Maritime Activity Reports, Inc. May 5, 2021
Two Carnival cruise ships, Carnival Breeze and Carnival Vista, returned to Galveston earlier this week ahead of planned voyages later this year. (Photo: Port of Galveston)
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has begun a key step for the eventual resumption of U.S. cruise industry operations by issuing new technical instructions.
In October, the CDC issued Conditional Sailing Order for operators, which acted as a guidance for a phased resumption of cruise ship passenger operations.
On Wednesday, it announced two new phases and said operators now have all necessary requirements needed to start simulated voyages before resuming restricted passenger voyages and apply for a COVID-19 conditional sailing certificate to begin sailing with restricted passenger voyages.
New and varied itineraries
One benefit cruise lines have over other types of trips is their ability to physically move and be nimble if plans need to change. While cruise lines work with different countries and ports to address local needs and safety issues, it s meant a wave of new itineraries and destinations on the horizon.
Ships that might have been prevented from operating at U.S. homeports, for example, could be moved to embark U.S.-originating passengers at foreign ports. Prior to the CDCâs updated guidelines, some cruise linesâincluding Viking and Royal Caribbeanâhad taken advantage of their shipsâ registries in Bermuda or The Bahamas and redeployed those vessels to sailings within those countries for much of the upcoming summer season, free of U.S. restrictions.
Two Carnival cruise ships returned to the Port of Galveston in Texas on Sunday.After over a year away, the return of the ships offers a glimmer of hop.