Posted on 04/14/2020 10:37:15 AM PDT by Justa
The cruise industry received another blow on April 9, when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention extended its initial No Sail Order a further 100 days, pushing the potential resumption of the cruise industry’s operations until late July.
But the cruise industry seems to think this rule doesn’t yet apply to them just yet. Instead, the three major lines are continuing to advertise their intent to resume cruising well before late July. Furthermore, the industry’s trade group CLIA argued in a statement on Friday that the CDC is unfairly “singling out the cruise industry, which has been proactive in its escalation of health and sanitation protocols and was one of the first industries to announce a voluntary suspension of operations.”
The CDC’s No Sail Order — which was an extension of its initial order on March 14 — could end sooner than the 100-day timeline, but only if the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declares that Covid-19 is no longer a public health emergency before then. The order reiterated the CDC director’s belief that “cruise ship travel exacerbates the global spread of COVID-19 and that the scope of this pandemic … has not been controlled sufficiently by the cruise ship industry.” USA Today reported on Monday that the terms of the no sail order were actually softened — from sailings resuming in August to July — after White House interference. The White House denied the claim.
And yet, the cruise industry is so far continuing to advertise cruising ahead of that July date. Carnival Cruise Line tweeted on Monday that it would resume cruising on June 27. When asked by Skift to account for the roughly one month discrepancy between its new proposed date and the CDC’s timeline, Carnival said it is “continuing our discussions with federal officials, including the CDC. If we are required to extend the pause into July, we will notify our guests.”
Meanwhile, Norwegian Cruise Line told Skift it plans to resume sailing on May 15. It was asked twice by Skift to explain its own more than two month discrepancy with the CDC’s timeline, and declined to provide an answer both times.
Royal Caribbean told Skift, “we are aware of the CDC order and are studying how best to respond to its provisions. Our global sailings are currently suspended through May 11, 2020.” On Monday, its Twitter account reiterated the May 11 date to a passenger on Twitter. It similarly did not account for this two month discrepancy when asked by Skift.
Why the cruise industry thinks it would be able to operate itineraries from U.S. ports and sail in U.S. territorial waters during a period when the CDC is expressly prohibiting it for 100 days is unclear.
The CDC also expressed its dissatisfaction with the steps the cruise industry has outlined thus far to ensure it does not continue to burden the U.S. health system during a global pandemic. According to the order, there are roughly 80,000 crew members currently aboard 95 vessels idling at sea. Many of them are not essential to operations. In addition, there are currently 15 ships at port or anchoring in US territorial waters with known or suspected cases of Covid-19 on board, and two more ships with passengers trying to return to port.
The cruise industry issued a plan of April 3 outlining how it will ensure adequate medical care for these crew members without relying on U.S. government and shoreside resources. The CDC was not satisfied with this plan, and has asked the industry to re-submit it — along with other provisions regarding containing Covid-19’s spread on board ships — within seven days.
“There are several public health concerns when crew members become ill while onboard these ships and the cruise lines seek the aid of the United States in disembarking them, as has already occurred on numerous occasions,” the order read. “As operators of non-U.S. flagged vessels sailing in international waters, it is imperative that the cruise ship industry and cruise lines themselves take responsibility for the care of their crew and do not further tax limited U.S. resources during a public health emergency.”
Meanwhile, the cruise industry argues that its unfortunate, high profile position in the Covid-19 pandemic has little to do with the foreign-flagged business model of the industry itself, or the deaths and numerous cases that have occurred onboard its ships, but rather its reporting requirements.
“While it’s easy to focus on cruising because of its high profile, the fact is cruising is neither the source or cause of the virus or its spread,” CLIA’s statement read. “What is different about the cruise industry is the very stringent reporting requirements applicable to vessels that do not apply to comparable venues on land where the spread of communicable disease is just as prevalent. It would be a false assumption to connect higher frequency and visibility in reporting to a higher frequency of infection.”
Disclaimer: I own Carnival stock.
Can we just close them off from US ports
Find other countries to dock your plague ships
Post a $billion bond if you expect the US to arrange evacuation flights
“Disclaimer: I own Carnival stock.”
Enough to qualify for the OBC program? We considered buying stock when it’s low to take advantage of that.
I wouldn’t take a cruise, but that’s a personal preference. I think the cruise lines, and their potential customers should be allowed to do as they wish.
Just require COVID-19 antibody assay+ status, prior to boarding
” “What is different about the cruise industry is the very stringent reporting requirements applicable to vessels that do not apply to comparable venues on land where the spread of communicable disease is just as prevalent. It would be a false assumption to connect higher frequency and visibility in reporting to a higher frequency of infection.”
I’ve made this point many times. You don’t see a national news stories every time someone vomits in a Walmart or gets sick from Dairy Queen.
Lol
You’re hysterical
Why not just sink them
Good chance to test our munitions
Shouldn’t put people out of business. We have all been exposed if you have been to a supermarket . This corona virus pandemic is the biggest croc of bull ever. It’s a flu , are we gonna kill every business every flu season?
https://skift.com/about/
#6 is interesting...
“Can we just close them off from US ports ... Find other countries to dock your plague ships”
Harsh. A VERY small percentage of cruise ships sailing the world was impacted by this flu being on board.
> the three major lines are continuing to advertise their intent to resume cruising well before late July <
Advertising is different from actual sailing. Perhaps they are advertising in hope that the ban will be lifted earlier. If that’s the case, no harm is done.
But if they actually do cruise during the ban, that’s a different story. Tell them if there are any health problems, they should just sail to their country of registration - Panama, Liberia, or whatever.
And if the registration country is the US, arrest the captain upon his return.
Me too. I got it at 12 dollars. A friend of mine got it at 9. I honestly think the cruise industry will recover.
What percentage has it fallen since you bought it?
If folks don't wise up and vote Democrat, yes. ~ AOC
“Enough to qualify for the OBC program? We considered buying stock when it’s low to take advantage of that.”
Yes. I’ll receive the $250 On Board Credit (OBC) on Carnival cruises as long as I retain at least 100 shares of stock. I bought a lot near its low.
#6 seems to be getting more and more popular these days.
silverleaf wrote: “Can we just close them off from US ports”
You do realize the cruise industry creates many jobs for Americans, both direct and indirect? Passengers fly to the ports, stay in hotels, and patronize local restaurants. They rent cars, take Uber and Taxi rides.
Closing them off from US ports would mean many would not be able to return to work.
https://www.carnivalcorp.com/static-files/50351a91-4dc0-4f6b-bfec-684647e6129f
Most of my cruises will only qualify for the $50 or $100 OBC though.
Justa wrote: “Yes. I’ll receive the $250 On Board Credit (OBC) on Carnival...”
Depends upon the length of the cruise. The credit amount is $50 for cruises of six days or less, $100 for cruises of seven to 13 days and $250 on cruises greater than 13 days.
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