CDC Drops Cruise Ships From Travel Notices; Still Advises Passengers To Be Vaccinated

The CDC has lifted its risk advisory for cruise ships in a glimmer of hope that the world is returning to pre-COVID-19 normalcy.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has officially dropped cruise ships from its list of travel health notices. While the agency has not denied the risk of spreading COVID-19 aboard ships, they have stated that passnegers will “make their own risk assessment when choosing to travel on a cruise ship, much like they do in all other travel settings.” The CDC still recommends that travelers get the COVID-19 vaccination before setting sail.

This latest advisory is a welcome relief to the cruise industry, which was moved to the agency’s highest-risk Level 4 category just three months ago amid the rapid spread of the Omicron variant. In February, Cruise travel was dropped to a Level 3 and then to a Level 2, which is “moderate risk,” before it was dropped from the notices completely on Wednesday.

Industry group Cruise Lines International Association says the move recognizes the extensive health measures in place on cruise ships that are “unmatched by virtually any other commercial setting.”

At the height of the COVID-19 outbreak, several cruise ships were stuck at sea, prohibited from returning to land following onboard coronavirus outbreaks.

While the latest advisory is a welcome relief to the cruise industry, it is not entirely in the clear. Just a day before cruise ships were dropped from the notices, the Ruby Princess announced a COVID-19 outbreak aboard a San Francisco cruise.