CLIA Welcomes EU Guidance for Resumption of Cruises in Europe

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and its member lines have welcomed the publication of the “Interim Guidance for Restarting Cruise Operations” by the EU’s Healthy Gateways program.

CLIA said the Guidance was an important marker in the possible resumption of cruise travel in Europe in the aftermath of COVID-19.

EU Healthy Getaways aims to support cooperation and coordinated action of member states to improve their preparedness and response capacities at points of entry – ports, airports and ground crossings – in preventing and combating cross-border health threats from the transport sector.

The EU Guidance includes a number of essential prerequisites for the restart of cruise operation. Among them are the proper training of crew members, the adoption of social distancing measures, adequate testing capacity onboard, the use of face masks, the installment of hand-sanitizer stations and the enhanced ventilation of indoor areas.

According to an announcement, CLIA and its member lines have been actively engaged in the development of this Guidance and will continue to work with EU Healthy Gateways to assess its practicality and suitability.

“The primary concern of CLIA and its member lines is the health and safety of its passengers and crew. This Guidance from the public health authorities in Europe provides a useful resource for cruise lines as they prepare to resume operations,” said CLIA Europe Secretary-General Tom Boardley.

CLIA members envisage that there will be a gradual, phased-in approach to resumption of operations. Full resumption will also be dependent on a variety of factors, including international, national, and/or local arrangements, the status of the continued spread of COVID-19 in specific locales, and advancements in detection, treatment, and prevention.