CDC Lifts COVID Warnings for Cruises—Key Information for Travelers

For the first time in two years, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has removed its health risk warnings for cruise travelers. The agency, responsible for issuing global travel health alerts based on potential hazards, officially took cruise ships off its warning list on Wednesday.

“Although there will always be some risk of COVID-19 transmission while cruising, travelers will assess their own risks similar to other travel situations,” the agency stated. “CDC will keep offering guidance to the cruise industry to ensure a safer environment for passengers, crew, and communities through CDC’s COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships.”

The CDC also mentioned, “Cruise travelers should ensure they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before embarking and adhere to their cruise line’s requirements and recommendations.”

The CDC initially issued warnings about COVID-19 risks associated with cruising in March 2020, coinciding with the ban on cruises departing from the U.S. Cruises resumed in June 2021, and the risk level fluctuated since, previously classified as level 4, or “very high risk.” This year, the risk level gradually decreased from “very high risk” to “high risk” and then to “moderate risk.”

The decision to lift the warning follows the cruise industry's unanimous adoption of CDC-mandated health and safety protocols, including vaccination requirements for both passengers and crew, along with pre-cruise COVID testing. Additionally, ships have implemented upgrades such as new air-filtration systems.

While current protocols differ among cruise lines and destinations, cruises departing from the U.S. require that both crew members and most passengers (if not all) are fully vaccinated. Children's vaccination requirements vary; for example, in Alaska this summer, Royal Caribbean mandates full vaccination for everyone aged 12 and older, whereas Holland America Line requires vaccination for those aged 5 and older. Pre-cruise testing is also mandatory, with some cruises including mid-journey testing as well.

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), representing many of the largest and most recognized cruise lines globally, stated on Wednesday that the CDC's choice to lift the cruise warning “acknowledges the effective public health measures implemented on cruise ships and helps level the playing field with comparable venues on land for the first time since March 2020.”

Individual cruise lines have also welcomed the CDC’s announcement. “The CDC’s removal of its health advisory regarding cruise travel marks a significant step forward in acknowledging the efforts we have made to safeguard our guests,” commented Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line.

“Although we believe this change was overdue, we view it as a testament to the extensive work this industry has done to ensure we provide the safest travel experience possible,” said Tom McAlpin, CEO of Virgin Voyages.

The CDC’s decision arrives amid ongoing COVID-19 cases on cruise ships. As of March 29, their color-coded consumer reporting system indicates that 38 ships operating in the U.S. are marked as level “orange,” signifying that an outbreak is under active investigation. The CDC begins investigations when 0.3 percent or more of total passengers and/or crew test positive.

Earlier this week, several COVID-19 cases were reported on the Ruby Princess as it returned to San Francisco after a voyage through the Panama Canal. This ship, which gained notoriety for a significant outbreak at the pandemic's onset, is currently categorized as “orange” on the latest CDC chart.

Travelers are advised to remain cautious about boarding cruise ships, according to Thomas Russo, a prominent infectious disease expert and chief of infectious diseases at the University of Buffalo’s Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, speaking to Dinogo.

“With Omicron still circulating, there is a reasonable chance that someone on the cruise ship could be infected, potentially transmitting it to you,” Russo warns. He suggests that anyone eligible for a booster (including a second booster) should consider getting vaccinated before cruising.

“If you’re vaccinated and boosted and not immunosuppressed, you’re in a relatively good position, and the chances of severe infection are low,” Russo notes. “However, if you develop symptoms and need to isolate, it could jeopardize your cruise vacation that you invested a lot of money in.”