Tag Archives: pandemic

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.”

US ‘no sail’ order for cruises extended until October 31

Posted on by
Reply

A ‘no sail’ order imposed on US cruise lines due to Covid-19 has been extended by a month until October 31.
Reports had suggested that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) wanted the order to be extended until February 15, 2021.
However, the new edict in a 29-page document from the CDC came as cruise industry body Clia in the US volunteered to continue to suspension of sailings until the end of October.
The CDC had previously extended the order first made in March, to April, July and September “to protect public health”.
A Clia US spokesperson said: “We look forward to engaging in a thoughtful and productive dialogue with our partners and regulators in the United States to return to cruising in the region.”
The latest move follows cruise lines putting forward series of health and safety protocols as part of lobbying efforts to allow a return of operations. These include crew and passenger testing, the wearing of masks, enhanced cruise ship ventilation, stringent response procedures and shore excursion protocols to make it safe to sail during the pandemic.
Efforts are also being made in the UK to persuade the government to lift its ban on cruising from British ports at a time when limited sailings have resumed in the Mediterranean by companies such as MSC Cruises, Costa and Tui Cruises.
Clia president and chief executive Kelly Craighead said: “Based on what we are seeing in Europe, and following months of collaboration with leading public health experts, scientists, and governments, we are confident that these measures will provide a pathway for the return of limited sailings from the US before the end of this year.”
The extension of the US cruise ban came as the CDC revealed 3,689 confirmed cases of the virus on cruise ships and 41 deaths between March 1 and September 28.
The data also showed a total of 102 outbreaks on 124 ships, meaning more than 82% of ships within US jurisdiction were affected by Covid-19 during this time.
Four vessels still have “ongoing or resolving” Covid-19 outbreaks on board.
“Recent outbreaks on cruise ships overseas continue to demonstrate that reduced capacity alone has not diminished transmission,” the CDC said.
This highlighted the need for “further action prior to cruise ships safely resuming passenger operations in the United States”.
CDC said it supported a decision by Clia and its members to voluntarily extend the suspension of operations for passenger cruise ship travel through to October 31.
“CDC further supports the decisions of numerous cruise ship operators that have voluntarily cancelled scheduled voyages involving US ports beyond the date specified by Clia, including Cunard, Crystal Cruises, Holland America, Oceania Cruises, Princess Cruise Lines, Viking Ocean Cruises and Windstar Cruises.
“However, because not all cruise ship operators subject to the no sail order are members of Clia or have made similar commitments, CDC is extending its no sail order to continue to protect the public’s health by ensuring that passenger operations do not resume prematurely.”