The Cruise Industry: A Troubling Spiral
Recent events in the cruise industry paint a grim picture of an industry seemingly spiraling out of control. Royal Caribbean, a major player in the market, reported a significant 40% drop in net income for the first quarter of this year, citing the Costa Concordia tragedy as a contributing factor. However, CEO Richard Fain downplayed the long-term impact of the incident, stating, “We did not expect the impact of the tragedy to be long term, and we are seeing evidence the effects are waning.”
Despite Fain’s reassurances, subsequent cruise disasters have continued to make headlines. The Costa Allegra experienced a disabling fire just a month after the Concordia incident, floating perilously close to waters frequented by pirates. These incidents understandably create unease among families considering cruise vacations. Even satirical pieces like Andy Borowitz’s “Citing Safety Concerns, **Somali Pirates Refuse to Board Cruise Ships – Fires, Capsizings Top Pirates’ Concerns” resonated with cruise enthusiasts, highlighting the growing skepticism surrounding cruise safety.
The Star Princess scandal added fuel to the fire when the cruise ship passed by a disabled fishing boat, resulting in the tragic deaths of two young men. Princess Cruises, owned by Carnival, faced severe backlash as the public learned of the cruise ship’s apparent indifference to the distressed boat and pleas for assistance from passengers.
The month began with disturbing reports of a Carnival security officer and housekeeping manager allegedly strip-searching a girl on the Carnival Sensation, including making her remove her tampon. These incidents raise serious concerns about the conduct within the industry.
While Fain was quick to point fingers at his competitor (Carnival) for Royal Caribbean’s sinking profits, he omitted mentioning the Azamara Quest’s serious engine fire that disabled the vessel. Despite declining bookings and increased operational costs, Fain still pocketed a substantial $5,900,000.
CBS suggested that the declining profits at Royal Caribbean were due to passengers being “spooked by the high profile cruise problems.” Adding to the industry’s woes, an engine room fire broke out on Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas, marking the 80th cruise fire in the last 22 years. The Miami Herald, typically supportive of the cruise industry, relayed the cruise line’s PR statement that the fire was “small and quickly extinguished,” leaving many unconvinced.
Even more alarming was a story that the Miami Herald chose not to cover: a Cunard cruise line youth counselor admitting to sexually abusing 13 boys on three Cunard Cruise ships over four years. The lack of media coverage on such a shocking revelation raises questions about the industry’s accountability and the safety of passengers, especially children.
With cruise executives earning exorbitant salaries compared to their staff and numerous incidents of accidents, indifference, and even criminal activities, the cruise industry appears to be careening out of control. The focus on profit over passenger safety and the industry’s failure to address and rectify these issues raise serious concerns about its future.