By Alessandro Giannini Updated on June 18, 2021, 10:14 am – in Veja magazine
The holiday season for Americans is about to begin. With the advancement of vaccination and the consequent relaxation of health restrictions, cruise ships are preparing to depart for the Caribbean and other destinations. Most shipowners, in fact, already have dates set for their ships to sail. However, as determined by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vessels must prove that 95% of passengers and 95% of crew are vaccinated, in order to operate freely, without having to undergo travel test. In Brazil, organizations have been meeting with Anvisa to establish strict protocols that allow the return to activities safely from October, just before the summer holidays in the Southern Hemisphere.
The CDC's demands, published in April, were not well received by the Republican Party, generally averse to restrictions imposed by the pandemic. Two governors linked to the party, Ron DeSantis, of Florida, and Greg Abbott, of Texas, signed state laws that prohibit companies from requiring so-called vaccine passports from customers, under penalty of fines of up to $5,000 per passenger. After a failed attempt to reach a court agreement, DeSantis continues to defend his position that, if restrictions are imposed, families with children who have not yet been vaccinated will be prevented from traveling. Last week, Abbott followed in his colleague's footsteps, only more emphatically. “Texas is 100% open, without any restrictions, limitations or requirements,” declared the governor, claiming to guarantee people’s right to come and go.
Faced with the impasse, operators are looking for a way to accommodate the demands of a federal authority with state legislation. Celebrity Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line, whose ships sail from Florida, must collect information from passengers before boarding. In a statement, Norwegian CEO Frank del Rio was diplomatically ambiguous. At the same time that he confirmed the requirement for proof of immunization for those who will board in Miami, he praised DeSantis' commitment to pushing for inspection-free activity. “We are in contact with the Florida Governor’s staff and legal advisors to ensure we can provide the safest experience for our passengers,” said the CEO. Royal Caribbean, which in the past operated on the Brazilian coast, encourages travelers to get vaccinated, but will not require proof.
In Brazil, the cancellation of the 2020/2021 season was disastrous for the sector. In the historical series, growth in three consecutive years ended up being interrupted due to the pandemic. According to a study by Fundação Getulio Vargas, almost 40,000 jobs were no longer created, in addition to the negative economic impact of 2.62 billion reais. At the time, nine ships would make around 620,000 beds available to passengers, 17% more than in the previous period, when performance was considered excellent, reaching consumption of 2.24 billion reais. The assessment today is that it would have been better if activities had not been interrupted in March, when several shipments would still be made.
Due to pent-up demand, operators are betting big on the 2021/2022 season, which starts on October 31st and runs until April 19th next year. MSC and Linea C intend to complete the circuit of 129 itineraries on the coast of Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina with seven vessels: Costa Fascinosa, Costa Smeralda, MSC Orchestra, MSC Preziosa, MSC Seaside, MSC Sinfonia and MSC Splendida. More than 560,000 passengers are expected on these trips, which are expected to generate around 2.5 billion reais in consumption. Safety protocols must follow the standards of the Cruise Lines International Association (Clia), a global cruise entity.
To anticipate potential controversies such as those faced by the Americans, Marco Ferraz, president of the Brazilian Cruise Ship Association, the national arm of Clia, said that the entity is promoting an agenda of negotiations with the authorities, which includes the implementation of a schedule and the discussion of procedures that guarantee passenger safety, from purchasing the trip to returning home. “Next season’s numbers reflect how companies continue to believe in Brazil, investing and bringing modern ships for the best experiences,” says Ferraz. It is still too early to project the number of Brazilians immunized in October, but if the target of 75% of people vaccinated with at least one dose is met, it is quite possible that the cruises will be fuller and the anchors will be less heavy.
Published in VEJA on June 23, 2021, issue no. 2743
