Passengers were permitted to depart the vessel to participate in tours of the COVID-19 Resilient Corridors, which have been operational for over a year and have a proven track record of performance.
Yesterday, Monday, August 16th, 2021, cruise activities resumed in Jamaica. Carnival Sunshine was planned to arrive at the Port of Ocho Rios and is the first cruise ship carrying international guests to call at a Jamaican port since the outbreak of COVID-19. It is a significant step toward the gradual restoration of Jamaica’s tourist sector, which has been harmed by the global epidemic.
“I am delighted to inform you that cruise ships will finally return to Jamaica on Monday, August 16th. We welcome this restart since we know that thousands of Jamaicans rely on the cruise ships sector for a living, and it will benefit our economy in general,” Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett stated.
“I want to reassure the public that this call is being managed in line with stringent COVID-19 health and safety regulations that are governed by worldwide standards and best practices in order to safeguard the safety and protection of our people and tourists. Additionally, the vessel is controlled in accordance with the US Center for Disease Control’s Conditional Sailing Order for Simulated and Restricted Voyages (CDC). The Carnival Sunshine’s arrival on Monday represents a key milestone in the recovery effort and the restart of cruise operations, which had been stopped due to the pandemic,” he said.
“Under the stringent rules controlling the restart of cruise ships, roughly 95% of crew and passengers must be completely vaccinated, and all passengers must produce documentation of a negative COVID-19 test performed within 72 hours of sailing,” Minister Bartlett stated. Additionally, it was said that unvaccinated travelers must undergo a PCR test, and all passengers would be checked and tested (antigen) upon disembarkation.
While onboard, the crew will also be expected to follow rigorous standards prescribed by the formal Conditional Sailing Order structure. This necessitates the implementation of preventative measures and the constant presence of surveillance and reaction systems on board.
Professor Gordon Shirley, President, and CEO of the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ), stated that “the Carnival Sunshine call is the culmination of months of collaboration and conversation with our cruise line partners and the Ministry of Health and Wellness” (MoHW). These stakeholders offered invaluable assistance and direction in realigning the PAJ’s operations with global standards in light of the new COVID-19 operational paradigm. To prepare for the return of cruise ships operations in Jamaica, we updated all of our port facilities in compliance with COVID-19 requirements and equipped all of our ports with isolation rooms and sanitary facilities.”
“We have worked closely with the Ministry of Health and Welfare over the last year and, having heeded their advice and followed the science, the PAJ is confident in our ability to continue providing our award-winning cruise passenger experience in a safe and secure environment, despite the challenges posed by COVID-19. We are indebted to the Ministry of Health and Welfare and our cruise partners for their unwavering support during these trying times and look forward to the resumption of our cruise sector, as we are well aware of the industry’s significant positive impact on other businesses and the Jamaican economy in general.”
“We are thrilled to be the first cruise line to return to Jamaica and to provide guests with the chance to enjoy the country’s natural splendor,” said Christine Duffy, President of Carnival Cruise Line. “I would want to express my personal gratitude on behalf of Carnival to the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Health and Wellness, and our partners for collaborating with us to bring safe cruising back to Jamaica,” she said.
Passengers were permitted to depart the vessel to participate in tours of the COVID-19 Resilient Corridors, which have been operational for over a year and have a proven track record of performance. Within the corridors, the positive rate is 0.6 percent.
The Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the Ministry of National Security, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, and the Ministry of Transport and Mining all collaborate to monitor the corridors.
“The Government of Jamaica has been in contact with numerous cruise companies and other key parties to explore resuming cruise operations efficiently while adhering to health and safety regulations. As a result, we are overjoyed that this has finally become a reality. I applaud the efforts of all stakeholders, including the PAJ, the Ministry of Health and Wellness, and Jamaica Vacations Limited (JAMVAC), in ensuring the safe and secure return of cruise operations in Jamaica,” Minister Bartlett stated.