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Cruise lines suspend operations due to Coronavirus

USAToday.com and other media outlets are reporting that the major cruise lines are suspending operations due to the Coronavirus.

From USAToday.com, “Major cruise lines including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and MSC will suspend sailing operations to and from U.S. ports for 30 days due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cruise Lines International Association announced Friday.

Viking and Disney cruises announced similar measures Thursday, before the major cruise association. 

“CLIA cruise line members are voluntarily and temporarily suspending operations from the U.S. as we work to address this public health crisis,” said Kelly Craighead, CLIA president and CEO in a statement. “This is an unprecedented situation.”

Craighead said that the association was working with the national Centers for Disease Control during the ongoing medical crisis which has severely affected the cruise industry. “This has been a challenging time, but we hope that this decision will enable us to focus on the future and a return to normal as soon as possible.”

The suspension will take effect at midnight Friday. CLIA said it will focused on the “safe and smooth return” of those currently at sea on ships.

I understand the concern about stopping the spread of Covid-19, but keep in mind that thousands of people depend on paychecks because of cruises!

Baggage handlers, local cruise hotels, Uber drivers and travel agents will be harmed financially due to this action. In addition, will cruise staff stay on board the ships cleaning or will they be sent back to their homes in Indonesia or the Philippines?

When will we be allowed to cruise again and when will ports of call allow passengers to dock and spend money in their communities?

I hope that the government can get a handle on Covid-19 quickly and let us return to the best vacation on earth…cruising!

Be sure to click on the links below for more stories about this topic:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/2020/03/13/coronavirus-concerns-cruise-cancellations-port-closures/5037173002/

https://cruiseradio.net/carnival-cruise-line-temporarily-halts-all-sailings/

 

 

About Scott Lara

President of MilitaryFares.com. Navy Veteran, Travel Agent, love to cruise!

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