After the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention’s (CDC)
announcement on 25 October regarding the extension of the conditional
sailing order (CSO) for cruise ships, the travel industry is looking
forward to when ships can sail again at full capacity.
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) vice president Charles
Sylvia said the cruise industry is moving into the “final chapter of our
successful restart, as we look forward to 100% of our fleet capacity
being in service by early 2022".
The updated CSO features only minor modifications and runs through 15
January 2022. “Since issuing the CSO, cruise lines have developed and
implemented health and safety protocols to manage Covid-19, and resumes
cruising. To continue to ensure safe cruising during Covid-19, CDC has
extended the CSO to 15 January 2022,” the agency stated on Twitter.
When the updated sailing order expires, CDC officials said the agency
would transition to a voluntary programme in coordination with the
cruise industry to detect, mitigate and control the spread of Covid-19
onboard ships.
CDC officials said they do not view this temporary extension as
imposing any new burdens or obligations on cruise ship operators when
compared to the previous CSO.
“I believe the state of the cruise industry is getting stronger each day,” TheCruiseGenius.com’s
Scott Lara said. “Many of my clients are calling and asking questions
about vaccination requirements and booking. I’m encouraged that new
ships are coming online and feel confident about the future of our
industry.”
The CDC first issued a no-sail order effective 14 March 2020, after
most cruise lines and CLIA voluntarily agreed to suspend cruise
operations from US ports for 30 days.
The no-sail order was extended three times until a Framework for
Conditional Sailing Order was issued on 20 October 2020, and modified
twice before cruise ships began operating test cruises or requiring
vaccination of 95% of passengers and crew.
Source: Travel Pulse