9 Ways Cruising will change in the future
Within the cruising world we have and will see a huge change to the way we move, eat and experience the vessels we have loved and enjoyed in the past. The coronavirus pandemic has dealt an overwhelming blow to the cruising industry and set it back 10 years with its growth, expansion and reputation.
Cruising will begin again and at this stage most cruise lines have itineraries open from November this year, but it will all be dependent on Australia’s covid-19 isolation restrictions and current active cases. This will also be limited to the ports open and available to visit and the number of ships located in Australian waters.
So, based on the information we have seen, and we’ve heard from key industry leaders, here are some key changes we believe will happen when cruise ships do return to sailing our waters.
Cruising will begin again and at this stage most cruise lines have itineraries open from November this year, but it will all be dependent on Australia’s covid-19 isolation restrictions and current active cases. This will also be limited to the ports open and available to visit and the number of ships located in Australian waters.
So, based on the information we have seen, and we’ve heard from key industry leaders, here are some key changes we believe will happen when cruise ships do return to sailing our waters.
1. Changes to self-serve buffets
The days of the “all you can eat” and fit on your plate self-serve buffets of old, may be gone, well at least for a while. There will still always be a buffet to enjoy but we expect the cruise lines will increase staffing at these outlets to ensure there is only crew serving the food not passengers.
This action has been used by cruise lines in the past during onboard outbreaks of common illnesses a temporary solution and even having servers at self-serve drink stations.
For some passengers, this permanent change maybe just a little too far but is a necessary step to reduce and stop the spread of any virus or illness with multiple people touching the same serving utensils.
This action has been used by cruise lines in the past during onboard outbreaks of common illnesses a temporary solution and even having servers at self-serve drink stations.
For some passengers, this permanent change maybe just a little too far but is a necessary step to reduce and stop the spread of any virus or illness with multiple people touching the same serving utensils.
2. Changes to cancellation policies
We have seen all the mainstream cruise companies relax their cancellation policies for 2020 sailing since the coronavirus outbreak. And it’s more than likely we will see this flexibility with cancellations continue into the 2021 cruising season. The cruise lines will be hoping that these changes will help to convince customers to book future sailings with less risk of losing any deposits or payments.
3. New pre-boarding health screening
Several cruise lines were already doing temperature pre-screening before boarding but they are all now looking at having an ongoing health check procedure during the sailing. The onboard monitoring of passengers and crew through temperature checks and medical screening will allow ships to ensure a rapid response to any illness.
It is unsure what this procedure will look like or how the cruise lines will implement it. It could be as simple as a questionnaire before boarding, another while sailing and again before disembarking, however it could also be a medical check before embarking and disembarking with ongoing periodic medical checkups during your voyage. There is uncertainty in what this will look like but absolutely expect there will be some type of new health screening element on your next voyage.
It is unsure what this procedure will look like or how the cruise lines will implement it. It could be as simple as a questionnaire before boarding, another while sailing and again before disembarking, however it could also be a medical check before embarking and disembarking with ongoing periodic medical checkups during your voyage. There is uncertainty in what this will look like but absolutely expect there will be some type of new health screening element on your next voyage.
4. Fewer ships in regions
The cruise industry is hoping that they will all be back in Australian waters for the start on the 2020 summer cruise season, however there is no guarantee we will see all the vessels back.
With many of the cruise lines ships sitting in different ports, the cruise industry will resume slowly as each of those countries relaxes their restrictions. This will impact each vessel and the path or itinerary available as other countries slowly follow. It has been suggested that the major cruise companies might only be able to get half their fleets back into operation during the second half of the year. Long term, we expect some older ships to be retired and replaced however there could be delays with ship building.
With many of the cruise lines ships sitting in different ports, the cruise industry will resume slowly as each of those countries relaxes their restrictions. This will impact each vessel and the path or itinerary available as other countries slowly follow. It has been suggested that the major cruise companies might only be able to get half their fleets back into operation during the second half of the year. Long term, we expect some older ships to be retired and replaced however there could be delays with ship building.
5. New restrictions to who can cruise
With the return of our cruise ships, we could see a change to the age limits of travelers as a temporary step to keep the older traveler or those with preexisting medical conditions safe from any possible complications related to covid-19. There were several cruise lines before they stopped sailing in March that announced a new rule banning travellers ages 70 and up from cruising, this included Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises with their updated protocols. It is only those travellers with a letter from their doctor stating they are fit to travel allowed to board and the cruise line reserves the right to deny boarding for anyone with a chronic illness regarding to their age.
6. Fewer passengers travelling on the ships
It is the core of the cruise industry business model to operate at 100% or near enough full capacity, so to think that they may have to reduce the number of passengers as part of a requirement to return to operation is unbelievable. This change to operations will depend on the cruise lines country of origin and that governments implementation of covid-19 social distancing protocols.
So, there will be some form of social distancing required on ships to minimize the risk of onboard outbreaks of any illness including covid-19. None of the major cruise lines are talking about introducing these steps at the moment until their governments make announcements but both Dream Cruises and Star Cruises have announced plans to cut the number of people they allow in onboard entertainment and recreation venues.
We predict this will happen by other cruise lines also.
So, there will be some form of social distancing required on ships to minimize the risk of onboard outbreaks of any illness including covid-19. None of the major cruise lines are talking about introducing these steps at the moment until their governments make announcements but both Dream Cruises and Star Cruises have announced plans to cut the number of people they allow in onboard entertainment and recreation venues.
We predict this will happen by other cruise lines also.
7. Lower pricing
There have already been some crazy deals for cruises scheduled for departure in November this year and into 2021. Cruise lines are just waiting to see when they can resume service before kicking off heavily discounted sailings.
Some of the biggest markdowns could come closer to these November departure dates that have a lot of available inventory but future sailings are likely to be marked down and could take several years for pricing to rebound to the pre covid-19 prices.
Some of the biggest markdowns could come closer to these November departure dates that have a lot of available inventory but future sailings are likely to be marked down and could take several years for pricing to rebound to the pre covid-19 prices.
8. Changes to itineraries to shorten the trips
One thing that is highly likely to change, if not temporarily when our cruising season starts will be their itineraries. It would be almost expected that the cruise companies will shorten the sailing and have more of the home ports included, this will also be due to some ports simply not being open.
These shorter sailings will offer a chance for passengers to test the waters to cruising without overly committing themselves, with the embarking and disembarking ports near major infrastructure so each passenger can reach the terminals easily. We may see these changed itineraries until the confidence returns in the passengers and other international countries open their borders.
These shorter sailings will offer a chance for passengers to test the waters to cruising without overly committing themselves, with the embarking and disembarking ports near major infrastructure so each passenger can reach the terminals easily. We may see these changed itineraries until the confidence returns in the passengers and other international countries open their borders.
9. New housekeeping and cleaning procedures
Cruise line executives have already promised more robust cleaning on their ships, not that they have not been on top of their cleaning in the past. It is already common to see crew members regularly washing and disinfecting handrails, doors, gym equipment, elevator buttons and other common area surfaces. Anyone who has been on a cruise recently, will already be aware of how impossible it is to enter the dining area without washing their hand at the antibacterial station.
We unsure of what these increased procedures and areas they will improve but there will be new protocol in place to reduce the possible spread of any illness.
Only time will tell if these 9 changes will have the dramatic and recovering effect on the cruise industry.
We unsure of what these increased procedures and areas they will improve but there will be new protocol in place to reduce the possible spread of any illness.
Only time will tell if these 9 changes will have the dramatic and recovering effect on the cruise industry.