Cruise & Ferry Review - Autumn/Winter 2020

7 2 INTERV IEW Championing a resilient industry Cruise Lines International Association president Kelly Craighead tells Rebecca Gibson how the organisation is helping its members to navigate the Covid-19 crisis and build a better future Please give us an update on the state of the cruise industry and how Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has helped its cruise line partners to navigate the Covid-19 crisis? CLIA and its ocean-going cruise line members are working to identify Covid-19 protocols based on the advice and clearance of governments, health authorities and medical experts around the world. We’re taking a holistic approach to planning for Covid-19 safety when sailing is allowed, which would ideally entail a door-to-door strategy beginning at the time of booking and ending when guests return home. Although a fully defined global plan for resumption of cruising has not yet been finalised, cruise lines are working locally with ports and destinations so that limited cruise itineraries are designed with public health considerations and pre-arranged contingency plans as a top priority. The cruise community remains actively engaged with our partners at the local, national and international levels to facilitate alignment and inform cruise industry protocols as they advance through the planning process. This collective work will provide the groundwork for creation of a mandatory CLIA member policy regarding Covid-19. Once the final policy is established, it will be reflected in CLIA’s compendium of policies that all CLIA ocean-going cruise line members must agree to implement. How have you been working with cruise lines, ports, governments and other authorities to protect the physical health and mental wellbeing of crew members who have remained onboard ships? Crew members are essential workers – they are key to the economy, the foundation of every memorable cruise vacation experience and, as we begin to sail again, they are critical to our return of operations. Their care for passengers was more critical than ever as CLIA ocean-going member cruise ships returned to port following the worldwide suspension of cruise operations in March. The right of seafarers to be repatriated to their home country is fundamental, and we’re grateful to the ports and governments that allowed access and safe harbour for cruise ships so these seafarers could complete their journeys home. We ask for the same support from governments and ports worldwide to address the unprecedented challenges associated with repatriating remaining crew members. Can you tell us how CLIA cruise lines have helped to repatriate crew members safely? CLIA cruise line members have dedicated considerable resources and have gone to great lengths to repatriate crew. Flight restrictions and port closures created significant challenges, but the cruise lines have remained singularly focused on the health and safety of those onboard ships and have done whatever