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CDC Agrees Cruise Lines Can Bypass Test Voyages With Mid-July Start Possible
Cruise Hive ^ | Apr 29, 2021 | Robert McGillivray

Posted on 04/29/2021 7:21:40 AM PDT by Capt. Tom

Major cruise news today as cruising could restart in mid-summer in American waters, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said late Wednesday in a letter to the cruise industry that USA TODAY obtained.

In a statement about the letter, spokesperson Caitlin Shockey gave a more specific timeline. Cruise lines will be able to start passenger operations from the United States in mid-July, depending on how quickly the cruise lines can crew up the ships, as well as be compliant with the CDC’s Framework for Conditional Sailing Order.

More importantly, it is starting to look like the CDC is starting to give in to several of the questions the Cruise industry had asked of the CDC. This includes bypassing test cruises, and new rules and regulations for vaccinated guests and crew members.

Five Points Of Interest In the first positive news that the CDC has brought out regarding restarting the cruise industry in recent months, there are five key points we can take away:

Ships can bypass the required simulated test voyages carrying volunteers and jump to sailings with paying passengers if 98% of crew and 95% of passengers are fully vaccinated. CDC will review and respond to applications from cruise lines for simulated voyages within 5 days, a review previously expected to take 60 days. CDC will update its testing and quarantine requirements for passengers and crew on sailings with paying passengers to align with the CDC’s guidance for fully vaccinated people. So, for example, instead of taking a PCR lab test ahead of boarding vaccinated passengers can take a rapid antigen test upon embarkation. CDC has clarified that cruise ship operators may enter into a “multi-port agreement” rather than a single port agreement as long as all port and local authorities sign the agreement. The CDC has clarified guidance on quarantine guidelines for passengers who may be exposed to or contract COVID-19. For example, local passengers may be able to drive home and passengers who have traveled by air to cruise may quarantine in a hotel. Also Read: Is Time Running Out for U.S. Cruises to Resume This Summer?

In a reaction this morning, Royal Caribbean Corporation CEO and President Richard D. Fain called the message from the CDC a pathway to a healthy and achievable return to service:

“Last night, the CDC notified us of some clarifications and amplifications of their Conditional Sail Order which addressed uncertainties and concerns we had raised. They have dealt with many of these items in a constructive manner that takes into account recent advances in vaccines and medical science. Although this is only part of a very complex process, it encourages us that we now see a pathway to a healthy and achievable return to service, hopefully in time for an Alaskan season.”

These are all massively important and time-saving measures that will cut short the timeline towards a resumption of cruises in the United States considerably.

CDC Sign Photo Credit: Katherine Welles / Shutterstock.com Common Sense and Science

It seems now that the CDC has taken the step to combine both common sense and science in the restart of cruises from the United States, and the steps the agency outlines in the letter can not be under estimated. This is truly the first glimmer of real hope.

Aimee Treffiletti, head of the Maritime Unit for CDC’s COVID-19 response within its Global Mitigation Task Force for COVID-19, said in the letter:

“We acknowledge that cruising will never be a zero-risk activity and that the goal of the CSO’s phased approach is to resume passenger operations in a way that mitigates the risk of COVID-19 transmission onboard cruise ships and across port communities,”

The CDC has now also confirmed it wants to start passenger operations from Mid July.

CDC spokesperson Caitlin Shockey said the following:

“CDC looks forward to continued engagement with the industry and urges cruise lines to submit Phase 2A port agreements as soon as possible to maintain the timeline of passenger voyages by mid-July,”

Worth Reading: Royal Caribbean CEO Says They Are Having “Constructive Talks With CDC”

Allround this is excellent news for the cruise industry and one that the cruise lines will be, at least cautiously, optimistic about. As soon as more details emerge about this breaking news, we will of course keep you updated on Cruise Hive.


TOPICS: Travel
KEYWORDS: cdc; julystart
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I thank Freeper Dugway Duke for alerting me to this latest development in Cruising and the CDC.

Time will tell how this CDC offer works out. -Tom

1 posted on 04/29/2021 7:21:40 AM PDT by Capt. Tom
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To: Capt. Tom

CDC capitulated?


2 posted on 04/29/2021 7:22:30 AM PDT by Skywise
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To: Capt. Tom

The house of cards is falling as Daily Covid cases plummet.
https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#trends_dailytrendscases


3 posted on 04/29/2021 7:24:58 AM PDT by 1Old Pro
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To: Skywise
Mid July, like during the prime hurricane season in the Caribbean?
4 posted on 04/29/2021 7:35:07 AM PDT by Mouton (The enemy of the people is the media.)
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To: Skywise

They need the tax $$$

Cruises will be at 33% capacity and will also require other shots like seasonal influenza, MMR, TDAP and others. Also a certificate of fitness to sail incase of an outbreak from a physician.


5 posted on 04/29/2021 7:37:06 AM PDT by Thunder90 (All posts soley represent my own opinion.)
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To: Skywise
CDC capitulated?

CDC capitulated!

Thank you Ron DeSantis!

6 posted on 04/29/2021 7:37:25 AM PDT by corkoman
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To: Thunder90
Cruises will be at 33% capacity...

More like overbooked. The cruise lines are booked out to 2023 with those who had to cancel this past year.

7 posted on 04/29/2021 7:39:56 AM PDT by corkoman
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To: Skywise; George from New England; cll; DarthFuzball; Tennessee Nana; Fai Mao; CodeToad; ...
CDC capitulated?

The only conclusion I have about our CDC is they are incompetent, indifferent and can't be trusted. We will have to see if this works out without some hidden hurdles. -Tom

8 posted on 04/29/2021 7:40:24 AM PDT by Capt. Tom (.It's COVID 2021 - The Events, not us, are still in charge -Tom)
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To: Capt. Tom

If the Cruise Industry had any real convictions, they would Permanently BAN ALL Public Employee’s from their Ships in perpetuity for what they have done.


9 posted on 04/29/2021 7:43:58 AM PDT by eyeamok (founded in cynicism, wrapped in sarcasm)
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To: Capt. Tom

Or they accepted the appropriate bribes to the DNC


10 posted on 04/29/2021 7:45:26 AM PDT by Skywise
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To: Mouton

Prime hurricane season in the Caribbean is September, which is when prices are the lowest.


11 posted on 04/29/2021 7:46:38 AM PDT by cll (Serviam!)
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To: Capt. Tom

Maybe the Florida lawsuit threat is weighing in?


12 posted on 04/29/2021 7:47:48 AM PDT by CodeToad (Arm up! They Have!)
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To: cll

September is the best time to go.

You combine a cruise with a thrill ride.


13 posted on 04/29/2021 7:55:22 AM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer”)
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To: Capt. Tom

How much you wanna bet they will backtrack this one, next month.

Its like Lucy and Charlie Brown’s football routine.


14 posted on 04/29/2021 7:56:13 AM PDT by George from New England
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To: All

anyway you slice it. the first cruise will always be a test voyage with real people as test subjects.


15 posted on 04/29/2021 7:57:00 AM PDT by VAFreedom
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To: corkoman

CDC will only allow 33% capacity on the cruises. Those who are overbooked will have to bid on the available berths.

Also the CDC may renig on their promises, given the Indian strain and issues with it. Once that shows up, it will likely cut through those who had the mRNA vaccines (Get J+J or Novavax).
Best to wait until 2024 to cruise right now.


16 posted on 04/29/2021 8:21:25 AM PDT by Thunder90 (All posts soley represent my own opinion.)
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To: Capt. Tom

Put the HEAT on the CDC!!! Post how they are ALL ABOUT CONTROLLING US!


17 posted on 04/29/2021 9:06:34 AM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion....... The HUMAN Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: Mouton

No...prime hurricane season is sept/oct.


18 posted on 04/29/2021 9:07:40 AM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion....... The HUMAN Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: George from New England

“How much you wanna bet they will backtrack this one, next month.
Its like Lucy and Charlie Brown’s football routine.”

Below is a link to another upbeat article on the CDC/Cruise Lines relationship. —Tom

https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/24892-royal-caribbean-u-s-cruise-service-start-by-july-realistic.html


19 posted on 04/29/2021 9:10:19 AM PDT by Capt. Tom (.It's COVID 2021 - The Events, not us, are still in charge -Tom)
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To: Capt. Tom

Ships can bypass the required simulated test voyages carrying volunteers and jump to sailings with paying passengers if 98% of crew and 95% of passengers are fully vaccinated. ....

———-

Lol.....this entire article reads like a Babylon Bee “story”.

Where will their goalposts move to, next?

95% experimentally “vax’d” for something that at least 80% of UN”VAX’D” Princess Diamond pax did NOT contract.

Unreal.


20 posted on 04/29/2021 9:16:57 AM PDT by Jane Long (America, Bless God....blessed be the Nation 🙏🏻🇺🇸)
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