Cruise-line industry asks CDC to lift "unfair sailing bans"

The cruise industry is ready to go and it called out the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention for what it considers more than a year of unfair treatment after it was shut down by the U.S. Department of Health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cruise Lines International Association, the leading trade organization in the industry, is urging the CDC to lift its "conditional sailing order framework" so that shipping can resume in phases by early July.

"The obsolete CSO, issued almost five months ago, does not reflect the proven progress and success of the industry in other parts of the world, nor does it vaccinate vaccines, and treats cruises unfairly differently," said Kelly Craighead, president and CEO, said of the association, which represents 95% of the maritime capacity in the sea, reads a declaration.

The cruise lines association declared in a release that the agency has not issued additional guidelines since the CDC's directive was issued in October.

CDC spokeswoman Caitlin Shockey told the U.S. TODAY Wednesday that the conditional sail order will remain in effect until Nov. 1 and that the next phases are in the works.

"Returning to passenger shipping is a phased approach to reducing the risk of COVID-19 spread," Shockey.

"Details for the next phase of the CSO are already being investigated."

"The lack of acts by the CDC has already banned all cruises in the largest sailing market in the world," the cruise line association said. According to the organization, shipping is the only sector in the U.S. economy that is still closed.

"Cruise lines should be regarded the same as other travel, tourism, hospitality and entertainment divisions," Craighead stated.

The association added the industry's wish to sail again in July was in line with President Joe Biden's forecast for normalcy in the United States.