Posted on 02/19/2021 7:41:47 AM PST by Capt. Tom
Luxury line Crystal Cruises has become the first in its segment to announce that future guests will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at least two weeks prior to their cruise.
The news comes after three other cruise brands announced a mandatory vaccination requirement in recent weeks: UK-based Saga Cruises, which caters to the senior market; and U.S.-based sister brands American Queen Steamboat Company and Victory Cruise Lines.
“We know that peace of mind is the greatest luxury; and the vaccine requirement is simply the best way to ensure the safest possible Crystal experience for all onboard,” Jack Anderson, Crystal’s interim CEO, said in a statement.
The vaccine requirement is part of a series of ‘Crystal Clean+ 4.0’ protocols, which include a negative COVID test for both guests and crew prior to embarkation, temperature checks at the terminal prior to boarding, reduced ship capacity, mask and social distancing guidelines, and enhanced cleaning and disinfection measures.
The upscale cruise company has expanded quickly in the past few years, adding river ships, yachts, and expedition vessels to its ocean fleet, which consists of the 980-passenger Crystal Serenity and the 848-passenger Crystal Symphony.
Crystal says the current pause in cruise operations will give most travelers time to get fully vaccinated before sailing. Currently, Crystal’s river fleet is docked through May, while its ocean ships are not scheduled to sail before June. The 62-passenger Crystal Esprit luxury yacht and the newbuild, 200-passenger expedition ship Crystal Endeavor, won’t be carrying passengers until at least August.
Will The Mass-Market Lines Follow Suit? As more time passes and the U.S.-based cruise industry continues to await direction from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on restart requirements, the likelihood increases of a vaccination requirement for both crew and passengers.
Weeks ago, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings CEO Frank del Rio announced that all crew would require vaccinations, and that the line was exploring the legality of such a requirement for passengers. Last week, Royal Caribbean Group said it would require all crew to be vaccinated, while Carnival Corporation CEO Arnold Donald said in recent days that the company is still examining the issue.
Royal Caribbean CEO: “We Can’t Wait To Satisfy Pent-Up Demand”
The question of whether other large-ship cruise lines will require passengers to be vaccinated for COVID-19 is growing in volume, but prominent cruise financial analyst Patrick Scholes is of the opinion that upscale and luxury cruise lines are more likely than their mass-market counterparts to impose such a requirement.
A ‘Vaccination Passport’ May Be The Price Of Entry A report by Scholes for Trust Securities was based on discussions with executives of travel agencies who book the majority of cruises on behalf of their clients.
“The deciding factor for the companies may be if a cruise brand will gain more customers by requiring a vaccine than they will lose by not requiring it. In that case, it becomes a marketing issue,” Scholes wrote.
The discussion comes in the context of a broader travel question as the global tourism industry seeks to get back in action after a devastating 2020. Many observers believe airlines and destinations may choose to require proof of vaccination as the price of entry — a concept being touted as a “vaccination passport.”
While that could reduce the audience of potential cruisers — vaccine hesitancy is a significant factor in North America — research suggests that many cruise lovers will be more comfortable cruising in an atmosphere where their fellow passengers — and crew members — have been fully vaccinated.
A quote from the article-“The deciding factor for the companies may be if a cruise brand will gain more customers by requiring a vaccine than they will lose by not requiring it. In that case, it becomes a marketing issue,” Scholes wrote."
Tom here- The big 3 cruise lines CARNIVAL-ROYAL -NORWEGIAN, have to be careful that our CDC doesn't spring this passenger vaccination requirement on them as another delay tactic, when the ships are ready to cruise from this country, -Tom
I’ ve never been on a cruise, and now I never will.
My body, my business. Or whatever lib chicks babble.
Do what if you aren’t able to get a vaccine? Do they refund your $$? They should.
U vil take ze vaccine.
Or, u vil be shot.
What if you’ve already had Covid?
My goodness. I don’t blame them. They JUST want to be able to be back in business. They are not making a political comment, they just want to start cruising. I suspect whomever does this will be the first to start back up. I don’t blame any business for doing what they think is the right thing to feed their families. We don’t have to be so mean to them. FREEDOM OF CHOICE. They choose and then the customer chooses. I have never not gone into a store because they required a mask. Just like they require shoes and shirts.
Agreed. We were considering Viking Cruises a year ago but not any more. Plus, no air travel. We’ll drive the US and see red places like FL, ND, ID, MT, TX, OK.
I’ve been to almost every state barring HI and Alaska. Mostly on business though. Now it will be to see our history before it’s wiped out.
It only makes sense from a business perspective.
Tom, we are looking at a Carnival Liberty ship cruise in August. What are the chances it will sail? Both me and wife have received the vaccines and have papers to prove it.
Maybe that will actually GET me a vaccination?
It took 4 tries on the Dallas County vaccination web site to even get an acknowledgement. I am sure I will be dead from natural causes before I actually *get* the shot.
And both my wife and me are supposed high priority: older with some health issues (although the issues are controlled).
Slow death is a horrible thing to watch.
Absolutely, people need to start their own Cruise ship business. Just ask the FANGS, that is what they are telling us.
This is as good a place as any to mention this:
Excess Deaths have been the gold standard of measuring what is happening with the elderly during the pandemic. Covid deaths have some agenda in them, and changing criteria for declaring what is Covid and what is not Covid in a death.
Excess Deaths are deaths of all causes. Pretty clean number.
Death count is in decline. There is going to be celebration over this, maybe pointing at vaccine, maybe pointing at isolation measures, whatever.
But.
The reality is pre Covid, deaths were far higher for elderly in winter months than the rest of the year. The average pre Covid death curve of those previous years is in steep decline, for this time of year. The death count this year is declining right now, but the slope of decline does not look steeper than the multi year average.
There is no indication the virus is fading. The present decline is normal per previous years. So don’t think return to cruising is soon to happen
I believe either choice, vaccine, or no vaccine, will hurt the Cruise Lines.
The delays in cruising have gone on for too long.-Tom
Considering the drones that go on cruises, they’ll comply.
Wearing Masks will kill cruising also.
To me the writing is on the wall. The vaccine is going to be a requirement to get on board. If that allows an otherwise normal experience so be it.
Cruises aren’t coming back this year. Next year isn’t looking good either.
What about the “vaccine” against the variant or mutant strains? False positive CoVid tests?
They won’t be able to isolate cruisers from locals in port.
I think cruising is basically done. Those that want to travel will have their own itinerary as long as that’s still possible.
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