The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has loosened regulations for cruise lines operating foreign-flagged cruise ships to/from U.S. ports who've previously "opted into" the CDC’s voluntary compliance “COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships.”
Top highlights?
- Cruise ship operators may resume interactive experiences for guests such as galley tours and cooking classes.
- Close contacts of those people testing positive for COVID-19 now can quarantine within their own cabin if they’ve been identified within 36 hours of disembarkation and if they’ll be the only person in their cabin.
- Port agreements can be modified to remove ship and capacity limits at ports.
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the cruise industry’s trade association, called the steps “welcome changes” to the technical instructions the lines are following as part of that voluntary compliance program.
In a statement, CLIA said: “The updates announced today acknowledge the effectiveness of the cruise lines in their ability to create an environment that provides one of the highest levels of COVID-19 mitigation and reflect the improvements in the public health landscape.”
The trade group said its member lines “will continue to operate in a way that prioritizes the health and safety of everyone onboard, as well as the communities that we visit.”
Unexpected Loss
Separately, CLIA expressed condolences to the family of U.S. Congressman Don Young (R-AK), 88, the state’s only serving member of the U.S. House of Representatives and a 25-year Congressional veteran. He died Friday.
Young lost consciousness while on a flight from Los Angeles International Airport to Seattle, WA. Medical personnel responded upon the plane’s arrival in Seattle, but Young didn’t survive.
“We are saddened by the loss of Alaska’s Congressman Don Young," said CLIA's statement. "He was a steadfast supporter of the tourism industry in Alaska for decades.”
Continuing, CLIA said: “Without his drive and persistence, we would not have had an Alaska cruise season in 2021– for which we will be forever grateful. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Anne, his entire family, and his staff. God speed, Dean of the House.”
With 48 years in office, Congressman Young was the longest serving member of the 117th U.S. Congress. In 2021, Young, in partnership with Alaska's two U.S. Senators, championed legislation that provided an exemption to U.S. law. Signed by U.S. President Joe Biden, the legislation allowed foreign-flagged ships to embark/disembark guests in Seattle without making a foreign port call.