Cruising in 2020? Here’s Everything That You Need to Know

Cruising in 2020 ain’t happening. The end, go home folks, nothing to see here.

Ok, so maybe you won’t see the mystifying shores of the Caribbean; the naturally romantic islands of Hawaii, or even the untamed wild of Alaska. But there’s still plenty of reason to start planning for the next cruise trip.

Arnold Donald, CEO of Carnival, acknowledged earlier this month that the company’s dealings with the CDC have only centered on crew safety:

“We have not actually gotten to the point of serious resumption of cruise discussions with the CDC,” he said. “But of course, that’s coming.”
It’s not.

Screw cruising in 2020, here are five interesting facts to get you hyped for next year.

1. Food, Food, Food

Cruises have more food on the ship than what most people eat in their lifetime. A one-week cruise can go through 46,800 eggs and over 19,723 pounds of chicken, according to the Associated Press.

Ships are loaded with over 18,314 pounds of beef, 1,899 pounds of coffee, 14,800 pounds of potatoes, 31,900 bottles, and 900 cans of beer; and that’s only the beginning. It’s no surprise that the average person puts on 5-10 pounds after a cruise. If you’re cruising next summer make sure to stay away from a scale.

2. The First-Ever Cruise Ship

The Prinzessin Victoria Luise was a German passenger ship and is considered the first cruise ship ever built. When the Luise launched on June 29, 1900, it was used almost exclusively for cruising. The ship would take famous and wealthy passengers all over the world to locations like New York City and The Black Sea.

Unfortunately, the Luise didn’t have a long cruising career when in her fifth year of cruising she crashed while on a trip to West India. The Captain of the ship mistook a lighthouse for the port they were supposed to dock at. The ship never cruised again.

3. Cruising in 2020: Consider Traveling to Alaska

The wildlife enriched state is consistently the most popular cruising destinations among travelers. About 1.3 million tourists traveled to Alaska last year, according to the Alaskan Journal of Commerce; 16% increase from 2018. Tourism makes up one in eight jobs within Alaska and the cruising industry was responsible for generating 19,842 jobs and $991 million in wages in 2016, according to the Cruise Lines International Association.

But why Alaska, you may be wondering. It has to do with the untamed wildlife and natural beauty scattered throughout the 49th state. There is an abundance of illuminated bright blue glaciers and wildlife patrolling the land, air, and sea; and on most cruises, to Alaska, you can see it all from the comfort of your ship.

On cruise-lines like Glacier Bay cruises, a national park ranger is actually required to provide informative commentary. It may seem like a weird location to cruise to, but upon looking at any pictures of its natural beauty it becomes apparent why the destination is highly sought after.

4. Cruise Lines for Your Weirdest Fantasies (Yes, Nude Cruises)

Did you know that there’s a cruise line dedicated to service cat lovers? Or even cruises made for passengers to have a completely nude voyage? That’s right, there are tons of cruise lines tailor-made to service your wildest fantasies. Two years ago, a cruise named the Walker Stalker sailed the seas with fans and cast of the popular television show “The Walking Dead.”

Nudist cruise lines are also gaining popularity, companies like Bare Necessities launch a cruise every year that carries 3,000 bare-skinned passengers on the aptly named boat, “The Big Nude Boat.”

5. Pirates (Argh!)

No, not Captain Hook or Jack Sparrow. Pirating is a serious issue for cruises, especially ones that go into the Indian Ocean close to the coast of Somalia. After boarding ships and seizing desirable goods, these pirates often ransom the passengers and ships back to their countries.

While most of these attacks exclude luxurious and more popular cruise lines, they are not completely unheard of. According to Cruise Critic, “In more than a decade, there have been only six-reported incidents of pirates attempting to attack cruise ships.”

In short, cruising in 2020 won’t happen, but there are plenty of reasons to book a trip for January 1.