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The future of the cruise industry remains unclear, as the coronavirus pandemic has forced ships to cancel their voyages, but the CEO of Carnival Corporation said this week that he expects smooth sailing ahead.
CEO Arnold Donald told travel industry workers during a webinar that he expects Carnival-owned brands to have their ships back in service by the end of the year, Travel Pulse reported.
“I think certainly by the end of this year, most, if not all, of our fleet, I am optimistic, will be in action,” said Donald during the event, according to the report. “I think there is a very high probability that they will all be back at the beginning of next year if things continue to progress as they are.”
| Ticker | Safety | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCL | CARNIVAL CORP. | 24.59 | +1.70 | + 7.43% |
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Donald pointed to the increasing availability of tests, vaccines and COVID-19 treatments for his optimistic outlook.
“The combination of all this bodes well and puts us in a good position,” he said. “You see the light here. The conversation is changing. Knowledge about COVID has changed. The ability to manage COVID has changed. All of these things went in a positive direction.
Two Carnival-owned brands – German AIDA and Italian Costa – have already announced plans to start crossing again next month with additional health and safety protocols in place.
Costa Cruises plans to resume operations on its flagship, Costa Smeralda, in March. (AP Photo / Andrew Medichini)
CARNIVAL CANCELING MORE CRUISES AS CORONAVIRUS SPIKE NUMBERS
In the United States, cruise companies, including Carnival brands like Carnival, Princess and Holland America, have been working to meet the requirements of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to transport passengers again. Donald said the company is working with the agency and other health experts to ensure that it can operate safely, and pointed to the success of these European cruises as evidence that this can be done, according to the report.
“I think the determinant of the future of travel, including cruises, will be when society feels that the risks associated with COVID-19 are low enough to be comfortable with social gatherings,” he said, for Travel Pulse.
Carnival brands like Carnival, Princess and Holland America have been working to meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requirements to transport passengers again. (Princess Cruises)
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When more cruise lines return to normal operations, it will be a “gradual introduction of ships on the ladder,” Donald said, according to the report. Ships will not be sailing at full capacity to start, and not all destinations will be ready for ships full of visitors.
“It won’t be a light switch,” he said.