Princess Cruises has provided an update on its crew members now that cruise operations are on pause due to the global pandemic.
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If you thought it was tough to get guests back home it has become even more tricky for the crew members. Princess Cruises has already shifted focus from passengers to the crew on making sure they continue to remain safe and are the majority safely being repatriated.
The cruise line has posted that “due to international air travel and government restrictions, along with cruise ports that are essentially closed, our repatriation planning continues to be an extremely challenging and complex operation.”
Princess Cruises has been arranging charter flights at its own expense to get the crew members back home. There are travel restrictions around the world along with flight cancellations.
Also, due to an order by the U.S. authorities, cruise lines have to arrange charter flights to get their workers back to their home countries. Thousands of crew have already been repatriated and even cruise ships are sailing directly to Asia to help with the process.
We already know that four Princess cruise ships are sailing to take the crew back home. Regal Princess is heading to Southampton and Rotterdam to take European crew back home. Crown Princess and Island Princess are heading to Asia and Caribbean Princess will sail the Caribbean and South America for crew members living there.
Team members are being well looked after while onboard ships, the cruise line has posted “we have moved all remaining teammates into their own balcony guest stateroom to allow for self-isolation in addition to maximizing comfort, health, and well-being. While maintaining social distancing they have the opportunity to spend time on the top decks.”
But still, keep a thought for the small number of crew who will always remain onboard during this crisis and the suspension of cruise operations. They will stay to keep the ship running and maintained.
Currently. princess Cruises’ extension on the suspension of operations is through June 30 with the first sailings resuming from July 1, 2020. As long as the virus can be controlled then this date should stay the same. However, if things don’t improve with travel restrictions and the No-Sail Order still in place we could see a further extension that is not good for the industry.
