The Covid-19 virus hit the cruise industry extremely hard. There are no more passengers on the ships, ports on global scale are completely closed and do not accept calls of cruise ships anymore, enormous ship values generate no income and numerous human beings – our crew - are trapped aboard the ships and can’t get home as wished. And the restrictions are imposed by nearly all nations worldwide almost without any perspectives when, how and where normal life can be resumed, and ocean cruises may start again.
In such a situation it is the foremost task of sea chefs, as the employer of the crew, to find together with the shipowners the best ways how to tackle these circumstances. The answers are complicated and depend on various parameters. Small ships with a limited number of crew can more easily call ports, arrange repatriation of crew, and be manned again when the virus crisis is over. Hence, it can be an adequate way to completely repatriate crew home.
Bigger ships, however, are in the focus of port authorities because they might be assessed as risk for national ports with big numbers of crew coming from alien countries and ports. Disembarkation of many crew, especially when from 45 different nations, gets difficult, particularly in times when airports and borders are closed, and travelling is generally restricted. And, a restart of the cruise operations is difficult because sea chefs needs to find – and bring back aboard - the number of crew and required qualifications, what is the reason why the opening of a newbuilding takes normally weeks and months. Repatriation of all crew in case of big ships could therefore lead to the extension of the crisis for the specific shipowner.
 

The decisions for these complicated issues are taken case by case together with the shipowners, always with the target to minimize the impact of the crisis and to safeguard the jobs aboard of the ships long-term. By that sea chefs is always putting the crew in the focus of the decision-making and trying to realize the word that all crewmembers who have to finish their contracts now should return soon after the restart of the cruise operations.
 

Thank you & stay healthy yours Dr. Michael Knauer

“The day you plant the seed is not the day you eat the fruit “– Fabienne Fredrickson
 

"I love how it expresses the need for patience, continued hope and resiliency in order to stay positive and look into the future.
As 2020 continues to evolve in many unexpected directions especially for the cruise industry, we continue to learn and adapt to new conceptions for our guests, to make them feel safe and sound onboard our vessels sailing on the Rivers, even throughout these special times, as well as strengthen the new concept by our experience.
It is heartwarming how appreciative our guests are, sailing with us, and we plant and nurture our seeds for future successful river cruise seasons.
Even if so many of you can't be back yet, we are so very impressed by the many good wishes from our waiting crew to the already traveling crew!
These positive wishes, messages and signs make our industry very special!
Stay healthy, stay positive
and #KeepUpTheSpirit until we all meet again!"

Antje Suckow - Hotel Operations Manager River AmaWaterways
03. September 2020