Big information for the domestic cruise industry: Tiny U.S.-flagged cruise ships are when again returning to East Coastline waters, as nicely as the Mississippi River.

U.S. Coastal Restart

American Cruise Strains‘ (ACL) Independence sailed with friends onboard from Amelia Island, FL, on Saturday. That small ship is operating the line’s “Historic South & Golden Isles” itinerary. 

Though the ship normally accommodates 100 travellers, for this restart of assistance, ACL is running that voyage at 75 percent potential. New wellness and basic safety protocols are in area onboard, and presented the ship’s large space ratio per visitor, passengers are able to distribute out. 

“American Cruise Strains resumed domestic cruise operations on March 13th,” claimed Alexa Paolella, the line’s public relations manager. “With our new protocols in put, we stay devoted to the basic safety of our guests, crew, and the communities we check out. We glance forward to checking out this beautiful state all over again aboard our modest 100- to 190-passenger modern riverboats and modest coastal ships.”

On Monday early morning, Paolella informed Journey Agent that everything is going nicely and the ship will get there at Savannah as scheduled this evening. The voyage will then continue alongside the southern U.S. East Coast and conclude in Charleston this coming weekend.

Mississippi River 

In addition, one particular of American Cruise Line’s fashionable riverboats, the 190-passenger American Jazz, will set sail March 21 for a “Lower Mississippi River” voyage from New Orleans to Memphis. 

ACL’s small ships usually are not subject to the U.S. Centers for Ailment Manage and Avoidance‘s (CDC) “Framework for Conditional Sail Order.” In addition, due to the fact ACL operates U.S. flagged vessels, those ships are capable to sail concerning U.S. ports without having any overseas port contact.

AQSC Sails Later on Nowadays

One more tiny ship line, American Queen Steamboat Enterprise, also U.S.-flagged for American river cruising, will established sail later now on the Mississippi River. AQSC’s American Duchess will depart New Orleans for a cruise to Memphis. 

Travel Agent spoke to Michael Hicks, AQSC’s director of internet marketing communications, on Monday early morning. He described that “John Waggoner, the line’s founder and CEO, experienced a take a look at meal on American Duchess last night time and a charter group is boarding currently as scheduled for a late afternoon departure.”

“The itinerary, as with all American Queen Steamboat Organization itineraries, includes a pre-cruise lodge evening, next ‘SafeCruise’ protocols, which includes PCR COVID-19 tests carried out by our medical partner Vikand,” explained Hicks.

Take note: Setting up July 1, 2021, AQSC will require COVID-19 vaccinations for all company and crew members. American Duchess will sail with a diminished ability of 125 friends.”

Individually, Vacation Agent will be in New Orleans this coming weekend for the christening and inaugural sailing of the American Countess. Stay tuned for our report back again from that voyage to Memphis. American Countess will sail with a diminished ability of 166 visitors

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