The change comes as capacity and occupancy levels on ships have ramped back up, more than two years after the pandemic shut the industry down. Foreign nationals, however, are still required to show proof of vaccination to enter the U.S. before boarding their flight. Seasonal Influenza. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. "The latest CDC guidance appears out of step with the actual public health conditions on cruise ships and unnecessary in light of societal trends away from more restrictive measures.". Pre-departure testinghas not beenrequiredfor entry into the country since mid-June. The CDC released COVID guidelines for cruise lines with Feb. 18 deadline to opt in. By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics, CDC Says Cruise Ship Conditional Sail Order Will Become Voluntary, Despite Omicron. CDC warns travelers to avoid cruise ships, 'regardless of vaccination status,' amid COVID outbreaks. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. Find out if your health insurance covers medical care abroad. The CDC had previously softened some aspects of the CSO last fall, announcing voyages longer than eight days would once again be permitted, and further allowing U.S. homeport operations to resume. The sunsetting of the CDC Program effective 18 July 2022 is a testament to the effectiveness of the industry's comprehensive and robust protocols. The association gave the following statement in response to the change: "The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and its member cruise lines welcome the decision by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to end the CDC COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships Operating in U.S. The CDC will also scrap its requirement tohave negative air pressure in quarantine cabins. The CDC recommends that cruise lines require guests to . Page last reviewed: July 18, 2022. WHO and world leaders: How we're building better, more equitable vaccine systems. In recent news, the United States' Center for Disease Control (CDC) has announced a change to its existing Conditional Sail Order. Join TravelAge West and severalAlaskapartners for a three-part series exploring all the incredible possibilities https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/CDC-new-recommended-cruise-guidelines. "A threshold cruise ship operators can consider is operating with at least 90% passengers and 95% crew who are up to date with their Covid-19 vaccines," said a statement from the CDC's guidance in its section of frequently asked questions. Just six months later, the CDC has ended the program with a statement on its website, which reads: "As of July 18, 2022, CDC's COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships is no longer in . The CDC nowrecommendspeoplemaskupfor 10 days and testafter five days if they are not fully vaccinated but are exposed to someonewho is COVID-19 positive. Only six days earlier, CDC released guidelines for its new voluntary Covid-19 Program for Cruise Ships Operating in U.S. The end of U.S. government Covid-19 cruise ship protocols is here. Updating the physical distancing requirements for shore excursions and transportation. Marianne Guenot. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! In regards to cruise line protocols, it's important to emphasize that nothing has changed yet. Cruise Lines International Association, the leading trade organization for the industry, told USA TODAY in a statement shared by spokesperson Laziza Lambert that the changes to the CDC's guidance were "welcome.". The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ended its COVID-19 cruise ship program. New CDC Guidelines for Cruise Ships 2022 and Other COVID Updates CDC relaxes quarantine guidelines: What travelers should know - USA Today CDC Updates Cruise Guidelines to its Highest Level of Concern, Sending All rights reserved. Cruise ships are split into three tiers under the new program: "Highly vaccinated" ships haveat least 95% of passengers and crew fully vaccinated. CDC Extends Conditional Sail Order for Cruise Ships Into 2022 - Travel CRUISING DURING COVID:Cancellation, refund policies vary by cruise line. A cruise ship in Florida. Travel Requirements for Non-U.S. Citizen, Non-U.S. Therefore, CDC will not enforce the Order. A detriment to cruise lines, COVID has posed the industry's largest challenge to-date. The alert comes as the agency says 88 vessels are now either under investigation or observation. Also, people whotest positive can end isolation soonerif they are asymptomatic or their symptoms improve quickly. The CDC required cruise lines that opted into the program to provide vaccination status for each participating cruise ship. Cookies used to make website functionality more relevant to you. ", "CBP is currently operating under the Secretary of Homeland Securitys Notification of Temporary Travel Restrictions Applicable to Land Ports of Entry and Ferries Service Between the United States and Canada/Mexico," a spokesman for thefederal agency said in a statement to USA TODAY. CDC Shuts Down Its COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships COVID-19 quarantine and isolationrules will vary depending on vaccination status: On vaccination standard of excellenceships, close contacts to people identified with COVID-19 must quarantine until at least five full days after their last exposure. (11:11 a.m. EST) -- As the February 18, 2022 deadline for ships to voluntarily opt in or out of the new U.S. Centers for Disease Control and . Make sure you have a plan toget care overseas, in case you need it. If your test result is positive, contact your, If you are going to be around someone who is at. This is an important step forward in the CDC aligning the guidelines for cruise with those it has established for other travel, hospitality, and . Find a COVID-19 vaccine or booster near you:Searchvaccines.gov, text your ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233. CDCs public health messaging system offers up-to-date messages to travelers at specific airports, seaports, and land borders where most international travelers enter or leave the United States. By adapting the highly vaccinated program, passengers onboard Royal Caribbeans sailings were no longer required to wear masks onboard. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance. While it's optional, 110 cruise ships have opted in and only one opted out of participation, according to the CDC'sCruise Ship Status Dashboardwhich provides info on COVID-19 levels present on ships and what kinds of precautions those vessels are taking. "The CDC is committed to continuing to work with a cruise industry," Capt. Cruise Ship Travel | Travelers' Health | CDC The tiers served to inform potential passengers of the percentage of their fellow travelers who would be vaccinated. Could the mask mandate come back? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ended its COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships on Monday. However, with the new guidance, if a traveler is disembarking from the ship within 36 hours, the cruise ship operator may allow the traveler to stay in their original cabin if they will be alone in the cabin. Cruise lines . To receive email updates about COVID-19, enter your email address: We take your privacy seriously. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced the end of its voluntary Covid-19 program. Sign up for EPIC newsletters and announcements. "Not highly vaccinated" ships have less than 95% of passengers and crew fully vaccinated. The CDC wants cruise ships arriving in and departing the U.S. to maintain high Covid-19 vaccination rates and require cruisers to get tested for Covid the day before embarkation, but that's not required, according to a new set of guidelines for cruise ships unveiled on Wednesday. Canada Cruises As posted on the website for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "As a result of a court order, effective immediately and as of April 18, 2022, CDC's January 29, 2021 . They can help you get destination-specific vaccines, medicines, and information. Despite the Conditional Sail Order no longer being mandatory for ships visiting the US, the CDC plans to continue to offer recommendations for cruise lines that wish to remain compliant. For this reason, some items on this page will be unavailable. For more information about this message, please visit this page: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is a step towards a new normal for the cruise industry, which had been strictly regulated by the CDC since the onset of the pandemic. CDC spokespersonTom Skinner told USA TODAY on Fridaythat additional guidance for travel would be coming soon. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Most cruise lines protocols still include vaccination and testing requirements; however, the cruise lines now have the freedom to choose their own protocols with the end of the voluntary Covid-19 program. Cancellation, refund policies vary by cruise line, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. "CDC is in the process of updating guidance for K-12/ECE, healthcare settings, high-risk congregate, and travel," Skinner said in an email. Check if your cruise line requires proof of vaccination or pre-embarkation testing, or has any other requirements to board. Two weeks (14 days) after you received two doses of any mix-and-match combination ofaccepted COVID-19 vaccinesadministered at least 17 days apart. After more than 2 years under a COVID cloud, the answer is yes. Canada has banned all cruise traffic through February 28, 2022, effectively cancelling any departures to or from Canadian ports of call for the remainder of the 2021 season. Waters in favor of a set of guidelines for public health operations on cruise ships.". Theupdates are based on the "latest public health conditions" soships can continue operating in a manner that provides a safe and healthy environment for passengers, crew and the communities ships visit,David Daigle, spokesperson for the CDC, told USA TODAY. This is a shift from the CDC's previous directive that classified ships based on their vaccination rate such as by "standard of excellence," "highly vaccinated" or "not highly vaccinated." If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance. Nonetheless, the CDC said that travelers who want information about Covid-19 cases should contact their cruise line directly. This was a welcomed change for Royal Caribbean cruisers, as masks were previously required indoors during any period in which passengers were not eating or drinking actively. Travel | CDC More information is available, Travel requirements to enter the United States are changing, starting November 8, 2021. CDC Says COVID Protocols Are Now Optional for Cruise Lines Saving Lives, Protecting People, Given new evidence on the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant, CDC has updated the, The White House announced that vaccines will be required for international travelers coming into the United States, with an effective date of November 8, 2021. The 95% threshold for vaccination was also required for every single voyage on each participating cruise ship. These cookies may also be used for advertising purposes by these third parties. Therefore, the cruise ship color status webpage has been retired. Here are some steps you must take if a client pays with a large amount of cash. . Youmust be fully vaccinated with the primary series of an accepted COVID-19 vaccine to travel to the United States by plane. February 18, 2022. The rate is calculated using the cumulative number of passenger cases in the last seven days divided by the average number of passengers onboard the ship in the last seven days. Started in 2010, Royal Caribbean Blog offers daily coverage of news and information related to the Royal Caribbean cruise line along with other relevant topics of cruising, such as entertainment, news, photo updates and more. These include vaccination mandates for passengers, mandator masking regulations, physical distancing and reduced onboard passenger capacity. With few exceptions, onlyfully vaccinated foreign nationalsmay enter Canada. Additionally, cruise travelers have access to recommendations that allow them to make informed decisions about cruise ship travel. Royal Caribbean ( RCL) - Get Free Report extended protections for cruisegoers as the cruise line looks to entice fans to book vacations in an uncertain environment due to . Avoid contact with other people while you are sick. Whether you cruise multiple times per year or you're new to cruising, the goal of Royal Caribbean Blog is for it to bea useful resource for keeping up to date with what's new and exciting with Royal Caribbean. 31, 2022, 9:19 a.m. Get the latest updates on COVID-19 and travel information related to this outbreak. You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. COVID-19 vaccines are free of charge to all people living in the U.S., regardless of their immigration or health insurance status. CDC Ends COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships }); On March 10, 2023, CDC removedthe requirement for air passengers from China, Hong Kong or Macau to show a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of recovery before boarding a flight to the United States.