After long months of lockdown, major cruise lines are beginning to set sail around the world as COVID laws are relaxing in most countries. CDC initially delayed granting cruise lines access to American ports as they believe that COVID-19 spreads more easily on ships according to a research they carried out.
After reviewing their COVID guidelines, CDC has issued a new guidance and it applies to simulated and restricted sailings under the CDC’s Framework for Conditional Sailing Order.
CDC Relaxes COVID-19 Protocols
As per the recent update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cruise lines are not required to test fully vaccinated passengers before they embark on a trip or after returning to port.
This latest easing of COVID laws applies to simulated and restricted sailings under the agency’s Framework for Conditional Sailing Order. Travelers who have gotten their coronavirus vaccine along with those who have suffered from the coronavirus within the last 90 days and recovered do not need to be tested before getting onboard. And if they do come in contact with someone that’s contracted the virus, there is no need to test them onboard or quarantine them as they are declared asymptomatic.
As for travelers who are yet to receive their vaccination, they will have to get tested before boarding a ship on the day of embarkation, on the day that they disembark, and between all back-to-back sailings. If they happen to come into contact with a confirmed coronavirus case, they will need to be tested and potentially quarantined for a period of 14 days.
Furthermore, all passengers that show signs or symptoms of the virus must get tested.
As for testing means, both PCR and rapid antigen tests are acceptable, but the CDC prefers PCR tests on cruise ships.
The updated guideline is coming a few days after the CDC announced that vaccinated cruise passengers are allowed to go maskless in certain outdoor situations and explore ports on their own without booking an excursion through the cruise line. The new rule is also in line with the agency’s recommendation that fully vaccinated people can now go maskless in most outdoor and indoor settings.
Cruising in the United States
The CDC recommends that both passengers and crews boarding a ship should be vaccinated and has waived the requirement for test sailings for ships with only vaccinated people. Last month the agency revealed that fully vaccinated people can travel with little risk to themselves.
Several cruise lines have implemented vaccination policies for their guests and test their passengers before boarding or before disembarking.
The ban on cruise ships in the U.S. remains to be lifted, but the CDC is in discussions for test sailings to resume sometime in mid-summer. A few major cruise lines are currently waiting for approval to begin its voyages from U.S. ports.
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