Royal Caribbean International extends fleet lay-up to mid-September

Royal Caribbean International has prolonged its fleet suspension as part of a sector-wide call to push lay-ups into mid-September.

The owner plans to relaunch its ships on 16 September, after the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) told members to delay US sailings to 15 September last week.

CLIA's call for postponement voluntarily extends the US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention's (CDC) April ban on passengerships within US territories to 24 July by almost two months.