CDC publishes new guidelines for the cruise industry, but does not give the green light

PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – The Centers for Disease Control released new guidelines for the cruise industry on Friday. It’s the first update since October, but it doesn’t look like trade routes will resume immediately.

The new instructions mention COVID-19 vaccines, saying vaccines are a necessary step so that passenger travel can be resumed.

“Vaccination efforts against COVID-19 will be critical to the safe resumption of passenger operations,” the CDC said in a statement. “Because more people are fully vaccinated, the phased approach allows CDC to incorporate these advances into cruise travel resumption planning when it is safe to do so.”

[ALSO SEE: Florida Gov. signs executive order banning “vaccine passports”]

The CDC said they should be simulated (test) voyages that would allow crew and port personnel to practice new COVID-19 operating procedures with volunteers before sailing with passengers.

Announcements

The guide also sets the frequency for reporting cases of COVID-19 and crew member illnesses should be increased from weekly to daily.

However, the CDC did not specify a date on which cruise operations could be resumed from U.S. ports, but said they would issue additional guidelines before allowing cruises to resume.

“It is difficult to navigate safely and responsibly during a global pandemic. While the cruise will always pose some risk of COVID-19 transmission, following the phases of the Conditional Sailing Order (CSO) Framework will ensure that cruise passenger operations are conducted in such a way that protect crew members, passengers and port personnel, especially with the emerging variants of concern of COVID-19, ”the statement said.

The CDC first issued a no-sail order in March 2020, which has taken its toll on one of South Florida’s economic engines, the cruise industry.

Announcements

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has asked the CDC to cancel its no-sail order.

“If there’s one thing we’ve learned over the last year, it’s that blockages don’t work and Floridians deserve the right to make a living.” DeSantis said during a roundtable in Port Canaveral, Florida: “The cruise industry is essential to our state’s economy and keeping it closed until November would be devastating for the men and women who rely on the airlines. “Cruises to provide for themselves and their families. I urge the CDC to immediately terminate this baseless sailing order to allow Floridians in this industry to return to work.”

The CDC sailing order is in effect until November 1st.