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Summary
- Travel industry experienced its worst crisis in the form of a global pandemic, owing to drastic measures implemented by the governments including border closures.
- Royal Caribbean has cancelled all scheduled Odyssey of the Seas sailings till 17 April 2021 due to COVID-19 impact on the cruise line and shipyard operations.
- In the absence of an effective vaccine and prolonged nature of the crisis, the travel industry is incorporating all the government guidelines to function during the global pandemic.
Travel has been one of the hardest-hit industries in the wake of coronavirus crisis. With lockdown and travel restrictions implemented everywhere, the travel industry has experienced an unprecedented decline in demand all of a sudden. The borders were closed, and aeroplanes and ships were resting on the grounds.
Before the pandemic, cruises were one of the fastest growing segments of the travel industry. However, the crisis changed it all.
Royal Caribbean Cancels All Odyssey of the Seas Sailings till April 2021
US-based Royal Caribbean International has cancelled all scheduled sailings for its new fleet member Odyssey of the Seas from 5 November 2020 to 17 April 2021. The move has been attributed to the pandemic’s impact on the cruise line and shipyard operations.
The cruise line has also extended the suspension for Australia sailings through 31 December 2020 and Quantum of the Seas sailings departing 2 December 2020 – 22 March 2021.
Liberty of the Seas will now sail to Galveston earlier than planned and the ship's amplification has been postponed to a later date. As per the guidelines, only one ship can dock at the Galveston pier at a time, consequently, Royal Caribbean has cancelled the Jewel of the Seas cruise scheduled for 14 February 2021.
Changes to Itineraries: Royal Caribbean International has been making changes to the existing itineraries, as part of its preparation towards returning to service. The company is working towards the changes that not just meet the existing travel restrictions, but also fulfill the evolving needs of the guests.
Also read: Cruise-line Industry: Carnival Australia Cruise Ship Investigation
Since the onset of the pandemic, it has not been easy for the travel industry, which is still trying hard to bounce back from the initial impacts of the pandemic. The prolonged nature of the crisis has made it difficult for the industry to recover quickly, and the future is still not bright.
The crisis seems far from over in the absence of an effective treatment. To remain relevant and keep going during the crisis, the worldwide travel industry is incorporating government safety guidelines. However, as the world is facing the dual crisis of lives and livelihoods, a medical breakthrough is what can bring a sigh of relief.
Also read: COVID Vaccine Update: Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca Vaccines Hit Roadblock, WHO Flags Remdesivir
