Is Cruise Ship Still Can Sail During The Pandemic?

Nowadays, every continent and region on Earth can be visited on board a cruise or recreational ship, including the most exotic, faraway places and secluded destinations. Cruise ships are one of the best ways to travel the world in complete comfort and style.

But now COVID-19 has changed the industry, Cruise ships were a hotbed of transmission during the early stages of the pandemic. The cruise industry has been in free fall since the pandemic struck in March. Not only are vessels unable to sail, but the swirl of bad publicity has also left the public believing that cruise ships are deadly incubators of disease.

During the first wave, thousands were stranded onboard ships as they were held in quarantine or refused entry to ports as borders closed. By the end of April 2020, over 50 cruise ships had confirmed cases of COVID-19 and at least 65 deaths had occurred among passengers and crew.

So, How Cruise Ships Survive During the Pandemic?

1. Redesigning Dining

The self-service buffet has long been seen as a staple of large cruises, but COVID-19 may mark the end of that era. Several lines have announced plans to change their dining options to maximize sanitation and minimize crowds. In its “Peace of Mind” safety plan released in June, Norwegian Cruise Line says its buffets will now be full-service, with staff dishing out food to guests. French Cruise operator Ponant says both its Ponant and Paul Guagin ships have redesigned their restaurant layouts and will only offer contactless, à la carte dining options.

2. Safety Protocols

Cruise companies are now consulting with scientists and setting up safety protocols, including the use of scanners at terminals to check for elevated temperatures, disinfection foggers to clean ships, upgraded ventilation systems, and the elimination of group activities and self-serve buffets.

3. Better ventilation

CLIA’s new health protocols call for “air management and ventilation strategies to increase fresh air onboard,” though the association stops short of mandating enhanced filtration and other technologies, recommending them “where feasible.” Some are promising improved air filtration.

4. Touchless

Cruise lines have invested in new technologies to streamline guest experiences. Royal Caribbean gives each passenger a snap-on electronic wristband that unlocks their stateroom door, facilitates cashless purchases, and pre-registers them for boarding. Princess Cruises’ similar Ocean Medallion even enables guests to locate their family or friends around the ship.

The current COVID-19 environment has created a high degree of concern amongst the public surrounding the maintenance of health and safety onboard cruise ships. Ships will now require robust screening and monitoring protocols, implementation of comprehensive sanitation practices with regular inspections, expanded onboard medical facilities and increased medical staff.

As a result the countries continue to address the increasing number of challenges arising from COVID-19, the impacts on business may change a number of industries for the foreseeable future. There is no clear timeline for cruise operations to start again.

But  having a career on cruise ships is still in high demand. The first step you should take if you want to work at the best cruise ship in the world is to learn more about it. You can take a degree in Hotel & Tourism Management at SGU. SGU Hotel & Tourism Management offers accredited degrees with international exposure in Germany and Switzerland through our partner universities (Fachhochschule Südwestfalen and IMI Switzerland). IMI Switzerland is acknowledged as one of the leading providers of education in Switzerland that offers a series of hospitality, tourism, culinary, and global business management-related programs.

Given that SGU Hotel & Tourism Management has several practical courses, anyone who studies Hotel & Tourism Management at SGU can have the opportunity to do an internship in Europe such as Germany or Switzerland. Students taking an internship in Germany will be required to take a six month internship program, but if they choose to go to Switzerland, they will be required to do an internship for six months while continuing one semester at IMI Switzerland (two semesters in total). This is what characterizes SGU Hotel & Tourism Management, because you will definitely be exposed to the European Internship Experience and work with people who are experienced in their fields. However, students also have the freedom to take internships in other countries with good hospitality growth such as the United Arab Emirates (Dubai, Abu Dhabi), Qatar (Doha), or Hong Kong.

SGU Hotel & Tourism Management graduates will earn a bachelor’s degree in management under the business administration faculty. Given that the world of hospitality and tourism is growing rapidly both in Indonesia and abroad, SGU graduates can get excellent career prospects in managerial level positions. They will have career opportunities to work in national and multinational organizations within the hospitality industry, such as accommodation, business in travel & tourism, and marketing events. In addition, graduates are also trained with professional business skills to operate within this industry as future supervisors, managers, and owners.

• Professional Hotel Operators
• Accommodation & Recreation Owners
• Professional Conference Organizer / Event Organizer
• Hotel & Tourism Consultant
• Professional Laundry Business Owner
• Cruise Staff

SGU Hotel & Tourism Management offers 3 curricula:

• Single Degree
• Double Degree at Fachhochschule Südwestfalen at Germany
• Double Degree at IMI Switzerland

Download our curriculum by clicking the button at the end of this article.

Interested in knowing more about studying Hotel & Tourism Management at SGU? Wait no more, don’t hesitate to contact our consultant and find out more.

About SGU

SWISS GERMAN UNIVERSITY (SGU) is an international university in Indonesia, was established in 2000 as a joint effort between Indonesia, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. We are the pioneer in offering international curricula in Indonesia. Qualified students can graduate with a Double Degree from Indonesia and Germany, which SGU provides in cooperation with partner universities; surely a valuable tool for your future careers. Ever since its establishment, SGU has been dedicated to delivering quality education in line with international standards and aims to develop skilled professionals who meet the demands of the industry. In order to achieve its objectives, SGU offers quality-oriented learning through 12 Bachelor’s Degree Programs and 4 Master’s Degree Programs ranging from Engineering, Information Technology, and Business to Life Sciences and Social Sciences. Furthermore, with small class sizes, and with English as the medium of instruction, you can look forward to pursuing your tertiary education and degree with full confidence.