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

Here Is Some of the New CDC Guidance on Cruise Ship Travel

by Daniel McCarthy / July 22, 2022
CDC Cruise Ship Rules

Photo: byvalet / Shutterstock.com


This week, news came out that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was sunsetting its Program for Cruise Ships Operating in U.S. Waters effective immediately, opting for a new set of guidelines for public health operations on cruise ships. 

The CDC made the announcement on Monday, writing on its website that, “as of July 18, 2022, CDC’s COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships is no longer in effect” and it will no longer update pages that tracked cases onboard ships. Some cruise lines, like Virgin Voyages, moved to drop some COVID-era restrictions after the news came down this week.

On Thursday, the CDC posted a new set of guidelines, which are not mandatory for cruise lines operating U.S.-based sailings. The CDC said the guidelines were published “to assist cruise ship operators in establishing health and safety protections to reduce the risk of introduction and spread COVID-19 during passenger operations and preserve onboard medical capacity.”

“Cruise ship operators should carefully consider and incorporate these recommendations in developing their own health and safety protocols. Plans should include triggers for a graduated approach to outbreak management in response to increasing case counts or other public health concerns,” it added.

Here is just some of what the CDC is now recommending cruise operators do (the full set of recommendations can be found here):

Pre-Cruise Health Screenings
“Cruise ship operators should screen passengers for signs or symptoms of COVID-19, known close contact exposure to a person with COVID-19 within the 10 days before embarkation, or a positive COVID-19 viral test within 10 days before embarkation,” the CDC wrote in its new update.

Lines should consider denying boarding to those who are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 before boarding (unless they are testing negative), and those who have had close exposure within 5 days of embarkation should only be allowed onboard if they are up to date with their vaccines, asymptomatic, and have a negative viral test taken the day of embarkation.

Vaccination Requirements
The CDC is no longer requiring cruise ships to operate vaccination-only voyages. However, its new update is still recommending that “all eligible travelers be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines.

“In addition to the protection COVID-19 vaccines provide to individual travelers in preventing severe illness or death from COVID-19, having a high proportion of travelers on board who are up to date with COVID-19 vaccines reduces the likelihood that cruise ships’ medical centers are overwhelmed by cases of COVID-19,” the CDC wrote in its new update.

Testing Requirements
Cruise lines no longer have to require guests to test before embarkation, but the CDC is still recommending it, too.

“To reduce likelihood of onboard transmission, cruise ship operators should consider requiring travelers to get tested for current infection with a viral test as close to the time of departure as possible (no more than 3 days before travel) and present their negative test result prior to boarding,” the CDC’s new update says.

“Testing within 1 day of embarkation is highly recommended. Cruise ship operators may also consider conducting embarkation testing for all or a subset of passengers.

The CDC also wants operators to have the capacity to do tests onboard, including PCR, NAAT, and rapid tests.

Onboard Response Plans
The CDC is still recommending that cruise line operators have a plan in place for a COVID-19 outbreak during a sailing, including isolation, quarantine protocols, and a medical facility onboard to be able to treat those who are infected and ill. That includes some kind of “surveillance protocols” to detect COVID-19 in passengers, isolation and quarantine protocols, medical facilities onboard, and the ability to “provide hospital level of care...for infected patients without the immediate need to rely on shoreside hospitalization.”

If an infection does happen, fully vaccinated close contacts should either be tested with a viral test daily until 5 days after exposure or quarantined until at least five full days after their last exposure. Those who aren’t up to date with their vaccines should either be quarantined for five days with daily testing and then wear a well-fitting mask when outside their cabin, or quarantined until at least 10 days after exposure.

Cruise lines should also have procedures in place for disembarking travelers with COVID-19 “who need a higher level of care that can be provided onboard” and “training protocols for all crew on COVID-19 prevention, mitigation, and response activities.”

  96
  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
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
The CDC Issues a Travel Warning for Monkeypox

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. Lufthansa Group of Airlines Will Change its Distribution Cost Charge Starting in September
  5. Here Is Some of the New CDC Guidance on Cruise Ship Travel
  6. Southwest Airlines’ Flight Credits Will No Longer Expire

MOST EMAILED

Brought To You By
  1. River Cruise Lines Prepare to Deal with Low Water Levels on the Rhine
  2. Updated Cruise Line COVID-19 Vaccination, Booster, & Testing Requirements
  3. Canada Will Restart Random COVID-19 Testing at Airports Next Week
  4. Southwest Airlines’ Flight Credits Will No Longer Expire
  5. U.S. Passport Wait Time Is Now 8 to 11 Weeks for ‘Routine Service’
  6. Viking Cruises' New Octantis Is So Much More than Just a Cruise Ship
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
Royal Caribbean Joins Norwegian in Dropping Vaccination Requirements for Some Cruises
Royal Caribbean Joins Norwegian in Dropping Vaccination Requirements for Some Cruises

The new rules apply to all cruises from Los Angeles, Galveston, and New Orleans, along with all sailings out of European homeports. 

Read...
Princess Cruises Alters Alaska Itineraries (Again)
Princess Cruises Alters Alaska Itineraries (Again)

Princess will maintain two-thirds of its remaining visits to Skagway, Alaska this year, but 10 sailings will need to be changed. 

Read...
Paul Gauguin Cruises Offers $500 Per Guest Air Credit
Paul Gauguin Cruises Offers $500 Per Guest Air Credit

Applicable sailings are May 6 and 13; and June 10, 17, and 24, 2023.  

Read...
Explora Journeys Reveals Culinary & Beverage Offerings Onboard Explora I
Explora Journeys Reveals Culinary & Beverage Offerings Onboard Explora I

Options will include 18 distinct venues including six restaurants.

Read...
Oceania Cruises Pursues Gradual Innovation with Vista Food & Beverage
Oceania Cruises Pursues Gradual Innovation with Vista Food & Beverage

Oceania Cruises executives talk innovation, Vista, and the reaction to its new COVID-19 protocols. 

Read...
American Queen Voyages Unveils Longest U.S. River Itinerary
American Queen Voyages Unveils Longest U.S. River Itinerary

The 1,772-mile, 10-state journey is the longest in the company's history. 

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/U6CJNU-CRPQ/0.jpg
MasterAdvisor 56: How Travel Advisors Can Use Instagram Reels
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