There really is only one place to start this month. The coronavirus outbreak has caused a great deal of concern and disruption to many. This fluid and fast-moving situation poses many problematic scenarios, but the industry has shown its flexibility, and swift action has been forthcoming, as lines suspend all operations for a limited period.

Nevertheless, while it would be unwise to downplay the seriousness of the current state of things, it should be remembered that resilience is a fundamental element of the recovery. As an industry we must stay strong and positive. Yes, there will be hurt and distress along the way, but cruise, and the wider travel sector, will emerge stronger than ever.

We have put together a series of articles about the current situation, starting on page six. In addition, many lines have updated their cancellation policies to reassure guests, and have introduced a series of pledges to protect bookings and agent commissions – read more about this in our Sales Inspiration section on pages 12/13.

At Cruise Trade News we are doing everything we can to support you – our readers and friends – during this difficult time. We are all working to the best of our abilities to bring you the latest updates and important information.

We are all united, together as one, and to that effect the travel media in the UK & Ireland – including CTN – have joined forces under one banner, to support you during this time – see The Briefing for more details.

With that in mind, you will find that this issue, as always, includes everything you need to help you and your business.

This month we also have a special have a special luxury cruising supplement and coverage of the inaugural CTN Best Companies to Work For in Cruise programme.

On a lighter note, we have created a reader survey to find out what you really think about the magazine and our website. We’d love to hear your thoughts. Please go to bit.ly/CTNSurvey2020 to take part – just a few minutes of your time is all we need.