Ocean cruise ships are expected to sail out of the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach again later this year after being anchored from the coronavirus pandemic for more than a year.
However, the return of cruise lines at sea, set to gross millions of dollars for the local economy, is not without an ongoing debate ongoing in the country’s capital this month and in talks with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preparing for the relaunch is complicated as the industry continues to be subject to the CDC’s No-Sail regulation.
However, this regulation has repeatedly revised its framework for conditional sailing, most recently at the beginning of the month. Still, efforts are being made in both the U.S. Senate and federal courts to overturn the no-sailing order. Some argue that it exceeds the jurisdiction of the CDC and unduly affects areas where cruise lines operate.
CDC officials did not respond to requests for comment on criticism of the cruise industry.
However, the Federal Health Office has long warned that cruises pose a particular risk for the spread of the coronavirus. However, in a press release dated April 2, the agency said that cruises will always have at least some risk of spreading the virus. The revised framework for conditional sails will allow the industry to get customers back out to sea as safely as possible.
“CDC is committed to working with the cruise industry and seaport partners to resume cruising,” the press release said, “when it is safe to do so.”
However, the exact time for the resumption of cruises remains unclear.
Chris Chase, the business development manager overseeing cruise operations at the Port of Los Angeles, said numerous other details still need to be worked out, including test details, before any deal can be reached with the CDC.
“We’re not there yet,” he said in an interview.
Cruise companies argue that when society opens up again, the industry will be treated unfairly and constrained relative to other entertainment venues.
Earlier this month, Carnival threatened to move some of its U.S. ships to other ports, according to a Bloomberg report, as tensions mounted over the issue.
That news report goes on to say that while the CDC technically lifted the cruise ban in October, the conditional framework regulation includes a multi-tiered, step-by-step process that includes extensive test protocols that are deemed unduly burdensome by cruise lines to sail again.
However, progress this week was also reported in ongoing discussions for a solution between the industry and the CDC.
Local cruises
As vaccines roll out and the number of cases begins to improve in many states, local ports, along with the cruise lines they serve, are preparing for a return of passenger cruises before the end of this year.
In the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, where the passenger cruise business is a major source of income, the outlook is optimistic.
The Port of Los Angeles recently announced that it was awaiting the return of Royal Caribbean International after a 10 year absence. Royal Caribbean has planned a three-day cruise on the Navigator of the Seas from LA to Ensenada late this year. Thereafter, year-round cruises will be offered from Los Angeles to Catalina Island, Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas in Mexico.
“Our long-term partners Princess Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Lines will also resume their solid schedules,” said Gene Seroka, Executive Director of Port of Los Angeles, recently.
“Here at the port, every time a cruise ship calls in Los Angeles brings in more than $ 1 million to restaurants, hotels and businesses in the area,” said Seroka. “With nearly 100 new ship calls from Royal Caribbean and our other cruise partners, we expect to add more than $ 230 million to our local economy in 2022.”
According to the Cruise Lines International Association, the industry generates more than $ 150 billion in global economic activity and supports more than 1 million jobs worldwide.
For Long Beach, the pandemic hit just three months after the new 4,000-passenger Mardi Gras panorama, the largest ship in the fleet, was added to its itinerary. Carnival had also invested millions to double the size of its Long Beach Cruise Center. The estimated 650,000 passengers would boost the local economy by 33% annually.
According to Chase, there were 125 ship calls in the port of Los Angeles in 2019.
From today’s perspective, it could be up to 220 this year by the time Royal Caribbean returns. That would nearly double the volume of cruise activity in the port, Chase added.
“You could leave your home in the San Fernando Valley or Orange County this morning and be on a cruise ship here in the port of Los Angeles that afternoon,” Seroka said, noting the great attraction that the industry and the local port are in the area have Los Angeles area.
Carnival is expanding its cruise capacity in Long Beach
Long Beach Port’s mainstay, Carnival Cruise Line, said in a statement Tuesday, April 20, that the company’s operations will be “on hiatus” through June 30, including crossings from the Long Beach Cruise Terminal.
However, Long Beach crossings are expected to resume later this year.
The Carnival Radiance, set to sail from Long Beach for the first time after a $ 200 million renovation, will offer three- and four-day trips to Baja starting in November, according to the company.
Carnival also plans to increase capacity for its Long Beach cruises by nearly 30% through 2019, the Carnival statement said. Three of the company’s newer, larger ships offer three- to 14-day voyages to Mexico and Hawaii. The company also operates the Carnival Panorama and Carnival Miracle, which sail from Long Beach.
Some July cruises from Long Beach are also still on the agenda as talks cement the resumption of US cruise business.
“We need to find a workable solution,” said Carnival, “that reflects the benefits of vaccinations, advances in treatments and better understanding of COVID-19, and treats the cruise industry in line with the rest of the travel and tourism industry.” and entertainment sector. “
The CDC should now allow the crossing – with all vaccinated crews and passengers – until July 4th, said Chase.
“There are a lot of security in place now,” said Chase. “One thing to keep in mind is that cruises in Europe have been going on for months with little or no COVID problems.”
Progress in the talks
Richard Fain, CEO of the Royal Caribbean Group, in a Video message The study, released on Monday April 19, was optimistic that operations would resume this summer and said the “pace of progress” in talks with the CDC is due to the availability of vaccines and improved testing and expedited contact tracking.
More than 30 other countries have already allowed cruise lines to resume operations, and this data is being collected and used to support the industry’s claim that cruises in the US are safe
Talks with the CDC have been constructive, added Fain.
But in the end, said Fain, it’ll be the call from the CDC.
And for now, Chase said, there’s no return date or schedule yet.
Cruise ships, meanwhile, are making frequent calls to port for maintenance, repair, and equipment unloading as the ships have to go up 60 or 90 days to return to sailing with passengers, Chase said.
The industry shutdown has also impacted numerous companies and jobs associated with the industry, including local land baggage and security teams that assist with each arrival of a ship in port.
“There are people,” he said, “who have not worked for 18 months.”
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