Statewide Iowa — After sitting empty for months during the pandemic, cruise ships are filling up with passengers again and Iowans are willing to give another look to setting sail on the open sea or down a scenic river.
Gene LaDoucer, a spokesman for Triple-A-Iowa, says one in four Iowans are considering a cruise for their next vacation.
Satisfaction surveys show people are more pleased with their cruises now than before the pandemic, and LaDoucer says a wealth of new safety precautions are in place.
Most destinations have loosened travel restrictions and cruise lines are hoping to reach full capacity in the second half of this year.
There’s been a boost in traveler confidence as COVID-19 cases trend lower, he says. Plus, the CDC has lowered its cruise travel warning to a Level 2, the lowest since the agency began tracking coronavirus statistics.
