Following the Mediterranean cruises, cruises are resumed in the largest and most eventful cruise region - the Caribbean and Bahamas!

 

This happened as a result of active actions by CLIA, ASTA, the White House administration, as well as numerous rallies in cruise ports. Yesterday, 10/30/2020, the CDC organization lifted restrictions on the departure of cruise ships from US ports.

 

Considering the fact that most of all cruises start from US ports, and especially from Florida ports, then we will gradually resume most of the cruises! Also, the resumption of cruises in the Caribbean will set the stage for the resumption of cruises around the world.

 

It is also worth noting that the United States is open to visitors, including for citizens of Ukraine (unlike Europe). Most likely in 2020, cruises will not be fully launched, but in 2021, there will definitely be cruises!

Do not forget that the coronavirus still exists and passenger safety has always been at the forefront of all cruise lines. The CDC lifts the cruise ban and says companies can resume operations once they prove they have COVID-19 protocols working.

 

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention paved the way for the return of cruises to the US by issuing detailed requirements on Friday October 30 that could help resume cruises in the coming months.

 

The CDC's decision to end its ban on sailing on October 31, 2020 in exchange for a conditional sailing order is a victory for the Florida cruise industry, which has been paralyzed since the industry stopped passenger traffic on March 13, 2020 due to COVID-19 outbreaks in sea. However, cruise lines will have to prove to the CDC agency that the COVID protocols work with specific testing and trial launches requirements before passengers can return, and will have to make written agreements with land-based medical facilities to treat any tourists.

 

As a reminder, most cruise lines - Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean Group, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, MSC Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line and Virgin Voyages - have canceled all cruises departing from US ports until at least December 1, 2020.

Cruise Line International Association CLIA has called on the federal government to lift the cruise ban. Individual companies have hired experts to create protocols that, they say, will limit the evacuation, stopping of ships due to the virus.

 

In response to the order, on Friday October 30, 2020, CLIA President Kelly Craighead issued a statement that said, “While we look forward to a detailed review of the new order, we expect most of the industry advice that has been adopted by CLIA's global directors in early this month will be implemented and will serve as an important basis for continuing work. With intensified action and the continued guidance of leading health and scientific experts and the CDC, we are confident that resuming U.S. cruises is possible to support the cruise industry and economic recovery, while maintaining a focus on effective and evidence-based health measures. population.

 

The Royal Caribbean Group said in a statement that they are confident in their ability to reduce the risk of COVID-19 to passengers and crew.

“While we look forward to getting our guests back on board, we still have a lot to do and we are looking to find the time to get things right,” the company said in a statement. "This includes training our team on new health and safety protocols, as well as conducting a series of test flights to test these protocols in real-life conditions."

 

The 40-page CDC directive, released Friday 30 October 2020, requires a phased approach to resuming cruises. Companies must first demonstrate that they can successfully protect crew members from COVID-19, then conduct mock cruises with volunteer passengers, and then obtain a Conditional Navigation Certificate from the CDC. Testing requirements - PCR testing for all passengers and crew on embarkation and disembarkation days - go beyond the protocols proposed by the companies.

 

By the end of 2020, companies are expected to test the entire crew for COVID-19 using a CDC-approved ground lab and build on-board lab capabilities to conduct weekly PCR tests for the crew in the future. The CDC does not recommend antigen tests because they are "more likely to miss cases" of COVID-19 compared to PCR tests. Companies are required to report all test results to the CDC. New crew members must be tested on first boarding and isolated in a separate cabin on board for 14 days.

 

Following successful test cruises, cruise lines will be able to apply for a CDC certification to resume passenger service on cruises of up to e seven days. Companies must publish CDC cruise warnings in all marketing materials, use PCR tests to screen all passengers and crew during embarkation and disembarkation, and immediately stop cruises in the event of an outbreak.