In defiance to the CDC, cruise liners are taking summer bookings
The domestic cruising industry in the United States are now accepting summer bookings, despite a CDC no-sail order.
By Michael McGrady, Maritime Direct Americas & Pacific Correspondent
PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. — Multinational cruise operators in the United States are now accepting passenger bookings for June, despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) no-sail order and the ongoing pandemic.
Local news media reports that Carnival Cruise Line and the Royal Caribbean International operators are now offering on their websites three-day trips from the cruise terminal in Port Canaveral to locations in the Bahamas. These would-be bookings would be for voyages scheduled for June 4, June 11, and June 18. Other voyages are also listed. MSC Cruises and Disney Cruise Line are also offering similar voyages from the same port. MSC, beginning June 6 and June 10, and for Disney for June 2 and June 4.
“While some cruise lines have announced cancellations for June, we have not made such a decision,” said a spokesperson on behalf of Carnival Cruise Line in a statement to Spectrum News 13 in Orlando, Fla. “With the promise that all Americans can be vaccinated by May, we are optimistic that we will see cruise travel resume in time for summer. In the meantime, we know guests are eager to confirm their vacation plans, and we are committed to providing them options.”
This is a defiant move, considering the CDC’s wide-ranging public health authority. Maritime Direct reported that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that his administration intends to sue the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and President Joe Biden’s administration for blocking the reopening of the cruise industry.
