Good news for cruise fans. We are one step closer to cruises resuming in the near future. The CDC’s no sail order expires tomorrow and they will not extend the ban. The CDC will allow cruise ships to sail in U.S. waters starting Sunday. But even if they do, the agency hasn’t said when passengers can cruise. The CDC released a 40-page framework for conditional sailing order. This introduces a phased approach for the safe and responsible resumption of cruises.
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), announces this framework for a phased resumption of cruise ship passenger operations. Considering the continued spread of COVID-19 worldwide and increased risk of COVID-19 on cruise ships, a careful approach is needed to safely resume cruise ship passenger operations. CDC is establishing requirements to mitigate the COVID-19 risk to passengers and crew, prevent the further spread of COVID-19 from cruise ships into U.S. communities, and protect public health and safety. After expiration of CDC’s No Sail Order (NSO) on October 31, 2020, CDC will take a phased approach to resuming cruise ship passenger operations in U.S. waters.”
“During the initial phases, cruise ship operators must demonstrate adherence to testing, quarantine, and isolation, and social distancing requirements to protect crew members while they build the laboratory capacity needed to test crew and future passengers,” the agency explained. After that, “test voyages” will be operated to check that ships meet specific requirements and are able to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission. This testing phase will involve volunteers playing passengers who get sick. The final step will be a phased return of passengers. The CDC is stating cruise lines will have to test passengers open boarding and when the cruise ends as well. Cruises cannot be longer than 7 days.
In other words, cruises can resume but not immediately with passengers. As the CDC opens this window to allow sailings to resume soon, more details are sure to emerge from cruise lines that are eager to welcome back guests onboard.
The No Sail Order first went into effect on March 14 and was extended on April 15, July 16, and Sept. 30, when it was extended until Oct. 31. Most cruise companies including Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean Group, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings & Disney Cruise Line have canceled all cruises leaving from U.S. ports for at least the next 30 days.
Canada has extended its cruise ship ban through the end of February. Transport Canada made the announcement on Thursday to continue not allowing cruise ships to enter Canadian waters until at least February 28, 2021. This does not affect the Alaska cruise season, as those begin in May.
SilverSea Cruises took delivery on Friday of its newest cruise ship, the Silver Moon.
American Cruise Lines is launching an eight-day Music Cities cruise on its Mississippi routes for 2021. The new music-themed cruises will sail between Memphis and Nashville on the American Jazz throughout July, August, and September. The American Melody will be launched sometime in 2021. Over 15 new shore excursion options will be added in 2021, with a focus on culinary and more active options.
Pair your rivers and rails in 2021 with river cruises and rail tours. Uniworld Boutique River Cruises has partnered with Golden Eagle Luxury trains to add land and rail options to the 2021 Venice-based river cruises. One option is a 14-day Milan, Venice and Swiss Alps package that has a land portion in Milan, a round trip cruise from Venice and a train trip to Zurich.
Barge cruising is a “hot ticket” for 2021. It’s all about traveling at a slower pace and spending time outside biking, strolling or watching the scenery from a deck chair.
