Earlier today, Florida Senators Rick Scott, Marco Rubio, and Alaska senator Dan Sullivan introduced a new bill to allow cruising to restart. The aptly named Careful Resumption Under Improved Safety Enhancements (CRUISE) Act is set to get cruising resumed here in the U.S. by July 4th. Here is a quick look at what this new legislation aims to accomplish.
Inside the New CRUISE Act
Over the past weeks, the cruise lines have been no stranger to the media. Major cruise line executives have gone on record that it is nearly impossible to implement the current CDC guidelines on that timeline. In fact, the Florida Governor Ron DeSantis went as far as to sue the CDC last week. In this move, he called for the swift elimination of the Conditional Sailing Order. Likewise, he called for the immediate resumption of cruising.
Well, it is not surprising that the new CRUISE Act would revoke the CDC’s current No Sail Order on cruises. The act would call for a switch in the CDC’s role and oversight of the return to cruising.
According to Senator Rick Scott’s office, the new act would do the following:
- Require the CDC to issue recommendations for how to mitigate the risks of COVID-19 to passengers and crew onboard cruise ships.
- Establish an interagency “Working Group” that will develop recommendations to facilitate the resumption of passenger cruise ship operations in the United States. The recommendations will facilitate the resumption of passenger cruise ship operations in the United States no later than July 4, 2021.
- No later than July 4, 2021, the CDC must revoke the order entitled “Framework for Conditional Sailing and Initial Phase COVID-19 Testing Requirements for Protection of Crew.”
- Ensure that HHS and CDC retain all appropriate authorities to make and enforce regulations necessary to prevent the introduction, transmission, or spread of communicable diseases on any individual cruise ship.
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If successful, this new Act will allow cruise lines to sail from the U.S. as long as they implement the agreed upon recommendations.
According to Senator Scott, “the CDC’s refusal to properly address this shutdown is wrong and it’s time to get the cruise lines open safely. Our bill, the CRUISE Act, says we’re not waiting on the CDC any longer. Cruises can and should resume, and we’re going to do everything we can to bring back our cruise industry safely.”
Will the New Legislation Work?
Now, this is not the first time that legislators have offered bills to get cruising restarted. Last year, both Florida senators co-sponsored the Set Sail Safely Act. The goal of that act was to establish diverse task forces of stakeholders to develop a plan to resume cruising.
Unfortunately, that bill never moved forward in the senate.
Also this year, Alaska senator Lisa Murdoswki penned a bill entitled the Alaska Recovery Tourism Act. It was the senator’s attempt to enable cruising to resume in Alaska without having to visit a foreign port. Under the current Passenger Vessel Services Act, foreign flagged ships need to visit a foreign port before returning to the United States.
Although, this Act too has seemed to stall in Congress.
In recent days, there has been a flurry of media announcements from various officials indicating a July restart is possible. Director Martin Cetron of the CDC said as much last Wednesday. However, in those statements, he indicated that cruise lines had to abide by the current CDC regulations.
On Thursday, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg commented that he wanted to see the “cruise industry thrive”. Still, he reiterated that the cruise lines needed to follow the current guidance of the CDC.
With these developments, it is likely that we will see some movement sooner rather than later. It took the CDC 5 months to release the newest Technical Instructions. Yet still, there is no timetable for the next phase which includes test cruises.
In the meantime, most of the major cruise lines have decided to restart operations outside of the United States. These new sailings are scheduled to start as early as June.
Can the cruise lines, government officials, and the CDC come up with a reasonable plan to get cruising restarted in the near future?
Comments
What do you think of the new CRUISE Act? Do you think this legislation will enable us to cruise soon from U.S. ports? Drop us an anchor below with your thoughts on this latest cruise restart development.
13 comments
Jeffery Cannin
It is time to restart CRUISING out of the United States. Baseball parks are open along with casinos theaters and restaurants. IF these so called miracle vaccines that the CDC has pushed are as great as they insist : let the cruisers who are vaccinated start then we can judge the safety of cruising along with the vaccines. ( the CDC said that everyone should get vaccinated to stop the virus)
Florence Stoveken
I think vaccines for all should be required to sail and naturally following healthy guide lines. Perhaps the buffets should close for awhile and just turn that area to sit down dining. I am hoping masks will not be required once you are on the ship because part of the fun of cruising is making new friends.
Julie
Yes resume and without a vaccine mandate! It is:
1. A HIPPA violation to ask your medical information
2. Totally unnecessary if vaccines and masks work
Are we going to require vaccinations for every communicable disease before we can travel/resume normal lives…flu, hepatitis, pneumonia, shingles, on and on?!
If, as some believe, this virus was intentionally released, this will happen again. And it is now obvious that our lives can be totally disrupted and controlled
Oliver F Max
Resume cruises with a vaccine mandate. For children under 16, require a negative test. For all you people who don’t want to take the vaccine, more room on the ship for me!
Adonna Bennett
I am extremely anxious to be able to cruise again and have two cruises booked for October and November. My feeling is this whole situation with the COVID has been a ridiculous scare tactic by the government. There have been plenty of other diseases that have been more serious and everyone didn’t go nuts like this time.
I am totally against the so-called vaccine and will not be getting it. As of right now the CDC is a saying it is only effective for 6 months so the people that are getting it will have to keep getting it every 6 months to keep their card updated. I have no problem with getting a COVID test prior to sailing but if the cruise lines demand a COVID shot before I can sail then I will never sail again. That is a total invasion of our privacy and against HIPPA.
Sandy
I agree!!!
Jill parsons
I totally agree !!
Jeanne STURTEVANT
Just back from a trip to Arizona and California from North Carolina. The airport and planes and packed with people jammed together. Please tell me the difference from that to cruising where you have your own cabin and dining table just like a restaurant. This is absolutely insane!
Please ask for an explanation of why we are all vaccinated they will not let us cruise ?
Don
We agree, especially on the vaccinated cruises!
Donnie
All I can say is they need to stop acting like a Communist country and move forward .Let us sail if we choose to .
Kathy Shafer
Let us do what we feel is right keep the money in US ports or we will fly to the Bahamas or wherever and spend the money there we want to cruise
RoseMarieDibos
I love cruising, it is the best vacation ever. But if I have to have a vaccine I will never cruise again. I will be willing to be tested. I have allergic reactions to many things, I don’t want to be forced to take something that hasn’t been around very long. I have been fine for a year and a half, so I will be fine for the duration of this bad flu.
Sandy
I agree 100%