Carnival Cruise Line says it is in talks with the CDC and is 'working towards' restarting sailing in July.
Carnival Cruise Line is in talks with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and is"working towards" restarting sailing in July, Carnival President Christine Duffy said Monday.
Cruises were largely shut down under a CDC"No Sail Order" from March to October. Some cruises resumed under conditional sail orders in the fall. On May 5, the CDC issued updated guidance allowing cruise ships to conduct"trial" voyages and apply for certificates for restricted passenger trips. "We are again," Duffy said about the negotiations in an interview."So for a while we weren't, and we respect that. Obviously, at the beginning, the focus really was on getting vaccine in arms, but they've come back to the table with us, and in early spring, I think, in earnest with us and with other inner-agency groups, to really get clear on what guidelines and protocols are going to be required for us to sail again from U.S. ports.
"There's no mandate for any other business to have that requirement," Duffy said."We certainly are encouraging everyone to get a vaccine, and our crew members that have ... are very grateful to have that opportunity."