Workers stuck in port as pandemic stalls cruise industry

02:44

​Late last month,the Centers for Disease Control lifted its sailing ban on cruise shipsin U.S. waters and replaced it with a 'conditional' sailing order in effect for at least another year.

Among a long list ofnew requirements: Operators will need to testall crew members on a weekly basis, ​and installlaboratory facilitiesto conduct COVID-19 testing.Ships will ​alsoundergo mock trips to measurevessels' ability to mitigate infection risk.

​The world's largest cruise industry trade group responded to the new requirements by setting early 2021 as its new goal for returning cruise ships with passengers to U.S. waters and using the time now to prepare. Travel agents say customer demand is high.

Check out

The China Report

, our new weekly newsletter.Subscribe here!