Despite considerable lobbying from the cruise industry to cancel its no sail order which expires on October 31, the US CDC has announced that is advising Americans to “defer all cruise travel”.
The CDC has said that while it does not normally post health notices for ships, it was issuing this advice because of the unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Center for Disease Control & Prevention said reports of coronavirus on cruises highlight the risk of infections to cruise passengers and crew members, although it failed to elaborate on these reports.
In the meantime, according to a report in Cruise Industry News regarding whether CDC will lift its no sail order on October 31, cruises have had a successful restart so far in Asia, Europe and with small ships in Australia, and could quickly mount a staggered restart in North America should the CDC lift its no sail order.
At the same time, tensions are rising, with port protests having taken place twice in October, encouraging political leaders to let the cruise industry operate again, with thousands of jobs at stake and there continues to be an expanding probe into potential interference in the CDC’s order.
The cruise industry has already committed to 100% testing for COVID-19 for passengers and crew, and also submitted a comprehensive health plan.
No major cruise lines are currently selling November departures out of US ports, but most major cruise lines are however selling December departures from American homeports.
A Report by John Alwyn-Jones
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