The UK boss of Silversea Cruises has blasted some national media coverage of the cruise sector in recent weeks as “appalling, objectionable, not fair and unreasonable”.
Speaking on a Travel Weekly Webcast, the line’s UK & EMEA managing director Peter Shanks said: “A lot of cruise journalists write about our industry in an informed way. But it’s understandable that when things get into the news headlights, it’s a different set of journalists who haven’t been aware of the developments we have made over the last five to 10 years or of the protocols we have put in place.
“It’s been very interesting to see some of their articles, where some of the wording has been appalling – to be frank, objectionable, not fair and unreasonable.”
Shanks added: “It’s up to us to overcome that. It’s been interesting to see comments from our regular customers who have jumped to the cruise industry’s defence because they know how cruise works.
“You’ve always got those out-there journalists, driven by the newshound element of these publications, but it’s our task to calmly educate them about everything we have put in place, and that’s what we will do.”
Princess Cruises UK & Europe vice-president Tony Roberts said: “It’s unfortunate that cruise seems to have been singled out in the travel industry [for particularly negative press]. It’s seen as really being at the heart of this. Some of that is because of the high-profile incidents that have happened and it’s been front page news.
“Unfortunately, we are now seeing some of the media turning to more speculative pieces. That’s a reflection of the fact that guests for the large part are now safely home and the cruise lines are turning their attention to how we adapt and evolve to get ready to welcome people again.”
He added: “What we need to do as the cruise industry is educate consumers – and agents will help us with this – on all of the things that we are doing.
“We also need to stress the reality of this, which is that this is a global virus that has affected pretty much every country in the world. It is not something that’s single to cruise, or something that the cruise industry has created or shared around the world. We have unfortunately become the victim of a global pandemic.”
Shanks added: “To suggest that there won’t be anyone cruising again is far from the truth. We know that this incredible industry will be thriving again, alongside airlines, hotels and other parts of the travel industry.”