CLIA Update on Oil Spill and Cruises
The ongoing Deepwater Horizon oil spill continues to dominate the news. But how does the disaster affect the cruise industry? Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is monitoring the situation, and assures the public that at the current time, no cruise operations are being negatively impacted and member cruise ships sailing from Gulf and Mexico and Florida ports are operating normally. Here is the official statement from CLIA:
CLIA STATEMENT ON DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL SPILL, GULF OF MEXICO
May 20, 2010
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and its individual cruise line members continue to monitor the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. While the situation continues to evolve and change, at the current time no cruise operations are being negatively impacted.
CLIA joins with VISIT Florida and other tourism organizations in the region to urge consumers and, in particular, our 16,000 travel agent members to make no changes in travel and vacation plans in Florida and the Gulf of Mexico region. Florida Coastal destinations are in full operation, Florida’s 2,276 miles of tidal shoreline, 1,197 miles of coastline and 663 miles of beaches have not been impacted in any way, and Florida is welcoming families and friends, conference attendees, water sports enthusiasts and all other types of visitors to its shores. All CLIA member cruises sailing from Gulf of Mexico and Florida ports are also operating normally.
CLIA and its members will continue to provide updates on the situation in order to keep travel planners and consumers fully informed. Several web sites are providing information as it develops. These include www.cruising.org and the VISIT FLORIDA Travel Update page.
Filed under: Cruise News, Miscellaneous
all the vessels currently working in the gulf have nasty looking oil on their hulls. what effect will those oily hulls have on ports of calls in the caribbean, and what will those island governments reaction be? will that not also add to cruise lines operational costs for additional cleaning, painting, and maintainence of the ships?
Thanks for your thoughtful comment – we forwarded your concerns to CLIA. While we don’t have answers for your specific questions, they issued another statement on June 22, along with a list of websites where you can find updated information and ways to help with the clean-up efforts. Please read today’s Seasite blog post for the CLIA statement and links to volunteer organizations.