at 5:04 pm | Reply

      Good point

  8. Kimberley Lovato|
    April 8, 2020 at 2:04 pm | Reply

    Agree 100 percent with you. If we, including medical and scientific professionals, are promoting social distancing as a means of mitigating the spread of COVID19, how can anyone in the same breath promote congregating on a ship, no matter how lovely and luxury it is, full of confined and shared spaces? Irresponsible.

  9. Keith|
    April 8, 2020 at 3:04 am | Reply

    I’m in agreement with you Johnny.. No cruise til all this is wayyyy settled back down! Thanks for all your informative travel advice!

  10. Marlin|
    April 8, 2020 at 2:04 am | Reply

    I just booked a cruise yesterday at the end of July in the Mediterranean (Rome to Spain) with Royal Caribbean and I am very excited, to many people give in to fear. You do know the odds of dieing in a car crash are around 1 in 77?

  11. Nadine Courtney|
    April 8, 2020 at 1:04 am | Reply

    I had been looking forward to my next cruise…but there is no way I’m going on another one before there’s a vaccine, period. Completely agree with you. Cruising in 2020 is simply not happening.

  12. Kevin Wilkerson|
    April 8, 2020 at 12:04 am | Reply

    I actually agree with you JJ. Not because I don’t believe cruises won’t be safe or or not clean – heck they may be the cleanest places to be while traveling after all this – but because of the mental hurdle.

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