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Cruise Passenger report says that says while Australians want to cruise again they want to see all crew and passengers fully vaccinated, before they will cruise.

The report by our good friend and cruise guru Peter Lynch, editor of Cruise Passenger, says that Australia’s cruise community, which holds the world record for the highest number cruising per head of the population, has strongly backed calls for a resumption of cruise sailings.

But, and the government and those that are negotiating the return of cruising need to take serious notice of, the survey participants have also sent a clear message on vaccination, that is they want to make sure that all passengers and crew are fully vaccinated.

This may be the major stumbling block why the government is not making any progress towards the resumption of cruising as the CLIA Member Policy, which can be seen by CLICKING HERE refers to testing and very surprisingly, not vaccination of guests and crew.

The CLIA Member Policy, which is presumed, but CLIA will not confirm, is what has been proposed to government says the following:-

Measures for Crew: Conducting 100% testing of all crewmembers, with a requirement for negative test results, prior to their departure from home, prior to embarking the ship, upon conclusion of a minimum quarantine period and at least once monthly;  daily symptom screening, mask-wearing in public spaces and service areas, limited cabin occupancy and access to mental health support resources, training in new protocols, among others.

Measures for Passengers: Frequent communication from the time of booking including instructions for complying with public health requirements, staggered guest arrivals and departures, completion of a health declaration, requirement for a negative test result prior to boarding, health screening, physical distancing, mask-wearing, strict adherence to shoreside protocols at ports of call, tracking and tracing for at least 30 days following disembarkation to facilitate post cruise communication, among others.

With stringent protocols in place, CLIA research confirms that cruisers support enhanced measures and are willing to comply with them when they resume cruising: 90% of cruisers agree that mask wearing is necessary in order to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 and over 80% of cruisers agree that the cruise industry’s commitment to 100% testing of passengers and crew prior to embarkation will promote a safe environment aboard the ship.

The exclusive Cruise Passenger sentiment survey, which Cruise Passenger gave Global Travel Media approval to feature, says that the survey of their 140,000 newsletter database reveals little hesitancy about the jab, with over 91% saying they will be getting a vaccine once it is available, but very importantly, over 93% say full vaccinations for crew and passengers are a must before they will book.

They also give a firm thumbs up to a resumption of cruising, with over 83% backing the CLIA model of starting with ships based in states and sailing with only intrastate passengers.

The survey also shows stronger support for vaccinated cruises than at any time since Cruise Passenger started taking the temperature of how passengers felt about the 18-month long pause in sailings and Cruise Passenger says that while their surveys have shown some changes as lockdowns and case numbers have changed, the resilience this time demonstrates cruisers want to get back on the water.

Cruise Passenger says that when when they would be booking, over 42% answered “immediately” – the highest figure so far, and a vote of confidence in the health protocols that cruise lines have put into place, as reported by Cruise Passenger over the past few months, but perhaps pragmatically, a massive 57 per cent said they were planning on booking in 2022.

Asked what would motivate booking, half said when all passengers and crew were vaccinated, underscoring just how important this policy will prove in the coming months, with some lines, particularly those who cater for families like Royal Caribbean, are finding this demand a hard one to exercise in practical terms.

The Cruise Passenger survey results say that hygiene and safety protocols were next most important, and flexible booking and cancellation policies have remained at third most important for the past 18 months, a clear warning to lines who are still producing complex rules about refunds that passengers will take their revenge when bookings reopen in earnest, with only 5.3% saying low prices were the most important fact in booking, the lowest it has been on the survey.

The report says some lines in Europe have suggested charges as high as $170 for COVID tests for those passengers who have not been vaccinated, with Cruise Passenger readers believing all treatment and tests on board should be free, with eight out of ten want that security.

More than half of Cruise Passenger readers still have credit with cruise companies and only 28% have redeemed future cruise credits in the past 12 months, meaning many are sitting on the hands and waiting for cruise to resume.

Cruise Passenger readers are split down the middle about whether they will stick by their usual cruise line, with over 50% saying they would, but 10% said they would definitely change, and 35% said they weren’t sure yet.

The report says that lines with smaller ships look like big winners, with just under 40% saying they would like to sail on smaller ships, and just under 10% saying they will upgrade to luxury.

In terms of where respondents are dreaming of going, Australia and New Zealand are the stand out favourites at a massive 85% in the preference ratings, Europe coming next at almost 20% and Asia just behind at 16%.

Cruise Passenger says that the the cruise industry can give itself a pat on the back, with a big 83% of readers believe the industry handled the COVID crisis very well, well or as best they could.

So, thank you to Cruise Passenger for allowing Global Travel Media to feature their excellent report and comment on it, with some clear messages for the industry, with the most important and significant for the industry and government, that we hope they will take notice of, that Australian cruisers want to see 100% vaccination of crew and passengers.

An edited review from Cruise Passenger by John Alwyn-Jones, Cruise Editor, Global Travel Media and Global Cruise News.