CDC ‘No Sail Order’ to Expire, Cruise Lines One Step Closer to Being Back in the Water
It looks like we might finally have that light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to Disney Cruise Line and all cruise lines! Today, the CDC confirmed that its current “No Sail Order” will expire tomorrow, October 31, 2020! It will be replaced with what is called a “Conditional Sailing Order,” that is the framework for “a phased approach for the safe and responsible resumption for passenger cruises.”
While, technically, Disney Cruise Line and other cruise ships could be back in the water as early as this weekend, it’s still going to be a little more time before that happens.
The first cruises to set sail again from the United States will be “simulated cruises.” These will sail to show the CDC that cruise lines are in compliance with CDC standards and that mitigation efforts are being used properly.
A CDC spokesperson, Cate Shcokey, stated, “During the initial phases, cruise ship operators must demonstrate adherence to testing, quarantine and isolation, and social distancing requirements to protect crew members while they build the laboratory capacity needed to test crew and future passengers.”
The next phase cruise lines will follow to resume sailing again will include mock voyages with employees and their family members. These are similar to “shakedown cruises” that cruise lines do when a new ship enters it’s fleet before its inaugural voyage.
Disney Cruise Line along with all other cruise lines suspended cruises back in March of this year at the COVID-19 pandemic was beginning. The CDC has extended the “No Sail Order” a few times since then. It was rumored that it would once again be suspended until February 2021 but cruise fans everywhere, including myself, are happy this did not turn out to be the case.
The Cruse Line International Association recently released a total of 74 recommendations for preventing and mitigating the spread of COVID-19 on cruise ships. Recommendations include testing, face masks, temperature checks among others.
It is still unknown at this time when Disney Cruise Line and other cruise lines will officially set sail again. While most cruises have been cancelled through the end of 2020, there is now a bit more hope that a few ships will sail once again this year. Make sure to keep it here with MickeyBlog.com for all the latest!
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