UnCruise urges testing to save industry

SEATTLE BASED UnCruise Adventures has been lobbying United States Congress for the introduction of rapid COVID-19 testing which it says would “change the game” in terms of a return to cruising.

UnCruise recently cancelled five upcoming Alaska voyages after a guest on the first departure tested positive to COVID-19 (CW 11 Aug) but after subsequent testing the passenger was actually found to be negative.

The company’s Chief Executive Officer Dan Blanchard said despite the fact that there was no transmission on board, strict protocols being in place and that ultimately all tests were negative, “the season will not be recovered”.

He said UnCruise had strict plans in place for COVID-19 which did pay off in this instance.

“We were able to act quickly, but that doesn’t mean this event has not been painful to our company and guests... our policies held up and may be a blueprint for future sailings and the industry,” Blanchard said.

He said accessible rapid coronavirus testing is needed for tourism to return.

“More studies are showing that small boat sanitisation is high, and in some cases poses less of a risk of viruses than an average location that individuals visit in their local neighbourhoods.”

UnCruise earlier this year helped establish a small boat coalition (CW 22 May) which is aiming to educate the public and government officials on the nature of small vessels and the need for different regulation.

“We have taken proactive steps and understand our responsibility to our guests, crew, communities and the industry,” Blanchard said.

“Safety remains our focus and we will continue to accelerate protocol standards,” he promised.

The termination of the season due to the inconclusive test result has been particularly frustrating after UnCruise also received criticism on being the first United States-based cruise line to return to sailing this season.

“Small businesses like ours have taken a considerable hit during COVID and this was a big one,” Blanchard said.