The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has changed its warning for cruise travel for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began, lowering the warning for the first time.
- “In preparation for the restart of cruise ships, the travel health notice was updated based on modeling estimates and to align with CDC’s guidance for fully vaccinated travelers,” Caitlin Shockey, a spokesperson for the CDC, told USA Today.
“CDC recommends that people who are not fully vaccinated avoid travel on cruise ships, including river cruises, worldwide,” the CDC said on its website.
The CDC dropped its warning from level 4 to level 3. The CDC recommends only fully vaccinated people travel on cruises this summer when cruises resume in the U.S., too.
- “Since the virus spreads more easily between people in close quarters aboard ships, the chance of getting COVID-19 on cruise ships is high,” the CDC said.
The CDC suggests people get vaccinated days before and after the trip. Unvaccinated travelers should quarantine for a week before the trip, too.
It’s unclear if cruises will require COVID-19 test or vaccine results or not. It will likely depend on each individual company.
The Washington Post reports that this is the first time the CDC has updated its guidelines for cruises “since several coronavirus outbreaks on ships brought the industry to a halt last year.”