As cruise ships prepare to return to the seas after an enforced 14-month break due to the pandemic, one of the hardest hit industries is facing a challenging future.
While many staff will return to work, life on board is set to be very different and that will reflect in salaries and the number of cruise ships operating.
Recruitment firms for major cruise liners said profits were down 70 per cent on pre-pandemic levels and fear it could take another year for the industry to recover.
“At the moment we have a very limited number of openings as we are mostly trying to deploy our returning crew who have been sitting at home,” said Mathew Dymtchev, director of operations at Odyssey International Maritime and Hotel Management.
People are still nervous about what the travel restrictions will be and what happens if someone gets covid on board.
Vivek Menon,
Deira Travel
“The companies that I am working with are gradually reopening from August 1, but are unlikely to be fully operational until September 2022.
“We are supplying crew for about 50 ships but with the travel restrictions, vaccination and different safety protocols for new crew, recovery will take some time.
“From our research around 85 per cent of these people are ready to come back to work, but that does not mean they will all do so.”
Staff joining cruise ships face strict new safety protocols.
Changes to the layout on board to incorporate social distancing measures have also been implemented at substantial cost.
Odyssey supplies crew to ships operated by global travel firms, including Oceania Cruises, Virgin Voyages, Regent Seven Seas, Crystal Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line, Thompson Cruises, Princess Cruises and Cunard.
While most businesses in the Gulf have returned to some kind of normality, tourism continues to feel the strain and suffer from the pandemic’s fallout.
Based on a market-wide survey of more than 1,000 professionals in the region, 52 per cent said their organisation was in ‘business as usual’ or ‘growth’ phases of operation.
Of those still recovering, 28 per cent expected their operations to be back to pre-pandemic levels or beyond in the next 12 months, suggesting 80 per cent of organisations will be back on their feet, if not growing, by 2022.
The cruise ship industry, however, is likely to continue to suffer for some time, Mr Dymtchev said.
“It has been difficult, to say the least, and it will take far longer to recover and be much harder than any of us thought,” he said.
“The gravity of the situation was vastly underestimated by the industry as a whole.
“This time last year we thought we would be back within three months but it has been a much extended period of intermission.”
The US Centres for Disease updated guidance for resumption of cruise operations in May.
It included mandatory masks and regular disinfection. Trial voyages were also completed ahead of relaunching passenger cruises.
European ports imposing different safety protocols for new crew joining vessels has complicated recruitment further.
“If we send someone from Dubai fully vaccinated to join a crew in Southampton it will take a month of preparation in advance,” said Mr Dymchev, who established the SOS Crew Charity Foundation during the pandemic to support out-of-work staff.
“If someone is arriving in Venice, Italy they use also quarantine for seven days and have a PCR test, or for 14 days if they are unvaccinated. That makes things complicated and expensive.”
Despite international travel resuming as border restrictions ease, the cruise liner industry remains uncertain.
The first five post-pandemic voyages onboard the Cunard-run Queen Elizabeth liner were cancelled after crew members tested positive for Covid-19.
Cases were identified on new crew joining the ship in June as it was preparing to begin short-term voyages around the UK.
Royal Caribbean cruises resumed in June after a year-long suspension but also recorded two cases of the virus onboard its Celebrity Millennium vessel.
The global industry was worth around $150 billion prior to the pandemic and supported more than 1.2 million jobs worldwide.
Profits have now been considerably reduced due to falling demand and quiet schedules.
Several onboard outbreaks plunged the industry into crisis in early 2020, with the Diamond Princess one of the worst hit.
The 18-deck ship operated by Princess Cruises was in dock in Yokohama, Japan, when the virus spread through passengers on board, infecting more than 600 and claiming at least nine lives.
Meanwhile, a Genting Cruise Lines' ship on a "cruise to nowhere" returned to Singapore on Wednesday after a passenger, 40, was suspected to have Covid-19, the city state’s tourism board reported. The nearly 3,000 passengers and crew on board have been confined to their cabins, with contactless meals delivered.
Although Dubai’s new cruise terminal has already welcomed several super-sized liners into port this year, travel agents said the industry would need time to recover.
“Covid has been a nightmare for the cruise ship sector,” said Vivek Menon, a booking agent for Deira Travel.
“Prior to Covid, about 30 per cent of our total bookings were for cruise ships travelling all over the world.
"Now fewer than five per cent of all our travel enquiries are for these kinds of holidays so it has had a huge impact.
“People are still nervous about what the travel restrictions will be and what happens if someone gets Covid on board.
“There is a lot more nervousness about these kinds of holidays.”
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Game Of Thrones Season Seven: A Bluffers Guide
Want to sound on message about the biggest show on television without actually watching it? Best not to get locked into the labyrinthine tales of revenge and royalty: as Isaac Hempstead Wright put it, all you really need to know from now on is that there’s going to be a huge fight between humans and the armies of undead White Walkers.
The season ended with a dragon captured by the Night King blowing apart the huge wall of ice that separates the human world from its less appealing counterpart. Not that some of the humans in Westeros have been particularly appealing, either.
Anyway, the White Walkers are now free to cause any kind of havoc they wish, and as Liam Cunningham told us: “Westeros may be zombie land after the Night King has finished.” If the various human factions don’t put aside their differences in season 8, we could be looking at The Walking Dead: The Medieval Years.
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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20SAMSUNG%20GALAXY%20Z%20FLIP5
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDisplay%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Main%20%E2%80%93%206.7%22%20FHD%2B%20Dynamic%20Amoled%202X%2C%202640%20x%201080%2C%2022%3A9%2C%20425ppi%2C%20HDR10%2B%2C%20up%20to%20120Hz%3B%20cover%20%E2%80%93%203%2F4%22%20Super%20Amoled%2C%20720%20x%20748%2C%20306ppi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EProcessor%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Qualcomm%20Snapdragon%208%20Gen%202%2C%204nm%2C%20octa-core%3B%20Adreno%20740%20GPU%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMemory%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208GB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECapacity%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20256%2F512GB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPlatform%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Android%2013%2C%20One%20UI%205.1.1%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMain%20camera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dual%2012MP%20ultra-wide%20(f%2F2.2)%20%2B%2012MP%20wide%20(f%2F1.8)%2C%20OIS%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EVideo%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204K%4030%2F60fps%2C%20full-HD%4060%2F240fps%2C%20HD%40960fps%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFront%20camera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2010MP%20(f%2F2.2)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203700mAh%2C%2025W%20fast%20charging%2C%2015W%20wireless%2C%204.5W%20reverse%20wireless%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EConnectivity%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205G%3B%20Wi-Fi%2C%20Bluetooth%205.3%2C%20NFC%20(Samsung%20Pay)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EI%2FO%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20USB-C%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECards%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nano-SIM%20%2B%20eSIM%3B%20no%20microSD%20slot%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EColours%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Cream%2C%20graphite%2C%20lavender%2C%20mint%3B%20Samsung.com%20exclusives%20%E2%80%93%20blue%2C%20grey%2C%20green%2C%20yellow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIn%20the%20box%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Flip%204%2C%20USB-C-to-USB-C%20cable%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dh3%2C899%20%2F%20Dh4%2C349%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Fighter profiles
Gabrieli Pessanha (Brazil)
Reigning Abu Dhabi World Pro champion in the 95kg division, virtually unbeatable in her weight class. Known for her pressure game but also dangerous with her back on the mat.
Nathiely de Jesus, 23, (Brazil)
Two-time World Pro champion renowned for her aggressive game. She is tall and most feared by her opponents for both her triangles and arm-bar attacks.
Thamara Ferreira, 24, (Brazil)
Since her brown belt days, Ferreira has been dominating the 70kg, in both the World Pro and the Grand Slams. With a very aggressive game.
Samantha Cook, 32, (Britain)
One of the biggest talents coming out of Europe in recent times. She is known for a highly technical game and bringing her A game to the table as always.
Kendall Reusing, 22, (USA)
Another young gun ready to explode in the big leagues. The Californian resident is a powerhouse in the -95kg division. Her duels with Pessanha have been highlights in the Grand Slams.
Martina Gramenius, 32, (Sweden)
Already a two-time Grand Slam champion in the current season. Gramenius won golds in the 70kg, in both in Moscow and Tokyo, to earn a spot in the inaugural Queen of Mats.
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
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Fringe@Four Line-up
October 1 - Phil Nichol (stand-up comedy)
October 29 - Mandy Knight (stand-up comedy)
November 5 - Sinatra Raw (Fringe theatre)
November 8 - Imah Dumagay & Sundeep Fernandes (stand-up comedy)
November 13 - Gordon Southern (stand-up comedy)
November 22 - In Loyal Company (Fringe theatre)
November 29 - Peter Searles (comedy / theatre)
December 5 - Sinatra’s Christmas Under The Stars (music / dinner show)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Miguel Cotto world titles:
WBO Light Welterweight champion - 2004-06
WBA Welterweight champion – 2006-08
WBO Welterweight champion – Feb 2009-Nov 2009
WBA Light Middleweight champion – 2010-12
WBC Middleweight champion – 2014-15
WBO Light Middleweight champion – Aug 2017-Dec 2017
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company%20profile
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Managing the separation process
- Choose your nursery carefully in the first place
- Relax – and hopefully your child will follow suit
- Inform the staff in advance of your child’s likes and dislikes.
- If you need some extra time to talk to the teachers, make an appointment a few days in advance, rather than attempting to chat on your child’s first day
- The longer you stay, the more upset your child will become. As difficult as it is, walk away. Say a proper goodbye and reassure your child that you will be back
- Be patient. Your child might love it one day and hate it the next
- Stick at it. Don’t give up after the first day or week. It takes time for children to settle into a new routine.And, finally, don’t feel guilty.
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
MATCH INFO
Cricket World Cup League Two
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Namibia beat Oman by 52 runs
UAE beat Namibia by eight wickets
UAE v Oman - abandoned
Oman v Namibia - abandoned
The years Ramadan fell in May
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Company Profile
Company name: OneOrder
Started: October 2021
Founders: Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Industry: technology, logistics
Investors: A15 and self-funded
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- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
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The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
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Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Friday’s fixture
6.15pm: Al Wahda v Hatta
6.15pm: Al Dhafra v Ajman
9pm: Al Wasl v Baniyas
9pm: Fujairah v Sharjah
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
