Our “wake up call” with the coronavirus took place early last year That’s when the virus first spread through a number of cruise ships - vessels with crowded semi-enclosed areas, increased exposure to new environments, and limited medical resources, all of which contributed to a heightened risk and a rapid spread of the disease. The British-registered Diamond Princess was the first cruise ship to have a major outbreak on board, with the ship quarantined at Yokohama, Japan, from February 4, 2020 for approximately one month. Of the 3,711 passengers and crew aboard, approximately 700 persons became infected and 9 people lost their life. Governments and ports responded by preventing many cruise ships from docking and advising people to avoid traveling on cruise ships. Not surprisingly, most cruise lines suspended their operations to mitigate the spread of the pandemic. Over the ensuing eighteen months, however, most lines have resumed sailing.
But they've paid a steep price for the suspension and collectively, the industry took a pounding. Carnival Corporation alone lost $2.8 billion in the third quarter of this year, but said bookings for the second half of next year are running ahead of 2019 levels. Cruising investors are looking for any glimmer of hope for an industry that has been battered by the pandemic. Still, the short-term outlook remains grim. Carnival said the rise in US COVID-19 cases from the delta variant hurt sales this summer. Rivals Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line saw the same thing. New reported virus cases might be trending slightly lower now. But Carnival said their average ship was only 59 per cent full in August, an improvement from 39 per cent in June. Recent voyages have generated just enough revenue to cover cash costs. “We reported a significant loss, so we haven’t recovered yet, obviously, but as we look ahead we see brighter days,” Carnival CEO Arnold Donald said in an interview. “If things continue to trend the way they are (with COVID-19 cases), we should see positive cash flow as we get our fleet sailing broadly again.” The cruise industry has been among the hardest hit by the pandemic. The big three cruise companies are incorporated outside the US, and therefore did not receive the same kind of federal relief that was granted to airlines. With revenue at rock-bottom levels, the companies have borrowed billions to avoid sinking.
In late August, the US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) dealt the industry another blow, saying those at a higher risk of serious illness -- such as the elderly, pregnant women, and persons with underlying health conditions -- should avoid cruise ships even if they’re fully vaccinated against COVID-19. “Older adults and people of any age with certain underlying medical conditions are more likely to get severely ill if they get COVID-19,” the CDC said. “People with weakened immune systems, including people who take medicines that suppress their immune systems, may not be protected even if fully vaccinated.” In its updated cruise ship guidance, the CDC said people who are not fully vaccinated should avoid any travel on cruise ships worldwide, including river cruises. Those who do take cruises should always wear a mask in shared spaces and practice social distancing. Further recommendations advise that passengers should get tested one-to-three days before their trip and three-to-five days after the cruise ends, regardless of vaccination status. Those who are not fully vaccinated should quarantine seven days after their cruise ends. So, how are these guidelines being adapted by the majors?
Carnival Corporation announced in mid-September it’s entered into a partnership with Quest Diagnostics to provide pre-cruise COVID-19 testing for passengers booked on Carnival, Holland America, Princess, and Seabourn voyages departing from the United States. The partnership with Quest Diagnostics will provide access to more than 1,500 testing locations at patient service centers, Walmart locations, and pharmacies across the US. The shortened testing window (down from 72 hours previously) has caused concern among American cruisers, who have scrambled to retail locations throughout the country to secure COVID-19 testing that will allow for results to be delivered prior to embarkation. "Access to testing continues to play an important role in the restart of our guest operations, and working with Quest simplifies the process for our guests by making it easier to access convenient testing options from a trusted national laboratory provider," Roger Frizzell, chief communications officer for Carnival Corporation, said recently in a statement. "These testing protocols are part of our layered approach to safeguarding the health and safety of our guests, crew, and the communities we visit.” Passengers booked on Carnival, Holland America, Princess, or Seabourn cruises may schedule appointments with Quest Diagnostics via a secure link provided by email to booked passengers.
For the convenience of passengers who are now required to obtain a negative pre-cruise COVID-19 test only two days before arriving at the pier for cruises leaving from US homeports, Royal Caribbean International has begun selling at-home test kits online via a special Web site. The rapid antigen tests, approved by the FDA for Emergency Use Authorization, are supervised live over video by a Telehealth representative, and are accepted only for vaccinated passengers residing in the United States. Guests can order test kids from the cruise line, shipped anywhere in the US, for $69.99 for a pack of two or $99.99 for a pack of three. Specifically, the kits are Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card Home Tests with eMed Telehealth Service. After you place your order, the kits arrive in three days or less, according to Royal Caribbean's Web site. You administer the nasal swab test yourself, under the watchful eyes of a Telehealth rep, get your results within fifteen minutes and receive verified negative test documentation to show at the pier. Any passengers who test positive are advised to call the cruise line to rework their travel plans. While a test pack could theoretically be split by family members, Royal Caribbean recommends each traveler purchase two tests in case “you lose or contaminate a part of the test, or have an error during the testing process.” That amounts to a steep expenditure of about $270 for a vaccinated family of four purchasing only two, three packs and one, two-test pack.
For their part, Norwegian Cruise Line says all guests and crew must be fully vaccinated at least 2 weeks prior to departure in order to board. Minors who are not yet eligible for the vaccine are not permitted to sail. Guest vaccination requirements are currently in effect for all sailings embarking through December 31, 2021. Passengers on ships embarking or disembarking at US ports need to be vaccinated with US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and/or World Health Organization (WHO) authorized single-brand vaccinations. Norwegian’s guests are free to explore ports of call on their own, according to protocols in each specific port, and can purchase shore excursions as they wish. Face coverings may be required in certain settings to comply with local requirements, for example in terminals for embarkation and disembarkation or at ports of call. The line says they will continue to monitor public health guidance, including from the CDC, and modify their requirements accordingly.
Onboard ship, however, Norwegian differs markedly from their competitors. Their Web site asserts, “You want to cruise. We want to keep you safe. With Norwegian, our leading Health & Safety Program allows you and your loved ones to cruise with ultimate freedom and confidence. All guests and crew are required to be 100% fully vaccinated so you can safely do what you’ve always wanted to do on a cruise — EVERYTHING. Let’s get back to living life to the fullest, together. Sail Safe. Feel Free.” Claiming no social distancing is required, they’re also allowing guests to dine in any restaurant mask-free, including the self-service buffet and all entertainment options. All venues and experiences are entirely open with no capacity restrictions. And, on European sailings only, guests can cruise mask-free and are encouraged to “breathe freely and witness smiles everywhere you go!”
River cruises also took an enormous beating during the pandemic as many of them, both in the US and Europe, were cancelled. But, as those cruise companies have also resumed sailing this summer, such excursions are gaining in popularity for travelers. Despite the hesitancy among some travelers to go on river cruises due to their concerns about destinations being open, Annie Scrivanich, senior vice president of cruise-focused travel planning company Cruise Specialists, is actually urging her customers to travel as soon as possible. “We’re encouraging [customers] to travel now because … the destinations and ports are uncrowded, and there’s a little bit of lower occupancy onboard the ships,” she said. “And the staffing is still at the same level so the service level’s gonna be exceptional.”
Regardless of whether you’re looking at a large ocean-going vessel or a smaller river cruise, travelers want assurance that all their sailings will be as safe as possible. I believe the cruise lines are doing their best to satisfy customer expectations in an environment fraught with potential peril.
Until next time...safe travels.
Comments