MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Cruise Lines lobby voluntarily suspends operations until al least 31 October

CLIA cruise line members will continue to monitor the situation and will revisit a possible further extension on or before 30 September 2020.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the leading voice of the global cruise industry, announced this week that its ocean-going cruise line members have agreed to voluntarily suspend U.S. cruise operations until at least 31 October 2020.

The Association issued the following statement on behalf of its members:

Despite the valuable alignment between CLIA’s previous voluntary suspension to 15 September and the CDC’s current No-Sail Order date of 30 September, we believe it is prudent at this time to voluntarily extend the suspension of U.S. ocean-going cruise operations to 31 October. This is a difficult decision as we recognize the crushing impact that this pandemic has had on our community and every other industry. However, we believe this proactive action further demonstrates the cruise industry’s commitment to public health and willingness to voluntarily suspend operations in the interest of public health and safety, as has occurred twice prior. CLIA cruise line members will continue to monitor the situation with the understanding that we will revisit a possible further extension on or before 30 September 2020. At the same time, should conditions in the U.S. change and it becomes possible to consider short, modified sailings, we would consider an earlier restart.

According to CLIA’s most recent Economic Impact Study, cruise activity in the United States supports nearly half a million (421,000) American jobs and generates US$ 53 billion annually in economic activity throughout the country. Each day of the suspension of U.S. cruise operations results in a loss of up to US$ 110 million in economic activity and 800 direct and indirect

American jobs. The impact of the suspension is particularly profound in states that depend heavily on cruise tourism, including Florida, Texas, Alaska, Washington, New York and California.