Do you think some Cruise Ships will permanently dock their Vessels for other uses?

[TheTimeTraveler]

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With what is going on in the world, does anyone think that some of these cruise lines may decide to permanently dock some of their older ships and repurpose them to generate sales or income?

Such repurposed uses could be as floating Condominiums, floating Timeshares, floating Hospitals or floating Hotels. These options "could be" very attractive in cities where Real Estate prices are at a premium such as Boston, New York City, San Francisco, Honolulu, etc.

Would enjoy reading other thoughts and ideas for repurposing older cruise ships.

Everyone please stay safe and healthy.




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[Maple_Leaf]

Apparently they already are...

How to Buy a Cruise Ship | CruiseMapper

If you've got the urge to throw away some money to buy a cruise ship, you should have a banker on speed dial or pretty deep pockets

www.cruisemapper.com

 

[pedro47]

Maybe, a cruise ship could use be as an assistant living floating condos for senior citizens. Use would have your own private stateroom, entertainment, spas, pools and dining facilities on a floating cruise ship.

You could home port somewhere in the Carribean to avoid paying US taxes.LOL.

I know one lady who cruise with Celebrity Cruise Line all year in a ocean view cabin.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Yes. I would like to seem them provide affordable housing for the homeless.

 

[TravelTime]

No I do not think this will happen. A couple may be repurposed but the vast majority will end up being scrapped at some point.

 

[Passepartout]

We MAY have seen the best and passing of the'Golden Age' of cruising. There might be a few that can survive as hotels in desirable 'snowbird' resort accommodation but the era of fast, long distance, multi-port cruising will have to overcome high fuel and labor and food costs, and may simply end. Modern Cruise ships ar seen as incubators of disease- and this will take a l-o-n-g time to change public opinion- if EVER!

I suppose that once a CV19 vaccine is widely available, and enough money is thrown at building public confidence again, it might be possible for major cruise lines to return to a semblance of the glory days, but it won't happen soon.

I don't think cruise ships will economically assume re-purposes as assisted living facilities, floating hotels, apartment complexes, etc. Their maintenance, staffing, and ongoing costs are simply too high.

It won't happen suddenly-like switching off a light, Some will hang on for a while, but in the long run, cruising will go the way of buggy whips. A once beloved relic of an earlier time.

 

[geekette]

No I do not think this will happen. A couple may be repurposed but the vast majority will end up being scrapped at some point.

I don't think they will be scrapped, ships are very expensive assets not easily sold. but I do think a few might go into alternative purposes. possibly "gambling boats" with attached hotel. the land casinos have restaurants, hotels, stage shows, etc. For some reason, when I go with others on vacation, they like the idea of riverboat gambling. I don't get it, but, they dig it, so, ok...

I think many will get new names so that the stigma will float away. I sailed on the Princess Diamond in 2006 to Alaska, a wonderful voyage. Now, people know her name and it is not related to good memories. But, the ship wasn't sick. It was a pax or two, or crew or Someone. the ship itself is just fine.

My gut feel is that the cruise industry will resurrect itself. If I had to guess, I would say Spring 2022. Places that used to rely on tourism may only be able to do so much to create a new economy without attracting tourist $. It's a nice set up to just maintain a dock, vs the mass of roadways and hotels.

Not sure about travel agents, tho. Do we still have a need for them or is everyone comfortable booking their own accommodations at this point? Or, have their admin assistant do it. I think we had a TA or two around here. I will be interested in their projections on that, as my gut feel is that there is Much More to the job than I know.

I would be happy if single supplements dropped to rock bottom. I might be inclined to risk adventure sooner rather than later to get the ball rolling after my hopefully-mild case of corona. I like cruising, and many people are avid cruisers. Cruise Critic is Tug for ships.

I would also consider pooling into a timeshare ship ; )

 

[geekette]

I know one lady who cruise with Celebrity Cruise Line all year in a ocean view cabin.

I would like this. If I were wealthy, I would consider, I think it was called, ResidenceSea?

I had it in my long term bucket list to do a world cruise. Not sure who would want to come with me for 3 months, so I figured it would be whoever could pony up their own 25k. If that dropped Significantly, well, hey-o, get outa my way, I'm up the gangway fast.

I am a water person. I could stare at the ocean for hours. I do that on my beach trips, but it is very different to be On the water.

 

[geekette]

....Modern Cruise ships ar seen as incubators of disease- and this will take a l-o-n-g time to change public opinion- if EVER!

I'm not so sure that the public cares. How many "risk" noro? not many people seem to care. the legendary Poop Cruise didn't seem to stop people, either. The big listing situation some years back didn't hold back demand.

I will expect most that boarded cruises after it seemed "well known" that coronavirus was A Big Thing just didn't know. I don't think that they had enough accurate information to make a good decision. I also don't think cruise lines were offering full refunds for people backing out. They would have needed good trip insurance.

I do hope at some point there is a tv news piece interviewing some pax of those "we can't port anywhere" cruises. I would be interested in whether those with interior staterooms with no porthole incurred substantially larger post-trip psychological help. Those are the people I worried about most.

Overall, I don't think people will stop cruising. It's not like you're forced to lick doorknobs.

 

[Brett]

....Modern Cruise ships ar seen as incubators of disease- and this will take a l-o-n-g time to change public opinion- if EVER!

I'm not so sure that the public cares. How many "risk" noro? not many people seem to care. the legendary Poop Cruise didn't seem to stop people, either. The big listing situation some years back didn't hold back demand.

I will expect most that boarded cruises after it seemed "well known" that coronavirus was A Big Thing just didn't know. I don't think that they had enough accurate information to make a good decision. I also don't think cruise lines were offering full refunds for people backing out. They would have needed good trip insurance.

I do hope at some point there is a tv news piece interviewing some pax of those "we can't port anywhere" cruises. I would be interested in whether those with interior staterooms with no porthole incurred substantially larger post-trip psychological help. Those are the people I worried about most.

Overall, I don't think people will stop cruising. It's not like you're forced to lick doorknobs.

"forced to lick doorknobs" !

I agree, the cruise industry will eventually recover but it make take several years

 

[TravelTime]

....Modern Cruise ships ar seen as incubators of disease- and this will take a l-o-n-g time to change public opinion- if EVER!

I'm not so sure that the public cares. How many "risk" noro? not many people seem to care. the legendary Poop Cruise didn't seem to stop people, either. The big listing situation some years back didn't hold back demand.

I will expect most that boarded cruises after it seemed "well known" that coronavirus was A Big Thing just didn't know. I don't think that they had enough accurate information to make a good decision. I also don't think cruise lines were offering full refunds for people backing out. They would have needed good trip insurance.

I do hope at some point there is a tv news piece interviewing some pax of those "we can't port anywhere" cruises. I would be interested in whether those with interior staterooms with no porthole incurred substantially larger post-trip psychological help. Those are the people I worried about most.

Overall, I don't think people will stop cruising. It's not like you're forced to lick doorknobs.

Dear Geekette, I love your posts. You have a great sense of humor and it comes across on TUG. You seem to take life in stride. Keep it up!

PS. I loved your comment about licking door knobs. LOL

 

[geekette]

Dear Geekette, I love your posts. You have a great sense of humor and it comes across on TUG. You seem to take life in stride. Keep it up!

PS. I loved your comment about licking door knobs. LOL

Thank you! I come from "deal with it and keep moving" people, trying to make light of a bad situation as quickly as possible. Most of the worst moments of my life have a laugh track.

When I get calls from folks I haven't heard from in a while and they ask what I've been doing, I tell them I've been hugging stock boys and licking doorknobs. Nobody expects that response and it takes a beat for them to think it through.

I was thinking on the next round of calls, I'll tell them I got bored, so now I'm boinking my way through eHarmony playing "infectious disease bingo".... I have never been promiscuous so it's even funnier for someone to think about me hooking up with randos from the internet. "Wait, what?" Probably less immediately funny if said by a .... player.

 

[Monykalyn]

It won't happen suddenly-like switching off a light, Some will hang on for a while, but in the long run, cruising will go the way of buggy whips. A once beloved relic of an earlier time.

You haven't been on cruise critic have you lol! There are plenty to keep the industry going. Just like the airlines didn't go belly up after 9/11 (or any other horrific crash).

I would also consider pooling into a timeshare ship ; )

Now that is an idea. Kinda like the timeshare concept for private jets?

 

[Fredflintstone]

I see the entire travel industry hit unfortunately for some time.

As for cruise ships, I just see them repossessed and who knows after that because of the economic collapse. Someone said cruise ships are costly to operate so they will not be refitted.

Why is this going to hit cruise ships and the travel industry hard?

1. Many people are unemployed and eating up savings/going into debt. It will take time to recover. Travel expenses are low on the totem pole in situations like this.
2. Inflation. The US government as well as global central banks are blasting the world with currency that will cause mind boggling debt. This devalues currencies intrinsically. The US and others will face increased debt payments which means reduced services and higher taxes. As pocketbooks gets taxed further coupled with inflation from devalued currency, there is less money for travel.
3. As businesses collapse including cruise ships, the few remaining will jack up prices in attempts to recover.
4. With virus fears, people will travel less,not want to be crammed into an airplane, airport, cruise ship.

As for timeshares, I can see higher MFs due to higher defaults, added costs due to downtime and reduced travel overall.

I wonder what the banks do with repossessed cruise ships? The buyers are limited.

Sadly, this could end up being worse than the Great Depression. Here’s a good article explaining why.

https://seekingalpha.com/article/4337130-stimulus-will-not-prevent-next-leg-down-in-u-s-stocks?utm_medium=email&utm_source=seeking_alpha&mail_subject=must-read-stimulus-will-not-prevent-the-next-leg-down-in-u-s-stocks&utm_campaign=nl-must-read&utm_content=link-0

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[pedro47]

There have been no cruise ships sailing in the past 3 or 4 weeks in the United States, Asia, South or North America, or Europe. Every cruise ship company are hurting . There have been No revenue during this time. Bills, docking fees, port fees, officers contracts, etc still needs to paid. IMO.

 

[Glynda]

An article in our paper yesterday stated that Carnival plans to sail the Sunshine out of here on June 27.

 

[Passepartout]

Here's a loaded thought{

Would you rather have your money tied up in cruise ships, or nursing/long-term-care facilities? Methinks neither will bode well in the foreseeable future.

Jim

 

[pedro47]

The cruise industry is in big trouble with the no sailing policy and no future sailing for the future. Also, every cruise industry company liked Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian Cruise Lines have built many new cruise ships over the past five (5) years and they all need to pay for them. They all carry more cruise passengers and staff.

I am also, just surprised that have been no lawsuit against nursing homes and long term facilities in the United States of America?