Coronavirus : general discussion focussed on the impact on the cruise industry

[QE2forever]

Not really encouraging...

https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/hurtigruten-crew-members-test-positive-for-covid-19-on-a-norway-cruise

[Rob Lightbody]

Not really encouraging...

https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/hurtigruten-crew-members-test-positive-for-covid-19-on-a-norway-cruise

I came here to post the same thing.

Off to a bad start...

https://twitter.com/shipmonk/status/1289515446069350400

Euronews: 36 crew members on Norwegian cruise ship test positive for COVID-19.
https://www.euronews.com/2020/08/01/33-crew-members-on-norwegian-cruise-ship-test-positive-for-covid-19?utm_source=news.google.com&utm_campaign=feeds_news&utm_medium=referral

[Rob Lightbody]

Amazing photo of Queen Mary 2 here, from Azura's Captain

https://twitter.com/CaptainMarcin/status/1285580172624879619

https://twitter.com/CaptainMarcin/status/1283733698165321729

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Mein Schiff 2 has gone back on a first cruise, three days out of Hamburg with no port calls. This is how life on board looks now. Tempted?

[QE2forever]

Thanks Isabelle for posting.

Tempted? Gosh! No way, ever...

Who would spend (lots of) hard-earned money on something like that?

Sorry, cruise lines. Certainly not me.

[Chris Thompson]

Regarding that video who wants to have to take their phone on a cruise??
My idea of cruising is to get away from everyday life, PHONE NO, I might take an iPad for reading though!

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Friends of mine have recently taken a couple of ferries from Italy back to their home in Crete (Greece). They said that, apart from the normal precautions such as masks and sanitisers, these ferries were operating much as usual, and there seemed to be no reduction in their schedule.

They are not ship lovers and use the ferries simply as a mode of transport, but these were their observations when I asked.

[Rob Lightbody]

Mein Schiff 2 has gone back on a first cruise, three days out of Hamburg with no port calls. This is how life on board looks now. Tempted?

Not at all tempted, but its an excellent and insightful video, lots to think about.  Some of the things they're now doing, they should always have been doing.

Can that ship make a profit at 60% capacity? Or is it just that its losing less money than if it was sitting idle.

I think Hurtigruten's disaster (see above) has set the whole cruise line restart back, however.

[Rob Lightbody]

It's now up to 62 on the Roald Amundsen, 41 crew, 21 passengers.

And that's presumably with increased precautions over normal operation...

[Boris]

Crew members marooned on cruise ships in US waters has now dropped to 12 084, according  to the US Coastguard. (Was about 80 000 in April).
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/more-than-12000-crew-members-remain-on-cruise-ships-months-after-industry-halted-in-march/ar-BB17LeEV?li=AAgfYrC&ocid=mailsignout

[Rob Lightbody]

BBC News - Coronavirus: How ghost cruise ships became a summer tourist attraction

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53720419

[Thomas Hypher]

BBC News - Coronavirus: How ghost cruise ships became a summer tourist attraction

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53720419

David Trevor-Jones mentioned to my local branch of the WSS (in this month's newsletter) that sightseeing trips are being operated out of Poole too along similar lines. It's a bonanza for some I suppose, but personally I find the current status of the cruise industry deeply concerning and sad to say the least, and wouldn't exactly enjoy this sort of "pleasure cruise" as a result. Seeing the ships falling into (cosmetic at least) disrepair up close and in person would also be depressing.

[June Ingram]

I agree with you, Thomas. For a true ship lover, it would be a source of concern and sadness as well as fear for their ultimate fate.

[Thomas Hypher]

Some photos I took last week of Aurora, Arcadia, and Allure Of The Seas in Bournemouth Bay:

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

BBC News - Coronavirus: How ghost cruise ships became a summer tourist attraction

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53720419

It must be great for people who have never had a chance to go on a cruise and may never even have considered one. They can have a look at the ships out at sea, wave to the stranded crew members and take good close-up photographs. As most people are taking their holidays close to home, this is a welcome excursion for them and a good way for some local boat owners to make a bit of an income.

Since the cruise ships are stranded anyway, it is good to see some people making the best of the situation.