Two American politicians have urged the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) to reinstate a no sail order for cruise ships after a Covid outbreak on Sea Dream forced the ship to return to Barbados – where the CDC has no jurisdiction.

However, Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal and California Rep. Doris Matsui wrote to CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield asking to place a halt on the CDC’s Conditional Sailing Order.

“As COVID-19 cases skyrocket across the country, it is unconscionable for the CDC to move forward on a plan to resume operations given the ongoing risks. While we appreciate the difficult economic situation cruise line operators face and the desire of many cruising enthusiasts to restore a sense of normalcy, the CDC must always put health and safety first,” the letter said.

They also noted reports that crew and passengers were not masked aboard the cruise, an omission that had also been reported earlier during the ship’s positioning cruise from Europe.

Meanwhile it is not expected that cruise ships will sail from US ports until early 2021, and there are a variety of stringent conditions to be met before they are permitted to sail again in US waters.