The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention renewed the advisory for travelers to avoid cruises, while the health authority continues to refine its recommendations and protocols for cruises.
Reacting to the announcement, the cruise industry said it was “dismayed” by what it viewed as unnecessary and discriminatory actions by the CDC.
The industry’s response highlighted the multi-layered mitigation measures which the cruise lines content are effective and should be a model for others.
Against this backdrop, we continue to be dismayed by the CDC’s decision to maintain any Travel Health Notice for cruise
stated Cruise Lines International Association, the industry trade group, adding that “regrettably, upon initial review, the latest CDC guidance appears out of step with the actual public health conditions on cruise ships and unnecessary in light of societal trends away from more restrictive measures.”
The CDC’s renewed advisory says if people chose to cruise, they should be fully updated on their vaccinations, use masks and social distance onboard, test before and after their cruise, and if not fully vaccinated quarantine for five days when they return home.
The virus that causes COVID-19 spreads easily between people in close quarters on board ships, and the chance of getting COVID-19 on cruise ships is very high, even if you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines
the advisory warns.
The renewed warning came as the CDC also released further updates on its new voluntary program for cruise ships, making industry observers point out inconsistencies in the CDC approach.
Namely, after the Conditional Sailing Order expired on January 15, the CDC gave the cruise industry the option to voluntarily participate in the protocols. The CDC reports that only 20 of the 103 cruise ships have opted in.
Cruise lines now have until February 18, 2022, to inform CDC if they are participating in CDC’s COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships. As of February 22, any ship that has not responded will be moved to a gray classification to show they are not participating in the program.
CLIA in its response also highlights that nearly all cruise ships are operating with close to 100% vaccination rates compared to approximately 63% on land.
They further point out that the infection rate on cruise ships is low and hospitalizations are 80 times lower than on land in the U.S.
