The world's cruise lines have begun announcing summer cruises out of Europe and other countries, but are waiting on guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on when they will be allowed to resume U.S. sailings.
Both Florida and Alaska sued the CDC in early April after the agency maintained its temporary hold on sailings from U.S. ports.
“We don’t believe the federal government has the right to mothball a major industry for over a year,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said at a news conference, The Wall Street Journal reported. “There’s really just no end in sight because whatever [federal authorities] do next, it’s probably going to be so cumbersome that the cruise lines aren’t even going to be able to sail.”
Norwegian Cruise Line submitted a plan to the CDC to restart U.S. sailings on 4 July, but has not received a response from the agency.
However, a multitude of opportunities for seafood suppliers have opened as most major cruise companies have announced new sailing dates in Europe and elsewhere, and the construction of new ships.
Norwegian’s Oceania Cruises will resume sailings to Scandinavia and Western Europe in August and its Regent Seven Seas Cruises will resume cruising from the U.K. starting in September, debuting a new Seven Seas Splendor ship. The ship features Pacific Rim, a pan-Asian inspired restaurant, and steakhouse Prime 7.
American Cruise Lines is offering round-trip cruises from Juneau Alaska, starting in June through September.
Seabourn will begin offering cruises from Bridgetown, Barbados, beginning on 18 July, and will begin sailing from Greece on 3 July.
MSC Cruises will begin sailings in the U.K. on 20 May, but the cruises are open to U.K. residents only and guests will be tested for COVID-19. The company is confident about resuming cruises throughout Europe and the Mediterranean this summer, according to Seatrade Cruise News.
Photo courtesy of Regent Seven Seas
