There is no doubt that people are absolutely chomping at the bit to cruise again! “I can’t wait until things get back to normal” is something I hear (and say) often. You might think that ‘when do we get back to normal’ is the $64,000 question; but before we answer it, we really have to define ‘normal’ and it’s pretty clear that it doesn’t look the same as it used to!
COVID-19 has had an enormous impact on all facets of life for almost everyone on the planet Earth. The pandemic will be over once the bulk of health issues and associated risks have been dealt with; but it would be naïve to believe that there will not be permanent changes to our world, and certainly the world of travel. Everyone wants to know when they can go cruising again; and in fact, cruising has already commenced on a small scale in certain regions of the world.
new sailings
Royal Caribbean has been successfully sailing out of Singapore since December 2020. The trips are for Singapore residents only and do not include any port stops. They have been operating with 50% capacity and with numerous health and safety protocols, including mandatory masks and social distancing. Celebrity Cruises is commencing operations in the Caribbean in June with itineraries sailing out of St. Maarten. They will make stops at some typical ports like Cozumel and Aruba but all passengers and crew must be vaccinated for COVID. This is something that the industry is on the cusp of applying universally. The good news is that if everyone is vaccinated then masks and social distancing likely won’t be necessary.
the new normal
So, what is ‘normal’ going to look like? I think in the short-term; for the rest of 2021 and into 2022, vaccinations will be mandatory. Perhaps this will become a permanent requirement. Recent surveys have shown that about 75% of travellers are in favour of this. Without vaccinations I think the onboard experience will be significantly affected. Who wants to wear a mask in the Caribbean when its 30°C outside? Another trend which actually was taking hold before the pandemic, was mandatory medical travel insurance. There was a growing list of countries (about 35) prior to 2020 that made travel insurance mandatory for tourists, if you required an entry visa. Cuba and Jamaica are two of those countries. Governments were tired of getting stuck with a foreigner’s medical bill after they went home. With COVID, undoubtedly more countries will follow suit, in order to protect themselves.
Good News and Bad News
Finally, not all countries will open their arms to cruise ships any time soon. This will mean that itineraries will be affected either as you are planning your trip or even after you have embarked. Cruise lines will really need to be flexible and able to ‘alter course’ on short notice. Travellers will need to be understanding. Cruising is coming back folks. That’s the good news. The bad news is that it won’t look like it used to, and it will likely be a bit more expensive as well!
Any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me at jim@jameshilltravel.com. Your Memories Await! ™
