Cayman Islands extend cruise ship ban until December 31

   October 12, 2021 ,   Cruise Industry

The Cayman Islands government officials have approved the extension of the ban on cruise ships sailing to the Island until December 31.

The vote will see updated formal regulations leaving the possibility of their return on January 1, but given the current situation with the COVID crisis and the challenges posed by the virus for cruises, it is very unlikely that we will see liners of any significant size in George Town Harbour (Grand Cayman Island) next January or for months after that.

George Town is one of the most popular western Caribbean cruise ports. It has remained closed to cruise ships since the crisis started. The Caymans' other islands visited by cruise ships are Little Cayman and Cayman Brac.

Early in 2021, Premier Alden McLaughlin said it was doubtful that cruise ships would return to the Caymans before 2022.

Premier Alden McLaughlin said that cruising was not on their radar at all at this stage. He added they would have to be satisfied that the world had been in a different place in terms of safety-related to COVID before they would even consider having the liners come there.

"Honestly, I don’t see cruise tourism resuming on any significant level before next year."