Issue #
165
|
Volume
9
September 16, 2020
In this Issue
Here are some of the news articles we are following:
- Adapting Cruising for Covid-19
- Can Cruising in a Mask be Fun? These Passengers Think So….
- Here Are the Cruise Ships Back in Service
- PortMiami Moving Forward with Cruise Line Expansion Projects
- Italian Cruises Resume with New Safety Protocols
- 'I carried 10,000 glasses of juice' – Furloughed cruise line executive joins crew to serve passengers
- Silversea Confirms Silver Moon Delivery in October
- Costa Deliziosa Set to Sail First Cruise Today (06 Sept)
- Later check-in times for Royal Caribbean cruises
- Bahamas Two Phases Away from Allowing Cruise Ships
- Cruise ship in Saudi Arabia returns after suspected COVID-19 case
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Adapting Cruising for Covid-19
"The virus may be around for the foreseeable future, so cruise operators and designers must find ways to facilitate preventative protocols to keep passengers and crew safe. Designing and maintaining Covid-19 free cruise ships is an ambitious goal and one of the biggest challenges facing designers and ship operators today. The latest studies and recent events have shown that coexistence between healthy people and those carrying the virus is possible and often unavoidable, despite having testing procedures in place. It is likely that the virus will still be around when cruise ships begin to sail again, so it is necessary that we have the protocols in place to ensure that individual cases can be dealt with appropriately."
Can Cruising in a Mask be Fun? These Passengers Think So….
"Croatia’s border opening saw an influx of bookings for premier small ship cruises with Katarina Line – masks and all. Passengers told the line wearing a mask does not stop them from having fun on the ship. After months pent up in their homes, the ocean breeze is a welcome change. Guests have been asked to respect 1.5m social distancing both onboard and on land and bring a sufficient number of masks onto the ship with them. However, if you do not have enough, the crew will provide more. Daniel Hauptfeld, marketing director for Katarina said: “Our clients know they can book us with confidence and enjoy a worry-free holiday. All of our ships have been thoroughly inspected, with increased cleaning and disinfectant procedures in place to ensure the utmost health and wellbeing of every guest”. Following assurances of health and safety, passengers are also seeking booking policies that will give them the option to reschedule their cruise should it be cancelled due to government regulations. This flexibility, albeit limited, is offered by the line."
Here Are the Cruise Ships Back in Service
"The cruise industry is mounting a comeback with ships restarting operations globally at reduced capacity levels. Here are the cruise ships currently back in service or planning restarts in September…"
PortMiami Moving Forward with Cruise Line Expansion Projects
"Major cruise line expansion projects at PortMiami, Florida are going ahead despite the cruise industry pause on operations. The cruise industry is on pause and there is a global health crisis but fear not as the cruise capital of the world is moving forward with major expansion projects. Carnival Corporation, Disney Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Virgin Voyages are all expanding at the popular cruise port with either new or updated terminals and extra berths."
Italian Cruises Resume with New Safety Protocols
"After months with ships languishing in harbor because of COVID-19, some cruises have resumed in Italy with new safety protocols on board. MSC Cruises was the first to return to the Mediterranean with its MSC Grandiosa cruise liner and Costa Cruises followed Sunday when its Costa Deliziosa set sail for a week-long cruise in Italy from the northern town of Trieste. COVID-19 has seriously affected the cruising industry but gradually its operations are restarting in Italy with passengers booking cruises that have a series of new safety protocols in place. The Italian government gave the green light to cruising companies to resume their sailings last month. However, as the numbers of coronavirus infections have resumed their upward trend in Italy, after having been low during the summer, there are concerns in the cruising industry about how long the ships will continue to sail. MSC Grandiosa was the first large ship to set sail from the port of Genoa in August with around 2,500 passengers and staff on board, no longer at full capacity."
'I carried 10,000 glasses of juice' – Furloughed cruise line executive joins crew to serve passengers
"Imagine: you are part of the food and beverage team on board a cruise ship carrying a cargo of passengers who are easing their way out of a global pandemic and along comes a clumsy rookie waiter. Not only that but he is your boss’s boss’s boss...."
Silversea Confirms Silver Moon Delivery in October
"Silversea confirmed the delivery of the Silver Moon on Oct. 30, the second ship to join the luxury fleet in 2020 amid the pandemic, and is tentatively scheduled to enter service on Nov. 8, 2020. The Silver Origin was delivered on June 3 and, at this time, is scheduled to depart on its first revenue cruise in the Galapagos Islands Nov. 7."
Costa Deliziosa Set to Sail First Cruise Today (06 Sept)
"Costa Cruises is resuming its cruises with the Costa Deliziosa as the ship leaves at 5 p.m. on Sunday from Trieste on a one-week cruise designed to rediscover – in complete safety – the best of Italy, and calling only at Italian ports – namely Bari, Brindisi, Corigliano-Rossano, Siracusa and Catania, according to a press release. “We’re delighted to be able to welcome our guests onboard again after more than five months without cruising and we’re also happy to be restarting operations right here in Italy. Our decision to resume responsibly with Italian cruises for Italian guests is particularly significant for us, since we’ve believed and invested in this country for more than 70 years as the only cruise company flying the Italian flag,” said Group CEO, Costa Group and Carnival Asia Michael Thamm."
Later check-in times for Royal Caribbean cruises
"Guests with Royal Caribbean cruises scheduled for later this year are seeing check-in times that are later than usually offered by the cruise line. A number of sailings for November and December 2020 are showing cruise check-in times that go as late as 5:30pm."
Bahamas Two Phases Away from Allowing Cruise Ships
"The Bahamas has presented a forward-looking plan that includes when cruise ships will once again be allowed to visit. Ports in the Bahamas are frequently visited from cruises that depart from the East Coast. Most cruise lines have a private island in the Bahamas and Nassau is one of the most visited cruise ports in the world. The last cruise ships to stop in the Bahamas was on March 15, 2020. When will cruises be allowed to visit again? The Bahamas has presented a forward-looking plan and the nation is preparing to enter Phase 3 of their reopening. During Phase 3, beaches and major hotels will be allowed to reopen and allow guests access to all amenities, including hotel spas, gyms, bars and more. In addition, Phase 3 will see the reopening of attractions, excursions and tours on November 1. Following the safe move into Phase 3, The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation along with the Ministry of Health and other government agencies will recommend an appropriate date to enter Phase 4, which pertains to the reopening of vendors, select attractions, casinos, cruises and ferries."
Cruise ship in Saudi Arabia returns after suspected COVID-19 case
"A cruise ship in Saudi Arabia has returned to port after a suspected COVID-19 coronavirus case was detected on board, Al Arabiya’s correspondent has confirmed. The “Silver Spirit” cruise ship initially set sail on Thursday from the port of King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) carrying passengers on the Kingdom’s first recreational cruises. “This morning we received a letter sent by the management of the Silver Spirit cruise ship, which confirmed the existence of a suspected case of a COVID-19 coronavirus in a woman. The letter also confirmed that this case was isolated in the wings designated for those on board the ship who show signs of the virus,” Al Arabiya’s correspondent Abdulrahman al-Osaimi said while on board the ship."
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the articles above are those of the authors' and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of this e-Newsletter
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the articles above are those of the authors' and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of this e-Newsletter
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