Calls to rescind the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Conditional Sailing Order were boldly issued this past week by the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).
And while the CDC has not yet made any changes to its order, which remains as originally outlined with the potential to extend through November 2021, both Carnival Cruise Line and Cruise Planners have added their voices to the chorus.
Following the franchise’s strongest booking period since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Vicky Garcia, chief operating officer and co-owner of the American Express Travel representative of Cruise Planners, gave her two cents:
“Consumer demand is high to travel,” she said in a statement. “And with cruising, because of the limited supply, it is going to create a huge demand.”
Cruise Planners believes the way forward is to recognize that many Americans — particularly retired or mature travelers, who are the industry’s traditional clientele — have already been vaccinated and have the desire to cruise again.
As a result, companies such as Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises and Royal Caribbean International have opted to resume sailings from foreign destinations in the Caribbean, effectively circumventing the CDC’s Conditional Sail Order, which prevents companies from operating in U.S. waters.
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“The cruise industry has been singled out unfairly — hotels, restaurants, casinos and other hospitality venues have been allowed to operate, but the cruise lines have not been allowed to. Why not?” Garcia said.
The cruise industry has been singled out unfairly — hotels, restaurants, casinos and other hospitality venues have been allowed to operate, but the cruise lines have not been allowed to. Why not?
“We are thrilled they have found a creative solution that will help both cruise lines and thousands of travel advisors be able to stay in business, but avoiding domestic ports of call has a profound economic impact on U.S.-based companies that depend on the cruise industry for their livelihoods, and it creates confusion for U.S. travelers,” she said.
Carnival Cruise Line released a video of Christine Duffy, the brand’s president, addressing this very issue, as well as the industry’s collective call for the CDC to amend their mandate and permit cruising.
“Here at Carnival Cruise Line, we currently do not have any plans to move our ships away from their U.S. homeports” she said. “I’ve always said, Carnival Cruise Line is ‘America’s cruise line.’”
Carnival sails from 14 domestic homeports and hopes to return to sailing from them soon.
“As more Americans are vaccinated, our focus is on securing a decision that will allow for a resumption of cruising from our U.S. homeports [that is] consistent with the expected return of other forms of travel for the summer,” Duffy said.
While Carnival continues to be very encouraged by recent COVID-19 vaccine distribution rates, the line has not yet decided whether they will be required of guests, emphasizing the brand’s family-friendly nature and the fact that vaccines have not yet been approved for those under 16.
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“With the promise that all Americans who want a vaccine will have access to one by the end of May, we are optimistic that we will see travel resume in time for summer,” Duffy said.
For those wondering how Carnival might resume without vaccine requirements, Duffy pointed out that there are additional health and safety protocols the company already has in place, including maintaining physical distancing and using face coverings.
“Now if it's safe to fly on an airplane, stay in a hotel or resort, or visit an amusement park, it should be safe to cruise on a ship,” she said. “We are all extremely anxious to resume cruising when the time is right — and hopefully from the U.S.”
Agents wishing to have their voices heard by the Biden administration can write and call their members of Congress, as well as tweet their support via CLIA here.
The Details
Carnival Cruise Line
www.carnival.com
Cruise Planners
www.cruiseplanners.com
