CDC reverses stance, approves cruises for most vaccinated travelers

On Tuesday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention downgraded its warning level for cruise ships to Level 3, indicating a high risk of COVID-19 but not explicitly advising against sailing.

The cruise industry's updated Level 3 warning encourages travelers to ensure they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including receiving boosters, and to refrain from cruising if they are at an increased risk of illness due to other conditions.

On December 30, 2021, the CDC elevated the warning level for cruising to Level 4, aligning the industry with nearly 90 countries worldwide also classified at Level 4. Presently, 138 countries are designated as Level 4, including the U.S., while 50 countries are at Level 3, where cruises currently fall. The CDC identifies only four countries at Level 2 and seven at Level 1, the lowest risk classification. (You can find a full list of countries with warnings on this CDC page.)

"The CDC's decision to reduce the Travel Health Notice threat level for cruise ships is a positive development that acknowledges the cruise sector's exemplary health and safety protocols, which are superior to nearly any other commercial environment," stated the Cruise Lines International Association, representing most major cruise lines.

This change coincides with a new vaccination designation system introduced by the CDC for cruise ships on February 9, shortly after the expiration of its voluntary Conditional Sailing Order. This optional system for foreign-flagged cruise ships operating in U.S. waters categorizes vessels into three tiers based on the vaccination rates of passengers and crew:

• Not Highly Vaccinated: ships with fewer than 95% of passengers and 95% of crew fully vaccinated.
• Highly Vaccinated: ships with at least 95% of passengers and crew fully vaccinated but with less than 95% of both groups up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations (i.e., having received all booster shots).
• Vaccination Standard of Excellence: ships with at least 95% of passengers and crew up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines.

According to current guidelines, most leading cruise lines would be categorized as "Highly Vaccinated." Some, like the luxury lines Azamara Cruises and Silversea Cruises, which now mandate boosters for passengers, would achieve the "Vaccination Standard of Excellence." Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean, which has only required 90% of passengers to be vaccinated due to the presence of many young children on its voyages, would fall under the "Not Highly Vaccinated" classification.

Cruise lines have until February 18, 2022, to participate in the new system, which will continue to oversee ships using a color-coded method to indicate whether COVID-19 cases have been identified onboard.

Since many cruise lines are maintaining rigorous vaccination protocols, some -- such as Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity Cruises -- have started to ease mask requirements on their ships.

Alongside mask mandates and vaccination requirements, cruise lines have implemented measures like pre-cruise testing, enhanced air filtration, operating at lower capacity, and boosting the staff and resources in onboard medical facilities.