The major cruise lines have announced plans to restart at least some of their cruise operations in upcoming months, while tens of thousands of crew are still stranded aboard cruise ships.
Carnival, the world’s largest cruise line, has announced cruises beginning on August 1. Norwegian Cruise Lines has said it plans to restart on July 1, while Royal Caribbean has an even earlier date of June 15. It is unclear from where these earlier cruises may operate as the CDC’s current no-sail order does not expire until July 24.
There are, however, still tens of thousands of cruise ship crew members stranded on over 100 ships in various ports or anchored just offshore. As of the beginning of the month, estimates put the number of stranded crew at around 100,000. The numbers are coming down, but slowly. As of last Friday, the US Coast Guard estimates that around 70,000 crew are still stuck aboard.
Part of the delay in repatriating the crews have been tighter rules in the US and various countries regarding the terms of disembarkation. The new more restrictive CDC rules effectively ban the use of public transportation, requiring charter flights and private vehicles to bring crew home. Once they arrive home, crew are required to self-quarantine for 14 days. One sticking point in the new rules is that cruise line executives are required to sign a form attesting that if any of the rules are broken, they are subject to criminal penalties, including jail time.
Assuming that the current crew will be repatriated and that new crew will arrive to operate the new ships, will paying passengers want to return to the ships? Based on Carnival’s recent experience, the answer may be yes. Following the announcement of restarting cruises on August 1, its bookings jumped by 600%, compared to the previous three days. Compared to the same period last years, bookings were 200% higher.
One thing that may explain the surge in demand is simply rock-bottom pricing offered by Carnival on certain August cruises. Fortune reports that as of Monday, the company was offering five-day cruises from Galveston to Cozumel, Mexico, in early August starting at $139, plus taxes, fees, and port expenses. The base rate comes to about $28-a-day including food, cheaper than staying home for many people.
These cruises are not, however, guaranteed. Carnival stated in a recent tweet: “Any resumption of cruise operations — whenever that may be — is fully dependent on our continued efforts in cooperation with federal, state, local and international government officials.”
…five-day cruises from Galveston to Cozumel, Mexico, in early August starting at $139, plus taxes, fees, and port expenses.
With a possibility of indefinite extension at no (monetary) cost to guests! Who could resist?
The ad mentioned in the previous comment is bait and switch as when those additional fees are added in the fare could triple which of course the corporation knows exactly.Carnival Group can only think of one side of the issue – money. Nothing and nobody else matters to them. Of course the corporation has arrangements with all the necessary local and Federal authorities in Miami-Dade County, Florida so there will be no objections. This corporation is a prime example of corporate power at its most disgusting.
As always my first thoughts are for the crews which mann these vessels particularly the Asians who are treated deplorably. One can only hope that passengers will remember them and the hours they put in each day and week should people be unwise enough to fall for this corporate line and purchase a trip in these vessels.
Good Watch
Further to my previous comment there is an article in Marinelink under
“Manila Cruise Flotilla offers Crew confinement in comfort” which illustrates how the Asians are being treated. One should remember that a prison is a prison no matter how comfortable.
Good Watch
Some information has crossed my desk this morning possibly in response to this Post and my comments regarding crewmembers. Several deaths as the result of apparent suicides have occurred during this quarantine. In one of the several vessels anchored off Miami, Fl. a hunger strike by a group has been reported..
It is very important that companies understand the relationships between the Officers hired and the crews hired. Originally traditional maritime nations consisted of crews which understood this working relationship. Perhaps one of the advantages of the colonial lifestyle. Nowadays Officers and crews are multi-national and it was very clear in the cruise vessels I served in prior to retirement from seagoing, after 50 years, this relationship was not understood at all by either the companies or the ships Officers.
Particularly with Asian crews depression can hit quite suddenly and result in tragedy. It is often necessary for an Officer to not be overly impressed with those gold stripes and sit with a crewmember and have a chat. As an example I have personally seen an Indian seaman’s temperature change back to normal from a 105 degree fever by just spending a few minutes reassuring him.
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