Viewpoint: Bruises for Alaska cruises

The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of FreightWaves or its affiliates.  

The old joke in transportation is that passengers are freight that complain. The same applies to passengers on cruise ships. Of course, if there are no cruises, there are no passengers to complain. Alaska’s cruise season this year is effectively canceled due to the unintended consequences of COVID-19 regulations. Technically, like in 2020, cruises will remain an...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/viewpoint:-bruises-for-alaska-cruises

Alaska cruise passenger tests negative for Covid-19

The key to cruising in the age of Covid-19 is rapid testing until there’s a vaccine in the view of an operator who tried to start regular sailing again.

If quick Covid-19 test results had been available, UnCruise Adventures could have completed its first Alaska trip in early August instead of cutting it short and cancelling 10 weeks of cruises in the state and the Pacific Northwest, owner and CEO Capt. Dan Blanchard said Thursday. They’re still hoping to start cruising in Hawaii sometime this...

https://www.workboat.com/news/passenger-vessels/alaska-cruise-passenger-tests-negative-for-covid-19/

Seattle operator cancels Alaska cruises after Covid-19 positive test

UnCruise Adventures‘ first Alaska sailing has ended early because a passenger tested positive for Covid-19.

The Wilderness Adventurer, which departed Saturday, was due back in Juneau yesterday (Aug. 5), and all passengers were to be quarantined at a local hotel paid for by the company. The crew will quarantine on the vessel in port.

The Seattle-based overnight operator — expected to be the only one cruising in Alaska this season — has canceled the four remaining week-long Glacier Bay cruises. The...

https://www.workboat.com/news/passenger-vessels/operator-cancels-alaska-cruises-after-covid-19-positive-test/

UnCruise Adventures to start Alaska cruises

Small boat overnight operator UnCruise Adventures expects to start sailing Saturday in Alaska, a state that before the coronavirus pandemic was one of the hottest cruise destinations.

Occupancy on the 60-passenger, 156’x38’x6’ Wilderness Adventurer will be capped at 66% for the seven-night cruise. “Our crew is in Juneau preparing the boat, and we continue to work in lockstep with the state of Alaska and other health officials on health and safety for our guests and crew,” said spokesman Liz...

https://www.workboat.com/news/passenger-vessels/uncruise-adventures-to-start-alaska-cruises/

WorkBoat webinar: Tough sledding ahead for passenger vessel operators

The last few months have been tough for passenger vessel operators shut down by the coronavirus pandemic. The months ahead could be even tougher as they tackle reopening under new rules that challenge their creativity and viability.

They must reduce capacity, meet social distancing mandates, protect passengers and crew and rev up sanitation procedures while meeting operating costs this year, next year and beyond.

These were just a few of the items discussed by passenger vessel operators during...

https://www.workboat.com/news/passenger-vessels/workboat-webinar-tough-sledding-ahead-for-passenger-vessel-operators/

U.S. overnight small boat operators push Congress for help

2015 June CruiseControl UnCruise Peter-West-Carey

Seattle-based UnCruise Adventures has stepped up discussions with Congress on behalf of the U.S. Overnight Passenger Small-Boat Operators Coalition. The coalition serves as a united voice to increase the visibility of domestic small boat operators, spotlight the industry’s differences, and address the outmoded definition of cruise lines.

The coalition was launched in March after UnCruise Adventures CEO Dan Blanchard recognized the need to bring the industry together to create a new definition...

https://www.workboat.com/news/passenger-vessels/us-overnight-small-passenger-vessels-push-congress/

Passenger vessels may take $3 billion coronavirus-related hit

The economic damage for the U.S. passenger vessel industry from coronavirus will be between $2 billion and $3 billion, Passenger Vessel Association (PVA) preliminary estimates show.

PVA, which has asked that the industry be included in the Trump administration’s relief plans, represents 350 passenger vessel operators with about 1,600 vessels who employ thousands of U.S. citizens. The passenger vessel industry face months of little or no revenue.

The trade association, which is still tallying...

https://www.workboat.com/news/passenger-vessels/passenger-vessels-may-take-3-billion-coronavirus-related-hit/

River cruise operators have implemented coronavirus prevention measures

U.S.-flag cruise lines are beefing up screenings, adjusting cancellation policies and emphasizing the small size of their ships and close-to-land itineraries in the face of widespread publicity about coronavirus outbreaks on mass market, foreign-flag lines.

The existing challenges were compounded late Sunday by a State Department advisory that travelers with underlying health conditions should avoid cruising, since the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) “notes increased risk of infection of...

https://www.workboat.com/news/passenger-vessels/river-cruises-have-implemented-coronavirus-prevention-measures/

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