Page 50: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 2020)

SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS

CRUISE & CONNECTIVITY

Setting sail from the Challenges of a Lifetime © Photobank/AdobeStock he shipping industry, and es- perlocal itineraries, with many ports still of exceptional. pecially the passenger sector, closed to cruise traf? c. The industry is But in order for the industry return to has and continues to be se- plastered with major challenges during health a number of pieces need to fall

Tverely disrupted by the CO- these unprecedented times. How will into place, not all of which are in the

VID-19 crisis. The passenger sector the industry recover from the pandemic? cruise lines’ hands. For example, people is experiencing further delays, and the need to feel comfortable traveling and uncertainty around the return of sailings A return on the horizon gathering — yet there is not much the will put immense pressure on even the Cruise lines remain hopeful of return- cruise industry can do about this. To get strongest balance sheets. Most cruise ing to the seas later this year and return- to the ships, passengers by and large lines do not have planned sailings in ing passengers will have cruise opera- need to travel by plane, which brings the near future, and those beginning to tors going to great lengths to make the with it risks.

sail soonest have mainly pivoted to hy- onboard guest experience nothing short Once on board, hygiene and social dis- 50 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • November 2020

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