Brussels

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Cruise ships were moored, the should around The World as a result of the Corona-Virus-pandemic

David Reece and his wife, Carolyn, sipping cocktails, somewhere in the Indian Ocean , at The Moment .

But your last cruise line vacation has been canceled because of the Corona Virus outbreak. And it is missing - as confirmed followers of a cruise vacation, you are at almost 20 in the last two decades.

the retired couple from Hamburg, it all started By Accident . "I was sent to the travel agents, book a cheap holiday to the Canary Islands, and I came back with a booked cruise in the Red Sea ," Says David. "Carolyn did not speak to me for Two Weeks . "

But she loved it, and since then, They have ships and travelled The World on a cruise; from the Baltic to The Caribbean and from Australia to Brazil.

For you, it is the perfect holiday, as David explains: "We had the idea to cross The Atlantic ocean, sitting on deck chairs with a blanket over your knees. [But in reality], the ships are really mobile hotels, and we Wake up somewhere different Every Day ... we use it to go to places we want to See .

have been interested in the Passengers from The Cruise ships, But how long until you are excited to return?

But these floating hotels are now all again in the port of unloading their Passengers and are already shut down. The industry has not just devastated, it has the function ceased altogether. For it, coronavirus, the perfect storm was.

It has a industry worth of $46bn (£37bn) a year, with 26 million Passengers per year, to an almost complete standstill overnight

Ironically, the industry was well prepared for the outbreak of diseases on Board ships, as it has happened Many times before, in most cases, the norovirus "vomiting " bug".

This Time , However, The Plan hit a snag when Christopher Muller, professor of hospitality at Boston University , explains.

"The worst thing you can do, [when Passengers start, sick] is to keep the people on Board," he Says . "The Plan is to go to The Next port, you will See all of them And Then The Ship disinfect".

Typically, this means that The Ship is ready to start The Cruise again in a matter of weeks, But This Time "the governments forced them to keep the people on Board," adds Prof Müller. "That was not the industry the debt that you have not done normally. "

The World 's largest cruise ships are like giant floating hotels

The Problem is made worse by the fact that Many modern cruise ships have a relatively small cabins, such as the industrial economic model is to use as Many Passengers as possible money in The Ship 's spas, restaurants, bars and shops.

The resulting bad publicity as Passengers suffered in quarantine on Board of ships in sight of the coast, is difficult to shake the industry.

So, in order for the industry is the rapid expansion in recent years into reverse gear? The industry certainly has a big problem, that means it is likely to suffer More Than other parts of the tourism and travel industry such as the airline industry - it has few friends in High Places .

Most of The Cruise ships that are not registered, where you will find shops in the USA and Europe, But off the coast in places like Panama and The Bahamas .

The industry does this for two Reasons - it saves a fortune in tax, and it does not mean that you have to follow, the American or European labour law. This will enable the companies to recruit cheap labour from developing countries, pay them less and work harder.

Now, however, the avoidance of taxes and the recruitment of cheap foreign labour does not look so Clever - The Cruise -line industry was targeted in American's business-bailout schemes. The industry may be in Dire Straits , But it screams in the darkness.

the Passengers on A Number of cruise ships come with coronavirus

And even if the governments wanted to help, you seem to be, as Prof Müller stressed: "It is hard to give, to break a control, if you do not pay taxes".

Not only that, But Many of the places that loved their Passengers , are not missing, The Cruise ships very much, if at all. As Prof Sheela Agarwal, from the Plymouth University ' s department of tourism and hospitality, puts it: "No One is willing to bail out because of their tax evasion, But also because of the negative effects you have achieved your goal. They wear very little to The Local economy. "

cruise ships are notorious for the Deposit of thousands of tourists in the crowded cities, of the, Prof Agarwal Says , "spend a little, look around the room for five or six hours with a Packed lunch, And Then go back on Board for dinner".

So the industry can recover from this crisis? Now, there are some good signs in the midst of all this gloom.

"tourists have very short memories," Says Prof Agarwal. "It's like, if a terrorist attack affects a target. Look at the attacks In Paris and Brussels - Three months to a maximum of [decline in visitor numbers], and They were Back To normal. "

Also, it's pretty obvious what the industry is doing, The Second , the travel restrictions are Lifted , you will start a large advertising campaign and slash back slash its prices to get customers. Although, as Prof Müller explained, this will not be painless.

"you have these ships are pretty full, to make a profit, you can a lot of the discount, But you meet your fixed costs," he Says .

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fortunately for the industry, the oil prices are also collapsed, this downturn, and as fuel-prices are on a cruise during the largest fixed costs, Prof Müller is convinced: "I can guarantee that you will be the purchase of fuel futures Like Crazy ".

If David Reece and his wife, Carolyn, nothing The Cruise line industry, as well as Bounce Back better than most.

He Says that the current Corona Virus outbreak "not from us". He is rather Looking Forward to the re-planning of their trip "in The Next 12 Months ".

David adds that he might also hunt for special. "We may Go On a Last Minute cheapy... as a pensioner, we can drop tools and go at any time," he Says .

Many of The Cruise ships rely on a high utilisation

the UK-based Cunard, part of Carnival, The World 's largest shipping company and owner of luxury ships including the Queen Mary 2, is also confident that the industry will recover.

"We sail for 180 years and we look forward to Many more," Says Simon Palethorpe, Cunard President. "We will get through these Tough Times and look forward to welcoming our guests back on Board again soon, when The Time is right. "

David adds that, even if some of the smaller companies go bankrupt, the vessels are not likely to be wasted, as They are worth billions. "Someone will buy them up," he Says .

The industry, it seems, is more Cruising .

coronavirus lockdown measures, coronavirus pandemic, global economy, cruise ships

Source of news: bbc.com