This week, I asked the CEO of CLIA Joel Katz whether the Federal Government’s four stage Covid exit plan, directly linked to achieving the vaccination of Australians had changed CLIA’s position regarding testing or vaccinations for domestic cruising.
The reason I did that is because the CLIA’s Members’ Policy, which we assume is the policy of protocols proposed by CLIA to the Federal Government in relation to the return of cruising specifies testing, but does not appear to include vaccination, with the CLIA Members’ Policy, in relation to the return of cruising saying:-
A new health framework to define cruising’s future
The health and safety of cruise line passengers, crew and destinations are an operational imperative and a top priority for CLIA members. Following close collaboration and consultation with expert health advisors and other industry-initiated expert groups around the world, CLIA’s COVID-19 Member Policy sets a high bar for initial resumption to convey a clear commitment to passenger, crew and destination health during the pandemic.
Measures for Crew: Conducting 100% testing of all crewmembers, with a requirement for negative test results, prior to their departure from home, prior to embarking the ship, upon conclusion of a minimum quarantine period and at least once monthly; daily symptom screening, mask-wearing in public spaces and service areas, limited cabin occupancy and access to mental health support resources, training in new protocols, among others.
Measures for Passengers: Frequent communication from the time of booking including instructions for complying with public health requirements, staggered guest arrivals and departures, completion of a health declaration, requirement for a negative test result prior to boarding, health screening, physical distancing, mask-wearing, strict adherence to shoreside protocols at ports of call, tracking and tracing for at least 30 days following disembarkation to facilitate post cruise communication, among others.
In addition, the PM has said that Australians will be able to freely travel overseas when 80% of the population is vaccinated, adding, vaccinated Australians will be able to head overseas again to visit family and friends when 80% of the adult population is fully vaccinated under a national pandemic exit plan, but there is no mention of cruising at all.
It is appreciated that domestic cruising is extremely likely to be the first stage of a return to cruising and while the Federal Government’s 80% level relates to outbound travel, I asked CLIA whether the Federal Government’s policy change to mass vaccination targets and travel, affects the CLIA and their Members’ Policy and potentially therefore, the Federal Government’s requirement changing to requiring guests to be vaccinated to allow them to cruise.
Katz told me that at this stage there has been no announcement on the role vaccinations will play in future cruise operations in Australia, however he said that CLIA has called for cruising to be included in the national four-phase plan and looks forward to further discussions with government.
He also provided a CLIA statement on vaccinations as follows: –
As vaccination rollouts are progressing in different ways internationally, CLIA’s Global Member Policy in response to Covid-19 provides for cruise lines to establish vaccination requirements in line with expert medical guidance and the requirements of health authorities in individual jurisdictions.
Vaccines are an important step forward in the global response to Covid-19, and form one element of the multi-layered prevention and mitigation strategies that the industry has implemented as cruise operations resume internationally.
In Australia, CLIA has called on the Federal Government to include a framework for cruise resumption in the national four-stage plan for reopening and is looking forward to progressing those discussions, including the role that vaccinations will play, at the earliest opportunity.
A report by John Alwyn-Jones, Cruise Editor, Global Travel Media and Global Cruise News.
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