Hawaii tourism experts are predicting cruising won’t resume until the second half of next year, according to a new tourism report.
In a grim post-COVID-19 prediction, a report by the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism said: “No cruise visitors until the second half of 2021. It will take six years for visitor arrivals to recover to the 2019 level. This is based on the 2009 great recession pace.”
Hawaii is a popular cruise destination. Norwegian Cruise Lines Pride of America is based year-round in Hawaii and according to NCL’s president and CEO, Frank Del Rio, Pride of America is the highest yielding in its fleet in 2017.
The line is offering cruises in August 2020.
The Hawaii State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism research Administrator Dr Eugene Tian tried to hose down the fallout from his department’s predictions.
He said in an email to the website Cruise Critic: These assumptions are pure economic assumptions, not the government decisions.”
His report, released earlier this week, examined the economic fallout from COVID-19 in Hawaii, which has one of the strictest quarantine policies in the United States. Non-residents who travel to the islands must go into quarantine for 14 days; violators of the policy have been arrested for noncompliance.
The report predicted visitors to Hawaii this year are expected to fall to 3.4 million – down 67.5 per cent compared to 2019. But tourism numbers will pick up next year to reach 6.2 million, 8.3 million in 2022 and 9.4 million in 2023.
What happens to cruise is still unclear.
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The cruise line has a range of seven to 16-night itineraries designed to explore the Galapagos Islands.
Get your facts straight if writing an article! “Residents” are also required to 14 day quarantine when returning to Hawaii as well as when flying InterIsland. This has been in place since April. They will lift InterIsland quarantine first. To test the new policies in place long before they allow non residents back in. Not sure yet how that will work. A lot will depend on testing available to travelers. Also where they are flying from. Each step is timed to be able to measure how much covid is brought into the Islands and can we protect residents.
It is rewarding that NCL is giving plenty of notice for the 2021 cruises,I would like to warn people expecting a refund from princess cruises,I cancelled in March for a December cruise and was told the refund would be paid 7–10 days after numerous phone calls,what they tell you on the phone is all bullshit,I do not trust this company,Brian Gordon
Hi I was due to sail on the Ruby Princess on April 4th this year, and we all know what happened with poor Ruby.
I have since booked another cruise for April9 2012 that goes to Hawaii before ending in Seattle,
If Hawaii does open to cruise ships in the first half of the year 2021 will the cruise go ahead and find other ports or cancel?
I have also booked our flight from Perth to Sydney to board the Regal Princess which means if the cruise doesn’t go ahead that’s another cancellation of a flight that probably won’t get my money back from as that’s domestic travel which would be open by April 2021.
Very frustrating!
I am hoping the credits on the cancelled cruise will be thru to pay for the new cruise but as yet have not heard anything.
I think it would be very wise to cancel all cruises every where until mid next year and that’s from some one who as done about 30 cruises better to be safe than sorry