Cruise Restart: 347 Ships Sailing in May

Cruise Restart: 347 Ships Sailing in May

The global cruise industry’s restart is continuing to move forward in May, as 347 cruise ships are expected to sail, according to the May edition of the Cruise Ships in Service Report by Cruise Industry News.

That is a big gain of ships from April, when 300 ships were in service, compared to 264 in March, and just 47 ships in May 2021.

Of the 347 ships set to cruise in April, they represent some 82 cruise brands and just over 550,000 berths.

Royal Caribbean International continues to be the biggest brand in service and will have 25 ships sailing in May, including welcoming back the Ovation of the Seas in Alaska and the Rhapsody of the Seas in the Mediterranean.

Carnival Cruise Line will complete its restart with its 23-ship fleet sailing, with the Splendor relaunching operations on May 2 for her 2022 summer program in Alaska.

Norwegian Cruise Line will welcome back the Sun, sailing out of Seattle to Alaska, and the Spirit, which is starting service as well on May 7.

Other highlights include the Royal and Crown Princess relaunching revenue sailings, and the AIDAaura, which cruises from Hamburg on May 7.

CDC relaxing Cruise Covid Advise

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has lowered its cruise travel warning – with industry association Clia calling the move “a step in the right direction”.

The health authority moved its travel health notice for cruises from level 4 to level 3, which indicates Covid-19 levels on ships are “high” rather than “very high”.

 

Since 30 December, the CDC had warned all travellers not to cruise, regardless of vaccination status, after a series of Covid cases on board ships due to the Omicron variant.

 

Under its new guidance, the CDC states cruise travellers should ensure they are “up to date” with their Covid vaccines, including getting a booster, before they sail.

The agency is still warning unvaccinated travellers to avoid cruising, as well as those at increased risk for severe illness from Covid.

 

Reacting to the announcement issued on Tuesday (15 September), Clia welcomed the change, saying the decision “recognises the leadership and effectiveness of the cruise sector’s health and safety protocols”, calling the regulations “unmatched by virtually any other commercial setting”.
 
“Cruise ships have medical, isolation and quarantine facilities on-site, implement extensive response plans using private shoreside resources, and have created an environment where almost every single person is fully vaccinated,” said a Clia statement.

 

“As a result, cases of Covid-19 are very low with the vast majority mild or asymptomatic – making cruise unequalled in its multi-layered approach to effectively mitigating Covid-19.”