The Royal Caribbean cruise line will return to Mexico after more than a year of ceasing operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The port of Cozumel, in Quintana Roo, will become the bastion of the reactivation of the company in Latin America, which already has plans to operate in the Mexican Pacific for the last quarter of the year.
The choice of Cozumel is not by chance. Alberto Muñoz, Vice President of Royal Caribbean for Latin America and the Caribbean, explains that the Caribbean island is one of the key destinations among its passengers, among whom there is already strong optimism, mainly from the United States, driven by progress in the campaigns of vaccination.
“Cozumel as a destination is one of the most important. When a person is choosing a tour of the Mexican Caribbean, it is an obligatory stop ”, he explains in an interview. “Royal Caribbean has always worked closely with Cozumel, to the point that thanks to this closeness and relationship we are the first company to come to Latin America, and the first destination is Cozumel.”
Cozumel has been the main gateway for cruise ships in Mexico. In 2019, it concentrated half of the little more than 9 million cruise passengers that entered the country, accumulating 4.5 million passengers. This indicator plummeted more than 75% during 2020, since only during the first quarter were cruise ships in operation, and for 2021 the losses have been total, at least during the first half of the year.
The cruise industry has been the hardest hit in the tourism sector by the pandemic, because while hotels and airlines have maintained or restarted their operations, tourist vessels maintain a very restricted operation due to their scheme, which combines long trips with accommodation. and visiting several cities in different countries.
For this reason, in the United States, cruises are having the approvals of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in a trickle, so initially operations to Cozumel for American passengers will be made sailing from the Bahamas, a scenario that could change rapidly.
“We are in final negotiations with the United States government, because there will undoubtedly be an exit from Florida that will reach Cozumel as well,” says Muñoz. “It is a matter of days for an ad to appear”
Vaccinated crew and limited capacities
As part of the new operation, the Royal Caribbean executive ensures that the crew of its cruise ships will be fully vaccinated, and other measures will be taken such as the use of medical grade products, the increase in personnel on board these areas, and an emphasis in the ventilation of private and common spaces on board.
“In the air conditioning filtration system, we have changed filters with fresh air that enters the cabin from the ocean and is changed 12 times in an hour, and public areas are renewed 15 to 20 times,” he explains.
Regarding the occupation of the cruise ships, Muñoz considers that initially they will not set sail at 100% of the capacity, but everything depends on the standards that each local government has where the vessels dock.
“For example, in Singapore where we have been operating since November last year, we started with 45% [of capacity], which then went up to 50% and from there it has been gradual. In all the months that we have sailed in Singapore, we carry just over 60,000 passengers, and to date there has not been a single contagion at the passenger or crew level ”, he refers.
For this reason, the company will be very selective with the suppliers with which it will work, he assures, both towards Cozumel and other destinations that the company evaluates for the end of the year.
“Starting in November, we are going to leave from Los Angeles to the Mexican Pacific, to Puerto Vallarta, Ensenada Los Cabos (…) There will be short routes that leave for Santa Catalina and Ensenada, and other longer ones,” concludes the manager.
