Cruises Keep Sailing Despite New CDC Alerts and Outbreaks

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) concluded 2021 with a stern warning for those planning a cruise getaway. On December 30, the agency revised its COVID-19 health guidance for cruise ships to Level 4, indicating that cruising carries a “very high risk” of virus transmission.

“Refrain from cruise travel, irrespective of vaccination status,” the CDC stated. “Even travelers who are fully vaccinated could be at risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19 variants.”

This decision left the cruise industry in a defensive position.

The Omicron Challenge

Like many sectors of travel, cruising in the U.S. came to a sudden stop in March 2020. Sailings resumed in June 2021, and since then, cruise lines have adhered to CDC guidelines regarding vaccination mandates, pre-cruise testing, onboard masking, and other health and safety protocols.

Despite these measures, outbreaks on vessels have surged in recent weeks due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant. Last month, some ports in the Caribbean and Mexico began denying entry to ships with positive cases, concerned about Omicron transmission. (The Mexican government later announced that it would permit cruise ships carrying infected individuals to dock, provided they comply with testing and quarantine regulations.) In late December, an MSC Cruises vessel was denied entry to its own newly opened private Bahamas island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, after several guests and crew members tested positive for COVID-19.

The recent surge led Norwegian Cruise Line to reveal on January 5 that it is canceling voyages on seven ships for departure dates extending as far as April.

The CDC’s decision to elevate its warning level coincides with the agency's investigation into over 90 outbreaks on ships departing from the United States as of the latest report. Most guests and crew who tested positive for COVID-19 were vaccinated and asymptomatic, and the actual number of cases has been relatively minor compared to the total passenger count—often just a few dozen on ships carrying thousands, for example.

In light of the outbreaks, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal urged the agency to once again halt the cruise industry, a request the CDC did not act upon.

The CDC cautioned travelers that COVID-19 easily spreads in “close quarters on board ships,” indicating a very high likelihood of contracting the virus on a cruise ship, “even for those who are fully vaccinated and have received a COVID-19 booster.” The agency recommends that anyone planning to cruise should get boosted.

Should you decide to cruise, the CDC advises getting tested both prior to your trip (as required by cruise lines) and three to five days after returning, even if you have no symptoms and regardless of vaccination status. For those who are unvaccinated—such as young children not yet eligible for COVID-19 vaccines—the agency recommends a five-day quarantine following the cruise.

The CDC also urges all cruise passengers to wear masks in communal areas, a guideline most cruise lines have already implemented, except during meals or when drinking.

Response from the Cruise Industry

On the morning of December 30, Royal Caribbean Group (which includes Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea) released a statement for investors highlighting that of the 1.1 million guests it has served since resuming operations in June, only 1,745 tested positive for COVID-19, with most showing mild or no symptoms; 44 required hospitalization, according to the company.

“Cruising is still one of the few vacation options where you can be assured that nearly everyone you encounter is fully vaccinated,” the company stated. “We aim to uphold our commitment to providing the safest vacation experience, whether on land or at sea, and will continuously refine our protocols to achieve this, even amid Omicron’s remarkable transmissibility,” said Richard Fain, the company’s chairman and CEO.

Later that day, in light of the new CDC guidance, the industry collectively expressed frustration, claiming it was “not fair.”

“The cruise sector is the only industry within the U.S. travel and tourism landscape that mandates both vaccinations and testing for both crew and guests,” stated the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). The association found the elevated CDC warning “especially perplexing, given that cases reported on cruise ships represent a very small fraction of the total onboard population—significantly fewer than those on land—and most of these cases are asymptomatic or mild, exerting little to no strain on medical resources either onboard or onshore.”

CLIA comprises over 50 domestic and international cruise lines, including some of the largest and most renowned, such as Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Seabourn, Silversea Cruises, and Windstar Cruises.

“Instances of COVID on our ships are virtually lower than in any U.S. locality,” John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s senior cruise director, told followers during a Facebook Live session. “We are not halting our cruises.”

On January 5, the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) also voiced support for the cruise industry.

“If the typical cruise ship were treated as a U.S. state, it would undoubtedly be the safest in the nation,” stated ASTA president and CEO Zane Kerby.

Kerby further emphasized that cruise lines have adopted “exceptionally rigorous anti-COVID protocols.”

Advice from an Infectious Disease Expert on Cruising

Regarding public health recommendations, given the rapid spread of Omicron, travelers should think about postponing their cruise plans, according to Dr. 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.

Passengers should prepare for the possibility that Omicron is present on their ship, particularly on larger vessels with thousands of guests, he warns, adding, “The issue is that the virus has become incredibly contagious, and those infected release such a high volume of particles that once it breaches containment, it’s challenging to control.”

According to Russo, pre-cruise tests, vaccinations, and boosters are not foolproof. He cautions that immunocompromised individuals, those with underlying health issues, and seniors—especially if they haven't received a booster—should interpret the CDC warning as a serious concern, stating, “For me, it’s a definite no-go right now.”

Russo is personally excited about a cruise he has scheduled for summer 2022. “I believe patience is key,” he remarks. “It may be wise to forgo a cruise at this time to ensure you can enjoy many more in the future.”

Considering Canceling Your Cruise

Cruise line policies differ, but many companies are providing vacation “guarantees” that allow guests to cancel due to COVID-19 concerns. While a full refund is unlikely—unless you have a travel insurance policy that covers cancellations—you can typically receive the amount you paid for your cruise as a future cruise credit for use at a later date.