No, the longshoreman strike won't affect cruise ship passengers.
The U.S. port strike went into effect on Tuesday, impacting ports on the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico. It's the first coast-wide International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) strike since 1977, with 45,000 unionized dockworkers raising their pickets.
Cruise operations typically have dedicated facilities separate from cargo handling; however, ships are serviced and stocked by working members of the ILA.
With cargo at many ports being disrupted, the union specified that members wouldn't stop working on passenger ships.
"We understand that many families plan and pay for cruise vacations on passenger ships more than a year out, and we don't want them to be disappointed or inconvenienced in any way," said ILA President Harold Daggett on Sept. 25.
"For almost three years during the worst of the pandemic, the cruise ship industry was shut down, and our ILA rank-and-file members handling passenger cruise vessels lost a lot of man hours."
Cruise operations at Port Miami and Port Everglades confirm this, with Port Everglades saying that cruise and petroleum operations "will not be affected by the ILA strike" on its website.
Working members will also continue to service U.S. military cargo. All other cargo at over 30 ports along the East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico will go unloading, potentially disrupting many goods' supply chains and resulting in higher prices on various consumer products.
Cruise Lines International Association said it was "aware of the work stoppage by the International Longshoremen’s Association and appreciated ILA’s commitment to continue supporting cruise ships during this time so travelers can still enjoy their vacations," as reported by FOX Business.
The strike went into effect at midnight on Oct. 1
At midnight, dockworkers outside the Port of Philadelphia began to picket and chant, "No work without a fair contract," while standing next to a union truck that read, "Automation Hurts Families: ILA Stands For Job Protection," as reported by the Associated Press.
One hour later, at least 50 workers started picketing at Port Houston, carrying signs that said, "No Work Without A Fair Contract."
In a statement issued early Tuesday, the ILA rejected the U.S. Maritime Alliance's latest proposal, claiming it "fell far short of what ILA rank-and-file members are demanding in wages and protections against automation."
Supply chain experts say consumers won't see an immediate impact; however, if the strike lasts longer than a few weeks, the nation's supply chain could face significant disruptions, from higher prices to delays in goods reaching businesses and households.
J.P. Morgan estimated that an East and Gulf Coast port strike could cost the economy anywhere from $3.8 billion to $4.5 billion per day.
Read more: How to pick a cruise line
West Coast port dockworkers are covered by a different union
On Sept. 1, 2023, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) ratified a six-year contract with the Pacific Maritime Association after more than 13 months of negotiations.
In other words, the West Coast isn't subject to the same disruptions as those on the East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico.
Read more: Cruise ship cabins: Everything you need to know
Carnival Cruise Line's Brand Ambassador responds
John Heald, Carnival's Brand Ambassador, took to Facebook to reassure cruise passengers that their upcoming sailings won't be impacted.
"Over 500 of you have asked me individually about something that is supposedly going to be happening where people will not be working and are threatening to do something that you do when you light a match against the side of a [matchbook]. Or something that you get when you are throwing a ball at some pins," he wrote.
"Your question has been..what is or isn’t going to affect the Cruises this coming weekend? The answer is no, it won’t. Thank you, and if anybody does not understand this, please phone a friend."
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
