CDC Updates Health Notice on Cruise Travel to Level 3

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finally lowers the warning level on cruise travel. On Wednesday, the CDC finally updated its health notice on cruise travel from level 4 to level 3. This is welcomed by the cruise lines as the cruise industry was halted for 15 months during the pandemic.

What the Updated Health Notice on Cruise Travel Mean?

What does it mean? Health officials still don’t consider cruise travel as 100% risk-free. Instead, the agency encourages travelers to get fully vaccinated if they decide to go on a cruise.

In its updated advisory, “Since the virus spreads more easily between people in close quarters aboard ships, the chance of getting COVID19 on cruise ships is high. It is especially important that people who are not fully vaccinated with an increased risk of severe illness avoid travel on cruise ships, including river cruises”.

The CDC advises travelers to still take precautions especially those who are not yet fully vaccinated. Travelers are advised to get tested 3 days before the trip and another 3-5 days after. However, those who are not fully vaccinated should still quarantine for a week even with a negative result.  And if you don’t get tested, the CDC advised travelers to take a 10-day quarantine just to be sure.

First Sailing on June 26^th

The first paid cruise is set to depart on June 26 in Fort Lauderdale. The Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Edge is the first cruise to sail after more than a year. Then, there are the delays. 10 of Royal Caribbean’s crew tested positive after arriving in the US. This made the cruise line decide to postpone the debut of the Odyssey of the Seas.

Also, sailing is not so simple anymore since cruises will need to meet the safety protocols set by the CDC. 95% of passengers and crew should be fully vaccinated. If the vaccination threshold is not met, cruises will need to conduct simulated voyages to test the safety protocols.