Reflecting Back 6 years - What the 2020 CID-19 Pandemic Did to the Cruise Ship Industry

Over time, Celebrity has become our "go to" Ocean Cruise Line
Image Copyright Andy Richards 2022 - All Rights Reserved

WE DIDN'T cruise in 2020. Nobody did. 2019 had been a busy "cruising" year, with 2 full cruises in the Mediterranean, though we seem to have taken a hiatus in Caribbean Cruises (that would change post-covid; I don't believe we have missed a year since we re-opened). And then the world shut down. The first officially confirmed case of Covid-19 is credited with an infection in Washington State in an individual who had recently traveled to the U.S. from Wuhan, China, widely believed to be the original source of the virus. However, post- pandemic studies seem to indicate that there instances of the virus on the U.S. west coast at least as early as December, 2019. I don't want to minimize the catastrophic effect of the disease on human lives and the world economy. At the same time, this is a blog about cruising and few industries were more effected by Covid-19. And I think that at first, many of us underestimated the sweep of this worldwide pandemic. For us, we had a series of several cancelled cruises before we were finally able to get back on a cruise ship in late 2121 on a limited basis.

I don't want to minimize the catastrophic effect of the disease on human lives and the world economy . . . [but] this is a blog about cruising and few industries were more effected by Covid-19

FROM THE perspective of the Cruise Industry, things officially started on the Princess Cruise Lines' Diamond Princess, in Japan, in February, 2020. The ship was ultimately quarantined for 14 days, before being evacuated. My information indicates that there were numerous confirmed infections and at least two deaths reported. Also reported was that the first confirmed Covid infection was found in a Chinese man who had flown to Yokohama to board the Diamond Princess for the cruise. This probably contributed to the widespread belief early on that the virus originated in China.

IN MARCH of 2020, the U.S. Center For Disease Control (CDC) and the Cruise LInes International Association (CLIC) stopped all cruising. We did not board a cruise ship again after our October 2019 "Italian Riviera" cruise on the Celebrity Edge, for a full 2 years. We had a series of cruises cancelled nearly as quickly as we could book them up until March 2020. In the meantime, we waited patiently for things to open back up.

IN LATE May, 2021, the CDC cleared a Celebrity Ship (Royal Caribbean Group) to sail from Southampton, England, to the U.S.  Other lines followed suit in short order. Princess resumed operations in July 2021 with a week-long voyage to Alaska from Seattle aboard Majestic Princess.

Even though by late 2021, we were accustomed to masking and seeing everyone around us masked, it was still a bit surreal to be on a cruise ship where all the employees were masked at all times.
Copyright Andy Richards 2021 - All Rights Reserved

ON VIRTUALLY every one of these early re-entries, stringent Covid-19 protocols were observed. All guests and all ship employees were required to have received a COVID-19 vaccine 14 days prior to departure. Testing was required immediately prior to boarding the ship (in addition to the requirements imposed by countries where ships began and/or terminated their voyages. We were on our first cruise since the pandemic closed things down; The Royal Princess, sailing out of Southampton. Our progression was complex. In order to board our airplane in the U.S. we had to show proof of vaccination, and proof of negative test results within 48 hours of boarding. When we landed at London Heathrow, in addition to again providing proof of vaccination, we were required to test immediately after deplaning. We go our rapid (thankfully negative) results via text message on board our express train from LHR to our hotel in London. Upon arriving a few day later at Princess' Southhampton cruise port, we were once again required to undergo rapid testing, waiting in a separate waiting area for our results. Once again getting negative test results, we were allowed to board the ship. A week later, before we got on our bus to LHR to return to the U.S. we were again required to undergo rapid testing while still on board the ship. That is quite a process.

RULES WERE also enforced regarding the face masks and social distancing. On board the Regal Princess, we were required to wear masks whenever moving about public areas, including passageways, elevators, buffets, restaurants and bars, the theatres and bathrooms. Even while walking outside the ship. Only once you sat down in a venue, or in your stateroom were you allowed to unmask. In spite of the comfort issues that could present, most people "got" that it was necessary. You were not allowed to approach the bars to order a drink. You had to be waited on. Perhaps a saving grace on Princess was their medallion system, allowing ordering on an app, and facilitating staff finding you with your order. But the thing that I hated the most, however, was that the ship crew were all required to be masked at all times. I didn't like that I couldn't see the person who was interacting with me. I couldn't see their smile (something that is pretty common among cruise ship staff). Fortunately, all this was temporary.

But it appears it was the proverbial "too soon."

CAPACITY reduced during the initial phase of the resumption.The success of the first voyages was followed by the resumption of service on additional vessels. In addition to the ships "feeling their way" with Covid Protocol, the ports were having their own issues. Our Regal Princess itinerary when we boarded the ship was to include The Isle of Guernsey, La Rochelle, France, and Bilbao, Spain. The two latter cities are substantial, with Bilbao known for its Guggenheim Museum and Medieval Old Town and La Rochelle for its beautiful old vieux Port and gothic architecture. Both are cities. But it appears it was the proverbial "too soon." Guernsey was simply not allowing ships at all yet, and that port was simply cancelled. The two cities were substituted with the desolate (yet perhaps beautiful) Soulac sur Mer (for La Rochelle) and the small, commercial/industrial A 'Coruna. Though both were nice - and places in the world we can now say we visited - there was little to do in either place. Soulac was essentially an outpost. There was a provided shuttle into the very small, beach resort. Other than a capucino, or expresso and some knick-knack shopping there was literally nothing to do but walk around. While surely unfair, we thought A 'Coruna was just kind of a plain, metropolitan area where lots of people lived and worked. We walked around briefly and returned to the ship. Not the most memorable cruise - especially from a port stop perpective.

STILL, WE were cruising again, and we had to be grateful for that. We remained optimistic that it would get better in time. And it did. But it did take a bit. Predictably there were significant financial losses. RCL was said to have been losing around $500 million monthly during the shutdown of operations. Overall, the industry is said to have lost nearly $80 billion over the nearly 2-year period. Perhaps more significant, the pandemic was responsible for the loss of around 160,000 cruise industry - related jobs.

Still, we were cruising again

THERE WERE also some not so obvious consequences. The shutdown and economic stress motivated ship companies to streamline, scrapping or selling many of their older and less efficient vessels, resulting in small fleets. At the same time, all lines have moved toward a more efficient digital approach to operations. Health and sanitation protocols have been modernized.

those of us who have experienced substantial cruises both pre and post Covid do share some concerns

THE TAKEAWAY is surprising. Today, just a few years hence, the industry has experienced the biggest boom in its history. Jobs are back at and above previous levels. Newer, often bigger, more modern ships are being ordered and built at unprecedented levels, proving, we think, our optimism well-founded. However, those of us who have experienced substantial cruises both pre and post Covid do share some concerns. Like every other thing post-Covid, costs and prices have gone up substantially. At the same time, cost-cutting measures have in numerous instances resulted in a lowered quality experience in areas and on board lines we have come to expect great quality from. As we continue to look at Covid in the rear-view mirror, we can only hope things will continue to improve and adjust in a postitive manner.

WE RETURNED to the Caribbean and to full - time, "normal" cruising in 2022. As I have noted, among other world-wide cruises, we have not (yet) missed a year in the Caribbean, making some new friends and establishing some new "traditions." Stay tuned here, as I continue the walk through the years of our cruises.