CLIA global ocean cruise line members have agreed to test all crew and passengers for coronavirus before embarkation.

The cruise organisation’s members, which include cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and Cunard, have agreed to conduct 100 per cent testing, with both passenger and crew needing a negative test result to board the ship.

The new requirement will apply to ocean-going ships carrying 250 or more persons and will be applied globally.

Coronavirus testing is a step toward the safe global resumption of cruises, with cruise lines slowly starting to set restart dates or even resume operations in certain countries.

A CLIA spokesperson said in a statement: “CLIA ocean cruise line members worldwide have agreed to conduct 100 per cent testing of passengers and crew on all ships with a capacity to carry 250 or more persons—with a negative test required for any embarkation.

“This is a travel industry first and an example of the cruise industry leading the way. We see testing as an important initial step to a multi-layered approach that we believe validates the industry’s commitment to making health, safety, and the well-being of the passengers, the crew, and the communities we visit our top priority.”

Detailing more plans for a safe return to cruising post Covid-19, CLIA recently revealed a new comprehensive Covid-19 framework in collaboration with the UK Chamber of Shipping.

The new framework was produced in collaboration with operators, industry partners and health experts, including the World Health Organisation, International Maritime Organisation, European Maritime Safety Association, the European Centre for Disease Control, and EU Healthy Gateways.

There are sections dedicated to operators, passengers, and seafarers, each containing specific advice and recommendations. The framework is intended to “help inform the restart of the cruise industry when the time is right and public health conditions allow”.