The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly altered the way of life for most people in this country. While most people hoped that this would only be a temporary lifestyle adjustment, the reality is that the coronavirus is going to be around for quite some time. Early in the pandemic, it became very clear that the cruise industry was going to be hard-hit. As various state’s economies begin to open up, many people are wondering whether or not they can begin rescheduling their cruise vacations. At Colson Hicks Eidson, our award-winning cruise ship injury attorneys want to discuss whether or not cruises have resumed in the US and what you can do if you believe that a cruise line is not taking appropriate steps to keep you safe.
Cruise Lines Still Cannot Operate In The US
All American cruise lines will suspend ocean cruises until the end of October, at the earliest, as COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the United States. This comes after a Norwegian cruise ship line stopped all operations recently after a coronavirus outbreak on one of their ships infected 36 crew members and at least five passengers. While this cruise did not affect US citizens, it is indicative of what could happen here in a country that does not yet have control over the coronavirus outbreak.
On August 5, 2020, the Cruise Lines International Association, a group that represents cruise lines around the world, announced that every cruise line would suspend US operations until at least October 31, 2020.
This is the third voluntary suspension for US cruise operations since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The previous voluntary suspension was set to expire in the middle of September. The voluntary suspension of operations is not the only thing that is keeping cruise ships from operating in the United States right now. Currently, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a no-sail order in effect that is set to expire on September 30, 2020.
If you will remember, cruise lines stopped sailing in the middle of March after various high-profile COVID-19 outbreaks on these cruises. On one ship, Carnival’s Diamond Princess, 710 people became ill with the virus and 13 and died while the ship was quarantined off the coast of Japan.
There are significant concerns about passenger safety once cruises begin to sail again in the United States. Cruise line operators could face significant liability if they do not take steps to prevent COVID-19 from spreading amongst passengers and crew.
We Can Help With Your Cruise Injury Case
The cruise industry will survive, and hundreds of thousands of Americans will likely start booking cruises as soon as they are able to do so. It is incredibly important that cruise lines take safety seriously when they begin sailing again. At Colson Hicks Eidson, our nationally-recognized attorneys will be here to help if you or a loved one are injured or become ill due to the negligence of cruise ship operators. We are based out of Florida but are available to help residents throughout the United States. You can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or by calling us at 305-476-7400.
