Page 4 - Cruise Industry News 2022 USA River Report

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HCLOOSME TEO

WITH ROBUST
DEMAND

Summer of 2021 opened with a number of
U.S.-flagged riverboats and coastal ships
in operation, able to sidestep the CDC’s
cruise ship guidance being under
the 250-person mark, and also
operating with blessings from
local and state governments
under strict health and
safety protocols.

Pent up demand, a 2020 season that
didn’t happen and the idea of close
to home cruising should make 2021
a very good year for the U.S. riverboat

market. 2022 and beyond will be about

growth and absorbing incoming capacity.

In fact, the restart has been so positive

and aggressively paced that the biggest

problem heading into the summer seems

to be the U.S. labor market. Operators

are having trouble hiring for the hun-

dreds of hospitality jobs they need The American Song is part of a series of
modern riverboats from American Cruise Lines.
to fill overnight to serve sold out
trips. It’s a good problem.

8 Cruise Industry News: 2022 USA River Market Report