Published 28 April, 2021
Basseterre
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
Article by
Marlon Madden
The region’s number one ranked cruise line Wednesday reported there’s tremendous optimism of a strong return to the cruise industry by 2022, based primarily on current bookings and the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine globally.
In fact, President and Chief Executive Officer of Royal Caribbean International Michael Bayley said he would not be surprised if next year goes down in history as “one of the biggest for travel”.
“We are very encouraged with what we see with the vaccines,” said Bayley, who pointed out that in the past few months Royal Caribbean has been getting “incredibly positive” feedback from customers on their plans for cruising.
“People do believe that the worse is behind us. People do believe this is coming to an end. People do believe that they are very excited to travel in the future. There is a lot of positive data that we are gathering from consumers that you can pretty much link to the pandemic that is coming down, especially in the US,” he said.
“We see that in our bookings, and when we look into 2022 we see a lot of enthusiasm particular for the Caribbean. We are very encouraged by this optimism. A survey telling you people are optimistic is great but bookings from people tell you it is really very real,” he added.
Royal Caribbean cruises are scheduled to resume sailing in the Caribbean again by mid-July this year.
Bayley said over the past few weeks Royal Caribbean has been in “regular” and “constructive” conversations with the Centres for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC), and he was encouraged by those discussions.
He shared the update in a one-on-one discussion on COVID-19 Lessons with Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Communications Specialist Johnson Johnrose on Wednesday during one of the organization’s online sessions.
When the pandemic started in March last year, the cruise industry came to an immediate halt as COVID-19 cases started to rise globally and new measures were being employed by countries to slow or stop the spread.
The Florida-based Royal Caribbean International, which had over 60,000 crew members from over 100 countries on its cruise ships around the world at the time, was not spared the impact of the pandemic and closures of countries.
Royal Caribbean reported back in February that it incurred net loss of US$5.8 billion in 2020.
Bayley, who opted not to speak on the financial hit to the company, said the experience taught the Royal Caribbean International family how to be more flexible and adaptive.
“We have learned how to be quick on our feet, and I think we have learned to understand that it is great to have a plan but the probability of the plan being executed the way you think it is going to be is pretty low and you have to be adaptable,” he said.
The cruise industry expert said in addition to bookings, other factors fueling his optimism at this point was a pent up demand for travel, an increase in savings and a decline in credit card debt among Americans.
“I know that I haven’t had a vacation for a year and a half and I have been pretty much working from my home as so many people have, and I think we are all ready for a vacation. And I am pretty convinced that 2022 could be one of the biggest travel years in our history – not just for cruise . . . we are optimistic about 2022,” he said.
Bayley opted not to say exactly what the numbers were for bookings.
He gave the assurance that Royal Caribbean International would be adhering to strict protocols for both crew members and guests, guided by the CDC and health experts in each destination.
Bayley said he anticipated that it will take some months for the cruise industry and other related activities to gather momentum, but insisted “we are going to get there”.
“We need to get there coordinating, communicating and collaborating,” he said.
“I think we are going to go through a period where as we are exiting the pandemic there will be heightened protocols, testing requirements, mask requirements and vaccine requirements – there will be things that will occur because of the pandemic – and I think we all now understand that.
“But I think it will come to an end. So post-pandemic for me means one where we are finished with it all, hopefully. And I think when we are finished with it all it is going to go to a ‘new normal’,” he explained.
