(CNN) – Given all the problems the cruise industry faced in 2020, the announcement by one operator sounds like all passengers should be fully vaccinated for Covid-19 before boarding.
But when Saga Cruises became the first to introduce the requirement this week, not everyone agreed – the British operator was overwhelmed with so many answers, good and bad, that he temporarily made his Twitter account private while dealing with it.
Nevertheless, the move by Saga is eagerly watched by many people in the cruise industry who are interested in seeing if an arrangement against vaccines will help start the journey, or be as divisive as other attempts to process Covid.
Saga, which mostly caters to British people over the age of 50, told CNN Travel that the rule was only inoculated for passengers by the results of a recent customer survey, which suggested that 95% of regular Saga customers do so. would support a policy change. .
Chris Simmonds, CEO of Saga Holidays, said in a statement that the decision was made in part because ‘many of our customers [are] among the first groups of people to be offered the vaccine. ‘
“In view of this and talking to our customers, we want to ensure that we provide the safest possible experience while having our holiday together,” Simmonds said.
Saga not only offers cruises, but also organizes all-inclusive tours and vacations. Travelers should also be vaccinated before embarking on this holiday.
Before boarding a Saga ship, passengers must have had both Covid-19 jabs at least 14 days before departure.
At the moment, Saga’s operations have been suspended, but the company intends to resume operations in May 2021. If the British vaccination of vaccines had gone according to plan, a significant number of Britons older than 50 should have been vaccinated against coronavirus.
According to Saga, crew, who are largely younger, do not need to be vaccinated before working on board, stating that other protocols will be available to protect staff until they can get vaccinated.
The announcement raises the question of whether compulsory Covid vaccinations before boarding can become the norm for cruise passengers and / or staff.
“Multilayer Approach”
Cruise Line International Association (CLIA), a global organization representing 95% of the world’s cruise fleet, said ‘a’ multi-layer approach ‘to safety on board’ is the right way to reduce risk. ‘
Bari Golin-Blaugrund, a spokesperson for CLIA, said measures implemented by cruise lines are constantly being evaluated and will evolve “as the pandemic and circumstances change over time.”
Golin-Blaugrund declined to comment on whether CLIA would apply a passenger-only rule to its member companies.
“We share in the excitement surrounding the development of a Covid-19 vaccine and are optimistic that it will help facilitate the global recovery from the pandemic,” she told CNN Travel.
“At the same time, we understand that the introduction of the vaccine will take some time.”
Saga confirmed to CNN Travel that it will continue to implement other safety measures on board its voyages, including reduced capacity, Covid-19 test before departure, social distance, increased airflow in the cabin and the improvement of medical facilities on board.
British traveler Sara Roberts, 59, who was a passenger aboard the Coral Princess virus in the spring of 2020, told CNN Travel she thinks a widespread return to the voyage will only happen if and when passengers trust that Covid is safe.
“Vaccination is a great way to be forward, provided it is proven that the vaccine works,” Roberts said. He expressed concern about the current waiting times in the UK between the administration of the first dose and the second dose.
Following her experience last year, Roberts is also generally persistently concerned about cruise travel.
“We’ve been sailing with the majority of cruise lines for the past fifteen years, and it’s always been my favorite vacation,” she said.
“But our experience aboard the Coral Princess has made me realize that you are not in control of your own destination during a voyage, so I will not consider embarking on another one in the foreseeable future until Covid retires. is not a risk. “
Global cross-line perspective
Out of action, Carnival cruise ships arrived in Miami, Florida in December 2020.
DANIEL SLIM / AFP via Getty Images
For crossroads serving passengers from around the world and of all ages, it can be difficult to put in place a policy that is vaccinated only for passengers.
There is also a possibility that port cities will only allow travelers to get cruise ships on board if they have proof that they are being vaccinated, which will take the decision out of the hands of the cruise lines.
Asked if Royal Caribbean, which owns Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises owns the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, would adopt a passenger-only policy, CNN Travel spokesman Jonathon Fishman said the company was still working on to finalize the details for us. return to service. “
“Once we have more information about our requirements, we will let our guests know,” he added.
The journey of MSC was interrupted during the festive season due to the new Italian exclusion, but the MSC Grandiosa will start the Italian journeys again this weekend.
Fred Olsen, who is based in the UK, said he has no news yet to share on this front.
Roger Frizzell, who represents Carnival Corporation – the cruise giant that owns Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Princess Cruises, Cunard, Holland America and P&O Cruises – also said no definite decisions had been made.
“The new vaccines are a major breakthrough for people around the world, including the travel, hospitality and shipping industry,” Frizzell said.
“We are reviewing the different vaccines, but at this stage we have not yet made any decisions on the next steps.”
Meanwhile, Norwegian Cruise Line said that “all vaccination options” for guests and crew were being investigated, but that the safety of staff would be at the forefront.
“It is our intention that all crew members should be vaccinated before boarding to begin their duties, subject to the availability of the vaccine,” a Norwegian spokesman said.
Crew perspective
Crew members aboard the MSC Grandiosa in August 2020.
MIGUEL MEDINA / AFP via Getty Images
Conny Seidler, who worked as a dancer aboard the Costa Deliziosa during the first half of 2020, said she had long expected the vaccination of Covid before crewing would be mandatory.
“You need certain vaccines anyway to be able to work on a cruise,” Seidler points out, citing the yellow fever bump and tuberculosis as examples.
“From the point of view of sailing, it is obviously safer and lower risk if all the crew are vaccinated.”
Seidler, who hails from Austria, acknowledges that such a regulation could deter some people, but she thinks most crew members would welcome this rule.
Many crew members are currently out of work and having a difficult time on Covid vessels after the pandemic.
“I honestly don’t think there are going to be many crew members against the vaccine,” Seidler said. “I can imagine most of the crew will be like, ‘As long as I can work, I’m happy to do this.’
As for the passengers, Seidler suggests that some may not be willing to travel unless they know everyone on board has been vaccinated.
But Seilder thinks most major cruise lines will be reluctant to introduce a rule that has only been vaccinated for passengers, because the global vaccination of vaccine will not be fast enough, and it could deter certain guests.
Yet Seidler considers the more people vaccinated on board, the safer the environment will be, and the more likely it is to sail again.