On July 9, the Serenade of the Seas became the first large cruise ship to sail in Alaska after more than a year. Alaska Travel Industry Association President and CEO Sarah Leonard calls it “a happy day for Alaska’s tourism industry and communities that rely on tourism in Alaska”. She added that despite the short cruise season, it “means the difference between reopening or closing for good for small, locally owned businesses”.
Serenade of the Seas Back by July 19
In 2019, there were 52,000 Alaskans who depended on the tourism industry according to Alaska Travel Industry Association. According to the group, 1 in 10 jobs was from the state’s tourism industry. And also, the travel industry contributed $4.5 billion to the state’s economy.
In 2019, Rain Coast Data came up with the “Southeast by the Numbers 2019”. Based on the study, Alaska expected 1.44 million visitors in 2020 if not for the pandemic. Unfortunately, the US Centers for Disease Control had to take action when the pandemic broke out. As a result, the cruise industry stopped for more than a year.
The Serenade of the Seas did its simulated voyage to meet the requirement of the CDC. It is scheduled to sail its first voyage by July 19. It is going to be a seven-night trip from Seattle going to Sitka, Icy Strait Point, Dawes Glacier, Juneau, and Ketchikan.
For large cruise ships to operate, there are things that they need to meet. One, they can carry out a simulated voyage where COVID19 protocols are tested. Next, to skip the simulated voyage, they will have to ensure that 95% of both passengers and crew members are fully vaccinated.
78 Sailings with Reduced Capacity
Despite complications in the cruise industry, Alaska is expecting nine large cruise ships with 78 sailings. However, each trip will have reduced capacity.
Among cruise lines expected this summer include Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, and Carnival Cruise Line. Plus, there are the small cruise ship companies.
