Port chief accuses US health authorities of scapegoating cruise sector
With port revenues down by $7.5 million a month, Port Canaveral’s CEO has called out the CDC for scapegoating the cruise industry.
Capt. John Murray, the port’s chief executive, says the Centers for Disease Control is unfairly blaming cruise lines for Covid-19.
"The CDC has not acted on any plan for the cruise lines to return. In fact, just the opposite. The CDC still has their no sail order in effect," he said during a recent Canaveral Port Authority meeting.
"They’ve really taken an unfair hit with the coronavirus outbreak. It’s almost as if they’ve been earmarked as the folks that brought it to the United States. That’s far from the truth."
With the entire industry in hibernation, Central Florida’s cruise-related economic impact is zero and won’t improve until ships start sailing again in late July or August.
The CDC’s ‘no sail’ order is in effect until at least July 24.
"It’s amazing how one industry has been singled out in such a negative way," Murray said.
Carnival Cruise Line said it will sail from Port Canaveral as one of just a handful of ports when it plans to resume operations around early August.
Disney, NCL, Royal Caribbean also sail from the port.
Meanwhile the CDC is rolling out a new colour-coded grading system for infection risk on cruise ships
It ranges from Green, Yellow and Red depending on the risk.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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