Keeping Busy In Cairns
We have a rule amongst us in the office …
If you say the word “busy” more than once, you must shout everyone chocolate!
(We are enjoying lot’s of chocolate at the moment).
While most of our team are working from home and a small group of crew are onboard maintaining our vessels, we are all keeping very busy preparing for the day we can set sail for distant shores and enriching adventures once more.
We would like to share with you some of what is occupying our time.
From our Crew onboard the ships
UPDATE FROM THE SHIPYARD
Our new build of Coral Geographer carries on, with the shipyard reporting that we are on track with the vessel 70% complete as of April 2020. This week the bathroom units for our 6 new suites arrived at the yard and we are very pleased with the quality, as we hope you will be too.
REVISING OUR SAILING SCHEDULES
As 35 years in the expedition game has taught us, you always need a plan X, Y & Z. With the uncertainty in the global travel environment and a high likelihood of government restrictions continuing in the year ahead, we have pulled out the maps and put on the kettle. Our masters and expedition leaders have worked overtime with our Product team to develop varied sailing scenarios for the months ahead. We wish we had a crystal ball to know when COVID regulations would lift, but the second-best thing is for us to make contingency plans for every different possibility we can think of! There are many exciting new options to consider, and once we have a firmer understanding of the future environment, we will share an update with you all.
WORLD-LEADING HEALTH & SAFETY
We have engaged a world-leading medical response specialist team to develop a detailed management strategy for us. Scoped to deliver and exceed best practice, ensure we continue to provide safe voyages, and to allow authorities confidence in permitting us to operate when the time is right.
TIME FOR FINE-TUNING
When operating a highly logistical company like ours, you rarely find downtime and we are certainly making the most of these months to set us up for future success. We are undertaking a range of training and project work that will make us stronger when we return. We have established cross-functional teams for dozens of projects with initiatives ranging from increasing the digital capability of sales and marketing, preparing our new “Cruise Collection” merchandise range and introducing two special Wine Selection packages, updating marine operations and record-keeping systems and migrating a range of our software systems to new platforms and in-house management. Even from home, we still do our weekly all-staff briefings (pictured) and maintain the open communications that make our Coral Expeditions family so close-knit and efficient.
We hope you are staying happy and safe. We look forward to the day we can sail together again!