Speaking at the TTG Luxury Summit today (20 October), Jo Rzymowska told TTG Luxury editor April Hutchinson during a live Q&A the line was seeing positive signs from both the US-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as the UK’s Foreign Office (which was responsible for the government’s advisory against cruising in July).
Although she confirmed Celebrity sailings were currently suspended until the end of November, Rzymowska said: “We really do think there is hopefully light at the end of the tunnel with the work that we’ve been doing with the recommendations that have gone to the Centre of Disease Control and the feedback we’re getting [as well as] the work that we’re doing here as an industry collectively, from an FCDO point of view.
“Whilst we’re not cruising at the moment, we are hoping that we’re able to, over the next few weeks, make an announcement about that,” she added.
It came as Rzymowska discussed the work which Celebrity, along with sister lines within the Royal Caribbean Cruises group, has been undertaking to ensure a safe return to cruising.
“It’s all about mitigating the risk,” she explained. “Should anyone onboard test positive, [we’re looking at] how do we make sure that we isolate them so we absolutely make sure that we reduce the spread. And very importantly that we have a very safe and speedy process to transfer them to land as quickly as possible, as we know that’s the most important thing to do.”
At the same time Rzymowska acknowledged “balance is really important”.
“At the end of the day people are going on holiday and we do need to remember that,” she pointed out. “But their health and safety is paramount.
“I think the good thing is we are getting used to masks and hand gel. But we need to make sure that we aren’t seen as too clinical and it mustn’t be seen as a really policing situation.
“It’s really important to make sure that our guests are looked after and treated with respect and make sure that they realise that [the crew] are doing this for the good of the passengers and for their fellow guests around them.”
