Cruise ships add space

There is likely to be a rush of offerings from the cruise companies now sailing British ports/waters with the Government likely to allow either 1,000 passengers or 50% capacity from 19 July. 

Cruise companies have in the past all attracted overseas clients. With Fred Olsen and Saga the numbers have been small, perhaps less than 10%, but P&O and Cunard in particular have always drawn overseas passengers, sister company Princess also. Celebrity has over the years relied on Americans to make up the numbers for the ex-UK programme.  Viking, whilst always popular with higher income British holidaymakers, has relied on overseas clientele to fill the ships.  All lines have now found themselves relying virtually 100% on UK business.

The limited numbers have worked well enabling operators to gradually tune in and prepare ships that have been idle for 15 months.  Foreign-based public contact staff will have language problems after a period at home with English not their mother tongue. However with the ships only half full, but over staffed in most cases, getting up to speed should not be too difficult.

Cruise companies have been even harder hit than airlines, with virtually no income, deposits to return and the complexity of mainly overseas based crews.  Typically Fred Olsen has had to carry out major work on two ships purchased early into the  pandemic needing a total overhaul and no end date to get back into service.  This balanced against minimal cash flow.  Virgin Cruises had similar problems taking a passenger-less Scarlett Lady back to Italy from Miami and repositioning to Portsmouth.  

https://cruising.org/en-gb

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