TRAVELLERS are already booking their next cruise holiday, despite the coronavirus crisis.
A new study has found an increase in demand for cruise trips in 2021.
Analysts at UBS say booking volume for 2021 cruises has “gone up 9 percent in the last 30 days versus the same time last year,” despite many cruise ships currently quarantined amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The report explained: “That includes people applying their future cruise credits from sailings that were cancelled this year, but still shows a surprising resilience in desire to book a cruise.”
The analysis doesn’t show how much of the reported increase is actually people just optimistically re-booking their canceled cruise for next year, though.
Voyages to Asia and Alaska are seeing the highest numbers, according to the report.
Cruise ships hit by coronavirus
- February 4 – Diamond Princess, 712 cases, 12 dead
- March 7 – MS River Anuket, 45 cases
- March 9 – Grand Princess, 103 cases, 2 dead
- March 18 – Ovation of the Seas, 79 cases
- March 19 – Ruby Princess, 575 cases, 5 dead
- March 19 – Costa Luminosa, 3 cases
- Not docked – Zaandam, 2 cases, 4 dead,
- Not docked – Artania, 41 cases
The booking may come as a surprise following a number of cruise ships which have been quarantined over the last couple of months as COVID-19 rapidly spread.
Banished to the seas, cruises are without ports, unwanted and forgotten, meandering aimlessly along the coasts looking for someone, anyone, to take them in.
One such ship, Holland America’s Zaandam, which is scheduled to arrive in Florida this week with more than 200 sick passengers, has already been denied port in Chile, Peru and Argentina.
Elderly British couple Tony and Jennie Wills have pleaded to the US Government for passengers to be let off a cruise ship near Florida after four people died from coronavirus.
Speaking in a video message broadcast by Sky News on Wednesday, Jennie, 74, said: “This is a real humanitarian crisis and we appeal, we pray, we implore America, all the governments around the world, please America, please let us land somewhere.
“Please, please, we just so all want to come home. This is on behalf of absolutely everybody on board the two ships.”
Florida governor Ron DeSantis told Fox News on Monday that his state “cannot afford to have people who are not even Floridians dumped into South Florida using up those valuable resources.”
Many cruise liners have currently suspended all sailings, including Princess Cruises, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
As thousands of Brits are being affected, here is everything you need to know about your cruise holiday – and if you can cancel it.
Some cruise companies are allowing refunds, although others are offering vouchers worth more than the holidays.
A version of this article was published by New York Post, and has been reproduced with permission.
