Tag Archives: Coronavirus

Clia ocean cruise members commit to ‘100% pre-embarkation testing’

Posted on by
2

Ocean cruise line members of Clia have agreed to conduct Covid-19 testing of every passenger and crew member prior to embarkation in what the association described as a “travel industry first”.
Under the agreement, all lines operating vessels with a capacity of more than 250 will carry out testing with a requirement for a negative test before embarkation.
Clia said the commitment was a core element of the resumption of cruising globally.
A statement said: “Clia ocean cruise line members worldwide have agreed to conduct 100% testing of passengers and crew on all ships with a capacity to carry 250 or more persons – with a negative test required for any embarkation.
“This is a travel industry first and an example of the cruise industry leading the way.  We see testing as an important initial step to a multi-layered approach that we believe validates the industry’s commitment to making health, safety, and the well-being of the passengers, the crew, and the communities we visit our top priority.”
Last week, the UK Chamber of Shipping and Clia published a framework for the resumption of cruising when Foreign Office advice against ocean journeys is lifted.

Cruise staff urged to take part in research to help boost sales

Posted on by
Reply

A university researcher is calling on cruise operators and agents to take part in a study on the most effective ways to communicate with passengers in the Covid-19 era in order to boost sales.
Senior teaching fellow Liz Sharples, of the University of Portsmouth, who has previously worked at British Airways, P&O Cruises, Thomas Cook and Thomson, is looking to interview cruise specialists, from tour operators or agencies, as well as passengers who have had their cruise holiday cancelled due to the pandemic.
Sharples is hoping to interview around 20 cruise industry staff and 20 passengers and has urged anyone interested to get in touch by the end of October. Interviews will be on Zoom and take 40 minutes.
She said: “I would really appreciate elite cruise practitioners and passengers who have had their trips cancelled to get in touch. Your input and comments will really help inform this research.
“I am ex-industry and passionate about this sector and hope that this work, which looks the most effective messages to help boost sales in the Covid-19 era, will play a small part in helping to rebuild the cruise sector.”
She is hopeful her research will be used by ocean and river cruise lines in their passenger communication strategies to help ensure they use the right tone and get across the key messages that passengers want to hear. These could include reassurance, safety, what happens if they fall ill and the fact they can still have fun by in a safe environment.
The research is split into two parts, the first of which is asking agents, head of sales, managing directors, cruise business owners what their key messages are and how they plan to change this in the Covid-19 era.
She added: “I hope the research will provide cruise lines with clear detail on what communication strategies their passengers want and how it compares to their current Covid-19 approach.
“I hope it will boost cruise lines’ sales by helping to ensure that the messages being sent by cruise lines are what their passengers want and need to help them rebook and re-engage with the sector.”

Enchanted Princess ‘first ship to be completed in the time of Covid’

Posted on by
Reply

New-build Enchanted Princess has been delivered to Princess Cruises at a shipyard handover ceremony in Italy.
The 145,000-ton, 3,660-passenger vessel expands the Carnival Corporation-owned line’s global fleet of high-technology MedallionClass vessels.
The finalisation of Enchanted Princess marks the first ship to be completed during the time of Covid.
The ship is due to arrive in North America in December for a season of Caribbean cruises provided US health officials to lift a ban on sailings imposed due to the pandemic.
The new addition to the fleet will sail in the Mediterranean next summer, bringing the number of Royal-class ships based in Europe to three.
Enchanted Princess will spend May to September operating a series of new seven and 14-night itineraries from the port for Rome before sailing between Rome and Barcelona on a series of 11-night cruises.
Sky Princess is replacing Crown Princess in Southampton from April to September 2021, running eight and 12-night British Isles cruises and a series of 12-night Scandinavia and Russia voyages.
Regal Princess will also be based in Southampton, sailing a number of itineraries ranging from four to 24 nights to destinations including Iceland and Norway, the Mediterranean, Canary Islands, the Baltic and Canada and New England.
Enchanted Princess represents an evolution of a design platform used for sister ships Regal Princess, Royal Princess, Majestic Princess and the most recently introduced Sky Princess
Enchanted Princess is the 100th cruise ship built by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri. Crown Princess was the first ship to launch Fincantieri into the modern passenger shipbuilding business when it was delivered in 1990.
Princess Cruises president Jan Swartz said: “The heart and soul of the ship are always its teams, and I know she is in good hands with our dedicated crew watching over her with great care and pride.
“We look forward to brighter days ahead when we can officially welcome the first Enchanted Princess guests to enjoy all this beautiful ship has to offer.”