Top cruise line executive: We'll be back to full deployment within a year
Many cruise lines haven't operated a single voyage since March due to the coronavirus pandemic. And many have said that when they do return to operations, they'll do it slowly.
But one of the industry's longest-serving executives on Thursday said he expected his brand, at least, to be back to full deployment by a year from now.
"Our ambition is to be fully operational by October (of 2021), even as soon as next summer," Rick Sasso, chairman of MSC Cruises North America, said during a panel discussion at Seatrade Cruise Virtual, an online version of the cruise industry's annual meetup.
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While a return to full deployment by next summer is possible, it would "depend on other events that we don't control," Sasso noted during the session, which was the closing event for the four-day cruise conference. The session was titled "This Time Next Year: A No-Holds-Barred Look into the Crystal Ball from Some of Cruising's Most Forward-Thinking Leaders."
In general, Sasso -- a 49-year veteran of the cruise industry who has seen it all -- was highly optimistic about a strong rebound of cruising over the coming year.
"This will evolve, and it will evolve quicker than we would have assumed even a month ago," he said.
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MSC Cruises North America is the North American division of MSC Cruises, one of the few major cruise lines that already has restarted limited sailings.
The Europe-based brand on Aug. 16 became the first major cruise line to restart sailings in the Mediterranean since the cruising shutdown began, with a single ship -- the 4,842-passenger MSC Grandiosa.
Sasso noted that MSC Cruises planned to restart cruising with a second ship in the Mediterranean on Oct. 19. The line has 17 vessels.
Related: Has MSC Cruises cracked the code for a safe return of cruising?
"It certainly will be a gradual, staggered, evolving deployment schedule," Sasso said. But he was optimistic the budding restart that's been occurring in Europe and a few other places in recent months soon would spread everywhere in the world including North America.
"We hope that the North American deployment starts very soon," he said.
Sasso wasn't the only member of the panel who was upbeat about a strong comeback of cruising over the next 12 months.
Alex Sharpe, president and CEO of Signature Travel Network, one of North America's largest travel agency networks, also was optimistic about a rebound of travel in general including cruising. He suggested that COVID restrictions only had made people want to travel more.
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"Travel becomes even more a need than a want or a luxury" Sharpe said. "It used to be that travel was lumped in with luxury goods. Now it's really one of the core things that people and families in particular need."
Sharpe said Signature Travel Network was seeing strong bookings for Europe and Alaska cruises for next summer.
"I do see Americans wanting desperately to get back to Europe, in particular," Sharpe said. "I think European river cruising will lead that charge, because of the perception (the) smaller, more intimate, in-port-every-day-type of thing (is safer). We're seeing it from a booking perspective. But I think that will just cascade into ocean cruising as well."
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Another panelist, Virgin Voyages senior vice president for design and customer experience Dee Cooper, said cruising would get a boost over the coming year by huge pent-up demand.
Virgin Voyages, a start-up line back by Richard Branson's Virgin Group, was just about to unveil its first ship, Scarlet Lady, in Miami in March when the new coronavirus forced a postponement. It's now scheduled to begin sailing later this year.
A second Virgin Voyages vessel, Valiant Lady, is scheduled to debut in 2021.
"I think the sad but great thing is there's loads of untapped demand to go back sailing," Cooper said. "The Virgin brand attracts a lot of people that love it. We have the cruisers that love getting on the new ships, and there's loads of pent-up demand to get on those new ships."
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.