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May 4 updates: Japan to draft international cruise ship outbreak rules, Costa/Pullmantur delay, Carnival Australia bonus pay

In addition to feature-story coverage, here's a quick read of some of today’s coronavirus-related cruise news and announcements.

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Helen Hutcheon, Anne Kaloshand 1 more

May 4, 2020

2 Min Read
Credit: Seatrade Cruise News

Keep checking back. This is being continuously updated.

Japan plans rules for cruise ship outbreaks

The Japanese government is undertaking research to draft international rules for disease outbreaks on cruise ships because, it said, the responsibility of relevant authorities is unclear, according to The Japan News.

A conflict between port state and flag state authority was cited. The story quoted a Foreign Ministry official: 'If the country where a port call is made is entirely responsible for a ship, no countries would allow a ship with a mass infection to call at port.' 

The Japan News said ¥60m (about US$562,000) has been budgeted for the initiative, with a report to be ready for presentation to international bodies by March 2021. 

During the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, Diamond Princess — quarantined in Yokohama — experienced the largest outbreak outside of China.

Costa delays through June

Costa Cruises further extended its suspension of sailings, now through June. Customers and travel agents are being contacted.

And Pullmantur until July 3

Pullmantur has extended the suspension of its cruise operations until July 3 and aims to resume activity on July 4.

Customers will be reimbursed with a voucher for the amount paid to the company and offered on-board credit.

Carnival Australia’s extra commission on new bookings

Carnival Cruise Line in Australia and New Zealand is offering travel agents an extra 1% commission on new retail bookings made on GoCCL.com until the end of June. The program was earlier introduced in the US.

It is part of ‘Onboard with You,’ a pledge to support agents.

Sales Director for Australasia Anton Loeb said the bonus builds on the company’s commitment to protect commission on all fully paid bookings cancelled due to the pause in operations. 

‘Carnival is also offering full commission on the value of the future cruise credits, providing agents the opportunity to earn commission on their original booking and compensating them for working to re-book their clients using their FCC,’ he said.

About the Authors

Helen Hutcheon

Australasia correspondent

Helen Hutcheon did her cadetship on a shipping magazine and worked in P&O’s Sydney office for seven years as a public relations journalist.

For 19 years she was deputy editor of Travel Week, which was Australia’s leading trade newspaper that covered major local and international industry events.

In 2008 the late legendary Rama Rebbapragada presented her with an award from Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd ‘in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the cruising industry.’

In 2010 she won the Neil Frazer Award for ‘outstanding contribution to the cruise industry,’ elevating her to CLIA Australasia’s hall of fame.

She has been the Australasia correspondent for Seatrade Cruise Review since 1997 and for Seatrade Insider (now Seatrade Cruise News) since its launch in 2000.

 

Anne Kalosh

Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

Anne Kalosh covers global stories, reporting both breaking and in-depth news on cruising's significant people, places, ships and trends. A sought-after expert on cruising, she has moderated conferences around the world, including the high-profile State of the Industry panel at Seatrade Cruise Global. She created and led the acclaimed itinerary-planning case study for Seatrade's cruise master classes held at Cambridge and Oxford universities. She has been the cruise columnist for AFAR.com, and her freelance stories have appeared in a wide range of publications, from The New York Times to The Miami Herald.

Holly Payne

Editor Video Production and Deputy Editor

Holly is Deputy Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review & Seatrade Cruise News and has experience managing a range of highly successful international business and consumer titles. With a flair for video reporting and a history of overseas work documenting people and places of diverse cultures, Holly brings a variety of skills to the Seatrade Cruise portfolio.

Holly’s academic credentials include oral and written Arabic language skills (intermediate-advanced), an MA Multimedia Journalism with NCTJ accreditation, and a BA (Hons) Degree in Classical and Archaeological Studies with English and American Literature.

 

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