Issue #
164
|
Volume
9
September 14, 2020
In this Issue
Here are some of the news articles we are following:
- CLIA welcomes EMSA guidance on resumption of cruise operations
- Who Has the Best Small Ships? Your Guide to Boutique Vessels
- How MSC Cruises Is Operating Safely in the Mediterranean
- Quark Expeditions introduces 17 cruises for the Arctic 2022 season
- MSC Cruises Reveals Comprehensive Health and Safety Protocols
- Disney Cruise Line Reportedly Targeting 70% Occupancy When Cruising Returns
- What is the Best Time to Board Your Cruise Ship on Embarkation Day?
- 7 Changes Cruise Lines Need to Make
- Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines welcomes first of two new ships
- Hapag-Lloyd Cruises requires passengers to present negative PCR test
- Cruising is Out, But Enthusiasts Can Still Visit Laid-Up Cruise Ships
- New App Arms Travel Advisors with Real-Time COVID-Related Intel
- This Is How Devoted and Passionate Cruise-Goers Are
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CLIA welcomes EMSA guidance on resumption of cruise operations
"CLIA and its member lines welcome the publication of EMSA (European Maritime Safety Agency) guidance on the resumption of cruise ship operations in the EU-European Union. The EMSA guidance features recommendations relating to the development of port and ship management plans and the interaction between ports, terminals, and cruise operations. Co-authored with ECDC (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control), the EMSA guidance follows the publication of EU Healthy Gateways guidance on the resumption of cruise operations. Viewed together, these guidance documents aim to establish "a pan-European benchmark for national maritime transport and public health authorities for the future resumption of cruising in Europe." "
Who Has the Best Small Ships? Your Guide to Boutique Vessels
"The pandemic has meant a huge swing to smaller vessels, with lines running ships with under 1,000 passengers seeing most of the benefit. But it’s a category full of different offerings. Sometimes, cabins are bigger, corridors are wider and there are more dining choices. It is mostly luxury cruise lines which offer the small ship cruising experience. These vessels have a guest capacity from 400 to 1200 guests. But will small ship sailing look any different when cruising resumes?"
How MSC Cruises Is Operating Safely in the Mediterranean
"MSC Cruises has so far — knock on wood! — been operating safely in the Mediterranean. The MSC Grandiosa departed Aug. 30 on its third voyage since the COVID-19 pandemic began. TravelPulse discussed the resumption of operations with Ken Muskat, executive vice president and COO of MSC Cruises USA. Here is an edited transcript.
TravelPulse (TP): Does MSC Grandiosa’s safe cruises thus far prove that cruising can be safe during these times if tough protocols are in place?"
Quark Expeditions introduces 17 cruises for the Arctic 2022 season
"The leader in Polar Adventures, Quark Expeditions, released details of its Arctic 2022 season line-up of cruises that are designed to immerse travellers in the remote Arctic. The comprehensive Arctic 2022 season of Quark Expeditions features the new polar cruise ship, Quark Ultramarine, helicopter-supported adventure options, Greenland Adventure itinerary, and special itineraries including the return of the Under the Northern Lights expedition, and a trip dedicated to photography in Spitsbergen. Other Arctic experiences Quark Expeditions is expected to offer in 2022 include the Northern Lights on a cruise to Iceland and Greenland, a variety of voyages through Svalbard archipelago that range between 7-14 days, and a 14-day photography-focused journey to Spitsbergen."
MSC Cruises Reveals Comprehensive Health and Safety Protocols
"MSC Cruises’ CEO Gianni Onorato revealed details of the company’s comprehensive health and safety protocols developed to help restart operations in the Mediterranean this summer. The new procedures include universal COVID-19 testing for all guests and crew before embarkation, protected visits at each destination only with an MSC Cruises excursion and the introduction of a COVID Protection Plan for guest peace of mind….. or a complete list of MSC Cruises’ new safety protocols, click here."
Disney Cruise Line Reportedly Targeting 70% Occupancy When Cruising Returns
"As the cruising world begins to think about reopening, port authorities have been meeting to anticipate how to handle the influx of guests boarding ships while also implementing new health and safety regulations. Earlier this week, the 2020 Board of Trustees of the Galveston Wharves convened to discuss its recent conversations with Disney Cruise Line (DCL) about the line’s planned embarkation and disembarkation procedures."
What is the Best Time to Board Your Cruise Ship on Embarkation Day?
"We already have a previously written post on embarkation day tips, but here we will just talk about when you should try to get on your cruise ship and the best times to board to avoid a long wait in line."
7 Changes Cruise Lines Need to Make
"Taking a cruise is my favorite way to vacation. I took nine cruises last year on seven different cruise lines. As much as I love cruising, there are a few changes that I believe cruise lines need to consider that will make cruises even better. What are they? Here are seven changes that cruise lines should make. Taking a cruise is my favorite way to vacation. I took nine cruises last year on seven different cruise lines. As much as I love cruising, there are a few changes that I believe cruise lines need to consider that will make cruises even better. What are they? Here are seven changes that cruise lines should make."
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines welcomes first of two new ships
"Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines welcomed the first of a couple of new ships joining its fleet in September. New ship Borealis made her debut at Babcock’s Rosyth (Leith-Edinburgh) facilities in Scotland, after sailing beneath the popular Forth and Queensferry bridges. Borealis is set to be joined by the new Bolette ship, expected to make her debut in mid-September before she takes to the water again in March-April 2021.
The 1997-launched (as MS Rotterdam) cruise ship MS Borealis is the latest addition to the Fred Olsen Cruise Line's fleet - together with MS Bolette (fka MS Amsterdam). MS Rotterdam was the 1st R-class ship of Holland America Line, with sisterships MS Amsterdam (now Bolette), and also ms Zaandam and ms Volendam."
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises requires passengers to present negative PCR test
"From September 15, 2020, all Hapag-Lloyd Cruises' passengers are required to carry out a PCR test. The costs are included in the travel price. To give the crew and passengers more security onboard, the company is expanding the extensive security and preventive measures already in place. Therefore, a negative PCR test result is a requirement for guests to sail onboard from mid-September. Tests for crew have been a part of the prevention concept since operations were resumed. The result of the molecular biological (PCR) test for SARS-CoV-19 must not be older than 48 hours at the time of boarding. In case a weekend is prior to departure, the deadline is 72 hours. Alternatively, passengers have the option of having a PCR test carried out professionally and individually and presenting the negative result when boarding. These guests receive EUR 50 as an onboard credit. The prevention and hygiene concept onboard the Hapag-Lloyd ships includes a variety of measures that were added prior to and during the cruise. These include staggered boarding, a mandatory health questionnaire, daily temperature controls, reduced guest capacity of 60%. Each sailing is accompanied by qualified medical staff. The ships' technical hygiene equipment features thermal imaging cameras and a laboratory that can be used to detect viral diseases such as Coronavirus (COVID-19). Cold fog machines provide a thorough cleaning of all accommodations and public areas."
Cruising is Out, But Enthusiasts Can Still Visit Laid-Up Cruise Ships
"It still isn't possible to board a cruise ship in the UK, but for those who miss cruising, it is quite possible to board a ferry and take an excursion to look at cruise ships. In the beach town of Mudeford, Dorset, Capt. Paul Derham's Mudeford Ferry is offering 2.5 hour "Ghost Ship Tours" for paying passengers to view anchored cruise ships in the English Channel, weather allowing. The setting is less luxurious than a full-scale cruise, but passengers may bring their own food and drink."
New App Arms Travel Advisors With Real-Time COVID-Related Intel
"A game-changing new app called DragonSlayer is soon to launch, which promises to provide both travelers and their trusty travel advisors with centralized, real-time information on the reopening status of all 50 U.S. states, as well as a growing list of 124 countries worldwide. Plus, it readily displays each destination’s COVID-19-related requirements and restrictions, such as quarantine protocols and what you can expect to see in terms of local conditions upon arrival."
This Is How Devoted and Passionate Cruise-Goers Are
"People who take cruises are a fiercely passionate group of travelers who take pride in knowing every nuance of every itinerary, the best spot at the pool, the tastiest dish on the ship and so much more. We could write a chapter and verse on passengers who have taken 50, 100, 300, even 1,000 cruises, and some who have even decided to live on cruise ships permanently save for when the boat is in for maintenance."
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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