COVID-19 Puts Cruise Ships on Cruise Control 

Eager to get out to sea and soak up some rays? It looks like you may be waiting a little bit longer to get back aboard a cruise ship. Due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, a new wave of cruise ships has just announced that they are pushing back their relaunch dates -- again. Norwegian Cruise Line has become the first large-scale cruise line to announce that they are forgoing a June restart and plan to push their timeline to July. Other major cruise lines, such as Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, and MSC Cruises, have canceled their itineraries through May, but not into June.

Part of the reason for the continued delay may be that the cruise industry is still coming to terms with how to address Centers for Disease Control guidelines. In 2020, the CDC issued guidance called the “Framework for Conditional Sailing Order,” which was meant to serve as a roadmap for cruise ship operators and gave them instructions on how to keep passengers and crew members safe. Some cruise lines continue to grapple with how to put safety protocols in place and maintain them through the duration of a trip.

More Than One Hurdle for Cruise Lines

Another major hurdle the industry is still trying to overcome is the travel-restrictions that some governments have in place. While a few European ports have opened up with enhanced safety measures, others are remaining cautious. Canada has extended its ban on cruise ships until at least 2022. The ban applies to all ships carrying more than 100 people aboard. The country has even banned smaller adventure-seeking pleasure crafts from entering Arctic waters, hoping the move will protect indigenous people from those potentially carrying the virus.

Memories Haven’t Faded and Neither Have the Lawsuits

While this response may seem extreme, consider the stories from cruise ship survivors caught in the aftermath of the first wave of the virus last year. The pain, suffering, emotional distress and uncertainty is still raw for many of the survivors trapped and frightened at sea and stuck stranded at port.

Those aboard the Grand Princess, quarantined on board off the California coast, remember the trauma all too vividly. More than 100 people aboard the ship ended up infected with COVID-19, and eight died. The family of one man who passed away is now suing the operators of that cruise line for negligence and wrongful death. Their case is only one of a dozen lawsuits filed so far by the passengers and surviving relatives on board that Princess Cruise ship.

Reach Out to the Team at Vucci Law Group

Everyone has been impacted in some way by the COVID-19 pandemic. While we all wish we could relax and get away for a while, cruise lines still have a responsibility to ensure that when they sail, they are doing it safely. Those impacted by the first wave of the virus one year ago are living with the consequences of the actions, or lack thereof, of the cruise line industry. As they await the final results of their pending lawsuits, we can only hope that the cruise line industry as a whole has taken the disasters of the past to heart and enhanced their safety protocols.

If you or a loved one has suffered due to a COVID-19-related experience aboard a cruise ship, contact Vucci Law Group for information on how we may be able to help you. Our skilled legal team has experience handling a wide range of cruise line-related accident, injury, and illness claims. To find out how we may be able to help you collect the compensation you deserve from a negligent cruise line, contact our office at (866) 404-3415 today.