Firstpost
  • Home
  • Video Shows
    Vantage Firstpost America Firstpost Africa First Sports
  • World
    US News
  • Explainers
  • News
    India Opinion Cricket Tech Entertainment Sports Health Photostories
  • Asia Cup 2025
Apple Incorporated Modi ji Justin Trudeau Trending

Sections

  • Home
  • Live TV
  • Videos
  • Shows
  • World
  • India
  • Explainers
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Cricket
  • Health
  • Tech/Auto
  • Entertainment
  • Web Stories
  • Business
  • Impact Shorts

Shows

  • Vantage
  • Firstpost America
  • Firstpost Africa
  • First Sports
  • Fast and Factual
  • Between The Lines
  • Flashback
  • Live TV

Events

  • Raisina Dialogue
  • Independence Day
  • Champions Trophy
  • Delhi Elections 2025
  • Budget 2025
  • US Elections 2024
  • Firstpost Defence Summit
Trending:
  • Charlie Kirk shot dead
  • Nepal protests
  • Russia-Poland tension
  • Israeli strikes in Qatar
  • Larry Ellison
  • Apple event
  • Sunjay Kapur inheritance row
fp-logo
In 2021, cruise companies hope for better business with vaccines and health bubbles
Whatsapp Facebook Twitter
Whatsapp Facebook Twitter
Apple Incorporated Modi ji Justin Trudeau Trending

Sections

  • Home
  • Live TV
  • Videos
  • Shows
  • World
  • India
  • Explainers
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Cricket
  • Health
  • Tech/Auto
  • Entertainment
  • Web Stories
  • Business
  • Impact Shorts

Shows

  • Vantage
  • Firstpost America
  • Firstpost Africa
  • First Sports
  • Fast and Factual
  • Between The Lines
  • Flashback
  • Live TV

Events

  • Raisina Dialogue
  • Independence Day
  • Champions Trophy
  • Delhi Elections 2025
  • Budget 2025
  • US Elections 2024
  • Firstpost Defence Summit
  • Home
  • World
  • In 2021, cruise companies hope for better business with vaccines and health bubbles

In 2021, cruise companies hope for better business with vaccines and health bubbles

Agence France-Presse • May 5, 2021, 23:14:30 IST
Whatsapp Facebook Twitter

Before the pandemic, cruise companies had enjoyed a decade of strong growth, peaking in 2019 with 29.7 million passengers, more than half from North America, according to the Cruise Lines International Association.

Advertisement
Subscribe Join Us
Add as a preferred source on Google
Prefer
Firstpost
On
Google
In 2021, cruise companies hope for better business with vaccines and health bubbles

With tests, vaccinations and isolation areas, cruise ship companies are hoping for smoother sailing this travel season after fears over COVID-stricken ships rocked the industry last year. Cruise companies have lost tens of billions of dollars while hundreds of thousands of people have lost jobs as countries banned ships from their ports. The industry’s woes started in February last year when the Diamond Princess and its 4,000 passengers spent weeks in quarantine in a port in Japan as coronavirus infections on board climbed, reaching 700. While cruises may have to wait until July to use ports in Florida, ships have been gingerly returning to sea in other markets, with strict health protocols to avoid a repeat of last year’s misfortunes. Italian cruise line Costa Cruises set sail on Saturday for the first time in more than four months, with its flagship vessel setting sail from Savona. The Italian government had banned cruises in December. The Costa Smeralda was only a quarter full, with 1,500 passengers. All passengers and crew were first tested for coronavirus and mask-wearing was mandatory for the trip. The 1,300 crew were quarantined for 14 days before reporting for duty. Other ships were setting sail from Barcelona and the southern French city of Marseille. Costa’s rival MSC returned to sea much earlier, in August, Since then, Patrick Pourbaix, director general of MSC France, says the company has carried “more than 60,000 passengers on around 30 cruises, worry-free”. New normal The cruise industry has been smashed by the COVID crisis, suffering a shortfall of $77 billion and shedding 518,000 jobs between just mid-March and September last year, according to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). Before the pandemic, cruise companies had enjoyed a decade of strong growth, peaking in 2019 with 29.7 million passengers, more than half from North America, according to the CLIA. “It’s a sector which will not return to normal activity until 2025,” said Didier Arino, director general of French consultancy Protourisme. For now, the new normal is vaccines, tests and masks. US operator Norwegian Cruise Line will run three of its 17 vessels from Greece and in the Caribbean this summer, with passengers who are “fully vaccinated” at least two weeks before departure. “It’s not one or the other. It’s vaccines plus the safety protocols,” said CEO Harry Sommer. Guests will be tested before they get on the ship and before they disembark, while sanitation protocols on board will include “medical-grade air filtration and enhanced medical resources”, Sommer said. In Britain, the ministry of transport has given the green light for cruises — albeit restricted to domestic waters — to resume from 17 May. But capacity has been restricted to 50 percent, or a maximum of 1,000 passengers, all of whom must be UK-based. On-board gatherings will also be restricted to groups of a maximum six people. “Whilst there is still uncertainty about holidays abroad this summer, we are delighted to be able to offer our guests the ultimate escape here in the UK with the reassurance that we will take care of everything,” said P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow in a statement. P&O will also only accept fully vaccinated passengers. In the United States, cruise ships may be able to resume sailing from ports in Florida in mid-July after a year-long shutdown, according to new guidelines from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). At least 98 percent of the crew and 95 percent of passengers will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for ships to set sail. ‘Health bubbles’ While Costa and MSC do not insist on passengers being vaccinated, they have to take a COVID test before embarking while strict social distancing will be required aboard. The two firms additionally will only offer excursions within a “health bubble” keeping contact with local people to a bare minimum. If suspected cases appear, MSC has an isolation area and medical teams aboard ships, Pourbaix said, adding that sick passengers would be taken to the first port. Although to date few vessels and few itineraries have emerged as available for the European summer season, there is no shortage of demand. Sommer notably indicates that Norwegian Cruise Line’s 35 first cruises put on sale are already fully booked. According to a CLIA survey, two out of three cruise passengers polled say they are ready to recover their sea legs this year. “Cruises enjoy an unmatched level of (customer) satisfaction at around 98 percent,” Arino said. “Client loyalty is very strong.”

Tags
Sailing ships FWeekend ship industry Sailing in COVID 19
End of Article
Latest News
Find us on YouTube
Subscribe
End of Article

Impact Shorts

French MPs call for social media ban for under-15s, digital curfew for teenagers

French MPs call for social media ban for under-15s, digital curfew for teenagers

A French committee suggests banning social media for kids under 15 and a nighttime digital curfew for teens 15-18. The report cites concerns about TikTok's effects on minors. President Macron backs the ban, akin to Australia's proposed law.

More Impact Shorts

Top Stories

Charlie Kirk, shot dead in Utah, once said gun deaths are 'worth it' to save Second Amendment

Charlie Kirk, shot dead in Utah, once said gun deaths are 'worth it' to save Second Amendment

From governance to tourism, how Gen-Z protests have damaged Nepal

From governance to tourism, how Gen-Z protests have damaged Nepal

Did Russia deliberately send drones into Poland’s airspace?

Did Russia deliberately send drones into Poland’s airspace?

Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages: Qatar PM after Doha strike

Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages: Qatar PM after Doha strike

Charlie Kirk, shot dead in Utah, once said gun deaths are 'worth it' to save Second Amendment

Charlie Kirk, shot dead in Utah, once said gun deaths are 'worth it' to save Second Amendment

From governance to tourism, how Gen-Z protests have damaged Nepal

From governance to tourism, how Gen-Z protests have damaged Nepal

Did Russia deliberately send drones into Poland’s airspace?

Did Russia deliberately send drones into Poland’s airspace?

Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages: Qatar PM after Doha strike

Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages: Qatar PM after Doha strike

Top Shows

Vantage Firstpost America Firstpost Africa First Sports
Latest News About Firstpost
Most Searched Categories
  • Web Stories
  • World
  • India
  • Explainers
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Cricket
  • Tech/Auto
  • Entertainment
  • IPL 2025
NETWORK18 SITES
  • News18
  • Money Control
  • CNBC TV18
  • Forbes India
  • Advertise with us
  • Sitemap
Firstpost Logo

is on YouTube

Subscribe Now

Copyright @ 2024. Firstpost - All Rights Reserved

About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Terms Of Use
Home Video Shorts Live TV