River cruises have seen a surge in interest For the past couple of yearsbut looks like the counterpart of ocean cruising thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic? May be.
Michelle Fee, CEO of Cruise Planners travel agency, told USA TODAY that her company has seen “incredible demand” for river cruises at home and abroad.
“River cruise purchases have nearly doubled since the same time last year, accounting for 21% of all cruise planner departures for 2022,” Fee said, warning that it is difficult to compare bookings between 2020 and 2021 – large cruise lines are has not sailed in US waters since last March
Small river cruise ships are exempt from the U.S. Centers for Disease Controls due to their limited capacity “Framework for Conditional Sailing” This applies to vessels of 250 or more people that have been unable to resume sailing in US waters.
According to Cruise criticRiver cruise ships carry an average of 106 to 150 passengers.
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Andy Harmer of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) industry group told the US TODAY that it may be “too early to say” whether COVID-19 has drawn more travelers to explore the idea of river cruising. Harmer is senior vice president of membership and also leads the river cruise partner program at CLIA.
River cruises have grown in popularity since the pandemic began, and the current surge in interest could be a continuation of what has already been happening.
But Harmer said he thinks “surely the river cruise companies realize that there will be some people who want to be on a ship that is smaller, for example, or that is right in the heart of the city.”
Harmer also believes that new interest in river cruises is coming from travelers who typically take other forms of vacation like bus tours.
Why could a river cruise be more attractive during a pandemic?
River cruises are inherently a different experience than sea cruises – ships are smaller, work closer to land, and are tailored for a more private experience.
Rudi Schreiner, president and co-founder of AmaWaterways, a river cruise company that operates in Egypt, southern Africa, Southeast Asia and Europe, said the industry has proven that river cruises can be done safely. AmaWaterways carried more than 1,500 passengers on cruises in the summer – including a four-month cruise – without a single COVID-19 case on board, Schreiner said.
When AmaWaterways resumed operations during the pandemic, cruises had a maximum of 100 passengers. During the crossings, each passenger was required to fill out a health questionnaire before boarding, and passengers and crew were subjected to daily temperature checks. Baggage was disinfected before being taken to the state rooms, and crew members were required to wear face covers at all times. Passengers also had to wear masks while moving around the ship.
On small-group excursions, the cruise line used personal, portable Quietvox commentary systems so guests could hear their guides as they socially distanced themselves on outdoor hiking and biking tours.
On average, AmaWaterways ships can accommodate around 150 guests and have “spacious sundecks” and balconies under the open sky, which Schreiner describes as a “more intimate” experience. The ships of the line dock daily in city centers and cities on rivers.
Due to their constant proximity to land, travelers on board may have better access to a city’s medical facilities.
“I think a lot (the demand) has to do with smaller ships, less people – people who feel that no matter what happens, they are near a port where they could disembark if something happened .. . They will do it right away if needed and be taken somewhere for treatment, “said Fee.
Susan Schultz, vice president of trade relations for American Cruise Lines, said American Cruise Lines ships have an area of 450 square feet per passenger. And the space requirement per passenger will increase with limited capacity. The line hopes to be able to sail at 75% capacity sometime in the spring.
“(We sail with) under 200 guests,” she said. You’re not with 3,000 or 4,000 people; It’s a very different experience. “
American Cruise Lines operates 13 vessels, including eight river boats and five small coastal vessels.
River cruises are also “nimble” and can get ships up and running faster than larger sea lines, Fee explained.
“Regardless of which protocols may be required in the future, river cruise ships offer a controlled environment without compromising the relaxed vacation experience,” said Schreiner.
River cruise line executives say the demand is high
Schreiner said AmaWaterways has seen increased interest in river cruises in recent years, but that interest has hit a new high since the pandemic.
“The river cruise segment has seen strong year-over-year growth over the past decade, but with international travel suspended since March 2020, reservations for our 2022 sailing season are stronger than we would normally see well in advance,” said Schreiner USA TODAY in a statement. Reservations have increased by 40% over the past year.
Some of the demand, Schreiner said, is coming from guests who have to postpone their cruises for 2020.
However, these are not the only customers that AmaWaterways sees a booking with. Cruisers that are “more used to ocean-going ships” are now booking river cruises for the first time.
“The pandemic has shifted the focus to health and safety concerns as travelers look for ways to spend more time outdoors, away from large crowds,” Schreiner said.
American Cruise Lines is also seeing a surge in interest, but Schultz told the US TODAY the surge was a continuation of what he saw.
“We are currently seeing an increase in sales and an interest in river cruises,” said Schultz. “In the last five years there has been a huge surge in interest in river cruises.”
The age group that has traditionally sailed with American Cruise Lines includes cruisers over 60, according to Schultz, who noted that those in the older age group get one Covid-19 vaccination You may feel ready to get back on board.
“Pent-up demand” for ocean cruises
While many ocean-going vessels remain docked while cruise lines work with the CDC to return to cruise, The demand has remained high also for cruise bookings on ocean-going vessels.
Several major cruise lines including Carnival Corp., Royal Caribbean and Norwegian said that booking trends further afield have proven that cruisers are still interested in sailing – especially in the second half of 2021 or early 2022.
And the majority of cruisers are ready to get back on ocean-going vessels, according to data from Bari Golin-Blaugrund, vice president of strategic communications at CLIA.
“Two out of three cruisers believe it is safe to cruise within a year and 58% of international vacationers who have never cruised say they will likely be cruising in the next few years,” said Golin-Blueground, noted 74% firmly said they would be cruising in the “next few years”.
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