The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) rejected requests from the cruise industry to resume operations in July, stating that they will maintain their original plan to allow cruises to resume in November.
CLIA officially asked the CDC to lift the Conditional Sailing Order (CSO) framework, claiming it is “outdated” and does not reflect current conditions, in order to allow for the gradual resumption of cruise operations from U.S. ports in July.
“The outdated CSO, issued almost five months ago, does not reflect the proven progress and success of the industry operating in other parts of the world, nor the arrival of vaccines, and it treats cruise ships unfairly,” said Kelly Craighead, CLIA President and CEO.
According to CLIA, the controlled resumption of cruises has occurred in other markets with industry-leading protocols and successfully completed voyages. Furthermore, the resumption of cruises as part of the broader travel industry will provide a much-needed boost to the U.S. economy
Craighead also noted that “the acceleration of vaccine rollout is a game-changer in the provision of health and well-being, especially in the United States, where President Biden hopes that all adults can be vaccinated by May 1, 2021.”.
CDC spokeswoman Caitlin Shockey said the current order will remain in place until November 1 and that the agency is working out the details of what the next phases will look like.
