The cruise industry had to stop for more than a year when the pandemic started. But as vaccines become available, cruise operators get to recover slowly. For Royal Caribbean, it achieved a major milestone by the end of August. 34 of the 61 Royal Caribbean cruise ships are now back in service. That’s around 56% of the company’s fleet.
By September, three more additional ships are set to return including the Oasis of the Seas. On September 5, the Oasis of the Seas will be the first ship to operate in the New York region. It is going to offer weeklong cruises to the Bahamas and Bayonne.
Optimistic Despite Delta Variant Concerns
Early this month, Royal Caribbean reported a disappointing second quarter as COVID cases affected the demand for short-term bookings. On the bright side, the bookings grew by 50% from the first quarter. Its CEO Chairman Richard Fain even said that “The return of cruising has been faster than anyone expected”. He added that “we remain optimistic in our mounting trajectory going forward”.
Royal Caribbean predicts that 65% of its fleet will be returning by the end of the quarter. And by the end of the year, Royal Caribbean plans to bring 80% of Royal Caribbean cruise ships back in service.
Added Safety Protocols
One of the biggest challenges that cruise operators have to face today is how to mitigate risks for passengers and their crew members. Beginning August, Royal Caribbean passengers 12 years old and up will need to get vaccinated. This includes passengers that are coming from Florida. This updated policy will run from September 3 to November 1, 2021.
The Bahamas now requires vaccination for cruise passengers. Since it’s a frequent stop for Royal Caribbean, the cruise operator will now require proof of inoculation even for those trips from Florida.
Florida has an its anti-vaccine passport law that stops businesses from asking customers and employees for proof of vaccination. Royal Caribbean announced that “Travelers unable to show proof of vaccination will be unable to sail”.
