Cruise Passenger: Tourism Restart Taskforce member John Hart maintains it is “totally unlikely that big international cruise ships with thousands of passengers” will be allowed to sail in Australian waters soon. But the Taskforce is hopeful small ship lines like Ponant, which carry some 260 passengers each, might be able to operate in the much-talked-about “bubble” of Australia only – or Australia and New Zealand.
Port Canaveral cutting 40 percent of staff due to COVID-19 impact
Maritime Executive: Port Canaveral, central Florida’s seaport and the second largest cruise homeport, is implementing austerity measures due to the impact of COVID-19 on its operations and the shutdown in the cruise industry. News of these moves comes just a week after the Port Canaveral joined with a broad coalition representing U.S. ports urging the U.S. Congress to provide emergency relief for America’s ports that have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today’s Takeaways 7-30-20
MSC gets into shipbuilding • “Royal” is still in the name • Even a vaccine that doesn’t work works • Greece opens! • Fantasy’s final resting place • The feds will figure out refunds • Wednesday U.S. recorded a COVID death every minute • Rumor of Seabourn, Cunard sale denied, of course • Youngsters infecting oldsters with COVID • Judge tells Carnival not to slack off on enviro during COVID •
MSC Cruises to operate Palumbo Malta Shipyard in new joint venture
CIN: MSC Cruises and Palumbo Group today officially announced they have formed a joint venture to operate the Palumbo Malta Shipyard. The news was previously reported by Cruise Industry News earlier this year. The new joint venture sees MSC Cruises take a 50 percent stake in the shipyard and become an equal partner alongside the current owner Palumbo Shipyards.
Royal Caribbean Group sets sail with updated corporate identity
PRESS RELEASE: When a company is known for raising the bar on design and innovation, nothing is exempt from the mantra of continuous improvement—not even the company’s own name. That’s why Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is now known by a new moniker: Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL). “The name is simpler, fresher and more modern. It’s also more descriptive—Royal Caribbean Group sounds like a parent company name, reflective of our growth and evolution since we last updated our identity more than 20 years ago,” said Royal Caribbean Group chairman and CEO Richard Fain.
A COVID-19 vaccine will still save lives even if it’s not 100% effective, experts say
ABC News: As coronavirus cases continue to climb in hot spots across the U.S., positive results from the first phase of several drug trials have raised hopes that a vaccine will soon help Americans return to a normal life. But experts are stressing that even if the vaccine is not 100% effective, it will still be a safe and important tool in the fight against the virus.
Cruise travel advice: Eight ways to future-proof your cruise
World of Cruising: So that you can start thinking about booking a cruise again, here’s how to protect your cruise for the future, from how to book to what clauses to look out for in your travel insurance. Put your mind at ease and if you haven’t already, get booking that 2021 cruise holiday…
Greece set to reopen to cruise ship traffic on August 1
Travel Market Report: Greece will become the first country to reopen to large cruise ship traffic when it again opens up at six ports starting on August 1, Greece Minister of Tourism Haris Theocharis said in a letter to CLIA Europe this week. Greece will begin welcoming cruise ships again at Piraeus, Rhodes, Heraklion, Volos, Corfu, and Katakolo starting next month. After a cruise ship initially first docks at one of those six ports, it will be able to then reach other Greece ports, Theocharis said.
Carnival Fantasy cruise ship beached, officially done [VIDEO]
Cruise Radio: Carnival Fantasy is officially on the rocks. The 30-year-old Carnival Cruise Line vessel was beached in Aliaga, Turkey on Wednesday morning and now awaits the deconstruction process. The ship will be cut up into pieces with the raw materials recycled.
Cruisers have struggled with refunds amid the pandemic; federal agency report recommends changes
USA Today: A Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) official is recommending amending the agency’s regulations of cruise lines pertaining to their refund policies. On Monday, FMC Commissioner Louis E. Sola released an interim report containing recommendations to create a uniform standard that is clear for passengers to understand how to obtain refunds.