Yesterday, the leaders of the Big Four – Arnold Donald (Carnival), Richard Fine (RCI), Frank Del Rio (NCL), Pierfrancesco Vago (MSC) – gave a keynote address “The State of the Global Cruise Industry”
We have collected the most interesting of their speeches and news from the conference. Follow the links for more detailed texts.
Coronavirus tests upon boarding (guests and crew) will become MANDATORY for all members of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). And these are all cruise companies of any significance.
What’s more, according to Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Cruises, the key solution to reviving the cruise industry will be testing, not a vaccine.
Frank Del Rio gen. dir. NCL explained why they have cancelled cruises through the end of November, even though the CDC ban is currently only until the end of October. After a six-month layover, a MINIMUM of 60 days are needed to prepare any cruise ship.
Therefore, even if the CDC ban is not extended, they will not be able to return to work before the end of November. Apparently the cancellations of RCI are related to this. However, all representatives of the Big Four are optimistic about returning to work as early as 2020.
“We are at a critical juncture,” says Fine, chairman of Royal Caribbean Group. “We’ve learned a lot, we’ve come a long way in six months. The timing seems right. All forces unite now.”
