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        • CRUISING AFTER COVID
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        • Your First Cruise
        • Selecting a Cabin
        • Dining at Sea
        • Problems
        • Self Drive
        • Mega Ships
        • Emerald Princess
        • P&O for Group Travel
        • Cunard's Queens
        • Small Ship Adventure
        • Paul Gauguin Cruises Special Offer
      • Reviews >
        • Paul Gauguin Cruises
        • CroisiEurope Danube
        • The Falkland Islands
        • Captain Cook Cruises Fiji
        • Multi generational Cruising
        • CroisiEurope Loire Princesse
        • Discovering the Kimberley
        • Kimberley and Mitchell Falls
        • PNG with P&O
        • SAILING MEKONG’s PAST IN THE PRESENT
        • MSC Seaside
        • MSC Opera
        • Ancient encounters along the Kimberley Coast
        • Cruising to St Petersburg.
        • The Vasa Museum
        • Sailing on Emerald Princess
        • Carnival Spirit
        • Volendam
        • Destinations >
          • Asia
          • Australia >
            • Kimberley CFT
            • SWEPT AWAY BY BROOME
            • The Humpback Highway
            • Aussies Love the Pacific
          • Expedition >
            • Galapagos
          • Europe
          • Alaska / Canada
          • River Cruising
          • USA / Mexico
          • Caribbean
          • World
        • Sun Princess
        • There’s something about Mary
        • On SeaDream - Award-winner keeps a Czech on our taste buds
        • Dawn Princess
        • French River Boating and fine Cuisine
        • The 'New' Love Boat
        • Senior Cruising
        • Noosa and the River Express
        • Pacific Dawn Review
        • Why Fiji?
        • The Depths We Go To
        • Dreaming in the Mediterranean
        • The Highlander
  • About Us
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          • CroisiEurope

SMALL SHIP CRUISING MIGHT LEAD THE RETURN FROM THE COVID-19 

​​By Dallas Sherringham
The “Cruise pause” has provided  an opportunity for the  small ship business to redefine itself before returning to local waters ahead of larger ships.

And the cruising public has backed up that positive approach with a 32%  spike in bookings for small ship expeditions in 2021
Boutique and expedition cruise operators will become the first cruise sector to restart operations after Covid-19, according to Australia’s leading small ship cruise specialist, Cruise Traveller, which represents more than 50 boutique, luxury and expedition cruising operators around the world.
Managing Director of the Gold-Coast-based cruise wholesaler and retailer Craig Bowen said the expedition cruise sector had grown rapidly in recent years with a record number of small ships being launched and commissioned to meet surging demand and each showcasing eco-sustainable innovation the sector had become renowned for in the past decade.

Adventure Travel Industry

Mr Bowen said small ship expedition companies were more aligned with the adventure travel industry than the mass cruise ship sector and that the challenging events of the past few months had highlighted the many benefits of small ship cruising and the lower risk profile of smaller vessels.
“There is no doubt the small ship expedition market is resilient and keen to travel again,” Mr Bowen said.
“Cruise Traveller’s bookings for 2021 are 32% up on the same period last year for 2020 sailings. While most of our guests are keen to travel overseas again in the future, the number of small ship voyages around and close to Australia will soon rise markedly and this will help satisfy pent-up demand.”

Creative Itineraries Debut

Mr Bowen said while larger cruise ships had dominated the close-to-home market for many years, Covid-19 had prompted many of Cruise Traveller’s small ship partners to debut new and creative itineraries around the Australian coastline which were already selling strongly.  
“Because there is no one-size-fits-all approach to a reboot of cruising, there are definite indications that close-to-home, small ship expedition cruising will be the first cruise sector to restart operations because of the smaller numbers of passengers involved and the sector’s ability to quickly and efficiently instigate new onboard Covid-19 health and safety protocols will help regain the trust of the market.

Stronger Than Ever

“Covid will continue to cause commercial pain but I believe our small ship industry will emerge from the crisis stronger than ever, with the sector benefitting from a bolstered appreciation of what makes small ship experiences different and special and what incredible travel adventures small ships can unveil for those keen to explore wilder and more remote destinations.”
Mr Bowen said as a leader and authority in the field, Cruise Traveller was perfectly placed to assist guests, travel agents and the cruise lines through a new-look restart of the small ship cruise industry. “Through this difficult period, Cruise Traveller has managed to retain our full product portfolio, relationships and team so we’re in a strong position to work with our partner cruise companies to get new and innovative product to the market quickly,” he said.
 Mr Bowen said the high-end expedition cruising sector was also a lucrative source of new income for travel agents due to the increased value of bookings and the significant repeat factor.
www.cruisetraveller.com.au
Picture
I'm Tipping:
1. Mandatory letter stating you have had the COVID-19 vaccine
2.Staff assisted buffets and dining
3. Face masks in public areas and on tenders
4. Some social distancing which will make venues harder to access.
5. Maybe orders by telephone rather than going to bar which will slow up service
6. possibility of facial temperatures being taken at ports or when boarding
7. Less passenger participation activities
8. Less island adventures available.
9. More Cruises to Nowhere
10. More Australian Coastal  
​
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