Cruise line group opts to not sail until 2021
Cruise lines have thrown in the towel for 2020.
Member companies of lobbying group Cruise Lines International Association, which includes Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and most others, have agreed to continue their voluntary suspension of sailing from U.S. ports until 2021.
“As we continue to plan for a gradual and highly-controlled return of cruise operations in the U.S., CLIA members are committed to implementing stringent measures to address COVID-19 safety, including 100% testing of passengers and crew, expanded onboard medical capabilities, and trial sailings, among many others,” reads a statement from CLIA.
“We share a common goal with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to protect public health, which has been affirmed and reaffirmed consistently throughout the industry’s response to the global pandemic.”
While the lines are no longer under the no-sail order from the CDC, member lines now fall under a new “Framework for Conditional Sailing Order” issued by the CDC on Oct. 31.
That framework requires lines to go through a series of tasks before they can begin sailing with customers. That includes ramping up testing facilities on and off-ship, ensuring its personnel are free of coronavirus and then performing at least one test sailing to simulate an actual cruise and prove out its ability to sail safely.
The timetable for each line to tackle these requirements meant cruise lines would have to rush if they were to try and keep any sailings still on the books for December.
On Monday, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Disney Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean Group all pulled their remaining December sailings from their websites.
Tuesday’s announcement from CLIA means that other lines like Carnival and MSC Cruises would also be waiting until January.
