Tag: cruises

CRUISE SHIP

Passengers can sail for free on ‘mock cruises’

5 months ago
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Passengers can bag a free cruise if they volunteer for new trial sailings.

It’s part of a new set of rules introduced by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which stipulates that cruise lines must demonstrate their Covid protocols are up to scratch by operating trial sailings.

The CDC, which previously banned all cruises in response to the pandemic, advised companies to have “volunteers play the role of passengers to test cruise ship operators’ ability to mitigate Covid-19 risk”.

The idea is part of the CDC’s “framework of actionable items for the cruise line industry to follow” to enable cruising to restart safely.

Royal Caribbean has confirmed it plans to operate its own “mock” cruises with volunteers.

“We are going to be doing a series of sailings using our employees and other volunteers to test out the protocols and make modifications,” Vicki Freed, Royal Caribbean’s

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CRUISE SHIP

Norwegian Cruise Line reports $677 million 3Q loss as cruises remain canceled

5 months ago
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Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings — the third largest cruise company in the world — reported a loss of $677.4 million, or $2.50 per share, during the third quarter of 2020.



a large ship in a body of water: A view of the Norwegian Encore cruise ship during its inaugural sailing from PortMiami, which took place from Nov. 21-24, 2019.

© Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel/TNS
A view of the Norwegian Encore cruise ship during its inaugural sailing from PortMiami, which took place from Nov. 21-24, 2019.

Cruises on the company’s three brands — Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas — remain canceled in the U.S., the company’s most lucrative market, until at least Jan. 1. Until then, the company expects to have a monthly cash burn rate of $175 million, according to a company financial update Tuesday.

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The company said bookings for the first half of 2021 are “below historical ranges,” but bookings for the second half of 2021 are “in line with historical ranges.”

The industry canceled cruises in mid-March amid COVID-19 outbreaks on several

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CRUISE SHIP

Royal Caribbean is offering free cruises during COVID pandemic

5 months ago
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Wanted: human guinea pigs on the high seas.

Cruise giant Royal Caribbean is looking for intrepid volunteers with the guts to climb aboard a cruise ship during the COVID-19 pandemic in exchange for a free ride.

Cruise junkies are being asked to mimic being a passenger on a cruise — by being an actual passenger on a cruise — to help the ships test new coronavirus protocols.

“While we are eager to welcome our guests back on board, we have a lot to do between now and then, and we’re committed to taking the time to do things right,” the cruise line spokesman told T+L. “This includes training our crew in new health and safety protocols and conducting a number of trial sailings to stress-test those protocols in real-world conditions.”

It’s part of a new CDC ruling that lifted the health organization’s “no sail order” as of Nov. 1 and

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