When will I be able to cruise again? That’s the million-dollar question asked by travellers and cruise lovers, and even cruise lines and travel experts, the world over.

The world of cruising may be stalled but no doubt we will cruise again. Here’s what is currently happening with cruising, what you can do now and why, perhaps surprisingly, cruising will remain a favourite for travellers all over the world.

What’s happening with cruises now?

For almost a year now, cruise lines have had to temporarily suspend sailings around the globe, as well as changing itineraries and rethinking the entire cruise experience as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Some smaller cruise lines have however set sail once more. French luxury yachting company Ponant Cruises are operating sailings close to their home ports in Europe, mainly offered to local passengers. Other mid-size and larger cruise lines, such as Costa Cruises, are hoping to cruise from April or May this year. They will operate with limited itineraries and passengers, as well as strict safety measures, such as social distancing on-board and only-ship operated excursions. It is hoped that there will be more sailings opening up in the third and fourth quarters of the 2021/2022 cruise season.

“Cruise lines are doing their best to wade through the murky waters of uncertainty,” says Jane Davidson, Director of Development Promotions. “Sailings and itineraries are wholly dependent on countries’ borders opening up to foreign visitors and allowing the ships to dock and disembark in the various ports.”

While this is highly unpredictable (anyone got a crystal ball?), the vaccine rollouts taking place in many countries across the world, coupled with the incredibly stringent health and safety protocols put in place by cruise companies, are a glimmer of hope on the horizon.

“Cruise lines have been working around the clock to develop and implement new systems and cleaning technologies, social distancing protocols from check-in to disembarkation, regular screening and testing, and much more,” says Davidson, adding that even meals on board and entertainment are being revisited to allow for social distancing.

Cruise lines did have an advantage in that cruises have always been a controlled environment and have always had to have health and safety protocols in place to keep passengers safe and healthy. Of course, with Covid-19, these health and safety protocols have become even more stringent.

Why would you book a cruise now?

“In recent weeks, we have seen a strong demand for cruise travel in 2022,” says Davidson, adding that some cruise lines have even sold out their itineraries.

One such example is luxury, small ship cruise line Oceania Cruises. On January 27, they launched their epic 180-day world cruise for 2023. It sold out in less than one day.

“Many key source markets globally are booking cruises now to secure their future cruise holiday,” says Riet Goetschalckx, Director of Sales and Marketing at Oceania Cruises. “Cruises are already getting sold out for next year and beyond. We’d highly recommend that South Africans who are eager to cruise with Oceania Cruises in the years to come are advised not to leave it too long but rather to speak to your travel agent now to avoid disappointment later.”

“Months of lockdown have resulted in pent-up demand for cruises, agrees Nick Wilkinson, Regional Vice President Business Development Middle East & Africa for Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), a popular contemporary cruise line. “Even during South Africa’s hard lockdown months last year, we were seeing enquiries coming through and now we’re receiving bookings for summer sailings right through to 2023.”

“It’s interesting to note that the majority of bookings come from new vs past guests. This demonstrates that there is great interest and demand among new-to-brand and new-to-cruise travellers who are eager to take the plunge and book a dream cruise,” says Wilkinson.

Not only is there a pent-up demand with cruise lovers who have been stuck at home for over a year anxious to get their sea legs back, but various other cruise trends have also come into play.

Initially there was demand mainly for small to medium size ships but increasingly, demand across the board for all types and sizes of cruises is starting to pick up. However, the desire for a smaller, boutique cruise experience will remain as a significant driver in the years to come. The fact that the smaller vessels carry less passengers and are also able to visit more remote, off the beaten track destinations is an alluring drawcard for cruise lovers.

If you had to put your cruise on hold, you’re not alone. Many passengers who hold Future Cruise Credits carried over from last year are taking advantage of the current special offers, coupled with the strength of the Rand to secure a cabin for much better value than they would have last year. Savvy early birds are snapping up offers, likely to not be repeated when demand starts to exceed supply. “To have 7-night sailings on 4 and 5 star rated ships fully inclusive for under R 14,500 is amazing value,” notes Davidson.

Travellers booking now can do so with peace of mind as well. Cruise companies have introduced very flexible terms and conditions with regard to payment terms, reduced deposits, cancellation and postponement policies, so one can be confident in their approach to secure a cabin now and be in a position to cancel in some cases up to 24 hours before departure

Advantages of travelling on a cruise 

• South Africans are very familiar with the many benefits of cruising, such as visiting multiple destinations on just one itinerary.

 Other benefits include:

• Unpack once and visit many destinations in one go.
• Value for money: Most cruise lines include all meals, entertainment, accommodation and offer very affordable drinks packages, so once on board you need not be paying for anything.
• Flexibility – Once on board you can participate in numerous activities or you can opt to just chill around the pool drinking cocktails.
• Family travel – Cruising is great for families as there are so many activities for kids of all ages on board. This keeps them entertained and it’s also great value for money.
• For comparison purposes, if you had to travel independently and pay for transportation between cities, hotel accommodation, eating out, entertainment and drinks those in the know say that it would probably cost at least double that that of going on a comparable cruise.

Top 5 incredible cruising experiences at sea:

 Luxury, small boutique liner Oceania’s Dom Perignon experience:

Enjoy an only-on Oceania experience, offered on the Marina and Riviera vessels, that pairs the perfect Dom Perignon champagnes with a dish especially created to enhance the delicious notes of that specific vintage.

 Norwegian Encore’s largest race track at sea:

Exhilarating family moments come easy with Norwegian Cruise Line. The Encore’s Speedway is the largest race track at sea and is suspended 13 feet over the side of the ship. Or try your hand at laser tag, another of the many on-board activities or catch an award-winning Broadway show onboard.

 Ziplining:

Fancy a zipline? Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas has an 82 feet long zipline allowing you to zip over the decks in mere seconds.

Listen to the ocean:

One of the most exciting features on Ponant’s new explorer class of ships is an underwater observation lounge, called the Blue Eye. This midship venue has 2 whale eye-shaped portholes on either side of the submerged hull, allowing guests to see what’s happening down below. Listen you ask? The exterior audio captured by a hydrophone is played inside the lounge, creating a multi-sensory underwater experience.

 Become a winemaker on the waters:

Wine connoisseurs and novices alike can experience the art of winemaking at BLEND by Chateau Ste. Michelle, the most acclaimed and oldest winery in Washington State (USA). The venue enables guests to blend their own wine and enjoy it at dinner or in the privacy of their own stateroom.