Coronavirus Pandemic: US Cruise Lines Voluntarily Cancel Sailings Until End Of 2020

Cruise lines in the U.S. have canceled their sailings at least until the end of 2020, in the wake of new safety guidelines regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

The cruises, which were halted in March at the outset of the coronavirus, were set to resume on Dec. 1 to and from U.S. ports under a new framework announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But the public agency raised concerns about safety on the cruises.

"Recent outbreaks on cruise ships overseas provide current evidence that cruise ship travel continues to transmit and amplify the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 — even when ships sail at reduced passenger capacities —and would likely spread the infection into U.S. communities if passenger operations were to resume prematurely in the United States. CDC had said in a statement on Oct. 30.

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the industry trade group which represents 95% of global cruise capacity voluntarily extended suspension of its U.S. operations on Tuesday even though the CDC had technically allowed cruises to resume operations. The trade body said it values public health and will resume the ships when it is the safest for the customers.

“The economic consequences of the ongoing suspension of service are felt in communities across the U.S. and with hundreds of thousands of jobs at stake, we are committed to resuming sailing in a responsible manner that keeps public health in the forefront,” the industry body said in a statement.

The cruise industry in the U.S. generates over $53 billion in economic activity, supporting nearly 421,000 jobs in the country. Without cruise operations, 1,000 jobs are lost every day, as per CLIA’s release.

In its order on Oct. 30, CDC announced that cruises with a capacity of at least 250 passengers may be allowed to sail provided that they get the approval from the public health body. Cruise lines would also have to show CDC how necessary precautions were being practiced before they resume business.

The companies directly impacted include Carnival Corp, which has under it brands like Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, etc., Royal Caribbean Group, and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.