Restrictions on the number of cruise ships allowed to call on Grand Cayman will be lifted from Monday, 18 April, the government announced, as it prepares to begin the second phase of its cruise resumption strategy.
During the first phase, between 21 March to 17 April, 21 ships, carrying almost 75,000 passengers, were allowed to stop in Cayman. Prior to 21 March, cruise ships had not been allowed to stop in Cayman for two years, since the first COVID-19 cases were found on island.
Phase II, which begins Monday, “will continue until the Long-Term Cruise Tourism Strategy is completed, before the end of the year”, the government stated in a press release, adding that the primary difference between Phases I and II is the restrictions on the number of cruise ships has been removed.
Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan, appearing on the Cayman Compass Facebook talkshow The Resh Hour Wednesday night, shared that government is expecting some 60 ships through to June as the transition begins for Phase II.
“Ships will now revert to the normal process of liaising with the Port Authority Cayman Islands for approval to dock, rather than going through the Ministry of Tourism, as was the case for Phase I,” it said.
The same health protocols that exist for Phase I will remain in place for Phase II.
These include requirements for all cruise passengers and crew to be fully vaccinated and for children under 12 to assume the vaccination status of their parents.
Passengers are tested for COVID-19 before boarding the ships, but are not required to be tested immediately before disembarking in Cayman. However, anyone who does test positive will not be allowed to disembark.
Interim Chief Medical Officer Dr. Autilia Newton said that during Phase I, there had not been a significant change in the number of new COVID-19 cases.
“The stringent health protocols implemented by the Cayman Islands Government exceeds the guidelines issued by the Centres for Disease Control and have been effective in safeguarding the health of residents,” she said in the statement. “Furthermore, Public Health’s analysis of cruise passenger data collected during Phase I have not found any evident link between the number of COVID-19 cases currently on Island and cruise passenger arrivals.”
In the release, Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan said he was very pleased with the success of the return of cruise ships in Phase I and is “looking forward” to the transition to Phase II.
He added that businesses are reporting an increase in the uptake of services. “This is advantageous for our tourism stakeholders and the country as a whole. Even though things are going well, as the sector moves to Phase II, we will remain vigilant in our monitoring of global trends particularly with respect to COVID-19 health protocols to ensure that our people stay protected.”
The Cayman Islands Tourism Association says it had also seen an immediate increase in business. “Despite the lower ship occupancy and the restricted number of ships, there has been a surge in visitor activity. This indicates a very strong demand from the cruise industry and cruise guests for our Cayman activities,” said Troy Leacock, CITA vice president and watersports director.
Addressing concerns from members of the public about cruise ship passengers not wearing masks, Bryan said the cruise lines have been requested to remind passengers of the mask mandate while onshore and inside premises.
“In our communication with the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association, announcing the move to Phase II, the Cayman Islands government has asked cruise lines to step up their passenger communication to ensure that passengers are aware of the need to adhere to our on-island safety protocols, particularly social distancing and mask wearing while indoors at retail outlets and restaurants.”
Visit the Port Authority Cayman Islands website to view the schedule for cruise ship arrivals.
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So, will we be using this juncture to negotiate and unveil a proper “sustainable” cruise ship strategy, around the number of cruise ships and passengers per day, their lenght of time on the Island, the visitor experience, basic conveniences such as: accessible restrooms, shelter from the sun or rain while waiting in line at the Port areas, and seats for the elderly? OR, are we back to a free-fall “business as usual” dysfunctionality?
So anyone can get off a cruise ship but I have to get approval every time I come to the island. Something wrong with this picture
EXACTLY!!!
And not only do residents, Caymanians, and visitors alike have to get permission to come to the island we have to test ONE DAY before our flight arrives. Cruise ship passengers on the other hand are allowed to test BEFORE they board the ship. Nothing like treating cruise ship passengers better than Caymanians, residents, or stay-over tourists. This needs to change immediately. PERIOD.
The only reason I can think of why the portal still exists is that it is a jobs program. It isn’t fair, makes no sense, and serves basically no purpose other than to annoy air travelers.
So we are back to the “good old days”, open house to limitless hordes to swamp our shores while spending very little money onshore, and snubbing the noses of our quality high spending stayover visitors. The only difference is that now we have Covid, and all of these tens of thousands of cruisesheep are free to step ashore whether they are Covid positive or not, unlike the stayover visitors. We may have a Governor, but it’s the Florida Caribbean Cruiseship Association that rules the waves in the Cayman Islands.
So sad that this “pause” wasn’t used to implement a sustainable tourism plan. So sad that there is one rule for the “spend very little” cruise shippers and another for the stay-over tourists and locals who still have to do a test 24 hours before arrival AND fill in a Travel Cayman request. So sad that these large polluters are still allowed in our waters. So sad….
I agree with comments above. I have a condo in Cayman and have to jump through hoops to come. Should not matter if you are vaccinated or not if everyone test before arrival. The visitors are the ones spending the money and keeping the tourist business running. Government makes the most off cruise docking fees, that’s why rules don’t apply to them. Bring all tourist and owners back! Follow U.K. and return fully to normal and stop putting the fear of God in everyone over this virus. The pandemic is over! It is not gone but it is not at the level it was in the beginning.
Raise the per head cruise line visitor fee to $200, make Cayman a luxury destination, with luxury cruise lines. Fewer visitors, good tax cash flow to the government, and short term visitors that will spend money in Georgetown, and not go back to the boat for a free lunch. EVERYONE should be Covid tested 24 hours before coming on the island. Stop punishing long term visitors with Corona visas that last only 3 months!!! If I was vaccinated 6 months ago, I’m still vaccinated 6 months later—- why scientifically waste everyone’s time and effort?