| ACA update 14 Apr 21: What’s next?

WITH Jill Abel, CEO, Australian Cruise Association: The opening of the trans-Tasman corridor is now in sight and while cruise is not included, we are nonetheless delighted to welcome this first international bubble, and agree with New Zealand’s PM Jacinda Ardern’s comment that “this will start a new chapter in COVID response and recovery.”
Further afield, the media is full
of headlines around itinerary
launches in the Mediterranean,
the Caribbean, Alaska, the
Galapagos and the British Isles
by many of the major lines.
It is hard not to feel optimistic
when we hear news from the
Chairman & Chief Executive
Officer of Royal Caribbean,
Richard Fain, that the Group’s
experience in markets where
cruising has re-started is
“overwhelmingly positive”.
He cites the numbers that of
100,000 guests to cruise on 150
voyages, only 10 positive COVID
cases have been recorded and all
of them were contained with no
outbreaks or disruptions to other
passengers or communities.
While our vaccination program
has unfortunately taken a step
backwards in Australia, we
must remain focused on the
safe return of cruising, first with
domestic itineraries as we are
starting to see now and then
looking further afield to when we
can travel offshore.
This will help our industry get
back on its feet and support the
many related industries that rely
on cruise.