Galveston's Top Cruise Company Sets Sail Again, But is it Too Soon After Covid?

Carnival Cruise Line Vista, GalvestonCarnival Cruise

Carnival is the number one cruise operator from Galveston and the only cruise operator with three year-round ships at the port. Carnival Vista, Carnival Breeze, and Carnival Dream operate 150 voyages annually from Galveston, carrying an estimated 750,000 passengers a year.

In a ceremony in Galveston on the 3rd of July, to celebrate their resumption of guest cruises from the U.S., Carnival President Christine Duffy, Carnival Vista Captain Andrea Catalani, and local officials led a “Back to Fun” ribbon-cutting ceremony officially welcoming guests back on board. 

Carnival Vista set sail on the 3rd of July for a weeklong cruise with stops in Mahogany Bay (Isla Roatan), Cozumel, and Belize City.

Duffy was quoted in a statement as saying;

“Seeing our guests board the ship for the first time in over 15 months was a welcome and emotional sight. The excitement our guests have for Carnival cruising knows no bounds and it’s great to be able to have them enjoy our unique vacation experience and of course see our amazing crew once again,”

It's fantastic news for the “Cruise Crowd” who enjoy the relaxed lifestyle on board, but questions remain about Covid and the timing of opening up again for business so soon on the heels of a pandemic that clearly isn't yet done with America.

It’s also great news for the industry in general and local Galveston employees of the Cruise company will be more than a little thankful to resume business as normal after the last eighteen-month hiatus which has seen other Cruise companies go out of business.

Texas is the ideal place to be operating from right now if your running cruises, as the state has passed legislation to make it illegal to ask a passenger if they've been vaccinated against Covid.

In response to cruise ships wanting to provide proof of a vaccine, Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) signed a new law that bans the ability for any business in Texas from asking for vaccine information.

The new law follows an executive order he signed in April 2021 that banned state agencies or organizations that received public funds from doing the same thing. Governor Abbott specifically addressed the issue of cruise ships, which may look to ensure a certain percentage of their passengers are vaccinated, and he does not want them to be able to ask passengers for that information.

For passengers that are Covid vaccinated and want to ensure themselves peace of mind while they enjoy the sun and sea, this technical hurdle to ensuring safety for everyone onboard may serve to offer vaccinated passengers pause for thought when booking.

The Captain of Carnival Vista is confident they're prepared. In a statement at the launch ceremony, she said the following;

"Having our guests on board again is something we've been looking forward to for a very long time.  Our crew is very excited and will provide them with the incredible Carnival vacation they've been so patiently waiting for."

Follow me to see more articles like this.

...

Follow

This is original content from NewsBreak’s Creator Program. Join today to publish and share your own content.