Today’s news that a joint taskforce of Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line presented COVID-19-related protocols to the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is most welcome. It regards 72 steps that include rigorous pre-boarding testing and screening.
CDC had issued a coronavirus-related “no sail” order until September 30, but the cruise lines voluntarily suspended US operations until at least the end of October. However, there is interest to start in November again pending the approval of medical authorities,
A speedy resumption of the cruise business is obviously of great importance to Philipsburg and other locations all over the island. It is therefore advisable to properly coordinate this matter with the French side early and avoid undesirable surprises.
The Port of St. Maarten sent out a press release Sunday evening asking stakeholders and supporters of cruising to submit – preferably favourable – comments about the possible return of ships to CDC, but the deadline was regrettably Monday. If the time to do this had not been so short more people might have reacted.
Of course, some will be against the idea because of an added health risk. However, certainly both the cruise lines and CDC are well aware of the former outbreaks on passenger vessels and will want to ensure that does not happen again.
In other words, not just the wellbeing of the destination and its people but also that of passengers, crews, and the cruise lines themselves is at stake. The industry is said to be “evolving” and in many ways will not be quite the same as before.
For example, “controlling shore excursions” as mentioned could have a major impact on how many passengers disembark and what they do while here. Still, even a fraction of the contribution cruisers used to make to the local tourism economy would make a big positive difference under the current dire circumstances.
The Friendly Island was one of the premier ports of call in the region and everything responsibly possible should be done to regain that status sooner rather than later.
