CDC is issuing new guidelines for the cruise industry, but is not giving a green light

PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – The Centers for Disease Control released new guidelines for the cruise ship industry on Friday. It’s the first update since October, but it doesn’t look like commercial sailings will resume immediately.

The new instructions list COVID-19 vaccinations and say the vaccines are a necessary step before passenger travel can resume.

“COVID-19 vaccination efforts will be critical to the safe resumption of passenger operations,” the CDC said in a press release. “As more people are fully vaccinated, the tiered approach allows CDC to incorporate these advancements into cruise ship resumption planning when safe.”

[ALSO SEE: Florida Gov. signs executive order banning “vaccine passports”]

The CDC said simulated (trial) voyages should allow crew and port personnel to practice new COVID-19 operational procedures with volunteers before sailing with passengers.

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The guideline also specifies the frequency for reporting COVID-19 cases and crew member illnesses to be increased from weekly to daily.

However, the CDC has not set a special date when cruises can resume from US ports, instead they said they will provide additional guidance before cruises can resume.

“Safe and responsible sailing during a global pandemic is difficult. While cruising always involves some risk of COVID-19 transmission, following the stages of the Framework for Conditional Sailing Order (CSO) will ensure that cruise ship passenger activities are conducted in a way that protects crew members, passengers and port personnel, especially with emerging COVID-19 variants of concern, ”the release stated.

The CDC first issued a no-sail order in March 2020, which has taken its toll on one of South Florida’s economic engines, the cruise industry.

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The Florida government, Ron DeSantis, has called on the CDC to withdraw its order not to sail.

“If there’s one thing we’ve learned over the past year, it’s that lockdowns don’t work and Floridians deserve the right to make a living,” DeSantis said during a roundtable in Port Canaveral, Florida. “The cruise industry is vital to our state’s economy, and holding it down until November would be devastating for the men and women who depend on the cruise lines to provide for themselves and their families. I urge the CDC to immediately revoke this unsubstantiated order without a tarpaulin so that Floridians can return to work in this industry. “

The CDC’s no-sail order is currently in effect through November 1.