The Cruise industry may be over. It surely took a big blow with the pandemic (if anything, something to see some good amongst a lot of terrible things). In order to celebrate some victories sometimes, albeit small, here is one: the cruise sector has cancelled all cruises passing in Venice for 2020. Considering that there was the idea of having one arriving on August 15th, the fact that none will pass for the rest of the season seems like grand news. I know that I am biased , and likely ships not coming here means that they will go somewhere else. And I know , that it came more as a ‘sudden’ shift , for which people were not prepared (although, really, they should have been!! It was a long time coming..) and that a lot of people have lost their jobs as a result . I know that. But one has sometimes got to hit rock bottom to lift back up. This is our opportunity for change So. Let’s cheer for that.
But let’s try not to cheer too much. Yes, because when I left Venice for holidays, there was a ship from a notorious company still in construction, and it was nearly finished. Upon my return, ten days later, such ship was no longer in the construction area, which was not empty but contained a new one in construction. Madness. The industry is finishing - we are realising it’s not a sustainable one, it’s a way to spread pandemics, polluting oceans , polluting air , creating unsustainable tourism that damages communities. Yet we are building more. And please don’t tell me that ‘people need jobs’ because who works in there are underpaid immigrants with terrrible working conditions . Maybe the ‘project managers’ need the jobs , but couldn’t they manage a project for a recycling plant or a sustainable mode of transport or an innovative way that will lead us to a sustainable future ? I think so. I think the ‘job loss’ is just a cowardly way of escaping the issue. So. The cruises will sometime stop , or at least , this is the hope But what to do with all the ships already built? What happens if we leave them there to rot? Should we sink them all to become artificial reefs ? Can they be used to help the migrants? Can we make them into hospitals or retirement homes ? So many questions, very little answers and a lot of research to do ... as soon as I have some answers I will update you - so stay tuned
2 Comments
8/24/2020 07:50:03 pm
WOW! This is a very interesting perspective. I haven't even thought about this industry during COVID coming from a non-cruise family. Thank you!
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