The Cruise Lines International Association is seeking to lift the current ban on sailing from U.S. ports and begin a phased resumption of cruises by early July.

"Over the past eight months, a highly-controlled resumption of cruising has continued in Europe, Asia, and the South Pacific—with nearly 400,000 passengers sailing to date in more than 10 major cruise markets," CLIA CEO Kelly Craighead said in a statement on March 24. "These voyages were successfully completed with industry-leading protocols that have effectively mitigated the spread of COVID-19. Additional sailings are planned in the Mediterranean and Caribbean later this spring and summer."

CLIA said the rate of COVID-19 infections aboard cruise ships is lower than that on land or any other type of transportation.

Cruise lines voluntarily suspended operations a year ago, but since then have been prevented from resuming cruises by a series of "no sail orders" issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, the last such order was given in October. No further CDC guidance has been released since, CLIA said.

"The lack of any action by the CDC has effectively banned all sailings in the largest cruise market in the world," CLIA said in its statement. "Cruising is the only sector of the U.S. economy that remains prohibited, even as most others have opened or continued to operate throughout the pandemic."

Craighead said today's situation is far different than in October.

"The outdated (no sail order), which was issued almost five months ago, does not reflect the industry's proven advancements and success operating in other parts of the world, nor the advent of vaccines, and unfairly treats cruises differently," she said.

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