In the past year, all of us have lost a loved one, a dear friend, a family member, or a colleague. The crew community was hit hard by the pandemic no only during the lockdown of the cruise industry keeping thousands of crew members stranded on the ships, but also once they all returned back home. Every day we hear that some of our fellow shipmates has passed away.
With the release of the vaccine for COVID for essential workers such as medical professionals and positive thus far response from people who have taken both doses of the vaccine, the cruise industry is starting to review options related to how they can implement policies related to vaccination in order to be able to return the crew to work and the guests to enjoy cruises. However, the views of each cruise line appear to be different, at least for now.
Royal Caribbean Group sold two more cruise ships sailing under the Silversea Cruises and Celebrity Cruises brands reports Tradewinds.com. These are small expedition cruise ships sailing exclusively to the Galapagos Islands that were put on sale last January. According to the source, the two ships, Silver Galapagos (built in 1990) and Celebrity Xperience (built in 1998) have found a buyer.
Following yesterday’s news that Royal Caribbean Group will sell Azamara to the private equity firm Sycamore Partners, Captain Carl Smith – Master of the cruise ship Azamara Pursuit reached out to his crew with encouraging words, reassuring them that the company has a bright future ahead.
Royal Caribbean Group announced today the selling of its luxury cruise line Azamara for $201 million to the private-equity firm Sycamore Partners. The three-ship Azamara brand established 13 years ago has created a tremendous group of loyal followers of cruisers over the years. Azamara raise the bar in the cruise industry under the guidance of Larry Pimentel, President & CEO of Azamara with longer stays and more overnights in ports worldwide.
Royal Caribbean International announced further cancelations of global sailings through April 30th, 2021. In a press release, Royal Caribbean said that exceptions will be the China sailings on Spectrum of the Seas, which at this moment, are suspended for February 16-28, 2021. Singapore cruises on Quantum of the Seas, with only residents of Singapore, will not be affected and continue as scheduled.
MANILA (Jan 4, 2021) - In a press release the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) capped its repatriation efforts in 2020 by bringing home 327,511 overseas Filipinos workers, coming from at least 90 countries around the world. The DFA said that 29.3 percent of the overseas Filipinos workers, or 95,974 in total, are seafarers from more than 150 cruise ships, oil tankers, and other bulk vessels.
One week after Royal Caribbean International announced in a press release that the Empress and Majesty of the Seas will leave the fleet, Waterways Leisure Tourism Pvt Ltd revealed the purchase of the ship which will sail under the newly formed cruise line named Cordelia Cruises.
Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara crew members onboard and at home, will receive the final payment of the “Thank You, Thank You” Bonus in the following months.
The news was announced in the “Royal Way Newsletter” distributed among the crew members by Royal Caribbean Group.
After more than 30 years in service with Royal Caribbean Empress of the Seas and Majesty of the Seas will be leaving the fleet.
