An Outlook on the State of the Cruise Industry for 2021

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) released the "2021 State of the Cruise Industry Outlook" report highlighting the impact the pandemic has had on the global cruise industry, which for the most part was forced to shut down for nine months so far. Here are some of the highlights of the report.

CLIA highlighted a survey that found that two out of three cruisers were willing to cruise within a year and 58 percent of international vacationers, who have never cruised, said they are likely to cruise in the next few years.

The COVID-19 pandemic immeasurably hurt countless businesses and workers when the cruise industry shut down. Just think that, in 2019, cruising sustained almost 1.2 million jobs equaling $50.53 billion in wages and salaries and $154.5 billion total output worldwide. In 2020, every one percent loss of cruisers resulted in a reduction of 9,100 industry-related jobs. Each day of the suspension caused direct and indirect industry losses of 2,500 jobs.

The cruise industry greatly benefits port cities. Passengers spent $385 in port cities before boarding a cruise and spend $100 in each visiting port destination during a cruise, CLIA said.

CLIA reports that the cruise industry hosted 29.7 million passengers worldwide in 2019. North America accounts for the highest rate of cruisers with 15.4 million passengers cruising in 2019.

CLIA cruise lines anticipate 16 new ocean ships in 2021, resulting in a total of 270 CLIA ocean ships projected to be in operation by the end of next year.

From early July through mid-December 2020, CLIA said more than 200 sailings took place with multiple layers of enhanced health and safety measures. "The success of these initial sailings demonstrates new protocols are working as designed - to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 among passengers, crew and the destinations cruise ships visit," the CLIA report said.

Cruising in the new normal will include health protocols, such as crew and passenger COVID-19 testing before embarkation, mask-wearing, physical distancing, air management and ventilation strategies as well as enhanced medical capabilities.

Even as cruise lines deal with the pandemic fallout, CLIA said its members are focused on its commitment to a cleaner, more sustainable future. The report highlights the industry's $23.5 billion investment in ships with new technologies and cleaner fuels to reduce carbon emissions, partnerships with local governments in key destinations and a commitment to reduce its rate of carbon emissions by 40 percent by 2030, compared to 2008. Ships also are starting to use liquified natural gas (LNG), said to be a cleaner fuel.

"2020 was a year unlike any other and I am proud of how our industry has united together to weather this unparalleled pandemic," CLIA Chairman Adam Goldstein said. "As we look to 2021, I know that cruisers are eager to set sail once more, just as our industry is eager to put people back to work and create unforgettable experiences for our valued guests."