Time for the cruise lines to dust off their lawyers. I’ve heard suggestions these regulations aren’t in the purview of the CDC. I don’t know, I’m not a lawyer. In my experience I’ve been aware of Coast Guard authority and inspections. They may well bend to the CDC, or not. I don’t know. If the Big Guy thinks this will earn him votes in FL, he’s dreaming. I don’t know how well the cruise lines can arrange alternate ports of departure, but I’m sure they’re looking. And though air fares are a problem, I suspect the airlines will be happy to transport people at competitive fares. Heck, though I don’t cruise in Europe, I’ve paid as much, within $100-$200, to fly to Phoenix or Miami as western Europe. Time is a factor, but there are Caribbean and Mexican ports. Puerto Rico or St Thomas, but they’re amongst the unfriendly US ports. I’d be curious to see the CDC rationale. Other than keeping the nation shut down. At this point, unfortunately, the industry has to look to other nations. I acknowledge I mostly use US lines, but no reason they can’t do an African cruise out of Lisbon or Barcelona.
Or,they relocate home ports to Cozumel,Nassau, Veracruz, Bermuda,St Thomas and others. Tell the CDC to shove it and work with airlines for affordable flights.
And unfortunately it means no American hotel stays, or American restaurant meals, or American Taxi type service to get to the cruise ship, and no American longshoremen types of jobs at the Cruise dock.
And I would imagine in some of the Lines American workers will have to be relocated to these foreign ports or let go if locals are hired.
And it will be more difficult for our ambulance chasing lawyers to be at the docks when the cruise ships return to a foreign port. -Tom
The cruise lines could buy a lot of seats and offer flight specials to the passengers...they do for Europe and San Juan...it includes a night in a nice hotel before the cruise...