Posted on 04/04/2021 1:02:23 PM PDT by Capt. Tom
Yesterday, the CDC updated guidance regarding cruise ships resuming cruises from U.S. ports. However, there is still no timetable on when cruise lines can start back up.
Last October, the CDC laid out a four phase approach to their Conditional Sail Order. Five months later, the CDC finally updated Phase 2 and added a new Phase 2B. The new phased approach is as follows:
Phase 1: Mass testing and lab capacity building Phase 2A: Voyage preparation Phase 2B: Simulated (trial) passenger voyages Phase 3: Conditional sailing certificate Phase 4: Restricted passenger voyages
However, many in the industry think that this new guidance brings us no closer to seeing cruises resume from U.S. ports.
Capt. John Murray, CEO at Port Canaveral, gave the following statement: “For a year now, we have been working closely with our cruise partners and directly with the CDC to find a way forward for the return of cruising from Port Canaveral. Just today CDC announced vaccinated Americans could safely travel internationally. We’re disappointed that this guidance for the cruise industry appears to be nothing more than an incremental step in a far-reaching process to resume passenger sailings in the U.S. with no definitive or target start date.”
Details of each phase of the CDC’s Conditional Sail Order.
Phase 1 Conduct screening and testing of all crew onboard Develop onboard lab capacity for testing symptomatic crew, close contacts, and future passengers Conduct embarkation testing of all crew
Phase 2A Implement routine screening of all crew Develop port, medical, and housing agreements approved by port and local health authorities After agreements are approved, embark nonessential crew with testing and 14 day quarantine
Phase 2B Request approval from CDC to conduct simulated (trial) voyage Conduct simulated voyage (subject to in-person and virtual CDC inspections) Complete after action report
Phase 3 Meet CDC’s standards for protection of crew in U.S. waters Fulfill requirements for simulated voyages Apply for COVID-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate
Phase 4 Obtain and retain a COVID-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate Resume passenger operations with restrictions, such as voyage length and testing requirements
Are any of these idiots tired of being jerked around yet? By the time they are, they won’t have a business left to worry about.
The Coast Guard has authority over all ships embarking passengers in the US. However they don't oversee medical or health facilities, which aren't even required, or sanitary conditions which are under the prevue of the US Public Health Service. I'm not sure just how the CDC jumped in here. But the aforementioned agencies could probably exert their authority. In any case probably not a fight the cruise lines want. The best near term solution, to the extent they can operate outside the US.
Not entirely accurate, I should have noted their "authority" flows from an expansive interpritation of the 1944 Public Health Service Act authorizing them to prevent the interstate transmission of infectious disease. Apparently it's a "living law" so they can do anything they want.
“Are any of these idiots tired of being jerked around yet? By the time they are, they won’t have a business left to worry about.”
The cruise line CEOS have to spend time figuring out how to invest their money, and that can be time consuming.
Read the article below , to grasp their problem. -Tom
If Andrew Gillum had won over DeSantis, cruises would be sailing long ago. This is so transparent. CDC wants to punish Florida, and the rising conservative Gov DeSantis.
Bonus in 2020? for whaaaaat?
“Bonus in 2020? for whaaaaat?”
I started a new thread on Norwegian linked below:
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3948275/posts
Don’t forget South Carolina, Charleston; Alabama, Mobile; Louisiana, New Orleans; Texas, Galveston. And of course, Alaska. All red. Let them lose jobs. They’ll kneel and vote right the next time, so says the Big Guy, protector of workers. California, Mass., New Jersey, New York, Maryland, collateral damage. They can raise taxes.
I think Norwegian is requiring vaccines for both staff & guests. Too bad. I’ll have to cancel my Greek Island cruise for next year. And I just learned Viking has canceled cruises thru July 31st. There goes my river cruise...
A friend who is in the travel biz just sent me the following email she received from VacationsToGo.com:
A growing number of countries around the world are reaching agreements with cruise lines that will allow cruise ships to resume sailing in the near future with the requirement that all passengers and crew must show proof of vaccination.
I mentioned previously that Royal Caribbean will launch seven-night sailings from Cyprus to the Greek Islands beginning July 10. These sailings will be bookable this week and will join the line’s departures from Nassau and Bermuda that are also open for sale. As soon as the Greek Islands cruises are available to book, they will be listed on the Royal Caribbean page linked to below.
Norwegian just announced that it will begin seven-night sailings from Athens to the Greek Islands on July 25 and from Montego Bay and Punta Cana to Caribbean destinations on August 7 and 15, respectively.
Celebrity will begin sailing from St. Maarten in the Caribbean on June 5 and from Athens to the Greek Islands on June 19.
Crystal will sail from Nassau or Bimini in the Bahamas starting July 3.
To see a list of newly announced 2021 sailings that will depart from ports outside the U.S., with vaccinations required, click any line below.
Celebrity (vaccinations required for passengers 18 and older)
Crystal (vaccinations required for all passengers)
Norwegian (vaccinations required for all passengers)
Royal Caribbean (vaccinations required for passengers 18 and older)
Also, Windstar has said that it will resume sailing June 19 from ports in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean and vaccinations will be required for all guests. To see a list of Windstar’s currently scheduled sailings, click here.
In the U.S., the CDC continues to drag its feet on setting a firm date for when cruise ships can sail from U.S. ports, or under what conditions. A growing number of groups and governments, from the Cruise Line International Association to the states of Florida and Alaska, want cruise lines to be able to sail from U.S. ports starting this summer. Millions of Americans and Canadians are ready to embark as soon as they are allowed.
American Cruise Lines and American Queen Steamboat Company are cruising U.S. rivers and coastal areas now with ships that carry fewer than 250 total passengers and crew — the CDC’s conditional sailing order applies only to vessels above this capacity threshold. Click either link for a list of sailings.
American Cruise Lines (vaccinations required for all passengers only on sailings before May 1)
American Queen Steamboat Company (vaccinations required for all passengers only on sailings after July 1)
Me and my wife both had 2nd shot on March 4th. I am age 81 and she is fighting stage-4 cancer for 3 years. No problems so far for either on of us! And now we have the documentation of covid vaccination.
Got our passports renewed and have the proof of vaccinations. Will book one out of Jamaica or Barbados, both English speaking countries. Have been to both a few times during cruise stops.
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