According to Royal Caribbean, almost all of its May cruises will not sail in order to provide more time to properly restart cruise operations once the time is right to do so.

This means its voluntary cruise shutdown extends through May 31, 2021, with a plan of resuming cruising in June, according to the Royal Caribbean website.

There are few exceptions:

• Quantum of the Seas from Singapore
• Odyssey of the Seas sailings from Israel
• China Spectrum of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas sailings from April 30 through May and beyond

Many other cruise lines beat Royal Caribbean to the punch by canceling their May sailings already, including Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Disney Cruise Line.

Cruise operations had already been suspended through the end of April 2021, and this newest news means its extended an additional month.

For more information speak to your travel agent, or if you booked direct call 866-562-7625.

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On May 14, the St. Cloud City Council adopted the Economic Recovery & Stimulus Plan to help create economic development and to assist businesses with recovery, continuity and longevity during COVID-19.

The first of the two funding programs is the small business grant program, which is designed to offset operational costs for for-profit business continuity and may be used for working capital. Eligible businesses can receive up to $10,000 in funding. The other is the non-profit grant program, which is intended to offset operational costs, and eligible organizations can receive up to $5,000 in funding.

To date, 17 companies have received grants totaling $49,000. Andre Anderson, Community Development Director for the city, told Council members that many of the 59 who applied were ineligible due to having also received CARES Act funding.

“We request that you remove the restriction and allow those individuals that were automatically denied, to be able to reapply,” Anderson said during the Sept. 24 Council meeting. “They would still have to demonstrate that they are not duplicating the use of those funds. If they received PPP (payroll protection plan) funding for payroll, for example for February through April, they couldn’t use the City money for that same timeframe. They’d have to use it for a different timeframe or a different purpose.”

Anderson noted 25 of the applicants that were denied didn’t meet other grant criteria, such as being in the city limits and having been in business for three years or more. He also noted that some had been denied for being non-responsive.

Councilman Dave Askew asked for clarification about those who had previously applied. Anderson explained that any business that was denied is welcome to reapply, but they must reapply, and it doesn’t automatically mean they will get funded.

“As long as everyone understands that, it’s fantastic,” Askew said. “If you applied before, apply again. Keep it simple.”

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