With the coronavirus situation improving after the unprecedented second wave, Indian startup Cordelia Cruises is all set to resume sailing operations from September 2021. While their maiden cruise was cancelled by the deadly second wave, the team is upbeat and cautiously optimistic that they can travel freely again.
Jurgen Bailom, CEO & President for Waterways Leisure Tourism Private Limited said: “The second wave led to the cancellation of our initial sailing plans but we were equipped to handle such exigencies. Our team is in touch with guests who have booked with us, and we are regularly checking on the status of their health and vaccination. Safety is the most crucial word in travel today.”
The timeline is also in sync with that of the international cruise industry which is making a comeback in a phased manner. Most cruise liners are commencing sailings with a few ships on certain routes as per the permissions received. It is expected that most of them will start operations between July and August 2021 on specific routes and gradually become fully functional by the end of 2021.
Given that safety is paramount and a non-negotiable factor especially in today’s times, Cordelia has implemented all the standard protocols for its crew members and guests. This includes, Crew members are fully vaccinated; Daily health checks for the crew members; Hourly sanitization of the facilities;Air-filtration and Social Distancing norms; Number of guests limited as per the official mandate by the government; Special services team in charge of the safety and health of senior citizens and children; Pre-requisite of tests and vaccination before boarding for guests being worked out apart from comprehensive pre travel checks;Well-spaced waiting areas, sanitization stations; Contactless and online facilities for check in, boarding etc ; QR code enabled digital menus; Fully functional medical centre onboard the cruise equipped with all the required medical essentials; and equipped to handle medical emergencies, if required.
Participants discussed the boundary between nature and ecotourism, whether mass visits to unique areas can remain safe, the responsibilities of investors, and how to prepare tourists for visiting specially protected natural areas.
The head of state expressed confidence that the Forum will be held at a high level, and that its results will contribute to the development of tourism in Russia and the expansion of humanitarian and business ties.
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