The Greek island of Corfu welcomed its first cruise ship of the new season on Tuesday, hoping much awaited tourists will help salvage losses incurred during 2020 due to the coronavirus. Corfu port authorities said some 600 tourists from countries including Italy, France and Germany were on board the Costa Luminosa, operated by Italy’s Costa Cruises, and all safety measures were being adhered to in the port. Passengers of the Costa Luminosa cruise ship wearing protective face masks make their way at the port of the island of Corfu, Greece, May 18, 2021. REUTERS/Adonis Skordilis Some of the passengers expressed their delight at being able to travel again. “It’s freedom, enjoying life, you really feel much better. You’re not in prison anymore, you’re free and that really does you...
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Cruise operator Royal Caribbean is cancelling a new line that had been scheduled to run from Israel to Greece and Cyprus from next month, citing regional security concerns. FILE PHOTO: Royal Caribbean International's cruise ship 'Allure of the Seas' enters its new home port in Fort Lauderdale as seen from nearby Hollywood, Florida. REUTERS/Joe Skipper The sailings out of Haifa port would have been the first for Royal Caribbean's new ship "Odyssey of the Seas" and were intended to exploit a travel corridor being set up among the three countries for travellers vaccinated against COVID-19. "Due to the unrest in Israel and region, Odyssey has not been able to complete the preparations required," the company said late on Saturday in what appeared to be a reference to fighting over Gaz...
Read MoreCruise world is in midst of hopes of sailing again, despite mounting debts and lingering uncertainties. With vaccination against COVID19 gathering some steam, cruise lines seem to have found a new lease of life. Few of them have already announced plans for sailing. Royal Caribbean cruise line and its subsidiary Celebrity Cruises have announced to start sailing from Bahamas and St. Martin, respectively, by resuming their North America cruise services. All crew and adult passengers will be required to show the proof of vaccination against COVID-19. This definitive restart is a milestone for North America cruising, after a year-long halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As soon as the news broke out, it was immediately there in the conversations. A leading data and analytics company G...
Read MoreNorwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has turned around global cruise travel, transcending many boundaries through its 54-year-old history. On the occasion of World Water Day 2021, the cruise company, that has always been mindful of preserving natural resources integral to our sustenance and survival, takes us through its water conservation and management practices. Under its Sail and Sustain Stewardship Program, the company has been working tirelessly to launch several innovative initiatives to minimize waste to landfills, reduce the CO2 emissions rate, increase sustainable sourcing and invest in emerging technologies. In 2019, NCL became the first major global cruise company to eliminate single-use plastic beverage bottles across its fleet and its private destinations, saving over six million ...
Read MoreOceania Cruises, the world’s leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line, announced that the line’s 2023 Around the World in 180 Days voyage sold out within one day of opening for sale to the general public on January 27, 2021. “The response to our epic 2023 around the world voyage clearly illustrates the enthusiasm that experienced travelers have for immersive and memorable travel experiences,” stated Bob Binder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Oceania Cruises. “Despite the challenges the world faces today, travelers are clearly bullish on the future and are embracing these new opportunities to travel the world and create lifelong memories.” Cruise actually touches almost all parts of the world While world cruises typically attract legions of loyal repeat gues...
Read MoreGreek cruise lines hope a swifter vaccination rollout and the government’s proposed vaccine certificates scheme can help get ships out of the docks where they have been idling empty for the past year and back to sea for the vital summer season. With international travel now at a near-standstill, saving at least part of the summer season will be vital, said George Koumpenas, Chief Operating Officer for Celestyal Cruises, a medium-sized operator that offers trips to the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean. Celestyal’s ships have been docked at the cruise terminal of Piraeus port in Athens since February last year and while it has sent crews home, daily maintenance fees just to keep the vessels operational run to 15,000 euros ($18,016.50). “It’s crucial for the company to get its v...
Read MoreOne of the most cost-intensive as well as most affected sectors of travel and tourism industry- cruise industry, sees no signs of recovery. Even after vaccinations for COVID-19 have begun across America and Europe, there is no hope of resuming operations anytime soon. New strain of coronavirus originating from UK has only complicated the matters further. That is the reason, all cruise lines are extending pause of operations. In the latest announcements, Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line and Princess Cruises have extended pause of operations until 31st March, 30th April and 14th May 2021 respectively. Carnival Cruise Line is notifying guests of additional cruise cancellations, including extending its pause in all operations in the U.S. through March 31, 2021, as well as ...
Read MoreA suspected COVID-19 case aboard a “cruise-to-nowhere” from Singapore which forced the ship to return to dock and nearly 1,700 guests to isolate was a false alarm, the government said on Thursday. Passengers on Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas vessel were held in their cabins for more than 16 hours on Wednesday after an 83-year-old man was tested positive for COVID-19 aboard the ship when he sought medical help for diarrhoea. Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas cruise ship docks at Marina Bay Cruise Center after a passenger tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) during a cruise to nowhere, in Singapore, December 9, 2020. REUTERS/Edgar Su But Singapore’s health ministry said on Thursday the man did not have the virus after three subsequent tests on land came bac...
Read MorePassengers confined to cabins after Royal Caribbean cruise ship detects COVID-19 in Singapore Hundreds of passengers on a Royal Caribbean ‘cruise-to-nowhere’ from Singapore were told to stay in their cabins until contact tracing was complete after a COVID-19 case was detected, forcing the Quantum of the Seas ship back to port, authorities said. Royal Caribbean and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said all guests and crew of the Quantum of the Seas who had close contact with the 83-year old infected male guest have subsequently tested negative for the virus. Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas cruise ship docks at Marina Bay Cruise Center after a passenger tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) during a cruise to nowhere, in Singapore, December 9, 2020. REUTERS/Edga...
Read MoreIn a joint statement issued, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) have highlighted the importance of the cruise sector for the world economy. According to industry data, the cruise sector supports 1.2 million jobs and contributes US$150 billion to the global economy every year. Tourism is vitally important for Small Islands States, where it sustains millions of livelihoods and brings substantial socio-economic benefits. The two UN agencies also recognise the efforts made by the industry, countries and international organizations to protect the safety, health and well-being of passengers and crew, as well as the health of the population of destination port States of cruise ships. Since cruise operations were suspended worldwide ...
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