Cruise line industry’s relaunch plan

The cruise industry, which has suffered greatly during the pandemic, has ambitious plans for economic smoother sailing.

Ovation of the Seas docks in Sydney — Royal Caribbean hopes the liner will again set sail from the harbour city late next year. Picture: Benedict Brook

The embattled cruise industry is trying to make a comeback, with the American-owned line Royal Caribbean commencing sales of cruise itineraries to the Australian market while its ultra-luxury brand Silversea will start marketing cruises from next week.

All Australian cruising has been suspended until at least September 17, but cruise lines and travel agents are hopeful they can restart operations from October or November to coincide with the traditional summer cruise season.

Royal Caribbean has started selling cruise itineraries to Australian, New Zealand and South Pacific ports for the 2021-22 summer season beginning late next year. Meanwhile from June 17 Silversea, which pre-COVID said Australian passengers were its third-largest global market, plans itineraries to Tasmania, South Pacific and Indonesia.

Despite some luxury passengers telling The Australian they would never cruise again, Helloworld chief executive Andrew Burnes believes the cruise industry will recover.

“The product is extremely popular, with many people once they discover a product they love going back again and again,” said Mr Burnes.

“The cruise industry will adapt to COVID-19 with near-ICU facilities on the ships. They will have ventilators. If people are struck down they will be able to provide proper medical care.”

Mr Burnes said cruise sales made up about 16 per cent of Helloworld’s total transaction values, while for many of the company’s travel agents cruise sales accounted for 30-40 per cent of total transaction value.

“If cruises are not operating a lot earlier than November 2021 we are all going to be in a whole new world of pain,” he said.

Despite the cruise companies pleas to recommence cruising, federal Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham said last week that cruise ships had not been given the green light yet.

“I would assume that cruise shipping will be one of the last activities to come back online,” Mr Birmingham said.

“There were quite clearly failures in terms of public health management that contributed to the spread of COVID-19 on a number of cruise ships around the world.

“I believe health officials will be very cautious about giving a green light to cruise shipping any time soon.”

However, Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas and sister ship, Ovation of the Seas, plan to sail from Sydney from late next year. Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas will sail from Brisbane’s International Cruise Terminal with cruise itineraries ranging from two to 14 nights around Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.

Royal Caribbean said it was working with local health and government authorities to ensure proper safety procedures were in place for both guests and crew.

“Discussions with ports and local communities are ongoing. We will not sail until we know we are ready,” a Royal Caribbean spokesman said.

The Silversea line is also intending to ramp up its Australian cruise itineraries from late next year with the doubling of capacity. For the 2021-22 summer season, Silversea will deploy two ships in Australia and the region including its 388-passenger Silver Shadow and flagship Silver Muse.

Silversea has launched 12 new itineraries including trips to Tasmania, the South Pacific and Indonesia. Ports of call include a collection of cities combined with regional ports such as Kaikoura and the Bay of Islands in New Zealand and Eden, Port Arthur, Airlie Beach in Australia in addition to two new ports, Geelong and Philip Island.

Silversea said it was the most extensive program the line had ever released in Australia and New Zealand.

“We have been closely engaged with our guests during COVID-19 and we know they are keen to return to sailing again,” said Silversea managing director Asia Pacific, Adam Radwanski. He said many loyal customers had already booked for 2021.

Rival cruise line Norwegian cancelled the Australian summer season of its Norwegian Jewel, which was to begin sailing on September 25 through to February 27, 2021.