3rd Nov 2020 10:07
(Alliance News) - Carnival PLC on Monday said its North American cruise line brands will extend their current operations pause, with voyages suspended for all of December.
The Miami, Florida-headquartered cruise company that the pause in operations extends from December 1 to December 31 and includes five brands. These are Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Cunard North America, and Seabourn.
Carnival Chief Executive David Arnold said: "We continue to work with the US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, and global government and public health authorities, as well as top medical and science experts around the globe, on a comprehensive plan for the eventual restart of cruising in North America. With their collective guidance, we have developed and continue to update our enhanced health and safety protocols that are in the best interest of our guests, crew and overall public health. Whenever we restart our cruise operations in the US, we certainly look forward to welcoming our guests on board."
Shares in Carnival were up 0.8% at 885.00 pence in London on Tuesday.
On Friday last week, US health authorities issued a detailed set of requirements that would allow cruise ships to resume services as early as next month.
The requirements for a "phased resumption" of cruise ship passenger operations were released by the CDC.
In light of the continued spread of Covid-19, a "careful approach" was needed, the CDC said in releasing its "conditional sailing order".
This would include "simulated voyages to test cruise ship operators' ability to mitigate Covid-19 risk", it said.
"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 CDC said Friday.
Cruises could be no longer than seven days and social distancing would have to be respected during meals.
Cruises were halted in March after Covid-19 outbreaks aboard several ships and a "no-sail" order has been regularly renewed by the CDC. It expired the past Saturday.
By Anna Farley; [email protected]
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