Cruise & Ferry Review - Autumn/Winter 2021

4 6 INTERV IEW Carnival season With the no-sail order finally lifted, Carnival Cruise Line is leading the pack as cruises return to US and Caribbean waters. Christine Duffy discusses the future with Anthony Pearce T here was no playbook for the past 17 months, says Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Lines, understatedly describing it as a “challenging” time. “Pausing an entire industry for more than a year and then restarting with a new set of operating protocols has never been done,” she says. “But I’m very proud of our employees and how we’ve handled these challenges across the shipboard and shoreside teams. “Beyond the financial issues, we have managed through evolving regulatory and public health guidelines as we worked to take care of fleet and onboard team, and kept our guests updated and enthused for the restart of cruising.” Although less well-known in the UK than Carnival Corporation sister brands P&O Cruises and Princess Cruises, the name Carnival is synonymous with cruise in the USA: the return of Carnival is the return of cruise. And, of course, even after the most difficult period in the industry’s history, those ever-loyal customers were delighted to get back onboard. Carnival Cruise Line resumed guest operations from the USA on 3 July with Carnival Vista sailing from Galveston, Texas, followed by Carnival Horizon from Miami, Florida the following day, then the maiden voyage of Mardi Gras on 31 July. By the end of August, the line had eight ships in operation and by October, it was sailing 15 ships – more than half its fleet. All of the Carnival Cruise Line crew is vaccinated and the brand is only operating voyages for vaccinated guests (besides children under 12 and those who are not eligible) until October. “The response to our cruises thus far has been nothing short of sensational,” says Duffy. “Our guests are so excited to be back onboard to relax with their friends, families and loved ones, as well as to reconnect with their favourite crew members. Our crew are very happy to be working again and supporting their families all over the world. The destinations have rolled out the red carpet for our ships which are providing a much-needed boost to their