Page 25 - TMI Special 10-11 2020 FlipBookv2

INSIDER

over into the ‘State of the Global Cruise The cruise leaders also pointed and have learned so much since then,” said
Industry’ keynote discussion by the cruise out that a cruise ship is one of the few Fain.
industry’s leaders—Carnival Corp.’s places where one can fully control the
President/CEO Arnold Donald, Royal environment. Resuming service
Caribbean Group’s chairman and CEO A ship can be a “safe cocoon” said Keynote moderator Anne Kalosh, the
Richard Fain, Norwegian Cruise Line MSC’s Vago, who warned that vaccines respected editor of Seatrade Cruise News,
Holdings President and CEO Frank will not be “magic.” tried to pin the panel down on when they
Del Rio, and MSC Cruises Chairman Agreeing that despite all precautions expected to resume sailing, calling on them
Pierfrancesco Vago. it would still be possible for some to rate on a scale of 1 to 5 whether it would
In addition to their commitment passengers to fall ill, the cruise be by the end of this year.
to universal testing, all four praised the executives said it will be possible to With the CDC’s no-sail order still
success of the slow, gradual resumption isolate and care for anyone who’s sick. in effect through the end of this month at
of cruising in Europe, and stressed the They all revealed plans have been least, Del Rio said that it would take at
science-based protocols emerging from the made with destinations to treat stricken least 60 days to get a ship back into service,
recommendations of the Healthy Sail Panel. passengers. especially since they have not been sailing
The Healthy Sail Panel, a joint All four also emphasized that they for the last six months.
partnership between Royal Caribbean and are working together to return to service: While no one would commit to
Norwegian Cruise Line, was a 65-page “there is no competition when it comes a number on Kalosh’s scale, all of the
report including 74 detailed best practices to health and safety,” said Fain, a policy executives agreed they were optimistic that
that was put together by experts in medical echoed by all. cruises would sail again by the end of the
practice and research, public health, The executives also pointed out that year. Strong bookings for next year were
infectious diseases, biosecurity, hospitality, cruise is the only industry that has to report also encouraging for long-term recovery.
and maritime operations, as a way to illness on board, so that the perception of “We will not cruise until we are sure it
protect the public health and safety of risk is somewhat distorted, especially after is safe,” said Del Rio.
guests, crew, and the communities. the high-profile outbreaks at the start of the “We must be sure of the safety of our
The recommendations were submitted pandemic. The confusing mix of messages destinations, as well,” added Fain.
to the CDC to show the agency how the and requirements from destinations at the “We will be back stronger than ever,”
industry can safely resume cruising. beginning of the crisis was also hugely added Vago.
RCL’s Fain pointed out that the cruise detrimental. Transparency and information Carnival’s Donald noted that the
industry is the only industry of any kind to will be critical to overcoming negative industry had been growing strongly before
stand behind 100% testing of all passengers perceptions, they say. COVID and he is confident that growth
and crew. “We took the time to study the science will return.

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