While we are all aware of the challenges and fears that the COVID-19 pandemic has bestowed upon all of us in the same sense it also shows us what truly is important.

An international team of researchers from the University of Queensland (Australia), Royal Holloway University of London (UK), the World Maritime University (Sweden), and Uppsala University are working on a survey for international seafarers during the COVID-19 pandemic as part of a research project.

When life gives you COVID 19 pandemic while working on a cruise ship, there are those who cry you a river and those who turn towards some form of creative awakening while rising above the power of the pandemic fear. One such amazing man is David Oscar who joined Carnival Cruise Lines in 2017 boarding his first ship with a sketch pad and thirst for experiences, friendships and travel.

With the restart of cruises in Germany, and the final preparations by the cruise lines in Italy, hopes are high amongst the crew who are back in their home countries eagerly awaiting their sign on dates. In Italy, Costa Cruises and MSC Cruises are ready to initiate voyages on 4 ships as soon as they receive the green light from the Italian government. Final efforts have also been made for staffing cruise ships with a sufficient number of crew.

If there is an industry that is incredibly doing all the ways adapting to the COVID-19 crisis, it’s the Cruise Industry. As Kent William said, "Seafarers are conditioned to hardship". Adapting which requires being more careful with our interactions. Adapting means being more deliberate in our sanitation protocols. Being more cognizant of how our interactions affect other crew members.

As some of the cruise lines are already making plans to set a small number of cruise ships back in operations and implement new safety protocols in order to do so, many crew members are wondering what the “new normal” will look like for them once they join and assume their daily duties and life back on board.

Captain Gennaro Arma of the Diamond Princess cruise ship received the highest honor of the Italian Republic, the Order of Merit, for his commitment and courage by President Sergio Mattarella. Captain Arma, also known as Gladiator Captain among his crew, has been widely praised for the care and concern he gave to the passengers and crew on the coronavirus-stricken cruise ship that was quarantined in the port of Yokohama. 

Every question about the damage done by the coronavirus and when things will get back to normal for the cruise industry will be hard to answer. The following text is an honest opinion from a crew member sharing his thoughts about the future of cruising.

From Royal Caribbean crew member from the Philippines repatriated on June 16, 2020.

A word thank you is not enough to express my feelings for being so blessed and thankful as being a part of your company. 

I’m one of the Celebrity Summit’s crew members from Royal Caribbean International

It was a really hard time for all crew members on board when the company was trying to send us home safely during the Covid-19 pandemic, and the lockdown of the cruise industry. They were trying very hard in these tough times to send all the crews from so many different countries.