The long-awaited instructions issued April 2 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continue an outdated, overly complex process for resumption of U.S. cruise operations. There is no clear timeline or path forward, and it is at odds with the approach the CDC and governments in other parts of the world apply to other travel and tourism segments in mitigating the risk of COVID-19.
Nearly half a million Americans across the country depend on a functioning cruise industry and are at risk of being excluded from participating in the economic recovery from the pandemic. Those impacted include longshoremen, ground transportation operators, travel agents, and hotel, restaurant and retail workers, as well as the tens of thousands of businesses that service cruise ships.
The cruise community is ready to work with the CDC to adopt a new approach to resumption in the U.S. that reflects current conditions and incorporates learnings from sailings that have occurred in other parts of the world.
I implore all to take a moment to contact their members of Congress today to make resumption of cruising in the U.S. by July an urgent priority.
Bob and Cathy Cardaneo
CruiseOne cruise specialists
Long Neck
