Updated Cruise Advice From The CDC

The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has issued updated advice for cruise ship travel, recommending that “all people avoid travel on cruise ships, including river cruises, worldwide, because the risk of COVID-19 on cruise ships is very high.”

The CDC said that: “It is especially important that people with an increased risk of severe illness avoid travel on cruise ships, including river cruises.”

In its Level 4 advice, the CDC indicates that:

• Cruise passengers are at increased risk of person-to-person spread of infectious diseases, including COVID-19, and outbreaks of COVID-19 have been reported on cruise ships.
• Passengers who decide to go on a cruise should get tested 3-5 days after your trip AND stay home for 7 days after travel. Even if you test negative, stay home for the full 7 days.
• If you don’t get tested, it’s safest to stay home for 14 days after you travel.

Summarizing the current situation, the CDC outlined that on Oct. 30, 2020, it issued a Framework for Conditional Sailing Order for cruise ships operating or seeking to operate in U.S. waters.

That Order introduces a phased approach for resuming passenger cruises. Passenger operations continue to be suspended during the initial phases of this Order. The initial phase requires crew screening to determine the prevalence of COVID-19 among all crew members currently on cruise ships in U.S. waters.

At this time, CDC still recommends avoiding any travel on cruise ships, including river cruises, worldwide, because the risk of COVID-19 on cruise ships is very high. It is especially important that people with an increased risk of severe illness avoid travel on cruise ships, including river cruises.

Cruise passengers are at increased risk of person-to-person spread of infectious diseases, including COVID-19, and outbreaks of COVID-19 have been reported on cruise ships.