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.
April 30, 2021 By Frank McCormack
While much of the nation’s economy is back underway, albeit with restrictions due to COVID-19 still in place, one segment still stuck in port is the blue-water cruise industry.
Earlier in April, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) updated its “Framework for Conditional Sailing Order” and released recommendations for travelers returning from cruise ships and river cruise voyages worldwide. And while the CDC is still prohibiting embarkations of large cruise ships at U.S. ports, the agency, it seems, has come to grips that U.S. citizens may nonetheless travel abroad to board a cruise ship.