CDC Wants Cruise Passengers To Help Restart Sailings
In a document published this week, the CDC solicited input from the public, saying that their feedback “will be used to inform future public health guidance and preventative measures related to cruise ships.” What followed was an extensive list of 28 questions (as well as additional sub questions) covering a wide variety of topics.
Of course, respondents do not have to answer every question and, in fact, would probably not be able to answer some.
But among the questions (which we’ve paraphrased below) many cruisers would likely provide helpful responses to are:
- Should cruise ship operators limit shore excursions?
- Should ships limit the number of passengers who can stay in any one stateroom? Where crew members are concerned, should lines be required to provide them with single-occupancy staterooms?
- If a cruiser is not allowed to embark because of illness, should they be provided with full refunds and/or other incentives?
- Should cruise lines be required to designate a company official who accepts legal responsibility should measures designed to protect passengers and crew not be properly implemented?
Some areas covered by the questionnaire have already been addressed by several cruise lines. For example, there are questions about how the muster drill should be handled.
This comes even as Royal Caribbean announced that it would be introducing a new muster drill format which would avoid the need for people to attend the safety hearings in large groups.
Another question asks how cruise lines should cut risks when passengers are dining or attending entertainment-centric events or disembarking.
One thing which might raise red flags for cruisers hoping to be on ships as early as October is the deadline for submission of comments: According to the document, the CDC will be accepting commentary through September 21.
Given that this information would have to be processed, incorporated and acted upon, it almost strains credulity to imagine ships sailing in October, or possibly even before the end of the year.
