Cruise Industry News

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I vividly recall my 14 night cruise on the Achille Lauro in the mid 1970's, but it didn't end well. I was one of only a handful of English speaking guests and we were "cared for" by a representative of the Swiss travel company, Kuoni. The cruise had been recommended by a Partner in the executive search firm (which I had retained at the New York Times to fill business side positions) who had been President of the short lived Time Life Travel. I should have known the cruise would go downhill when at the first meeting with the Kuoni representative she advised us of the importance of never leaving valuables in the cabin, due to widespread theft by crew members. However, at the time, I was looking forward to the two day call at the port of Beirut, which allowed me to tour Balbeek, do some shopping and tour the beautiful city just as fighting and bombing was about to break out. I recall, too, the guests expressing some concern over the ancient fire safety conditions, with which even the Hotel Director recognized when he introduced himself to me on the second day out of Genoa, from which the cruise embarked (rather than from Naples, the company headquarters). The cabin drinking water was, of course, not potable and each cabin was supplied with a pitcher containing potable water. On the last morning of the cruise, as I drank from this pitcher, nearly emptying it, I noticed that the bottom of the pitcher was filled with curly, black human hair. I nearly threw up, but disgusted (and concerned for my health) I took the pitcher down to the Hotel Director's office and dumped the remaining contents on his desk (while he knew I was working, albeit as an advertising department executive, for the New York Times, I had paid full fare for the cruise). About 15-20 minutes later when I returned to my cabin to pick up the remaining belongings before disembarkation, I had to step over my cabin steward who was writhing on the floor of the corridor outside the pantry, having been seriously beaten up. One of Lauro lines officers/crew had clearly taken justice into their own hands. I often wondered whether Lauro Lines ownership had some connection with organized crime, particularly many years later as I was working at V. Ships.

As I've longed expressed, and this confirms, the way forward for the cruise business is to work with the CDC rather than associate with those grandstanding politicians, compromised cruise bloggers (some whom are travel agents depending on cruise line commissions) and others with pecuniary financial interest who have blindly fought such much needed government oversight protecting public health. Cruising could restart in mid-summer in American waters, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said late Wednesday in a letter to the cruise industry that USA TODAY obtained. "We acknowledge that cruising will never be a zero-risk activity and that the goal of the CSO’s phased approach is to resume passenger operations in a way that mitigates the risk of COVID-19 transmission onboard cruise ships and across port communities," Aimee Treffiletti, head of the Maritime Unit for CDC’s COVID-19 response within its Global Mitigation Task Force for COVID-19, said in the letter. In a statement about the letter, spokesperson Caitlin Shockey gave USA TODAY a more specific timeline. Cruises could begin passenger voyages from the United States in mid-July. https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2021/04/28/cdc-cruises-could-restart-july/4883450001/?fbclid=IwAR2EL_oatqDts6oK58Kp82h5P47QNJcwrCy8L1zCwyGXubaa9zoG0boK3AU

As I've longed expressed, and this confirms, the way forward for the cruise business is to work with the CDC rather than associate with those grandstanding politicians, compromised cruise bloggers (some whom are travel agents depending on cruise line commissions) and others with pecuniary financial interest who have blindly fought such much needed government oversight protecting public health. Cruising could restart in mid-summer in American waters, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said late Wednesday in a letter to the cruise industry that USA TODAY obtained. "We acknowledge that cruising will never be a zero-risk activity and that the goal of the CSO’s phased approach is to resume passenger operations in a way that mitigates the risk of COVID-19 transmission onboard cruise ships and across port communities," Aimee Treffiletti, head of the Maritime Unit for CDC’s COVID-19 response within its Global Mitigation Task Force for COVID-19, said in the letter. In a statement about the letter, spokesperson Caitlin Shockey gave USA TODAY a more specific timeline. Cruises could begin passenger voyages from the United States in mid-July. https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2021/04/28/cdc-cruises-could-restart-july/4883450001/?fbclid=IwAR2EL_oatqDts6oK58Kp82h5P47QNJcwrCy8L1zCwyGXubaa9zoG0boK3AU

Having worked in the cruise business (Director of Marketing of Monaco based V. Ships) I am confident in its future success. I've enjoyed over 50 cruises and liner crossings, starting my love affair with the transcendent experience of being at sea, at a young age when voyaging with my parents on the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary. It is in that context that I am excited about my next cruise: Embarking in Papeete on the Windstar Star Breeze on April 7, 2022 for a transoceanic cruise disembarking in San Diego, California. As a demonstration of my trust and support, I have not just brooke with a deposit, but prepaid in full. Hopefully those reading this will consider joining me, if not on this departure, then on another Windstar cruise.

Having worked in the cruise business as Director Marketing of V. Ships I am confident in the future on cruising. In that regard, I salute the steps cruise lines are taking, working with governmental health authorities - including the CDC - to keep their crew and guests safe. I particularly commend those cruise lines, including Windstar, which are making proof of COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for both guests and onboard staff. That trust has, I'm delighted to write, has led me to be booking my next cruise and as eager to get back to cruising as the cruise lines are to start. Studying the health protocols and other steps cruise lines are implementing, I have decided the those being taken by Windstar are exceptional in fulfilling their commitment to both guests and employees so have booked the Star Breeze for its transoceanic crossing from Papeete (where Windstar has long experience) to San Diego.

ALL THE BEST WISHES..!!!!! COVID FREE!! THE BEST-THE SAFEST!! MAMFREDAS HOTEL GROUP & VILLAS !!! PANELYIA - ZAKYNTHOS !!! . 1). (PORTO PLANOS BEACH HOTEL) https://lnkd.in/eEYxjqc 2). (PLANOS BEACH HOTEL) https://lnkd.in/eHae5Vk 3). (Planos VILLA) https://lnkd.in/e6kMmJG 4). (MAISTRALI HOTEL AND APARTMENTS) https://lnkd.in/eETu5Aw 5). (GOLDEN COAST RESORT) https://lnkd.in/e-XM2pJ 6). (Golden Coast Boutique - Luxury Living) https://lnkd.in/eUbQjZK 7). (VILLA ELIANTHOS) - https://www.facebook.com/Elianthos-villa-100300115405663/?ref=page_internal

Everyone please sign and submit, the more people that sign the better the chance we have at starting cruising again. https://cruising.org/en/clia-action-center?fbclid=IwAR21vfmIRGjt9pBsTKaGUvC0Kf6kAvcPSDt7b5Y1etmLuFfJG9wu9l6NAjk

Bring back cruises. Travel with Smiley and Travel safe Travel fun Travel the world 🌍

Further undermining any remaining goodwill, the cruise business is trying to overturn the decision of Key West voters to regulate calls by the mega passenger cruise line behemoths that were destroying their quality of life.

HERE IS THE LATEST NEWS

Vitruvius Partners Group is proud to introduce our first season of the "Cruise Industry Podcast", with a line-up of industry executives and influencers to discuss the future of the cruise industry and innovate with game-changing ideas! The cruise industry has been tremendously affected by the Covid-19 pandemic; our aim with the “cruise industry podcast” is to help our industry come back stronger and better than ever, as well as create a sense of community with mariners, cruise executives and passengers alike. In this episode, Bertrand Petyt discusses with Dietmar Wertanzl, CEO of CMI Leisure, the future of the cruise industry and the appearing trends in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Follow-us on Spotify and ApplePodcast, links are below: https://podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/the-cruise-industry-trends/id1549185868?i=1000507453570&l=en https://open.spotify.com/episode/3K3YQER6jNdqS6p6Jbi3Vy?si=85viZ5rySFKNnM7zu9poow