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THE LATEST NEWS ON CDC’s NO-SAIL ORDER….

Is this a light in the tunnel? Cruiselines were holding their breath for this decision to be announced, but will everyone rush to resume cruising? Royal Caribbean has presented CDC a lengthy list of 66 pages of protocols, put together by a Health Panel, working on it diligently for several months. They are confident that with these protocols, which will be implemented onboard all Royal Arubbean, Azamara, Celebrity, Silersea and Tui ships, the safety of guests and crew onboard will be ensured in deterring the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Does CDC agree? See below for details…

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2020/10/30/cdc-lifts-no-sail-order-issues-framework-conditional-sailing/6051655002/

Here is a Heart-warming Video, made onboard the Royal Caribbean’s Empress of the Seas… You guys ROCK! 🙂

Will cruising be ever the same? What measures are taken by the cruise lines that will satisfy CDC and will encourage back the cruising fans?

Will there be less guests and rooms occupied at 50% capacity? Will crew live more than one per cabin? Will there be buffets and shows in the Theater?

What about the medical facility? should there be a zone dedicated to isolation in a potential outbreak of any kind?

These and many more questions will need to be answered before cruising resumes again and those who are proactive and think outside of the box will get ahead of the game, as there is only one thing for sure- cruising will not be the way we know it.

‘One of the finest minds and one of the best people in the travel industry’ Richard Fain

COVID-19- Unprecedented and Shocking Reality for the Cruise Industry

We have now all been painfully aware of the devastating effects of COVID-19, not only on our health, but the  business world as a whole. Every day, people get laid off, starting the long walk to the unemployment line, currencies and stocks are plunging, there is a great uncertainty about the future. Some can not even imagine how they will survive till the end of the month, others are more optimistic, believing this will soon come to an end.

Without a doubt, the Tourism suffered the most as a business and especially so the cruise lines, whose bread and butter is to socialize and entertain massive amounts of people, a notion now so foreign, that we can not imagine doing it again soon. Stranded at sea, ships are unwelcome in most ports of call and some downright forbidden to come even close to land.

There is something very sobering seeing whole fleets of spectacular, state of the art ships, floating aimlessly, forlorn and unwanted. Crew members, in isolation, just like the rest of the world, worry about staying healthy, the prospects of going home and their future in general. The fear is palpable, but the spirit of the true sailors is there- “It is darkest before the dawn”… We know this too shall pass.

Mr Fain’s inspirational videos online have been targeted towards the most affected- guests, travel partners and of course the biggest asset to the cruise industry- their crew.

We are all asking the obvious question- will the cruise lines survive without Revenue and how long? Some have suspended operation for two months, but the reality is that this may not be a feasible deadline. Their stocks are at all time low and there are even Haters that are against helping the cruise lines in these difficult times, for their flagship registrations, made in foreign to the US countries. Many forget, that cruise ships are often first time responders to calamities and natural disasters. Every year, hurricanes bring devastation to many vulnerable areas and cruise ships are the first to react- bringing water and food, clothes and medicine to the most affected areas. Isn’t this the time to show a little appreciation and return the good will gesture? Aren’t we all affected by the risk of losing the cruise industry, especially those who love and enjoy it so much? The livelihood of hundreds of thousands of people in the face of crew and travel partners is at stake, but also cruising is the most affordable and preferred choice of holiday for millions.

Royal Caribbean has been proactive in securing financing.

At the end of the day, probably the biggest victims are the employees both on land and at sea, who have to face the grim reality of isolation, limited food choices and missing pay check, more so those were caught at home, uncertain if they have jobs to return to. Royal Caribbean has been making decisive measures to bring majority of the crew home, by sending ships and Charter flights to so e of the destinations, where the borders are still open and their citizens still welcome.

A lot of us can have their doubts or even fall in grim pessimism, but we know this is going to come to an end, all we need to do is be prepared for the difficult times ahead and anticipate the not so distant future when we can all get back to our normal lives and enjoy the thrills of cruising and the excitement of seeing the world.

CocoCay- we miss you!