After months of being docked, the cruise industry is slowly starting to get back up and running. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the travel industry, including cruise lines. However, with restrictions easing in some parts of the world, many cruise ships are starting to set sail again.
What Are the Current Restrictions
While some countries have eased travel restrictions, there are still many places where strict measures are in place. As a result, not all cruise ships are operational yet. The CDC has issued guidelines for the resumption of cruising in the United States, which include implementing COVID-19 testing and vaccination requirements for passengers and crew members.
Cruise Lines That Have Resumed Operations
Several cruise lines have resumed operations in various parts of the world. These include:
- Royal Caribbean: The company’s ship, Adventure of the Seas, began sailing from Nassau in June 2021 with vaccinated passengers.
- Celebrity Cruises: Celebrity Millennium set sail from St. Maarten in June 2021 with vaccinated passengers.
- Norwegian Cruise Line: Norwegian Jade began sailing from Athens in July 2021 with vaccinated passengers.
Cruise Lines That Plan to Resume Operations Soon
Many other cruise lines plan to resume operations soon. These include:
- Carnival Cruise Line: Carnival plans to resume operations from several ports around the world in August and September 2021.
- Disney Cruise Line: Disney plans to resume operations from Florida in August 2021.
- MSC Cruises: MSC plans to resume operations from the United States in August 2021.
What Are the Precautions Being Taken
Cruise lines are taking several precautions to ensure the safety of passengers and crew members. These include:
- Vaccinations: Many cruise lines require all passengers and crew members to be fully vaccinated before boarding.
- Mask Wearing: Masks are required in certain areas of the ship, such as onboard transportation and crowded indoor spaces.
- Increased Sanitization: Cruise lines have increased cleaning and sanitization procedures throughout the ship.
- Social Distancing Measures: Social distancing measures have been implemented onboard, including reduced capacity in dining areas and entertainment venues.
The Future of Cruise Travel
The cruise industry is slowly recovering, but it will take some time before it returns to pre-pandemic levels. It’s likely that COVID-19 testing and vaccination requirements will continue to be in place for the foreseeable future.
However, with increased safety measures, many people are starting to feel comfortable booking a cruise again. It remains to be seen how quickly the industry will bounce back, but there is hope that it will once again become a popular mode of travel.
In conclusion, while not all cruise ships have resumed operations yet, many are slowly starting to set sail again with increased safety measures in place. As countries continue to ease travel restrictions and more people get vaccinated, it’s likely that more cruise ships will start operating again. However, it’s important to remember that precautions will still need to be taken for some time.