Galveston Port CEO and Port Director Rodger Rees said that they are ready if the US cruise industry operates again. However, he admits that “no one knows exactly when cruise ships will sail again”.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in March 2020 announced a no-sail order that halted the cruise industry’s operation. By October 2020, the health agency released a conditional sailing order. Until today, there is no definite date regarding the resumption of cruises.
Rees said that “we’re closely monitoring progress as industry leaders, federal officials, and Congress shape how to resume safe, sustainable cruising the US”. Despite the lack of an exact date, the Galveston Port CEO said that they are already “planning for a phased resumption of cruising as early as July, just to be ready”. Galveston Port invested $100,000 in their health and safety upgrades.
Huge Losses to Texas
According to Rees, suspension of the cruise industry operating in Galveston resulted in losses for Texas. The losses are estimated at $1.2 billion in direct spending not to mention the 23,000 jobs and $1.6 billion in wages statewide.
The cruise industry is currently meeting with CDC hoping that it can jumpstart the industry by July for the summer. Industry leaders feel that the cruise industry isn’t treated fairly as other modes of transportation are now picking up. The TSA has recorded straight weeks of more than 1 million passengers in US airports.
The cruise industry is demanding the heath agency to scrap the conditional sailing order and have a more concrete plan on how to restart the industry.
Some cruises are already leaving the US and finding new homeports elsewhere. Given the number of homeports located in Florida, the state filed a lawsuit against the federal government. Aside from Florida, Alaska is also suing.
According to Reese, “it is still unknown what to expect from the CDC moving forward”.
