Cruises out of US ports will be suspended until mid-September over coronavirus resurgence fears
A GROUP of major cruise lines have announced a suspension of operations out of all US ports will continue until September 15 due to the pandemic. The Cruise Lines International Association, which includes Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Line, announced the new date on Friday. September 15 exceeds the CDC’s “no-sail” order that was […]
A GROUP of major cruise lines have announced a suspension of operations out of all US ports will continue until September 15 due to the pandemic.
The Cruise Lines International Association, which includes Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Line, announced the new date on Friday.
September 15 exceeds the CDC’s “no-sail” order that was set in place through July 24th due to COVID-19.
Carnival had previously announced that it was going to resume sailing on August 1st.
Caitlin Shockey, spokesperson for the CDC, said: “At this point in time, we do not have enough information to say when it will be safe for cruise ships to resume sailing.”
On May 1st, Congress opened an investigation over Carnival’s response to COVID-19 after several outbreaks of the virus on their ships.
More than 1,500 confirmed COVID-19 cases can be traced back to the company’s cruise ships, and dozens of Carnival customers and crew members have since died from the virus.
Democratic House member, Peter DeFazio sent a letter to Carnival warning them of the investigation taking place.
“It seems as though Carnival Corporation and its portfolio of nine cruise lines, which represents 109 cruise ships, is still trying to sell this cruise line fantasy and ignoring the public health threat,” said DeFazio.
Additionally, Australian officials are looking into investigating the March 19th docking of its Ruby Princess ship in Sydney.
They are investigating Carnival’s officials and whether or not they misled authorities about the COVID-19 outbreak within the ship.
Carnival customers at the time made up nearly one-third of all Australian deaths from the virus.
MOST READ IN NEWS
Because of the pandemic, Carnival was forced to lay off 820 employees and furlough hundreds more.
Carnival Corp. CEO Arnold Donald said the lay-off was necessary “given the current low level of guest operations and to further endure this pause.”
The cruise line industry was not included in the March stimulus package passed by Congress because they are foreign corporations and are largely exempt from paying income taxes.
The law states that only American corporations and companies may receive a federal loan as long as they are created or organized in the United States.
Ultimately, CLIA is uncertain when cruises will be able to fully operate despite set date.
“It is increasingly clear that more time will be needed to resolve barriers to resumption in the United States,” said CLIA.