Search Travel Market Report

mainlogo
www.travelmarketreport.com
  • News
  • Tours & Packages
  • Cruise
  • Hotels & Resorts
  • Destinations
  • Retail Strategies
  • Niche & Luxury
  • Well-Being Travel
  • Training & Events
  • Who We Are
    • Anne Marie Moebes
    • Brian Israel
    • Dan McCarthy
    • Denise Caiazzo
    • Marilee Crocker
    • Paul M. Ruden
    • Dori Saltzman
    • Kelly Fontenelle

CLIA Calls CDC’s Decision to Elevate Cruise Warning ‘Particularly Perplexing’

by Daniel McCarthy / January 02, 2022
CLIA Calls CDC’s Decision to Elevate Cruise Warning ‘Particularly Perplexing’

Photo: Shutterstock.com


On Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), issued a new advisory for cruise ship travel, telling all travelers, regardless of their vaccination status, to avoid cruise ship travel in light of the new rise in COVID-19 cases.

“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 fully vaccinated and have received a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose,” the CDC’s new Level 4 warning, the highest level of advisory, reads.

While the CDC hasn’t provided a total list of cruise ship infections, it does categorize ships by infection rate, with an investigation taking place if a ship reports cases in .10% of its passengers. The levels range from Green (no reports during the last seven days), to Orange (reports of infections but below the threshold of CDC investigation), to Yellow (infections meeting the threshold for investigation), and Red (sustained transmission of COVID-19).

According to the CDC’s list, just three ships meet the criteria for the Orange list, while the rest remain at either Yellow or Green.

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) responded late last week, writing in a statement that “the decision by the CDC to raise the travel level for cruise is particularly perplexing considering the cases identified on cruise ships consistently make up a slim minority of the total population onboard.”

CLIA added that the majority of cases onboard or either asymptomatic or “mild in nature, posing little to no burden on medical resources onboard or onshore.”

CLIA, along with the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) and the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies (ACTA), have long pushed against CDC restrictions on cruise ships, as infection rates in the industry have been lower than overall infection rates in the U.S.

“Cruise ships offer a highly controlled environment with science-backed measures, known testing and vaccinated levels far above other venues or modes of transportation and travel, and significantly lower incidence rates than land,” CLIA’s statement continued.

While there isn't a full set of data from the CDC, Royal Caribbean Group has released its findings when it comes to infections. According to Royal, since cruising restarted in June 2021, the company has carried 1.1 million guests with 1,745 people testing positive (a rate of .162%). 

  77
  0
Related Articles
France Drops Remaining COVID-19 Requirements for Travel
MSC Cruises Drop COVID-19 Test Requirement for Fully Vaccinated Guests on Some Sailings
Here Is Some of the New CDC Guidance on Cruise Ship Travel
The CDC Ends Its Cruise Ship Monitoring Program
CDC Ups Dominican Republic COVID-19 Advisory to ‘High’
Bahamas Eliminates Travel Health Visa, But COVID Test Requirement Remains
Travel Advisors Breath Sigh of Relief over End of Inbound COVID-19 Testing
Japan Could Boot Tourists Who Disobey COVID-19 Rules
U.S. CDC Ups Monkeypox Alert to Level 2, Practice Enhanced Precautions
CDC Adds Three Caribbean Destinations to “High-Risk” COVID-19 List

MOST VIEWED

Brought To You By
  1. Princess Cruises Forced to Adjust Alaska Sailings After White Pass Rail Road Decision
  2. River Cruise Lines Prepare to Deal with Low Water Levels on the Rhine
  3. Updated Cruise Line COVID-19 Vaccination, Booster, & Testing Requirements
  4. Water Levels on the Rhine Are Expected to Reach Critical Levels This Week
  5. The Ten Unwritten Rules of Travel
  6. Here Is Some of the New CDC Guidance on Cruise Ship Travel

MOST EMAILED

Brought To You By
  1. Updated Cruise Line COVID-19 Vaccination, Booster, & Testing Requirements
  2. River Cruise Lines Prepare to Deal with Low Water Levels on the Rhine
  3. Southwest Airlines’ Flight Credits Will No Longer Expire
  4. Viking Cruises' New Octantis Is So Much More than Just a Cruise Ship
  5. New DOT Rulemaking Goes Off the Rails on Refunds
  6. Princess Cruises Forced to Adjust Alaska Sailings After White Pass Rail Road Decision
TMR THIS WEEK
Sponsored by Intrepid Travel
//services.travelsavers.com/AMGService.svc/REST/GetImage?ImageID=9909dea1-a71c-ed11-b00b-005056a8720b&Width=350&Height&250

Antarctica: Truly Beyond

For advisors who do not regularly book this type of travel, it might seem like an intimidating task. But with the right training and support, any advisor can become a polar travel specialist. 

Read More...
TMR Subscription

Subscribe today to receive daily in-depth coverage, analysis of industry news, trends and issues that affect how you do business. Subscribe now for free.

Subscribe to TMR

Top Stories
Sailing and Selling the Great Lakes: What to Know About Cruise Offerings
Sailing and Selling the Great Lakes: What to Know About Cruise Offerings

Primarily summer vacation communities for Canadians and Midwesterners, the territory of the five Great Lakes is still being charted by cruise lines. 

Read...
Windstar Drops Pre-Cruise COVID-19 Tests
Windstar Drops Pre-Cruise COVID-19 Tests

Vaccinations are still required. 

Read...
Norwegian Cruise Line Pushes Norwegian Viva Launch (Again)
Norwegian Cruise Line Pushes Norwegian Viva Launch (Again)

This is the second time NCL has pushed back the launch date for Norwegian Viva. 

Read...
Princess Introduces Upgrade Bidding
Princess Introduces Upgrade Bidding

The new program helps clients save money on better-category staterooms and earns travel advisors extra commission. 

Read...
Virgin Voyages Grows North American Sales Team
Virgin Voyages Grows North American Sales Team

The cruise line is more than doubling its support team for travel advisors and adding new regional managers. 

Read...
Quark Expeditions Expands Polar Camping Options
Quark Expeditions Expands Polar Camping Options

Cruisers can now camp overnight in the Antarctic and Arctic. 

Read...
TMR OUTLOOKS & WHITE PAPERS
lux cruise outlook
CP White Paper
Multi-Gen Outlook
Distribution Outlook (1)
New to Cruise Outlook
River Cruise Outlook 2019
View All
Advertiser's Voice
https://img.youtube.com/vi/J_wmGlymwpc/0.jpg
Video: A Quick Intro to Instagram Reels for Travel Advisors
About Travel Market Report Mission Editorial Staff Advisory Board Advertise
TMR Resources Webinars Calendar of Events
Subscribe to TMR
Select Language
Do You Have an Idea Email
editor@travelmarketreport.com
Give Us a Call
1-(516) 730-3097
Drop Us a Note
Travel Market Report
71 Audrey Ave, Oyster Bay, NY 11771
News|Leisure Travel|Land Vacations|Cruise|Canada Retail Strategies|Well-Being|Luxury|Training
© 2005 - 2022 Travel Market Report, an American Marketing Group Inc. Company All Rights Reserved | 243 South Street, Oyster Bay, NY, 11771 USA | Telephone (516) 730-3097| Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy