Thread: The end of cruise ships, as we know them?

Originally Posted by bob10

" Flags of convenience " means wages and conditions for crews were not regulated, but at least they provided jobs for many who would not have had one.

This could be the end of the line for cruise ships

Considering that these cruise ships are responsible for a large percentage of COV19 cases who in their right mind would ever board one of these plague ships now?

Just think of them as floating hotels.
But yes, the cruise industry will take a huge hit from this pandemic.
Spare a thought for ship crews. A relation, who is Turkish, has been trapped on a cruise ship moored off the USA for over two months, unable to leave although there are no passengers. Meanwhile his wife, who is an Aussie, and two young daughters are locked down indefinitely in Istambul, unable to leave home for any reason, with armed soldiers patrolling the streets.
Meanwhile his elderly father is alone on a remote farm in northern Turkey, with no visitors to check on him. He could die alone.

Whenever I see a photo of one I think of battery hens.

Originally Posted by vnx205

Whenever I see a photo of one I think of battery hens.

Or Sheep Ships with better aircon? A few livestock no doubt chuckling that the humans now getting a taste of their own medicine.

Originally Posted by bob10

" Flags of convenience " means wages and conditions for crews were not regulated, but at least they provided jobs for many who would not have had one.

This could be the end of the line for cruise ships

Means more a low tax environment for ownership where fees are historically levied on gross tonnage (volume). Employment, yes is not limited to people of the flag nationality. All the worlds international shipping is largely done by Phillipino or Indian or other ‘low cost’ crew providing a huge source of USD employment (no living expenses and money sent home to family) but these cruise especially ships need pretty respectable, capable and nice people to operate successful hospitality so you get what you pay for. Some nationalities are better at it than others let’s face it.

Flag (of Convenience) States like Panama, Cayman Islands, Liberia etc. are typically small countries without natural resources or means of existence hence have found this handy niche, invented by lawyers and accountants, of providing for a fee tax effective means of owning companies and assets heavily taxed elsewhere. No surprise it’s been incredibly popular with large organisations.

For the cruise ship companies they still have head offices in USA or Norway so need to face the music in that sense. FoC is purely for the ship asset.

Don’t forget also that, like a plane, from the day of delivery to the wrecking yard they work to make money stopping only for fuel, food, passenger change and essential repair. There is no home port to speak of they chance the sun northern hemisphere southern hemisphere.

The First Fleet passengers were given no choice and spent their voyage in unhygienic conditions, but at least it was free.
The latest fleet passengers volunteer and pay to be imprisoned in the unhygienic conditions.

The cruise ships will be back in full swing as soon as they have opportunity.

a few anti cruise members here.

If people on board cruise ships obeyed hygiene and cleanliness rules there would never be a problem.

I wonder what their own homes must be like. Too many plebeans can get on a cruise ship these days with scant regard for those around them.

Me, I'll be cruising as soon as I can again.

But I might up the ante a bit and go on some upper level cruises for obvious reasons

I've enjoyed cruises, but I try to spend a lot of time outside.