The cruise sector has fought for months with US authorities over how to handle the pandemic, but industry leaders agree that both sides want one thing.

The tussle began in March, when the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) asked the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to lift restrictions on cruises by July.

The CDC denied CLIA's request, so Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings announced in early April that it would start sailing its vessels in July anyway.