The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lowered its risk assessment of cruising to the lowest level since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Henceforth, cruise ships are considered a Level 2 destination with “moderate” levels of COVID-19. Cruise ships had been lowered to Level 3 status in mid-February after being at Level 4 since December.
However, despite the lowered risk level, CDC encourages all passengers to get fully vaccinated before cruise travel and to take other precautionary measures, such as wearing masks indoors and in crowded outdoor spaces.
If you are not up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and are at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19, avoid cruise ship travel
…the CDC said in its updated Travel Health Notice Monday and continued “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 moderate, even if you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines.”
Passengers can check the status of specific cruise ships through the CDC’s online tracking portal. According to the database, half of the vessels that submit data to CDC have not had a reported infection in two weeks.
CLIA cruise line members continue to sail with some of the highest levels of COVID-19 mitigation, with effective health and safety protocols that are unmatched by virtually any other commercial setting. As a result, the vast majority of cases that have occurred have been mild and addressed swiftly based on pre-arranged response plans.
…said Cruise Lines International Association, the cruise industry’s largest trade association, in a statement via spokesperson Laziza Lambert.
It is important to recall that starting from 15th Jan, Centers for Disease Control Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky confirmed to Congress that the agency’s COVID-19 regulations for cruise lines will move from mandatory to voluntary. In fact, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will follow through on its promise to allow the Conditional Sailing Order expire.
