The cruise sector will bring messages about health and safety on board its ships to the fore as it emerges from the COVID-19 crisis.
Jo Rzymowska, EMEA managing director of celebrity Cruises, told a Covid-19 Travel Weekly Webcast that the pandemic was the equivalent of cruising’s 9/11.
She said while security protocols for aviation like limiting liquids and taking shoes off to be scanned were frustrating they were also reassuring and people were pleased to see them in place.
The four UK-focused brands in the Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines (RCCL) family – Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Azamara and Silversea Cruises – will work together to go “above and beyond” any health regulations, Rzymowska said.
“We never really spoke massively about our health and safety protocols before because we focused more on the joys of the emotional connections of destination and what happens on board.
“But that now will be massively heightened within the industry from Clia [Cruise Lines International Association] and from us as a corporation.”
Rzymowska said the cruise sector is working closely with the Centre of Disease Control and other bodies around the globe to agree new protocols and is “within weeks” of announcing plans.
Celebrity has continued to keep up engagement with consumers throughout the crisis, said Rzymowska, with brand president and chief executive Lisa Lutoff-Perlo writing regularly to loyal guests.
“They want to engage with us,” she said. “We still have crew on board the ship so we’re actually doing engagement from the ships.”
RCCL brands are also keeping up trade engagement, which Rzymowska said was the most important part of its strategy.
Last week it launched RCL Cares in the UK, a dedicated website for agents to access information and keep up to date on all four brands.
As well as setting out the operator’s Cruise With Confidence flexible booking offer to customers, the dedicated website links to government information, has a live chat functionality and news on latest on plans to resume sailings.
