Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) , which include most major cruise lines, have announced a further extension of the cruise suspension.
CLIA has issued a statement announcing that the association’s ocean-going cruise line members will voluntarily extend the suspension of cruise operations until September 15th 2020.
Members of the cruise line trade group including cruising giants such as Royal Caribbean, Carnival Corp. and Norwegian Cruise Line, had previously announced a pause of operations on March 13.
On March 14, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a no-sail order for cruise ships, and on April 9 it extended the order until July 24.
Interestingly, CLIA are extending the pause beyond the current expiration of CDC’s current “No Sail” order for cruise ships which is set to expire on July 24th.
The extension order said “that cruise ship travel exacerbates the global spread of Covid-19 and that the scope of this pandemic is inherently and necessarily a problem that is international and interstate in nature and has not been controlled sufficiently by the cruise ship industry or individual State or local health authorities.”
The cruise lines are working closely with the CDC and other international authorities to ensure that their passengers will be able to stay safe and healthy when they resume cruising.
The coronavirus pandemic has roiled the travel industry, hitting major cruise lines particularly hard. Since the outbreak began in China in late December, there have been several major outbreaks, quarantines and deaths aboard cruise ships.
