Three Cruise Ships Docked at WICO in 2016 By. ERNICE GILBERT FOR VI CONSORTIUM
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) announced Thursday that its cruise line members have agreed to voluntarily suspend U.S. cruise operations until at least 31 October.
"Despite the valuable alignment between CLIA’s previous voluntary suspension to 15 September and the CDC’s current No-Sail Order date of 30 September, we believe it is prudent at this time to voluntarily extend the suspension of U.S. ocean-going cruise operations to 31 October," CLIA said. "This is a difficult decision as we recognize the crushing impact that this pandemic has had on our community and every other industry."
CLIA said its cruise line members will continue to monitor the situation with the understanding that it will revisit a possible further extension on or before 30 September 2020. "At the same time, should conditions in the U.S. change and it becomes possible to consider short, modified sailings, we would consider an earlier restart," CLIA said.
According to CLIA’s most recent Economic Impact Study, cruise activity in the United States supports nearly half a million (421,000) American jobs and generates $53 billion annually in economic activity throughout the country. Each day of the suspension of U.S. cruise operations results in a loss of up to $110 million in economic activity and 800 direct and indirect American jobs, CLIA said.
The impact of the suspension is particularly profound in states that depend heavily on cruise tourism, including Florida, Texas, Alaska, Washington, New York and California.
