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After series of mishaps, cruise industry feeling the heat
A cruise ship fire, a wayward bus that fell off a mountain side and even a ship that ran aground were part of a spate of recent industry problems, raising the question of whether there will be some decline in the booming business.
Industry experts say no.
“With these incidents initially, people may have perhaps a little bit of hesitancy for a very temporary period but as our safety record gets out and we get positive word-of-mouth, it will fade,” said Michael Crye, president, International Council of Cruise Lines
Mr Crye said the rash of incidents were merely a coincidence, some of which can be readily explained.
The bus crash in remote Chile that killed a dozen passengers was not even part of the cruise industry. The tour operator was not connected with the Miami-based Celebrity Cruises.
The fire aboard a Star Princess ship claimed one life, but the other recent incidents usually involved only convenience.
The Empress of the North luxury sternwheeler that ran aground in Washington, for example, resulted in no reported injuries.
“The timing of it all was just a coincidence,” Mr Crye said. “The cruise business has had the best safety record in the travel industry.”
Other negative publicity arose from missing passengers, which has led to Congressional hearings.
“So far, travel agents said they’ve experienced no significant effect on their cruise-ship business,” said the Miami Herald, noting that such incidents are rare.
Mr Cyre points out that today’s cruise ships have many safety features, including training of crew members; an overcapacity of lifeboats and life rafts: easy accessibility of emergency and medical crews; and mandatory drills for passengers.
Report by David Wilkening
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