Reassuring Safe to Cruise

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Updated 10/5/2021

Aren't cruise ships just giant petri dishes? What's being done to reassure the public it's safe to cruise again?

There has been misinformation in the media which would lead to an assumption that cruise ships are giant petri dishes.  After you watch this video you will have a better understanding of the health and safety measures that have always been in place and which have since been enhanced.

State of the Industry - CLIA Report

"In a year marked by hurricanes, wildfires, and the worst public health crisis the world has experienced in over 100 years, we have seen our industry and our communities challenged in ways we could have never imagined. As we turn the page on 2020, the 2021 State of the Cruise Industry Reports highlights the progress that we have made over the last 12 months and underscores the leadership of the cruise industry and its constant drive to innovate and lead the way in responsible tourism." 

 ~Kelly Craighead, President and CEO, CLIA

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) worked to establish an industry-wide COVID-19 policy for its ocean-going cruise line members.  Read the entire 2021 State of the Cruise Industry report.

Top Choices for Reassuring Safe to Cruise

•  sanitation and cleaning protocols should be increased​ 
•  air filtration should be upgraded​ 
•  shipboard medical resources will be expanded​ 
•  shore excursions should follow stringent health protocols​ 
•  passenger capacity should be limited to ensure social distancing​ 
•  COVID-19 testing should take place right before embarking

Expected protocols are also associated with improving processes that are aligned with processes/expertise already existing within the cruise industry pre-COVID.​  Furthermore, the protocols that cruisers are expecting, are fully aligned with what cruise lines are implementing ​

 Highlights of the Core Elements 

 Variances for Small / Expedition Ships 

• Booking procedures and risk disclosures 
• Staggered guest arrivals and departures 
• Health screening including temperature checks for anyone boarding 
• Onboard testing capability 
• Augmentation of medical facilities and staff 
• Capacity management/social distancing 
• Dining restrictions 
• Use of contactless technology 
• Contact tracing

See Cruise Research Highlights for the whole report.
 

 

Click the banner above for the latest cruise promotions

 

Cruise lines are offering special promotions and pricing on popular cruises to encourage consumers to plan their next cruise vacation now. We'll be featuring promotions on our website and social media.

Choose Cruise Month (click for mini-series)

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I recently completed extensive training and have become Travel Safety Verified. As your dedicated Travel Advisor, your safety is our priority, and it's our job to ensure you have the necessary information you need to give you confidence and peace of mind when making your future travel plans. Click the link to review our Travel Safety program with valuable resources that will answer many of your questions.

Where have you explored? 

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Cruise Industry Covid-19 Response

Courtesy of CLIA (cruising.org)

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)  is the world's largest cruise industry trade association, providing a unified voice and leading authority of the global cruise community. On behalf of its members, affiliates, and partners, the organization supports policies and practices that foster a secure, healthy, and sustainable cruise ship environment, promoting positive travel experiences for the more than 30 million passengers who have cruised annually.

They have assembled the latest industry facts and resources and summarizes the current state as follows:   (click here for the latest news and resources)

 As the world continues to address challenges regarding COVID-19, the top priority for the entire cruise community—including cruise lines, travel agents, ports, destinations, suppliers and beyond—continues to be the health and safety of passengers, crew and the communities in the places we visit. 

CLIA and its member lines have invested in research, worked with global experts, and closely cooperated with national and regional health, transport and safety authorities in specific regions to develop world leading health and safety protocols. In fact, to date, we have put in place more than 75 science-led measures. 

The industry’s successful resumption in Europe, parts of Asia, the UK, and parts of North America demonstrate a promising example that a responsible return to cruising is possible with the right measures in place.   

Cruise Ships Singled Out

In all the hospitality and travel sectors, people gather in close contact to socialize and enjoy shared experiences.  Last year this time there was a perception that the incidents of  COVID-19 were higher on cruise ships than other sectors and industries.

Cruise Ships Differ From Other Sectors & Industries

CLIA member lines are required to have credentialed doctors and nurses onboard who are required to provide health declarations detailing illnesses of individuals onboard to port authorities around the globe prior to a ship’s entry. Neither airlines, hotels, nor any other travel and tourism sector is required to report the same information.

This lopsided reporting isn't new with COVID-19.  The media has always singed out incidents of Norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships, while similar events occurring elsewhere in the travel and hospitality sectors go unreported.  The following is not new:

How do CLIA member cruise lines promote public health? 

• CLIA ocean-going cruise ships are the only form of travel or passenger transportation that must be medically equipped to care for passengers or crew in the event of illness 
• medical facilities must meet the standards set forth by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) 
• cruise ships must have an examination room, an intensive care room and equipment for processing labs, monitoring vital signs and administering medications 
• doctors and medical personnel MUST be available onboard 24/7 

We will take a closer look at some of the new technology and protocols that are currently in place to provide a safe and healthy environment for your vacation.   You will learn that since the cruise line controls their environment, a cruise vacation is one of the safest things you can do today.

 

Click the banner above for the latest cruise promotions

 

Cruise lines are offering special promotions and pricing on popular cruises to encourage consumers to plan their next cruise vacation now. We'll be featuring promotions on our website and social media.

Choose Cruise Month (click for mini-series)

Connect With Us On

    
    

Sign-up for Exclusive Email Offers

I recently completed extensive training and have become Travel Safety Verified. As your dedicated Travel Advisor, your safety is our priority, and it's our job to ensure you have the necessary information you need to give you confidence and peace of mind when making your future travel plans. Click the link to review our Travel Safety program with valuable resources that will answer many of your questions.

Where have you explored? 

Gather your travel and food pics and join us every Wednesday afternoon at 4 PM Eastern for the latest installment of #FoodTravelChat

3 Ingredients to Cruising Future

What did it take to get cruising restarted in the United States? The following three ingredients were at the core that made cruise resumption possible.

New Protocols 

The Healthy Sail Panel, a group of the best minds and leaders in public health, biosecurity, epidemiology, hospitality and maritime operations presented their recommendations to the CDC on behalf of the entire cruise industry.  Their 65-plus-page report includes 74 detailed best practices to protect the public health and safety of guests, crew and the communities where cruise ships call. Recommendations include testing, the use of face coverings, and enhanced sanitation procedures on ships and in terminals.

The CDC has published a framework for return to cruising and the cruise lines worked together with them to finalize the actual requirements to be implemented.

Reassuring Safe to Cruise (Click to Read More)

Technology

Existing and new technological innovations augment health and safety.  Guests will complete health questionnaires and other documents in advance of arrival at the pier making it possible to expedite the embarkation process while maintaining social distancing.  The latest medical testing methods will screen for illness prior to embarkation and during the cruise.  The intent is for passengers to embark healthy and disembark healthy as well.  For the majority of cruises, there is a requirement that passengers, that are eligible, be fully vaccinated.

On board the ship, technology will make it possible for planning which dining venues and entertainment options guests which to choose (based on current availability).  Need to find someone on the ship? An app or other device will give you their location.  These are just a few of the ways technology will play a part.

Travel Advisors

Throughout the cruising shutdown, we have kept in contact with our cruise line partners and helped our guests navigate the waters of cancellations, refunds, future cruise credits, and rebooking options.  The situation has been very fluid, sometimes with things changing daily.   The cruise lines listened to our feedback and made adjustments as needed.

As we return to cruising, we will continue to be your core source of the latest information, provided to us by our travel partners.  We will be spending an entire week in conference with all the top cruise and land providers, learning about how they intend to keep passengers, crew, and the public safe and healthy.  Watch for posts live from Celebrity Apex staring November 13th.

This is not the time for you to try to navigate these waters on your own.  Helping our guests make the best decisions for their situation is why we are in this profession.    Cruising is already the best vacation value, but it will be even greater when you combine that with our experience and guidance, along with exclusive offers that we have been given, in recognition of our importance to the resumption of travel.

Looking to the Future ...

There's much more to the story, so be sure to follow us for our continuing posts on this and other important industry topics.

 

Click the banner above for the latest cruise promotions

 

Cruise lines are offering special promotions and pricing on popular cruises to encourage consumers to plan their next cruise vacation now. We'll be featuring promotions on our website and social media.

Choose Cruise Month (click for mini-series)

Connect With Us On

    
    

Sign-up for Exclusive Email Offers

I recently completed extensive training and have become Travel Safety Verified. As your dedicated Travel Advisor, your safety is our priority, and it's our job to ensure you have the necessary information you need to give you confidence and peace of mind when making your future travel plans. Click the link to review our Travel Safety program with valuable resources that will answer many of your questions.

Where have you explored? 

Gather your travel and food pics and join us every Wednesday afternoon at 4 PM Eastern for the latest installment of #FoodTravelChat

Fall in Love With Cruising

(Updated 10/2/2021)

Why Cruise...now more than ever?

Cruising has been suspended for most of 2020 and 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Cruisers are ready to go.  According to a Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) survey, as of June 2020, one out of three cruisers likely to cruise again, was willing to cruise within six months, thus the end of year, another 46% within a year.

There has been a misperception that incidence of COVID-19 is higher on cruise travel than other sectors and industries.  We will take a look at Cruise Industry COVID-19 facts and present highlights of the plan to resume cruise travel with additional measures in place.

Cruising has it all and then some

You can expect an all-inclusive experience on a cruise vacation. This means that almost everything is included at a fixed price that you are aware of in advance. Below is a list of amenities that are typically included in the cost of your cruise:

1. Full meals per day (breakfast, lunch and dinner). Special children's menus are also available.
   
2. Full buffet meals per day (breakfast, lunch and midnight)
   
3. 24-hour room service on many ships.
   
4. Access to all shipboard facilities, including casino, pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, gym, on-board lectures, card rooms, and an extensive array of interactive games, contests and more...
   
5. Supervised children's activities offered on a daily basis.
   
6. Spectacular entertainment including Broadway and Las Vegas-style shows, lounges, nightclubs, movies, dancing and so much more...
7. Up close and personal visits to some of the world's most amazing destinations
   
8. Unpack once - visit multiple countries on most cruises

On most cruise lines, gratuities (a suggested amount is $13.50 - $15.50 per day per person, or $94.50 -$108.50 per passenger per week for a 7-day cruise, paid at the end of the cruise) are not included. Additionally, port charges and government fees and shore excursions on a few ships require an additional cost.  

What's in Store for YOU from Cruise Lines this Month?

Cruise Line International Association (CLIA) member lines have pulled out all the stops this month to introduce you to cruising.  Working with your CLIA certified travel professional (I'm a certified) Master Cruise Counselor) you can take advantage of the right offer for you and your traveling companions from among the 26+ member lines.

Watch this video to learn more about cruising.   Next we suggest that you explore our First Time Cruisers page to get answers to some of your burning questions.  We'd be happy to have a lengthy conversation with you as well.  We'd love to see you Fall in Love with Cruising. 

 

Click the banner above for the latest cruise promotions

 

Cruise lines are offering special promotions and pricing on popular cruises to encourage consumers to plan their next cruise vacation now. We'll be featuring promotions on our website and social media.

Choose Cruise Month (click for mini-series)

Connect With Us On

    
    

Sign-up for Exclusive Email Offers

I recently completed extensive training and have become Travel Safety Verified. As your dedicated Travel Advisor, your safety is our priority, and it's our job to ensure you have the necessary information you need to give you confidence and peace of mind when making your future travel plans. Click the link to review our Travel Safety program with valuable resources that will answer many of your questions.

Where have you explored? 

Gather your travel and food pics and join us every Wednesday afternoon at 4 PM Eastern for the latest installment of #FoodTravelChat