New Zealand To Be Next Restart Market – Other Cruise News: American Queen And Victory Cruises Announce 2022 – Cruise Ships To Be Inspected At Los Angeles
by Kevin Griffin
This week we look at more positive developments. From New Zealand comes news that Ponant will be operating one of its ships exclusively in New Zealand waters and for New Zealand locals this year. This follows earlier market openings in Germany, Norway, Italy and Singapore, among others. In US waters meanwhile American Queen and Victory Cruise Lines have announced 2022 itineraries and recent indications are that two dozen cruise ships will hopefully be “checking in” at Los Angeles this winter for the 2021 Alaska an coastal trades.
THIS WEEK’S STORY
New Zealand To Be Next Restart Market
New Zealand’s Ministry of Health granted conditional approval to the French cruise company Ponant to restart cruises in New Zealand in February 2021.
Ponant’s Le Lapérouse (Photo credit Philip Plisson, Ponant)
As with European markets and Singapore these cruises will be limited to local residents.
Ponant thanked New Zealand officials and called the announcement an important first step. The company had been in dialogue for months with officials in both New Zealand and Australia hoping to open a regional travel bubble.
While Australia remains closed, Ponant said it looked forward to the opportunities in New Zealand.
Ponant announced that it will position its 184-berth cruise ship Le Lapérouse in New Zealand to offer cruises around the islands. The ship is designed for luxury expedition cruising and is currently anchored off Jakarta.
Ponant, which focuses on small ship cruising initially resumed service in the summer of 2020 mostly with cruises from France as well as to the Arctic.
Paul Gauguin PG Cruises
The company also owns Paul Gauguin Cruises which operates in French Polynesia and resumed service during the summer of 2020.
OTHER CRUISE NEWS
American Queen And Victory Cruises Announce 2022
American Countess (Rendering Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc)
American Queen Steamboat Company and Victory Cruise Lines have announced itineraries for the 2022 season featuring new routes and themed cruises.
The companies are offering an early booking discount of up to $1,200 on 2022 itineraries when they book by April 30, 2021.
“We are looking forward to welcoming back our guests aboard American Queen Steamboat Company and Victory Cruise Lines to deliver a best-in-class experience that we are known for,” said John Waggoner, founder and ceo of American Queen Steamboat Company.
Ocean Victory (March 2020)
“With the debut of our newest vessels just around the corner, American Countess and Ocean Victory as well as our expanded on-board accommodations and culinary upgrades … we are seeing a growing demand for close-to-home, domestic itineraries.”
Cruise Ships To Be Inspected At Los Angeles
Cruise ships without passengers will be docking periodically at the Port of Los Angeles in January and February as first steps for meeting federal regulations before service suspended in March can resume.
More than two dozen Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess Cruises ships will be docking for fuel, food, supplies and services to re-enter trade in US waters, local port officials said.
Authorities have not set a date for US cruise operations to continue, but the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a “Framework for Conditional Sailing Order,” which outlines a phased resumption of cruise ship operations.
Ninety-three cruises, which account for more than 70% of cruises that were scheduled to visit the Port of Los Angeles in 2020, were cancelled due to the pandemic.
According to port officials, the cancellations amounted to a nearly $100 million loss in economic activity on the LA waterfront. Each cruise ship that visits the Port of Los Angeles contributes about $1 million to the local economy.
(Kevin Griffin is managing director of The Cruise People Ltd in London, England. For further information concerning cruises mentioned in this article readers can visit his blog)
