1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,080 Welcome to Cruise News, your daily 2 00:00:02,080 --> 00:00:03,779 update on everything happening at 3 00:00:03,779 --> 00:00:06,120 sea. Visit CruiseNews .io to see 4 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:07,879 today's stories and sign up for 5 00:00:07,879 --> 00:00:10,939 email alerts. So I want you to imagine 6 00:00:10,939 --> 00:00:14,279 waking up at like 1 .55 in the morning. 7 00:00:14,300 --> 00:00:15,380 Right. You're in the middle of the 8 00:00:15,380 --> 00:00:17,839 ocean. The steady hum of the engines, 9 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:18,940 you know, the one you get so used 10 00:00:18,940 --> 00:00:20,679 to, it just suddenly stops. The 11 00:00:20,679 --> 00:00:22,640 worst feeling. Yeah. The lights 12 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:24,420 go dead. The toilets stop working. 13 00:00:24,460 --> 00:00:27,199 In an instant, this this billion 14 00:00:27,199 --> 00:00:29,500 dollar floating resort turns into 15 00:00:29,500 --> 00:00:32,329 a 100 ,000 ton piece of dead weight. 16 00:00:33,210 --> 00:00:35,030 Today, we are opening up the black 17 00:00:35,030 --> 00:00:36,890 box of cruise ship disruptions. 18 00:00:37,350 --> 00:00:38,869 Because it is, I mean, it's an incredibly 19 00:00:38,869 --> 00:00:40,289 intricate system. We tend to see 20 00:00:40,289 --> 00:00:43,229 these massive ships purely as luxury 21 00:00:43,229 --> 00:00:44,810 resorts. The buffets and deck chairs. 22 00:00:45,030 --> 00:00:46,049 Exactly, buffets and deck chairs. 23 00:00:46,429 --> 00:00:48,109 But underneath all of that, they 24 00:00:48,109 --> 00:00:50,649 are highly regulated, deeply interconnected 25 00:00:50,649 --> 00:00:52,189 pieces of global infrastructure. 26 00:00:52,570 --> 00:00:53,969 So when something goes wrong, you 27 00:00:53,969 --> 00:00:55,109 aren't just dealing with a delayed 28 00:00:55,109 --> 00:00:56,990 vacation. You are suddenly tangled 29 00:00:56,990 --> 00:00:58,710 up in maritime law, international 30 00:00:58,710 --> 00:01:00,890 health organizations, and just massive, 31 00:01:00,969 --> 00:01:02,710 massive logistical puzzles. And 32 00:01:02,710 --> 00:01:05,290 that is exactly our mission today. 33 00:01:05,370 --> 00:01:06,950 We are looking at the unseen machinery 34 00:01:06,950 --> 00:01:08,849 of the cruise industry. We're going 35 00:01:08,849 --> 00:01:10,549 to explore how the industry and 36 00:01:10,549 --> 00:01:12,390 travelers are forced to adapt on 37 00:01:12,390 --> 00:01:14,170 the fly when illness or mechanical 38 00:01:14,170 --> 00:01:16,859 delays strike. Yeah. And then we're 39 00:01:16,859 --> 00:01:18,659 going to pivot. We'll look at how 40 00:01:18,659 --> 00:01:20,079 some travelers looking ahead to 41 00:01:20,079 --> 00:01:23,120 2026 are choosing to bypass these 42 00:01:23,120 --> 00:01:26,219 massive systems entirely for a radically 43 00:01:26,219 --> 00:01:28,379 different kind of Alaskan adventure. 44 00:01:29,060 --> 00:01:30,359 Which is fascinating, because the 45 00:01:30,359 --> 00:01:31,760 isolated incidents we are seeing 46 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:34,400 right now reveal a tremendous amount 47 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:36,079 about the broader structural forces 48 00:01:36,079 --> 00:01:37,719 shaping modern maritime travel. 49 00:01:37,939 --> 00:01:39,500 Totally. And frankly, understanding 50 00:01:39,500 --> 00:01:41,579 these forces is the only way you, 51 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:43,299 as a traveler, can successfully 52 00:01:43,299 --> 00:01:44,870 navigate them. So let's start with 53 00:01:44,870 --> 00:01:46,430 the physical machinery, because 54 00:01:46,430 --> 00:01:48,049 the physical disruption shows just 55 00:01:48,049 --> 00:01:49,829 how quickly a single hiccup can 56 00:01:49,829 --> 00:01:51,390 rewrite the schedule for thousands 57 00:01:51,390 --> 00:01:52,849 of people in a matter of hours. 58 00:01:53,430 --> 00:01:55,269 Let's look at March 1st, 2026. The 59 00:01:55,269 --> 00:01:56,909 Carnival Sunshine. Right, the Carnival 60 00:01:56,909 --> 00:02:00,469 Sunshine. This is a 103 ,000 gross 61 00:02:00,469 --> 00:02:03,109 ton ship returning from an Eastern 62 00:02:03,109 --> 00:02:05,230 Caribbean sailing heading back into 63 00:02:05,230 --> 00:02:07,700 Norfolk, Virginia. And at 1 .55 64 00:02:07,700 --> 00:02:10,340 AM, the ship suffers a power outage. 65 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:11,939 They lose propulsion. They lose 66 00:02:11,939 --> 00:02:13,900 sanitation. Complete blackout. Yeah. 67 00:02:14,580 --> 00:02:16,860 Now, the cruise line stated power 68 00:02:16,860 --> 00:02:18,419 started returning within an hour, 69 00:02:18,919 --> 00:02:20,800 but an hour -long delay in the middle 70 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:22,800 of the night somehow translated 71 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:24,879 into a three to five hour delay 72 00:02:24,879 --> 00:02:27,259 arriving into port. How does the 73 00:02:27,259 --> 00:02:29,219 math work there? Well, to understand 74 00:02:29,219 --> 00:02:30,500 that, you have to look at what a 75 00:02:30,500 --> 00:02:32,479 ship of that size actually is. When 76 00:02:32,479 --> 00:02:34,780 we say 103 ,000 gross tons, we aren't 77 00:02:34,780 --> 00:02:35,979 talking about the physical weight 78 00:02:35,979 --> 00:02:37,199 of the ship. Wait, really? I thought 79 00:02:37,199 --> 00:02:38,219 that was just how heavy it was. 80 00:02:38,300 --> 00:02:40,080 No, no. Gross tonnage is actually 81 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:41,939 a measure of enclosed interior volume. 82 00:02:42,030 --> 00:02:43,610 Oh, wow. Yeah, it's an old maritime 83 00:02:43,610 --> 00:02:45,849 thing. One gross ton roughly equals 84 00:02:45,849 --> 00:02:47,789 100 cubic feet of space. So you 85 00:02:47,789 --> 00:02:49,430 are dealing with millions of cubic 86 00:02:49,430 --> 00:02:50,930 feet of enclosed space. Yeah, it's 87 00:02:50,930 --> 00:02:52,849 massive. Exactly. So when the power 88 00:02:52,849 --> 00:02:54,349 dies, the air conditioning stops. 89 00:02:54,669 --> 00:02:56,050 The vacuum plumbing systems lose 90 00:02:56,050 --> 00:02:57,669 their negative pressure. The advanced 91 00:02:57,669 --> 00:02:59,289 water purification systems just 92 00:02:59,289 --> 00:03:01,189 halt. Bringing a system of that 93 00:03:01,189 --> 00:03:03,659 sheer volume. back online isn't 94 00:03:03,659 --> 00:03:05,199 like, you know, flipping a circuit 95 00:03:05,199 --> 00:03:07,960 breaker in your house. It is a phased 96 00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:10,659 systemic reboot. OK, so the mechanical 97 00:03:10,659 --> 00:03:13,319 reboot takes time. I get that. But 98 00:03:13,319 --> 00:03:15,080 that still doesn't entirely explain 99 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:16,740 why a morning arrival gets pushed 100 00:03:16,740 --> 00:03:18,740 to the late afternoon. I mean, an 101 00:03:18,740 --> 00:03:20,240 hour delay should just be an hour 102 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:21,800 delay, right? You would think so. 103 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:24,259 But that comes down to the absolute 104 00:03:24,259 --> 00:03:25,919 bottleneck of a cruise terminal. 105 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:28,379 Yeah, the turnaround day. Yes. A 106 00:03:28,379 --> 00:03:30,000 modern turnaround day operates on 107 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:32,090 a razor's edge. Thousands of people 108 00:03:32,090 --> 00:03:33,669 trying to disembark, thousands trying 109 00:03:33,669 --> 00:03:36,270 to board, massive pallets of provisions 110 00:03:36,270 --> 00:03:38,409 being loaded, waste being offloaded. 111 00:03:38,530 --> 00:03:40,409 It's a highly choreographed dance. 112 00:03:40,569 --> 00:03:42,349 Highly choreographed. You cannot 113 00:03:42,349 --> 00:03:44,229 have new guests entering the terminal 114 00:03:44,229 --> 00:03:46,150 building or even the parking areas 115 00:03:46,150 --> 00:03:48,009 until the disembarking guests have 116 00:03:48,009 --> 00:03:49,550 completely cleared out and cleared 117 00:03:49,550 --> 00:03:51,069 customs. It's like arriving for 118 00:03:51,069 --> 00:03:52,729 a dinner reservation, but the previous 119 00:03:52,729 --> 00:03:54,599 party won't leave the table. That 120 00:03:54,599 --> 00:03:56,620 is the perfect analogy. And suddenly 121 00:03:56,620 --> 00:03:58,199 the kitchen has to change the entire 122 00:03:58,199 --> 00:03:59,780 menu because you have a gridlock 123 00:03:59,780 --> 00:04:01,479 of 6 ,000 people fighting for the 124 00:04:01,479 --> 00:04:04,379 same curb space. Right. So a three 125 00:04:04,379 --> 00:04:06,340 hour delay on the water creates 126 00:04:06,340 --> 00:04:09,039 a compounding logistical delay on 127 00:04:09,039 --> 00:04:11,599 land. Exactly. And here is a detail 128 00:04:11,599 --> 00:04:14,500 that really stands out to me. Carnival 129 00:04:14,500 --> 00:04:16,220 stated that the ship regained power 130 00:04:16,220 --> 00:04:18,420 and was, quote, fully functional. 131 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:20,720 yet the U .S. Coast Guard still 132 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:22,540 mandated that the ship used tugboats 133 00:04:22,540 --> 00:04:24,300 to actually come into the dock in 134 00:04:24,300 --> 00:04:26,220 Norfolk. Yeah, they did. If your 135 00:04:26,220 --> 00:04:27,600 engines are back online and the 136 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:29,730 captain has steering, Why is the 137 00:04:29,730 --> 00:04:31,069 Coast Guard forcing you to hire 138 00:04:31,069 --> 00:04:32,990 tugboats? That feels like, I don't 139 00:04:32,990 --> 00:04:34,709 know, a bit of an overreach. It 140 00:04:34,709 --> 00:04:36,389 might feel that way, sure. But this 141 00:04:36,389 --> 00:04:37,970 gets right to the heart of the broader 142 00:04:37,970 --> 00:04:39,449 structural forces we mentioned. 143 00:04:39,790 --> 00:04:41,529 We're seeing a much more rigid, 144 00:04:41,870 --> 00:04:43,810 heightened safety posture at U .S. 145 00:04:43,990 --> 00:04:45,430 ports right now. Because of Baltimore. 146 00:04:45,870 --> 00:04:47,009 Exactly. You have to look at the 147 00:04:47,009 --> 00:04:49,310 recent historical context. In 2024, 148 00:04:49,610 --> 00:04:51,629 the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed 149 00:04:51,629 --> 00:04:53,350 in Baltimore after a cargo vessel 150 00:04:53,350 --> 00:04:55,449 lost propulsion. Right. Which completely 151 00:04:55,449 --> 00:04:56,889 paralyzed that entire region. It 152 00:04:56,889 --> 00:04:59,089 was devastating. fundamentally changed 153 00:04:59,089 --> 00:05:00,750 how port authorities and the Coast 154 00:05:00,750 --> 00:05:03,389 Guard view propulsion -related incidents, 155 00:05:03,930 --> 00:05:05,750 especially in crowded infrastructure 156 00:05:05,750 --> 00:05:07,589 -heavy waterways like the Mid -Atlantic. 157 00:05:07,629 --> 00:05:10,490 That makes a lot of sense. So requiring 158 00:05:10,490 --> 00:05:12,290 tugboats for the Carnival Sunshine 159 00:05:12,290 --> 00:05:14,709 wasn't about whether the ship could 160 00:05:14,709 --> 00:05:16,470 theoretically move under its own 161 00:05:16,470 --> 00:05:18,389 power at that exact moment. It was 162 00:05:18,389 --> 00:05:19,990 about risk mitigation. They just 163 00:05:19,990 --> 00:05:22,060 want physical control. Right. By 164 00:05:22,060 --> 00:05:23,740 attaching tugboats, the Coast Guard 165 00:05:23,740 --> 00:05:25,819 ensures an extra layer of absolute 166 00:05:25,819 --> 00:05:27,639 physical control over that massive 167 00:05:27,639 --> 00:05:30,339 hole during docking. They're simply 168 00:05:30,339 --> 00:05:32,019 not taking any chances with infrastructure 169 00:05:32,019 --> 00:05:33,899 anymore. So the Coast Guard dictates 170 00:05:33,899 --> 00:05:36,199 how the ship arrives. But they also 171 00:05:36,199 --> 00:05:38,060 dictate how you, as a passenger, 172 00:05:38,300 --> 00:05:40,259 are allowed to get on. Because for 173 00:05:40,259 --> 00:05:41,579 the travelers sitting in Norfolk 174 00:05:41,579 --> 00:05:43,139 waiting to board the next itinerary 175 00:05:43,139 --> 00:05:46,199 to the Bahamas, Carnival was incredibly 176 00:05:46,199 --> 00:05:48,250 strict. Very strict. They issued 177 00:05:48,250 --> 00:05:50,750 a 6 .30 p .m. cutoff time for arrival. 178 00:05:51,269 --> 00:05:52,649 They basically said, look, if you 179 00:05:52,649 --> 00:05:54,370 are not in the terminal by 6 .46, 180 00:05:54,769 --> 00:05:56,689 you will be denied boarding, period. 181 00:05:57,149 --> 00:05:58,850 If you've ever been the person tapping 182 00:05:58,850 --> 00:06:00,610 your foot in the terminal at like... 183 00:06:00,490 --> 00:06:03,129 6, 4, 5 p .m.? Wondering why they 184 00:06:03,129 --> 00:06:04,629 won't just let you walk up the gangway 185 00:06:04,629 --> 00:06:06,050 when the ship is sitting right there. 186 00:06:06,269 --> 00:06:07,670 It's not because the crew's being 187 00:06:07,670 --> 00:06:09,269 stubborn, is it? Not at all. That 188 00:06:09,269 --> 00:06:11,589 6, 30 p .m. deadline is a legal 189 00:06:11,589 --> 00:06:13,769 mechanism. Before a ship can legally 190 00:06:13,769 --> 00:06:15,709 drop its lines and depart a U .S. 191 00:06:15,829 --> 00:06:18,089 port, the cruise line has to submit 192 00:06:18,089 --> 00:06:20,490 a finalized, locked -in passenger 193 00:06:20,490 --> 00:06:22,790 manifest to the authorities. Ah, 194 00:06:22,889 --> 00:06:24,490 so it's a security thing. Absolutely. 195 00:06:24,750 --> 00:06:26,430 This ties into Homeland Security 196 00:06:26,430 --> 00:06:27,889 and Customs and Border Protection 197 00:06:27,889 --> 00:06:29,910 databases. It's for international 198 00:06:29,910 --> 00:06:32,470 security, accountability, and emergency 199 00:06:32,470 --> 00:06:33,949 management. So it's out of the cruise 200 00:06:33,949 --> 00:06:36,629 line's hands? Completely. Once that 201 00:06:36,629 --> 00:06:38,149 manifest is electronically sealed 202 00:06:38,149 --> 00:06:40,009 and transmitted, the machinery of 203 00:06:40,009 --> 00:06:41,569 departure has moved past the point 204 00:06:41,569 --> 00:06:43,449 where a name can just be penciled 205 00:06:43,449 --> 00:06:45,269 in. That is such a vital piece of 206 00:06:45,269 --> 00:06:46,689 knowledge for travelers. You just 207 00:06:46,689 --> 00:06:48,269 cannot treat a cruise departure 208 00:06:48,269 --> 00:06:50,029 time like a flexible restaurant 209 00:06:50,029 --> 00:06:51,990 reservation. You really can. But 210 00:06:51,990 --> 00:06:53,870 speaking of restaurants, the internal 211 00:06:53,870 --> 00:06:55,889 adaptation of the ship was massive 212 00:06:55,889 --> 00:06:57,910 here. Because they delayed boarding, 213 00:06:58,110 --> 00:07:00,009 they actually gave embarking guests 214 00:07:00,009 --> 00:07:02,810 a $25 onboard credit to cover lunch 215 00:07:02,810 --> 00:07:04,350 in town. Which was a nice gesture. 216 00:07:04,430 --> 00:07:06,230 Right. But once people finally got 217 00:07:06,230 --> 00:07:08,389 onboard, the entire culinary operation 218 00:07:08,389 --> 00:07:10,149 had to pivot. Instead of traditional 219 00:07:10,149 --> 00:07:12,149 fixed dining times, you know, the 220 00:07:12,149 --> 00:07:14,269 classic early in late seedings carnival, 221 00:07:14,589 --> 00:07:16,149 switched to open seating in both 222 00:07:16,149 --> 00:07:17,990 the Sunset and Sunrise dining rooms. 223 00:07:18,290 --> 00:07:20,170 Which is a monumental task for a 224 00:07:20,170 --> 00:07:21,889 culinary team. I mean think about 225 00:07:21,889 --> 00:07:23,449 the logistics there. Right. They 226 00:07:23,449 --> 00:07:25,149 are prepped and scheduled to cook 227 00:07:25,149 --> 00:07:27,790 specific volumes of food for a set 228 00:07:27,790 --> 00:07:30,209 number of people at exactly 6 p 229 00:07:30,209 --> 00:07:32,829 .m. and then another set at 8 15 230 00:07:32,829 --> 00:07:34,870 p .m. They have the stakes thawed 231 00:07:34,870 --> 00:07:36,569 and the plating stations organized 232 00:07:36,569 --> 00:07:38,910 for a very specific rhythm. And 233 00:07:38,910 --> 00:07:41,139 suddenly They have to treat a dining 234 00:07:41,139 --> 00:07:42,980 room designed for thousands of people 235 00:07:42,980 --> 00:07:45,319 like a massive walk -in diner. They 236 00:07:45,319 --> 00:07:47,040 even had to keep the Lido Marketplace 237 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:49,759 buffet open longer just to handle 238 00:07:49,759 --> 00:07:52,279 the staggered, unpredictable flow 239 00:07:52,279 --> 00:07:54,379 of hungry arrivals. It's wild and 240 00:07:54,379 --> 00:07:55,860 that adaptation extends all the 241 00:07:55,860 --> 00:07:57,300 way up to the bridge too. Oh yeah. 242 00:07:57,439 --> 00:07:59,259 Because they left Norfolk hours 243 00:07:59,259 --> 00:08:01,079 late, the ship's next itinerary, 244 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:03,540 a six -night Bahamas run to Celebration 245 00:08:03,540 --> 00:08:05,939 Key, Nassau, and Bimini was instantly 246 00:08:05,939 --> 00:08:08,399 compromised. Captain Antonio Gargiulo 247 00:08:08,399 --> 00:08:09,620 and the Fleet Operations Center 248 00:08:09,620 --> 00:08:11,500 suddenly had a massive math problem 249 00:08:11,500 --> 00:08:12,480 on their hands. Right, figuring 250 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:14,180 out the speed and fuel. Exactly. 251 00:08:14,300 --> 00:08:15,680 How much fuel can they burn to make 252 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:17,920 up time at sea versus how much port 253 00:08:17,920 --> 00:08:19,420 time has to be trimmed to stay on 254 00:08:19,420 --> 00:08:21,160 schedule? It's fascinating. The 255 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:23,100 physical ship breaks down. The Coast 256 00:08:23,100 --> 00:08:25,360 Guard forces a slower docking. The 257 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:27,009 terminal completely alters. its 258 00:08:27,009 --> 00:08:29,449 boarding flow, the kitchen reorganizes 259 00:08:29,449 --> 00:08:31,930 dinner for thousands, and the bridge 260 00:08:31,930 --> 00:08:34,330 calculates a new route. It really 261 00:08:34,330 --> 00:08:36,730 is a domino effect. But so far we 262 00:08:36,730 --> 00:08:38,070 are just talking about the physical 263 00:08:38,070 --> 00:08:40,250 machinery of the ship. What happens 264 00:08:40,250 --> 00:08:41,730 when the machinery breaking down 265 00:08:41,730 --> 00:08:43,529 isn't the engine but the passengers 266 00:08:43,529 --> 00:08:46,230 themselves? Who takes control when 267 00:08:46,230 --> 00:08:47,909 a ship hits international waters 268 00:08:47,909 --> 00:08:50,200 with a biological threat? That introduces 269 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:51,799 a very different kind of unseen 270 00:08:51,799 --> 00:08:53,480 machinery. Because when you cross 271 00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:55,000 international borders, you are no 272 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:56,379 longer just dealing with the Coast 273 00:08:56,379 --> 00:08:58,139 Guard. Right. You are dealing with 274 00:08:58,139 --> 00:09:00,200 sovereign health ministries. And 275 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:01,820 their mandate is to protect their 276 00:09:01,820 --> 00:09:03,919 local populations without completely 277 00:09:03,919 --> 00:09:05,620 destroying their tourism economies. 278 00:09:06,139 --> 00:09:07,320 Let's look at a concrete example 279 00:09:07,320 --> 00:09:09,860 from March 1st, 2026. Same day, 280 00:09:10,299 --> 00:09:11,580 different side of the world, the 281 00:09:11,580 --> 00:09:13,200 Western Dam. A beautiful ship. It 282 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:15,820 is. It's a Vista -class ship operated 283 00:09:15,820 --> 00:09:18,059 by Holland America Line. And a Vista 284 00:09:18,059 --> 00:09:19,100 -class ship, for those who might 285 00:09:19,100 --> 00:09:21,139 not know, is designed specifically 286 00:09:21,139 --> 00:09:23,639 for these longer panoramic ocean 287 00:09:23,639 --> 00:09:25,940 journeys, rather than just packing 288 00:09:25,940 --> 00:09:27,559 in watersides and roller coasters. 289 00:09:27,720 --> 00:09:29,460 Right. It skews a bit older, more 290 00:09:29,460 --> 00:09:31,759 exploration -focused. Exactly. It 291 00:09:31,759 --> 00:09:34,480 was on a massive 28 -night Asia 292 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:36,679 collector voyage. It arrives in 293 00:09:36,679 --> 00:09:38,899 Hong Kong, and authorities confirm 294 00:09:38,899 --> 00:09:42,000 there are 76 cases of norovirus 295 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:45,220 on board. Yeah. Now, wait, 76 cases 296 00:09:45,220 --> 00:09:47,399 of a highly contagious gastrointestinal 297 00:09:47,399 --> 00:09:49,259 illness on a sealed ship sounds 298 00:09:49,259 --> 00:09:51,159 like an absolute logistical nightmare. 299 00:09:51,299 --> 00:09:52,679 How do they even manage that without 300 00:09:52,679 --> 00:09:54,360 inciting a total panic? Well, the 301 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:56,220 number 76 sounds alarming on a spreadsheet, 302 00:09:56,480 --> 00:09:58,080 sure, but you have to break down 303 00:09:58,080 --> 00:09:59,740 the actual demographics of the situation. 304 00:09:59,740 --> 00:10:01,059 OK, break it down. The Western Dam 305 00:10:01,059 --> 00:10:02,879 was carrying roughly 2000 passengers 306 00:10:02,879 --> 00:10:04,980 and 800 crew members. So you were 307 00:10:04,980 --> 00:10:06,860 looking at roughly 3 % of the guests 308 00:10:06,860 --> 00:10:08,399 and about 1 % of the crew being 309 00:10:08,399 --> 00:10:10,419 affected. Still, I mean, 3 % sharing 310 00:10:10,419 --> 00:10:12,179 the same public restrooms and buffets 311 00:10:12,179 --> 00:10:14,250 is a risk. Isn't it? It is. But 312 00:10:14,250 --> 00:10:15,850 these cases weren't all happening 313 00:10:15,850 --> 00:10:18,649 simultaneously. Like you said, the 314 00:10:18,649 --> 00:10:20,370 ship was on a 28 -night voyage. 315 00:10:21,090 --> 00:10:22,730 The patients ranged in age from 316 00:10:22,730 --> 00:10:25,549 24 to 92, and the illnesses were 317 00:10:25,549 --> 00:10:27,389 recorded over a long period. So 318 00:10:27,389 --> 00:10:29,889 it wasn't all at once. Right. In 319 00:10:29,889 --> 00:10:31,789 fact, the first two cases popped 320 00:10:31,789 --> 00:10:33,850 up on the very day the ship departed. 321 00:10:34,330 --> 00:10:36,029 By the time they reached the dock 322 00:10:36,029 --> 00:10:38,850 in Hong Kong weeks later, only three 323 00:10:38,850 --> 00:10:40,649 people were still experiencing minor 324 00:10:40,649 --> 00:10:42,610 symptoms. Just three people. Just 325 00:10:42,610 --> 00:10:45,149 three. And not a single person required 326 00:10:45,149 --> 00:10:47,710 hospitalization. Even so, the response 327 00:10:47,710 --> 00:10:49,990 from Hong Kong was incredibly aggressive. 328 00:10:50,450 --> 00:10:52,009 Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection, 329 00:10:52,110 --> 00:10:54,490 the CHP, boarded that ship at 4 330 00:10:54,490 --> 00:10:56,230 a .m. They didn't mess around. No, 331 00:10:56,330 --> 00:10:57,690 they didn't wait for regular business 332 00:10:57,690 --> 00:10:59,929 hours. Dr. Edwin Sui briefed the 333 00:10:59,929 --> 00:11:01,720 operator on infection control. They 334 00:11:01,720 --> 00:11:03,419 sent inspectors to physically check 335 00:11:03,419 --> 00:11:05,679 food hygiene practices, swab surfaces 336 00:11:05,679 --> 00:11:07,740 and review medical logs. Yeah, a 337 00:11:07,740 --> 00:11:09,299 full sweep. They literally set up 338 00:11:09,299 --> 00:11:10,840 a temporary medical station right 339 00:11:10,840 --> 00:11:12,100 inside the cruise terminal to do 340 00:11:12,100 --> 00:11:13,539 health assessments on the spot. 341 00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:15,419 And they mandated enhanced cleaning 342 00:11:15,419 --> 00:11:16,679 protocols while the healthy guests 343 00:11:16,679 --> 00:11:18,500 were out exploring the city. It's 344 00:11:18,500 --> 00:11:19,740 like an air traffic control system 345 00:11:19,740 --> 00:11:21,539 for public health. It really is. 346 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:24,200 But why deploy so many resources 347 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:26,139 at 4 a .m. for a virus that had 348 00:11:26,139 --> 00:11:27,799 mostly burned itself out? Because 349 00:11:27,799 --> 00:11:30,200 of the broader economic and geopolitical 350 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:33,070 stakes. How so? Keeping these shifts 351 00:11:33,070 --> 00:11:34,549 moving isn't just about avoiding 352 00:11:34,549 --> 00:11:37,029 bad reviews. It is critical for 353 00:11:37,029 --> 00:11:39,330 global tourism recovery. If you 354 00:11:39,330 --> 00:11:40,529 look at where the Western Dam was 355 00:11:40,529 --> 00:11:42,570 just days prior to this Hong Kong 356 00:11:42,570 --> 00:11:44,509 stop, the context becomes clear. 357 00:11:45,269 --> 00:11:47,409 On February 25th, it docked in Shanghai. 358 00:11:47,610 --> 00:11:49,450 And this wasn't just a routine port 359 00:11:49,450 --> 00:11:51,490 call. It was Shanghai's very first 360 00:11:51,490 --> 00:11:52,889 international cruise call for the 361 00:11:52,889 --> 00:11:54,730 Lunar New Year period, since travel 362 00:11:54,730 --> 00:11:56,149 restrictions had been fully lifted. 363 00:11:56,470 --> 00:11:58,769 Oh, wow. The city actually celebrated 364 00:11:58,769 --> 00:12:00,509 the ship's arrival with a massive 365 00:12:00,509 --> 00:12:02,090 drone light show and traditional 366 00:12:02,090 --> 00:12:03,830 lion dances, didn't they? They did. 367 00:12:04,090 --> 00:12:05,529 And you don't put on a drone show 368 00:12:05,529 --> 00:12:06,889 unless the arrival means something 369 00:12:06,889 --> 00:12:08,850 huge to your local economy. Definitely 370 00:12:08,850 --> 00:12:10,970 not. But it was also a crucial test 371 00:12:10,970 --> 00:12:13,470 case for a major geopolitical policy 372 00:12:13,470 --> 00:12:16,269 shift. Just days before, China introduced 373 00:12:16,269 --> 00:12:18,809 a new 15 -day visa -free transit 374 00:12:18,809 --> 00:12:20,350 policy for nationals from several 375 00:12:20,350 --> 00:12:22,409 countries, including the UK and 376 00:12:22,409 --> 00:12:23,750 Canada. And the Western Dam had 377 00:12:23,750 --> 00:12:25,350 a significant number of British 378 00:12:25,350 --> 00:12:27,009 and Canadian passengers on board. 379 00:12:27,610 --> 00:12:30,250 Precisely. The goal of a 15 -day 380 00:12:30,250 --> 00:12:32,909 visa -free policy is to remove all 381 00:12:32,909 --> 00:12:34,529 the bureaucratic friction of travel. 382 00:12:35,070 --> 00:12:36,490 You want tourists to step off the 383 00:12:36,490 --> 00:12:37,850 ship and instantly start spending 384 00:12:37,850 --> 00:12:39,830 money in your economy. Right. But 385 00:12:39,830 --> 00:12:41,710 if a health outbreak forces a ship 386 00:12:41,710 --> 00:12:43,750 into quarantine or causes ports 387 00:12:43,750 --> 00:12:45,850 to start closing their doors, all 388 00:12:45,850 --> 00:12:47,409 that friction comes right back. 389 00:12:47,990 --> 00:12:49,629 It would be a catastrophic failure. 390 00:12:49,820 --> 00:12:52,240 of a highly publicized push to reopen 391 00:12:52,240 --> 00:12:54,220 borders. So when Hong Kong authorities 392 00:12:54,220 --> 00:12:55,980 board at 4 a .m., they are protecting 393 00:12:55,980 --> 00:12:57,700 the ship, yes, but they're also 394 00:12:57,700 --> 00:12:59,279 protecting the integrity of this 395 00:12:59,279 --> 00:13:01,100 massive regional economic strategy. 396 00:13:01,500 --> 00:13:03,259 Exactly. And their coordination 397 00:13:03,259 --> 00:13:04,679 didn't stop at their own borders. 398 00:13:05,100 --> 00:13:06,759 Hong Kong immediately notified health 399 00:13:06,759 --> 00:13:07,799 authorities in the Philippines, 400 00:13:08,259 --> 00:13:10,080 which was the West Dam's next destination. 401 00:13:10,220 --> 00:13:11,679 Oh, so they gave them a heads up. 402 00:13:11,820 --> 00:13:13,399 Right. They were heading to Palawan 403 00:13:13,399 --> 00:13:15,830 Island, Boracay and Manila. So the 404 00:13:15,830 --> 00:13:17,169 Philippines knew exactly what the 405 00:13:17,169 --> 00:13:18,929 case count was and what mitigation 406 00:13:18,929 --> 00:13:20,610 steps had already been taken before 407 00:13:20,610 --> 00:13:22,210 the ship even entered their waters. 408 00:13:22,490 --> 00:13:24,210 It really highlights how interconnected 409 00:13:24,210 --> 00:13:25,929 the whole system is. It's not just 410 00:13:25,929 --> 00:13:27,590 one port in a bubble. Not at all. 411 00:13:27,830 --> 00:13:29,029 But, you know, amidst all these 412 00:13:29,029 --> 00:13:30,450 high -level government protocols, 413 00:13:30,750 --> 00:13:32,750 the U .S. CDC guidance points out 414 00:13:32,750 --> 00:13:34,809 a vulnerability that rests entirely 415 00:13:34,809 --> 00:13:36,970 with the traveler. And it's about 416 00:13:36,970 --> 00:13:38,870 hand sanitizer. Oh, this is perhaps 417 00:13:38,870 --> 00:13:40,909 the most misunderstood aspect of 418 00:13:40,909 --> 00:13:43,039 cruising health. Right, because 419 00:13:43,039 --> 00:13:44,159 people think, oh, I'll just use 420 00:13:44,159 --> 00:13:45,820 the hand sanitizer stations everywhere 421 00:13:45,820 --> 00:13:48,399 and I'm fine. But think of norovirus 422 00:13:48,399 --> 00:13:50,960 like a microscopic tank. I like 423 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:53,220 that analogy. It is heavily armored. 424 00:13:53,419 --> 00:13:56,240 When you pump a handful of alcohol 425 00:13:56,240 --> 00:13:57,820 -based hand sanitizer onto your 426 00:13:57,820 --> 00:13:59,919 hands, that alcohol just washes 427 00:13:59,919 --> 00:14:01,899 right over the virus's armor. It 428 00:14:01,899 --> 00:14:03,039 doesn't penetrate it. It doesn't 429 00:14:03,039 --> 00:14:05,259 kill it. Nope. But soap and water 430 00:14:05,259 --> 00:14:06,799 acts like a physical bulldozer. 431 00:14:07,279 --> 00:14:09,059 The friction of scrubbing with soap 432 00:14:09,059 --> 00:14:10,879 manually rips the virus off your 433 00:14:10,879 --> 00:14:12,320 skin so it can be washed down the 434 00:14:12,320 --> 00:14:14,120 drain. Hand washing is the only 435 00:14:14,120 --> 00:14:15,759 effective preventative measure for 436 00:14:15,759 --> 00:14:17,460 travelers. It is the simplest piece 437 00:14:17,460 --> 00:14:19,200 of the entire unseen machinery. 438 00:14:19,399 --> 00:14:21,279 But it is the one thing the Coast 439 00:14:21,279 --> 00:14:22,840 Guard or the Center for Health Protection 440 00:14:22,730 --> 00:14:25,149 cannot do for you. Exactly. Watch 441 00:14:25,149 --> 00:14:27,470 your hands, folks. So we've spent 442 00:14:27,470 --> 00:14:29,809 time looking at the incredible logistical 443 00:14:29,809 --> 00:14:31,990 hurdles of these massive 2 ,000 444 00:14:31,990 --> 00:14:34,169 plus passenger ships. We've seen 445 00:14:34,169 --> 00:14:35,970 how they deal with Coast Guard manifest 446 00:14:35,970 --> 00:14:38,169 locks, terminal bottlenecks, and 447 00:14:38,169 --> 00:14:40,049 intricate international health cordons. 448 00:14:40,149 --> 00:14:42,269 It's a lot to manage. It is. But 449 00:14:42,269 --> 00:14:43,850 what if you are a traveler who wants 450 00:14:43,850 --> 00:14:45,809 to bypass that massive machinery 451 00:14:45,809 --> 00:14:48,289 entirely? If you've been listening 452 00:14:48,289 --> 00:14:50,340 and thinking, I don't want to deal 453 00:14:50,340 --> 00:14:52,399 with 3000 people funneling through 454 00:14:52,399 --> 00:14:55,000 a single terminal. What is the alternative? 455 00:14:55,399 --> 00:14:57,340 Well, we are seeing a significant 456 00:14:57,340 --> 00:14:58,980 paradigm shift in the industry right 457 00:14:58,980 --> 00:15:00,320 now, particularly looking ahead 458 00:15:00,320 --> 00:15:02,700 to the 2026 season. Right. Travelers 459 00:15:02,700 --> 00:15:04,139 are increasingly moving away from 460 00:15:04,139 --> 00:15:05,679 the vulnerabilities of the big ship 461 00:15:05,679 --> 00:15:07,620 model and looking at small ship 462 00:15:07,620 --> 00:15:09,639 lower impact expeditions. And this 463 00:15:09,639 --> 00:15:11,620 brings us to HX Expeditions and 464 00:15:11,620 --> 00:15:13,980 their newly announced 2026 Alaska 465 00:15:13,980 --> 00:15:15,899 program. Alaska has traditionally 466 00:15:15,899 --> 00:15:17,519 been dominated by these massive 467 00:15:17,519 --> 00:15:19,419 4000 passenger floating resorts. 468 00:15:19,539 --> 00:15:20,820 Yeah, the coastline only model. 469 00:15:20,940 --> 00:15:22,720 Exactly. But Echex is introducing 470 00:15:22,720 --> 00:15:24,419 ships that act more like mobile 471 00:15:24,419 --> 00:15:26,559 base cams. It is a structural shift 472 00:15:26,559 --> 00:15:29,120 in how we define a cruise. Sam Imes, 473 00:15:29,279 --> 00:15:31,159 the Alaska product planner for HX, 474 00:15:31,519 --> 00:15:32,700 specifically noted that they are 475 00:15:32,700 --> 00:15:34,500 building experiences, and this is 476 00:15:34,500 --> 00:15:36,860 a quote, with communities rather 477 00:15:36,860 --> 00:15:38,659 than around them. That is a very 478 00:15:38,659 --> 00:15:40,360 pointed critique of the megaship 479 00:15:40,360 --> 00:15:42,659 model. It really is. In the megaship 480 00:15:42,659 --> 00:15:44,840 model, a pristine town often just 481 00:15:44,840 --> 00:15:46,759 becomes a temporary backdrop for 482 00:15:46,759 --> 00:15:49,000 thousands of people to buy souvenirs 483 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:50,740 rather than an active participant 484 00:15:50,740 --> 00:15:52,470 in the ecosystem. Let's break down 485 00:15:52,470 --> 00:15:54,090 the mechanics of how they are actually 486 00:15:54,090 --> 00:15:56,129 doing this. They are using a ship 487 00:15:56,129 --> 00:15:58,070 called the Rolled Amundsen. It carries 488 00:15:58,070 --> 00:16:01,669 just 490 passengers. But the most 489 00:16:01,669 --> 00:16:03,549 vital structural difference is that 490 00:16:03,549 --> 00:16:05,850 it utilizes hybrid electric propulsion. 491 00:16:06,389 --> 00:16:07,470 And this isn't just a marketing 492 00:16:07,470 --> 00:16:09,710 gimmick, you know. It fundamentally 493 00:16:09,710 --> 00:16:11,470 alters the experience of the environment. 494 00:16:11,679 --> 00:16:13,720 Right, because how does a hybrid 495 00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:15,340 electric system actually function 496 00:16:15,340 --> 00:16:16,840 on a vessel that size? It isn't 497 00:16:16,840 --> 00:16:18,639 just a giant Prius. No, definitely 498 00:16:18,639 --> 00:16:20,240 not. It operates on a principle 499 00:16:20,240 --> 00:16:21,919 called peak shaving. Peak shaving, 500 00:16:22,139 --> 00:16:24,100 okay. Massive battery banks handle 501 00:16:24,100 --> 00:16:25,799 the fluctuating power loads of the 502 00:16:25,799 --> 00:16:27,559 ship, which allows the main engines 503 00:16:27,559 --> 00:16:29,860 to run at their absolute, optimal, 504 00:16:29,980 --> 00:16:32,139 most efficient levels. Got it. But 505 00:16:32,139 --> 00:16:34,080 crucially, For limited periods, 506 00:16:34,519 --> 00:16:36,960 those engines can be shut down entirely, 507 00:16:37,080 --> 00:16:39,059 allowing the ship to operate purely 508 00:16:39,059 --> 00:16:40,580 on battery power. Which means you 509 00:16:40,580 --> 00:16:42,639 can glide into sensitive marine 510 00:16:42,639 --> 00:16:44,899 ecosystems in almost total silence. 511 00:16:45,360 --> 00:16:47,279 You remove the constant thrum and 512 00:16:47,279 --> 00:16:49,399 vibration of massive diesel engines. 513 00:16:49,399 --> 00:16:50,740 That's incredible. That acoustic 514 00:16:50,740 --> 00:16:52,899 footprint changes marine wildlife 515 00:16:52,899 --> 00:16:55,039 behavior. It allows passengers to 516 00:16:55,039 --> 00:16:57,179 get closer to nature without disrupting 517 00:16:57,179 --> 00:16:58,539 the very thing they came to see. 518 00:16:58,620 --> 00:17:00,120 It is a perfect intersection of 519 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:01,519 environmental resilience and guest 520 00:17:01,519 --> 00:17:03,299 experience. And that philosophy 521 00:17:03,299 --> 00:17:05,019 extends to the actual routes they 522 00:17:05,019 --> 00:17:07,640 are taking in 2026. They are offering 523 00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:09,559 itineraries like the Fjords of the 524 00:17:09,559 --> 00:17:10,880 Great Land, which starts around 525 00:17:10,880 --> 00:17:13,839 4 ,632 two -legs, and the Twelve 526 00:17:13,839 --> 00:17:15,119 Night where the mountains meet the 527 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:16,519 sea. Yeah, very different routes. 528 00:17:16,619 --> 00:17:18,359 But instead of pulling up to massive 529 00:17:18,359 --> 00:17:20,359 concrete piers and crowded tourist 530 00:17:20,359 --> 00:17:22,160 hubs, they are utilizing small boat 531 00:17:22,160 --> 00:17:24,119 outings and guided landings in highly 532 00:17:24,119 --> 00:17:26,849 curated locations. Two places really 533 00:17:26,849 --> 00:17:28,470 stand out to me here, Claw Walk 534 00:17:28,470 --> 00:17:30,410 and Valdez. Claw Walk is a brilliant 535 00:17:30,410 --> 00:17:31,630 example of that with a community 536 00:17:31,630 --> 00:17:33,470 approach. This is an indigenous 537 00:17:33,470 --> 00:17:35,250 owned port on Prince of Wales Island. 538 00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:38,380 And the focus is deeply rooted in 539 00:17:38,380 --> 00:17:40,180 Klingit culture. They have a collection 540 00:17:40,180 --> 00:17:42,859 of 21 historic totem poles that 541 00:17:42,859 --> 00:17:45,180 aren't just photo ops. They're central 542 00:17:45,180 --> 00:17:46,500 to their cultural storytelling. 543 00:17:47,079 --> 00:17:48,720 You can go on a forest hike that 544 00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:50,460 actually ends with a local beer 545 00:17:50,460 --> 00:17:52,759 tasting. I love that. Yeah. The 546 00:17:52,759 --> 00:17:54,460 mechanics of the visit are intimate. 547 00:17:54,779 --> 00:17:56,400 You are directly supporting the 548 00:17:56,400 --> 00:17:58,359 local economy without overwhelming 549 00:17:58,359 --> 00:17:59,980 its infrastructure. Then you have 550 00:17:59,980 --> 00:18:02,039 a destination like Valdez, which 551 00:18:02,039 --> 00:18:04,480 offers a powerful narrative of environmental 552 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:07,140 recovery. Valdez sits in the Chugak 553 00:18:07,140 --> 00:18:09,599 Mountains and for decades its name 554 00:18:09,599 --> 00:18:11,839 has been globally tied to the 1989 555 00:18:11,839 --> 00:18:14,440 Exxon Valdez oil spill. One of the 556 00:18:14,440 --> 00:18:16,619 most infamous environmental disasters 557 00:18:16,619 --> 00:18:18,720 in maritime history. Millions of 558 00:18:18,720 --> 00:18:20,319 gallons of crude oil devastating 559 00:18:20,319 --> 00:18:22,519 the coastline. Exactly. For a long 560 00:18:22,519 --> 00:18:24,059 time the narrative of Valdez was 561 00:18:24,059 --> 00:18:26,380 solely about that trauma. But today, 562 00:18:26,519 --> 00:18:28,240 the integration of ecotourism is 563 00:18:28,240 --> 00:18:30,180 acting as an economic driver to 564 00:18:30,180 --> 00:18:32,779 showcase its recovery. HX is bringing 565 00:18:32,779 --> 00:18:34,099 passengers there not just to look 566 00:18:34,099 --> 00:18:35,660 at the scenery, but to learn about 567 00:18:35,660 --> 00:18:37,000 the resilience of the ecosystem. 568 00:18:37,380 --> 00:18:39,119 You can visit museums focused on 569 00:18:39,119 --> 00:18:41,480 the spills aftermath, but you also 570 00:18:41,480 --> 00:18:43,099 physically engage with the recovered 571 00:18:43,099 --> 00:18:45,000 landscape. They are organizing high 572 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:46,940 -alpine hikes and inflatable kayaking 573 00:18:46,940 --> 00:18:48,920 right among the floating ice. It 574 00:18:48,920 --> 00:18:50,480 proves that responsible tourism 575 00:18:50,480 --> 00:18:53,619 can be a primary engine for an area's 576 00:18:53,619 --> 00:18:56,170 economic rebirth. It shifts the 577 00:18:56,170 --> 00:18:58,789 passenger from being a passive spectator 578 00:18:58,789 --> 00:19:00,910 to an active student of the environment. 579 00:19:01,150 --> 00:19:03,029 It is a total reimagining of what 580 00:19:03,029 --> 00:19:05,089 maritime travel can be. And honestly, 581 00:19:05,250 --> 00:19:06,710 it provides a perfect through line 582 00:19:06,710 --> 00:19:08,230 for everything we've unpacked today. 583 00:19:08,390 --> 00:19:10,569 How do you mean? Well, think about 584 00:19:10,569 --> 00:19:12,130 the three completely different scenarios 585 00:19:12,130 --> 00:19:14,269 we just explored. If you look closely, 586 00:19:14,490 --> 00:19:16,109 the true defining trait of the modern 587 00:19:16,109 --> 00:19:18,190 cruise industry isn't luxury or 588 00:19:18,190 --> 00:19:20,349 massive buffets or water slides. 589 00:19:20,630 --> 00:19:22,690 It is resilience. It is an industry 590 00:19:22,690 --> 00:19:24,799 built on constant adaptation. That 591 00:19:24,799 --> 00:19:26,579 is a very accurate way to synthesize 592 00:19:26,579 --> 00:19:28,619 it. Right. You have a captain and 593 00:19:28,619 --> 00:19:30,539 a culinary team who can regain power 594 00:19:30,539 --> 00:19:32,259 and completely reorganize a dining 595 00:19:32,259 --> 00:19:33,900 schedule for thousands of people 596 00:19:33,900 --> 00:19:35,640 in a single afternoon in Virginia. 597 00:19:36,420 --> 00:19:37,960 You have international port authorities 598 00:19:37,960 --> 00:19:39,720 in Hong Kong seamlessly deploying 599 00:19:39,720 --> 00:19:41,579 health cordons at 4 a .m. to manage 600 00:19:41,579 --> 00:19:43,400 a virus and protect global borders. 601 00:19:43,819 --> 00:19:45,279 It's incredible coordination. And 602 00:19:45,279 --> 00:19:47,380 you have a community in Alaska transforming 603 00:19:47,380 --> 00:19:49,160 the site of a historic environmental 604 00:19:49,160 --> 00:19:52,099 disaster into a premier hub for 605 00:19:52,099 --> 00:19:54,430 hybrid electric ecotourism. The 606 00:19:54,430 --> 00:19:56,049 sea is inherently unpredictable, 607 00:19:56,490 --> 00:19:57,970 and the massive machinery built 608 00:19:57,970 --> 00:20:00,009 to navigate it has to be infinitely 609 00:20:00,009 --> 00:20:02,029 adaptable. And understanding how 610 00:20:02,029 --> 00:20:04,210 that machinery works makes you an 611 00:20:04,210 --> 00:20:05,710 infinitely better, more prepared 612 00:20:05,710 --> 00:20:07,710 traveler. Exactly. Next time you 613 00:20:07,710 --> 00:20:09,369 step onto a ship, take a moment 614 00:20:09,369 --> 00:20:11,109 to look past the amenities. Think 615 00:20:11,109 --> 00:20:12,529 about the Coast Guard manifests 616 00:20:12,529 --> 00:20:14,410 locking into place, the terminal 617 00:20:14,410 --> 00:20:16,009 bottlenecks, the acoustic footprint 618 00:20:16,009 --> 00:20:17,789 of the engines, and the microscopic 619 00:20:17,789 --> 00:20:20,369 bulldozers of soap and water. Appreciate 620 00:20:20,369 --> 00:20:22,950 the massive, unseen structural forces 621 00:20:23,079 --> 00:20:24,420 working around the clock to keep 622 00:20:24,420 --> 00:20:26,480 your vacation afloat. It might just 623 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:27,960 be the most impressive part of the 624 00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:29,819 entire journey. Thanks for listening 625 00:20:29,819 --> 00:20:31,500 to Cruise News. Visit cruisenews 626 00:20:31,500 --> 00:20:33,279 .io to catch up on the latest updates 627 00:20:33,279 --> 00:20:35,160 and sign up for free email alerts. 628 00:20:35,640 --> 00:20:36,859 Until next time, I'll leave you 629 00:20:36,859 --> 00:20:39,059 with this to consider. If the future 630 00:20:39,059 --> 00:20:40,859 of cruising is hybrid electric ships 631 00:20:40,859 --> 00:20:42,480 quietly integrating with Indigenous 632 00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:44,559 communities, what other massive, 633 00:20:44,640 --> 00:20:46,259 traditionally untouchable global 634 00:20:46,259 --> 00:20:47,539 industries are quietly learning 635 00:20:47,539 --> 00:20:48,539 to tread a little lighter?