CRUISE SHIP NEWS

摘要

The worldwide Coronavirus Pandemic and the new variants are still casting a dark cloud over the cruise industry and affecting recovery. The challenge to operators continues. Most cruise ships remain in a state of layup, with short interim port visits. The main locations remain southern England; Grand Stirrup Cay, Bahamas; Barbados; Limassol, and Singapore. There has been a resumption in the form of short seacations in UK waters; Northern Europe; the Mediterranean; Singapore; Canary Islands; and Hong Kong. There are stringent requirements nonetheless. Vaccination and testing are a necessity. There is reduced capacity on board and safety protocols need to be adhered to. Crew vaccination programmes have been undertaken. In many cases cruises are for home nationals and only organised shore excursions are permitted. The successful progress in vaccinations globally has assisted this restart. The uncertainty and cost to operators remain significant issues. In the US there has been a CDC re-evaluation with certification of ships on an individual basis and the requirement of test runs in advance of a full resumption of cruising. In some parts of the world, including Australia, the pause in cruising has been further extended. Globally, the ever-changing Government travel restrictions add to the fluidity of the situation. The industry is still dominated by further cancellations, extended pauses, restart delays and itinerary revisions. The stop-stutter-start-stutter-stop-start scenario continues to play out. The optimism is there and there is positive hope and expectation among operators. Demand seems also to be buoyant. Itineraries for 2022 and 2023 have been prepared and show cruising is as popular as ever.