The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced today the extension of a No Sail Order for cruise ships through September 30, 2020. This order continues to suspend passenger operations on cruise ships with the capacity to carry at least 250 passengers in waters subject to U.S. jurisdiction.
The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), which has at least 50 members, had voluntary suspended operations for passenger cruise ships until September 15.
Hawaii usually has a number of different international cruise lines call at ports in Hilo, Kona, and other islands. The only weekly interisland cruise ship, the Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Pride of America, halted its operations on March 14, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 crisis.
Cumulative CDC data from March 1 through July 10, 2020, shows 2,973 COVID-19 or COVID-like illness cases on cruise ships, in addition to 34 deaths. These cases were part of 99 outbreaks on 123 different cruise ships.