Inaugural Sailing of American Countess Cancelled by the CDC

A year after the pandemic, cruise ships in the US are just starting to operate again. A disagreement between the American Queen Steamboat Company and the CDC canceled the inaugural sailing of the American Countess.  A statement from American Queen Steamboat Company says that CDC reviewed the company’s Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection’s date.

American Countess Failing to Meet CDC’s Order

CDC released its “Conditional Sailing Order” in October allowing cruise ships to operate but only if they are not carrying more than 250 people.  This number includes the crew. The American Countess’s capacity is at 245 passengers plus 110 crew which would exceed CDC’s Conditional Sailing Order.

AQSC said that “we have a valid US Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection in place that authorizes us to carry up to 249 passengers and crew”. In addition to this, AQSC also said that they were being “transparent with the CDC” with their intentions to operate the American Countess at a reduced capacity.

It would’ve been the first sailing for AQSC since last year. The good news is that American Duchess is still going to sail as planned. It is sailing on the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Memphis. Unlike the American Countess, the American Duchess is carrying 166 passengers with 70 crew which qualifies under the CDC guidelines.

American Cruise Lines was able to launch its first sailing since the pandemic started. The 100-passenger Independence sailed from Jacksonville and Amelia Island to Charleston.

CDC and Large Ship Cruise Lines

CDC during the start of the pandemic announced no-sail order after discovering 2,973 COVID19 cases on cruise ships from March to July last year. The agency then followed up with a conditional sailing order to allow a phased resumption of cruise ship operations.

In February, AQSC with its sister company Victoria Cruises announced updated health protocols. Both are going to require full vaccination among passengers, crew members, and non-shipboard employees by July 2021.