Test Cruise Ships in January 2021

Cruise lines are now getting ready to set sail but not until 2021.

In the meantime, they’ve embarked on another journey.

Cruise lines are about to implement about 74 changes in design, ventilation, floor plans, dining, passenger and crew behavior, boarding procedures and shore excursion rules.

In the process, as part of an agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the cruise lines will be doing test cruises.

The test cruises will see how all of these new procedures and design changes work with crew only.

And then, if it all works well, the procedures will be tested in January with passengers who volunteer to be part of a test cruise.

So far, more than 100,000 folks have signed up for Royal Caribbean test voyages, which may just be evidence of tremendous pent-up demand.