[image] Will we ever take cruise holidays again? The cruise line industry faces a long journey back from the coronavirus pandemic. Good question. Tourists have very short memories," says Prof Agarwal in the article and that is a fact. “This is like when a terror attack affects a destination. Look at the attacks in Paris and Brussels - three months maximum [fill in visitor numbers], and they were back to normal.” So by the looks of it the industry will bounce back, sooner or later. Also, it is fairly obvious what the industry will do the second that travel restrictions are lifted - they will launch a huge advertising campaign and slash their prices, to get customers back. Although as Prof Muller explains, that won’t be painless. Interesting side remark. “No one is willing to bail them out because of their tax avoidance, but also because of the negative impacts they have at their destinations… they contribute very little to the local economy.” Cruise ships are notorious for depositing thousands of tourists in crowded cities who, Prof Agarwal says “spend very little, look around the place for five or six hours with a packed lunch, and then go back on board for dinner”.

My experience mirrored yours. I sailed with Caltex UK which later became Texaco UK fleet. One vessel I sailed Junior mate, the chief officer didn’t keep a watch, second mate, third mate and six deck apprentices. Same thing with the engineering deptment with six deck apprentices. The master had an extra masters ticket and a second class engineering ticket (steam). The extra qualification was before they had degrees and was the qualification require to teach in a school. It was unusual to find someone at sea with the qualification but he was single. Every Sunday morning all the cadets were corralled in the study room outside the masters office for a grilling. We had 3 galleys, deck and engineering ratings came from different parts of India and had their own galley. The officers galley was staffed with Goanese who were all catholic as it was then a Portuguese colony. Our whites were laundered by the steward. Coveralls were laundered by I’m not sure who. Soiled ones were picked up from a crate at the top of the pump room (no cargo control room in those days) and the clean ones placed folded outside your door. The engineers had the cleanest coveralls. There were a number of wives onboard, including my wife, and they used the very large day room in the owners suite as their space when they weren’t in the pool. I had better accommodation than I had as master in later years with a large day room and seperate sleeping cabin en suite. To spend the same time on ship today with the conditions that today’s crews have would be intolerable.

I meant six engineering apprentices.

[image] Hogsnort: the chief officer didn’t keep a watch That was on this ship also the case and others I was on as well. Day duty it was called. We had plenty of extra ratings to be able to do this.

[image] Hogsnort: I had better accommodation than I had as master in later years Hell. My masters office is smaller than my dayroom as third mate 20 years ago on a much nicer ship. I would kill to have the shower back too.

The master’s office on the vessel I was referring to would have rivalled some big shot CEO. It had sofas and coffee tables and a visitors head. His day room easily accommodated all officers and cadets off watch on Christmas Day at sea.

[IMG_5742] Officers saloon and bar. [IMG_5741] Chief Engineers dayroom and office. [IMG_5743] Masters dayroom and office. Both had separate sleeping quarters and bathroom with tub and separate shower and a pantry. No photos available.

For what it worth I was able to bring family aboard on several passages. My wife, daughter and youngest son made the trip from Oakland to Honolulu. When my youngest son was in high school he was in a home school program. He made 2 trips with me on separate occasions bringing his school work with him. I think it broadened his horizons. He was able to scuba dive in Guam, see a bit of Hong Kong where he tried snake soup, and saw volcanoes erupting off Japan. One of my dad’s bucket list wishes was to make a trip with me. He rode from Oakland to Honolulu on one occasion and several years later from Honolulu to Singapore. He talked about the expeirence for years.

Can attest to this. The spending they bring into a town outside of just a few merchandise shops and food vendors is limited. They aren’t taken Port to Port to do Venture Capital deals in the millions or building companies in each port. Only went on one Cruise in my life and it’s just a collection of very random and hasty memories. Due to the time constraints, there really isn’t anything more that can be done under those circumstances. Probably won’t ever go on another one in my life seeing first hand how limited their medical facilities were onboard the ship.

Do any large shipping corporations allow spouse or family to be brought aboard the ships today?

Mine allows spouses and children for up to one month with no travel or expenses paid for anyone but the employee. Last person I saw exercise the option was 10 years ago but my kids are getting old enough that they could probably handle it. This summer would have been prime time but this pandemic has definitely killed that option.

Will we ever take cruise holidays again?

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Will we ever take cruise holidays again?

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