THE RETURN OF CRUISES: Part One

When the Diamond Princess captured the attention of the world in February of 2020 with a floating epidemic of a new virus, later called COVID-19, the cruise industry almost went bankrupt. 

• 3711 on board, 712 infected and 14 deaths.  
• 19% were infected, and the mortality rate was 2%.
• The current world condition is that 7.7% have been infected, with a mortality rate of 1%.  Of course, there are so many asymptomatic cases that the 7.7% could well be as high as 15% or more.  Everyone on the Diamond Princess was tested, so the 19% infection rate was probably accurate.
• 
  Following that incident, into March of 2020, the Grand Princess and Ruby Princess also were hit with outbreaks, resulting in a total of 1564 cases and 21 deaths.  
• For a one year period from March 15, 2020 to March 15 2021 3519 passengers and crew got infected and 73 died.
• In 2020 and 2021 cruise lines lost a collective $63 billion.
• 
  Passengers and crew are still getting infected in 2022, but only a very deaths are occurring.  
• However, in March/April the Ruby Princess was again stricken with 250 cases, and the Coral Princess in July of this year had an outbreak of around 100 passengers and crew.
• I guess a good idea is not to cruise on Princess ships.

The CDC once reported these statistics for all cruise ships.  This ended in July of this year. There is a current tendency of the White House to show some optimism into the future, for fewer and fewer are dying.  Actually, the requirement for vaccinations in a way makes ships safer than on land.  This quote comes from exactly a year ago.

As I've seen first-hand on multiple cruises in the last few months, cruise ships have become like floating escape-from-the-COVID-19-pandemic zones. Thanks to what some may consider insanely strict new COVID-19-related rules (more on this below), they are places where you are likely to be surrounded almost entirely by people who are COVID-19 free.

Many cruises are now selling out, so people are returning to the seas.  The Regent Seven Seas Mariner's January 2024 132-night world cruise from $73,499 to $199,999 SOLD OUT IN THREE HOURS way back in July of 2021!!!

Many base their choice on cost, and here is one comparison, with a qualifier that these are the best for the money, incorporating factors like itinerary, health ratings and affordability.

• #1, Celebrity, which can dip below $145 for selected cruises.
• #2, Holland America, 5-days for less than $350 in the Caribbean.
• #3, Royal Caribbean, less than $200 for popular Caribbean European destinations.
• #4, Norwegian, with no dress codes.
• #5, Carnival, with some itineraries for less than $200, but need to pay a lot of extras.
• #6, Princess, and there are 14 of them.  But what about COVID?
• #7, Costa, in the Mediterranean.
• #8, MSC, less than $200 for some itineraries.

Here are the Best Luxury Cruise Lines, by U. S. News and World Report:

• #1 Viking Ocean, smallish.
• #2  Seabourn, a luxury experience with all suites and upscale dining.  Everything is covered, except for tours.  Has six ships.
• #3  Regent Seven Seas, indulgence and even free business class travel to and from your home.  Not really free, but does reduce the air fare quite a bit.  Tours are covered in the cost. Has six ships.
• #4  Azamara, smallish.
• #5  Silverseas, all suite, gourmet restaurants, etc.
• #6  Oceania, midsize, elegant decor.

There was a time when Crystal cruises were touted.  I travelled on half a dozen of them.

• Well, they went bankrupt this year.
• However, Royal Caribbean will acquire the Crystal Endeavor and add it to their Silversea Cruises, renaming it the Silver Endeavour.

• 
  A&K Travel Group bought the Serenity and Symphony, will refurbish them and resume service in 2023.  The company was once Abercrombie & Kent, and was acquired by the Heritage group, which built Silversea Cruises in 1994, of which Royal Caribbean has a 66% share.

Our current state of mind is that, in the short time we have to travel (I'm getting old), might as well go for some luxury.  So Part Two of this series will describe a 21-day Regent Seven Seas Explorer trip from Dubai to Singapore in November, and a 53-day  Seabourn Odyssey journey from Sydney to Honolulu beginning in March of next year.  We welcome you to join us.

How to rescue two elephants.

Hurricane Fiona overwhelmed Puerto Rico as a Category 1, is now over the Dominican Republic as a Category 2, and will strengthen into a Category 3, but thankfully after moving north.  The predicted track will avoid the U.S.

Once Super Typhoon Nanmadol made landfall over Kagoshima Prefecture, and is moving through Kyushu with a lot of rain.  There had been three deaths.  Could have been a lot worse.

-