The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is supporting the resumption of cruise industry passenger operations in the US by mid-summer.
The assurance came as the state of Alaska joined Florida’s suit to overturn a CDC decision to ban the U.S. cruise industry from immediately resuming operations.
Namely, the agency said in a letter to the cruise industry that:
If a ship attests that 98% of its crew and 95% of its passengers are fully vaccinated, that ship may skip simulated voyages and move directly to open water sailing
The CDC also noted that it would respond within five days to applications for simulated voyages, down from an anticipated time of 60 days.
It further added that it would update testing and quarantine requirements for passengers and crew, in order to comply with its guidance for fully vaccinated individuals, among other clarifications.
The cruise industry did not immediately comment, however the CDC letter said the mid-summer timeline ensures complying with a conditional sail order issued this month that “aligns with the goals announced by many major cruise lines.”
A month ago, following several calls by the cruise industry, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued the next phase of technical guidance under the Framework for Conditional Sailing Order (CSO).
This phase, the second of the CSO issued in October 2020, requires cruise lines to establish agreements at ports where they intend to operate, implement routine testing of the crew, and develop plans incorporating vaccination strategies to reduce the risk of introduction and spread of COVID-19 by crew and passengers.
