On top of a well-financed foundation are three factors that have driven and continue to define the cruise industry.

1. Unpack Once, See Many Places
2. A Comparatively Outstanding Value
3. The Safest Way To Travel

But right now, those three pillars upon which the cruise experience draws life are under attack in a whole new way. Coronavirus brings a never-before-seen element of uncertainty in a business built on composure.

Still, those core values that have defined the industry will probably end up being what saves it. Let’s take a closer look:

Unpack Once, See Many Places- A constant in the world of travel math is the favorable rating of cruises over similar travels, minus a ship. Then there’s the packing and unpacking. We do that one time on a cruise.

A Comparatively Outstanding Value– The inclusive nature of a cruise is never more apparent than when comparing similar travel on land to a cruise itinerary. Just try booking hotels at the places you might visit on the cruise. Don’t forget the flights, food and fun, all of which will add to the cost.

The Safest Way To Travel– When we talk of modified itineraries, the reasons are usually more straightforward:

• Political or civil unrest at a destination
• Weather-related reasons like hurricanes or earthquakes
• Ship maintenance, propulsion issues

Still, in today’s very industry-friendly Orlando Sentinel, the headline is rather telling: State Department, CDC: Don’t Board Cruise Ships.
Yikes!
This is surely an attention-grabber for anyone who has ever been on a cruise. Got one scheduled and coming up soon? Even more concerning.

So what to do?

Sometimes The Best Thing To Do Is Nothing At All

In my opinion, unless you are sailing this week, do nothing.
Pay attention to cruise line policies and updates on the Coronavirus. This is a very fluid situation, changing by the hour.

To Travel Or Not To Travel?

At the end of the day, the choice whether to sail or cancel may be a personal one, subject to each individual’s comfort level with the unknown. We’ll have more information to help each traveler make that decision soon…but right now this situation is developing rapidly. So what to do right now?

1. Nothing- It would be premature to cancel a sailing 30 days or more into the future. We just don’t know enough to make that call today.
2. Know Your Options– If you purchased travel insurance with a “cancel for any reason” option, know the procedure for doing just that.
3. But Wait- Cruise lines are already starting to offer the opportunity to move your sailing forward. Viking Cruises, for example, allows moving a booking forward as late as a day before scheduled embarkation.
4. No Travel Insurance? All Is Not Lost- Cruise line bookings are currently coming in a good 50% lower than normal. Deals will be coming to keep you sailing with your favorite cruise line.
5. Continue To Trust Cruise Lines- One of the biggest selling points for cruises is the mobile nature of their assets. This usually comes into play with there are different dangers on a given itinerary. Cruise lines can and do move ships out of harm’s way and not just when a hurricane is coming.
6. Reality Check- Lisa and I were talking this morning and we agreed: if we were really fearing for our lives, we would not sail even if it meant losing what was paid for a cruise. You do have that option.

Cruise Lines Update Change/Cancellation Policy, Temporarily