How we’re planning to return to service

This week the Government acknowledged UK domestic cruise holidays can begin from 17 May, in line with the roadmap out of lockdown for England’s hospitality sector. This was great news for UK cruising and gives us real confidence in our Return to Service plan.

Colleagues from all around the business are involved in our return to service planning, as members of the Return to Service programme. In fact, every single one of us is supporting this programme, working towards being able to welcome Guests back on board once again.

So, what is the Return to Service programme? 

To put things into context, when we paused operations on the 16 March 2020, we set up a Covid-19 Working Group to manage the safe repatriation of Guests and crew, and to support our fleet in returning back to the UK. All against the backdrop of an ever-changing world. Since then we’ve been in operational pause with a reduced team on board our ships, to keep us safe and compliant. In the summer of 2020, the Return to Service programme was formed to plan for the day we can sail once again.

Our Return to Service programme kicked off with one ambition: the return of unforgettable holiday happiness for our Guests.

As you would expect, to achieve this, we needed to look at the programme like a jigsaw, identifying the pieces needed to fit together to create the overall masterpiece. From training and ship’s company wellbeing, to commercial planning and restoring confidence, all aspects have been key to the programme.

At the heart of all this is our Medical Team, led by Drs Kathryn Ramsdale and Luke Mclennan; who have been working with their team to: draft new policies and procedures; support fleet colleagues being repatriated and those on board; and, importantly, preventing a Covid-19 outbreak on our ships.

What does the Return to Service plan look like?

In previous Carnival UK monthly updates, Paul and Donnacha have spoken about our collaboration with Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the UK Chamber of Shipping and ABG to put a framework in place. This sets out the principles on which we and other UK-based cruise lines will return and was approved by the Department for Transport last autumn.

What this means is that cruising will be coming back over three ‘Profiles’:

• Profile 1: UK-to-UK cruises for UK residents only
• Profile 2: European cruises, tendering and calling into European ports (
• Profile 3: FlyCruise and US cruises

 

We recently announced that this month, P&O Cruises plans to put on sale a series of Profile 1, UK cruises as “the ultimate escape” staycation this summer. The announcement that UK domestic cruise holidays can begin from 17 May gives us real confidence in this Profile 1 return to service plan.

We’re all extremely excited to get back to doing what we do best; creating unforgettable holiday happiness for our Guests, but it’s important we take cautious steps. That’s why our Return to Service details how our ships will return one after another, rather than all at once. This is so we can adjust to the latest guidance as we transition through Return to Service Profiles 1, 2 and 3.

What are we working on to be ready for Profile 1 cruising?

Although the UK domestic cruise announcement is cause for celebration, we’re still finalising the finer details so haven’t officially begun our countdown to cruising  – look out for further updates.

We have planned for a 12 week operational readiness phase, plus a two week test period. In that time we will:

• Get our ships fully operational once more. After over a year without Guests or a full complement of crew on board, we need to make sure everything is still in immaculate order. 
• Implement dedicated COVID-19 management plans on board and in the terminals and establish new operating procedures.
• Support a phased return of fleet colleagues to ensure their safety and in line with current UK Government COVID-19 guidelines, such as quarantine.
• Empower fleet colleagues with the skills and confidence to carry out their roles under new protocols, supporting them with COVID-19-safe training. 
• Complete any remedial works to hotel accommodation, from guest cabins, public and dining and entertainment spaces.
• Establish dedicated isolation and quarantines zones to keep Guests and colleagues safe in the event of a COVID-19 incident.
• Run end-to-end testing of the Guest journey from quayside embarkation, PCR testing, onboard Guest experiences and implementation of COVID-19 protocols .
• Complete independent verification of COVID-19 protocols in line with the approved framework, capture key learnings and adapt operating procedures in response.
• Two week Operational Test – including a test cruise, where we can stress test our processes and protocols in the ‘real world’.

When we officially begin our countdown to cruising we’ll be sharing weekly updates on our Return to Service plan; marking milestones and celebrating the achievements and hard work of our fleet and shoreside colleagues. Look out for more on The Insider.