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.
Time will tell how this CDC offer works out. -Tom
CDC capitulated?
The house of cards is falling as Daily Covid cases plummet.
https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#trends_dailytrendscases
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.
CDC capitulated!
Thank you Ron DeSantis!
More like overbooked. The cruise lines are booked out to 2023 with those who had to cancel this past year.
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
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.
Or they accepted the appropriate bribes to the DNC
Prime hurricane season in the Caribbean is September, which is when prices are the lowest.
Maybe the Florida lawsuit threat is weighing in?
September is the best time to go.
You combine a cruise with a thrill ride.
How much you wanna bet they will backtrack this one, next month.
Its like Lucy and Charlie Brown’s football routine.
anyway you slice it. the first cruise will always be a test voyage with real people as test subjects.
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.
Put the HEAT on the CDC!!! Post how they are ALL ABOUT CONTROLLING US!
No...prime hurricane season is sept/oct.
“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
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.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.