Shortly after CLIA asked the CDC to lift the Conditional Sail Order and to allow for a phased in approached to cruises restarting, the CDC said that the order limiting cruises will stay in effect until November 1, 2021.
*CDC SAYS ORDER LIMITING U.S. CRUISES STAYS IN EFFECT TILL NOV 1
— *Walter Bloomberg (@DeItaone) March 24, 2021
The CDC has updated their guidance for cruise ships and the Conditional Sail Order is now in effect until the earliest of:
- The expiration of the Secretary of Health and Human Services’ declaration that COVID-19 constitutes a public health emergency,
- The CDC Director rescinds or modifies the order based on specific public health or other considerations, or
- November 1, 2021
The CDC’s Conditional Sail Order affects all cruise ships that sail out of or visit a U.S. port that carry more than 250 passengers and crew members.
Several cruise lines including Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises has recently announced sailings out of the Bahamas and Caribbean where the CDC has no jurisdiction. The week long cruises will start up in June and some opened for bookings today.
It is likely that more cruises out of the Caribbean and Bahamas will be announced soon so cruise lines can resume at least some sailings. The industry has been largely shut down for the past year.
Several cruise lines have resumed sailings on a few ships in different parts of the world with huge success. They include MSC Cruises out of Italy and Royal Caribbean out of Singapore.
The cruise lines have proved that cruises can safely resume with the new health protocols that they have added.
