Cruises have been one of the unique ways that people spend their vacation. However, the cruise industry has been put on hold ever since the pandemic, which has killed over 400,000 people in the United States, struck this nation.
Several reservations have been canceled and thousands more were refunded because of the inability to sail. The CDC condemned cruise ships as spreader zones and advised the public to avoid them. For one, travelers from diverse regions come together in crowded, semi-closed spaces, presenting various combinations of health concerns for the passengers on board.
Last year, on March 14th, there was a “No Sail Order” set in place that extended throughout the summer and into the fall. Towards the end of October there was another announcement that suggested a new policy — a “Conditional Sailing Order” that allowed cruise ships to sail only with the necessary precautions and the approval of the CDC.
Even though there was a window of opportunity for the ship lines, all of the members from the Cruise Line Industry Association (CLIA) opted to suspend all ships that were sailing with more than 250 passengers until the beginning of this year.
By December 22, 2020, the CLIA released a public statement and outlook for 2021.
“With the year drawing to a close, we are pleased to share CLIA’s 2021 report that highlights the extraordinary steps that cruise community took to develop and implement enhanced public health protocols to keep putting people first, while continuing to focus on innovation and responsible tourism practices that make cruising the best way to experience the world,” said Kelly Craighead, the CEO of CLIA.
This report introduced the new protocols that most of the cruise industry will be adopting, such as the testing prior to embarkation, social distancing, and air ventilation. In addition, there were 19 new ships that were announced to start sailing in the upcoming weeks and, by the end of the year, 270 ships were expected to be in operation.
The question still arises: Is it really safe and logical for these cruises to be functioning again?
Nevertheless, they have proven that they are doing all in their power to take as many safety precautions as possible.
There was a Healthy Sail Panel created that would closely monitor the functions of the ship and make sure they align with the health requirements. Not only have they been working closely with medical experts and the CDC — they have also altered their ships to fit the safety guidelines.
Before recommencing sailing, the cruise lines have been required to do test runs while enacting all of the newly implemented sanitary measures. Companies like Royal Caribbean have held small ships with volunteers to see their protocol in action. This has given them some sort of idea of the things that could be improved and how to ensure the passenger has the best experience.
While the top cruise lines have canceled their cruises for the upcoming weeks, they are all creating a suitable plan for the public and expect to be operating by the summer of this year. With the recent news of on-going vaccine distributions, the future of this industry looks promising, and the ships will be functioning very soon.
