After Covid sank the cruise industry, is it time to re-embark?
by Judy Ross
To cruise or not to cruise. That is one of many questions we face as travelers in this troubled new world. More than a year ago my husband and I booked a cruise, thinking all would be well by summer 2022. The ship is set to sail this June from Southampton, U.K., up to remote parts of Norway, and so far we are planning to go. But, in the interest of research, I decided to check in with people who have taken a cruise recently, others who plan to in the coming months, and those who have no intention of ever crossing a gangplank again.
The news, as I write, is optimistic. Ships are back at sea and pent-up demand is creating a surge of bookings for 2022, 2023, and beyond. Much of this is a result of the cancellations and delays that occurred when cruise ships were completely shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Many travelers are playing catch-up for earlier missed opportunities. One example of the booking surge is that Oceania’s World Cruise for 2023 went on sale to the public in January 2021 and sold out within one day.
Local resident (and On The Bay employee) Cindy Caines and her partner Ken Dillman were caught up in the frustrations of delayed and cancelled cruises. In February, 2020, just prior to the pandemic, they boarded Carnival’s Horizon for their first-ever cruise in the Western Caribbean and loved it so much that they immediately signed up for their next one. That cruise was cancelled because of Covid. But this January, as restrictions lifted, they sailed again on the Carnival Miracle, departing from California on a two-week voyage to Hawaii.
“We were nervous about it,” admits Cindy. “Up until the last minute, Hawaii wasn’t allowing ships to dock so we thought it would be cancelled. But then it was a go and we decided, ‘What the heck?’.”
The couple found the most nerve-wracking aspect was the number of tests and forms they had to deal with for flights and for the cruise. Plus, the worry about getting Covid. But once on board they felt safe, knowing that strict protocols were in place. They wore masks and were tested regularly on the ship. When they disembarked at Hawaiian ports, they wore a bracelet showing they had tested negative. “There was overdrive cleaning going on,” says Cindy, “and because of fewer passengers we were never shoulder-to-shoulder with anyone.”
The regular capacity on that ship was 2,600 passengers, but only 1,200 were on board—a big difference from their first cruise which was fully loaded. “On that ship we often couldn’t get into restaurants or shows because everything got booked up. And there were lineups for everything. None of that was a problem this time, which was really nice.”
Ships are back at sea and pent-up demand is creating a surge of bookings for 2022, 2023, and beyond.
Cindy Caines and Ken Dillman sailed on the Carnival Miracle, departing from California on a two-week voyage to Hawaii.
I contacted Beth Farr of Collingwood, thinking that she would be in the “never crossing a gangplank again” category. She and her husband Dick were trapped on that infamous South American cruise on the Zaandam, a Holland America ship. They departed from Buenos Aires on March 7, 2020, two days before the advisory to avoid all cruise ship travel. By March 13, they were off the coast of Chile and passengers were getting sick, some had died, and Chile wouldn’t allow the Zaandam to dock. They were denied entry everywhere. Eventually they were able to pass through the Panama Canal and ended up off the Florida coast at Fort Lauderdale, where they were finally allowed to disembark. But they had spent days holed up in their cabin with meal trays left outside the door and only able to walk the deck for half an hour a day. The whole experience was a nightmare that attracted worldwide attention.
Despite this terrible experience, the Farrs plan to sail again in September on a 10-day cruise from Quebec City to Boston.
“Holland America treated us generously and handled a dreadful situation as well as possible,” says Beth. “They refunded everything.
And we really like cruising. The industry has been devastated by the pandemic, but probably now a cruise ship is the safest place one could be.”
Preparing for a cruise doesn’t involve fun-filled anticipation any more. You now need to research new Covid-induced rules and policies that apply to your particular ship and to the destinations that you’ll visit. Much of the hassle comes before you even reach the ship—airlines, customs, new regulations, Covid tests, and more.
Itineraries can be disrupted by flight changes and cancellations. It’s smart to enlist the help of a travel advisor who can keep on top of the ever-changing rules. And it’s more important than ever to arrive at the embarkation port a few days early.
For travelers who have cruised in the past, in the before times, things will be different than they remember. For one thing, almost everything on board is touchless. The pandemic has fueled an increase in technology. Your cell phone is an essential tool for cruising now. Mobile apps are used to book meals, shows, and shore excursions. In some cases it will even be used to turn off your cabin lights. The daily planner, the enjoyable, fact-filled news sheet that used to be placed on your bed every night, has been scrapped in favour of an app.
In some ways this “check” on cruising is a good thing. Overtourism was peaking in 2019, with mega ships disgorging thousands of passengers onto small islands or towns. It seems now there’s more interest in expedition-style cruises which travel to off-the-beaten-path destinations on smaller ships. Perhaps the pandemic will also quash the trend to build ships that look more like floating condo towers than sailing vessels.
For a final take on what lies ahead I contacted Vanessa Lee, who has done more cruising (over 400 different cruises) than anyone I know. She’s the publisher of travel magazines about cruising and just last year between July and November was on five different ships. When I reached her she was aboard the Silver Origin in the Galapagos, swimming with sea lions.
“All of the ships are taking excellent care of their guests and crew,” offers Vanessa. “They are all so grateful to be back cruising, and to have jobs. I would encourage everyone to do their homework, find out the protocols, and then just take the plunge! Once on board it is still a joyous experience.”
