As reported in the press yesterday, but not yet on the public CDC site, the CDC has notified cruise executives that they may resume sailing mid-July with 95% of passengers fully vaccinated. When it is formally announced by the CDC you will be able to find it here.
Based on industry feedback so far, the CDC added additional guidance issued April 2 to allow a resumption of sailing:
- Ships can bypass the required simulated test voyages carrying volunteers and cruise with paying passengers if 98% of crew and 95% of passengers are fully vaccinated.
- CDC will update its testing and quarantine requirements for passengers and crew on sailings with paying passengers to align with the CDC’s guidance for fully vaccinated people. So, for example, instead of taking a PCR lab test ahead of boarding, vaccinated passengers can take a rapid antigen test upon embarkation.
- CDC has clarified that cruise ship operators may enter into a “multi-port agreement” rather than a single port agreement as long as all port and local authorities sign the agreement.
- The CDC has clarified guidance on quarantine guidelines for passengers who may be exposed to or contract COVID-19. For example, local passengers may be able to drive home and passengers who have traveled by air to cruise may quarantine in a hotel.
Richard Fein, CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises stated that assuming details can be worked out with the CDC, “it could be possible to restart cruising by mid-July.” Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd had announced in early April that with CDC approval they planned on starting U.S. sailings in July at 60% of capacity and raise that to 80% in August and 100% in September. Norwegian also operates Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
As to who will need a vaccine to cruise or not, it is possible cruise lines will require that adults over the age of 18 have them and younger children will not, but we post an update once that information is more clear.
It is also uncertain what cruise ports will be open for larger cruise ships which leaves the possibility of limited ports or the cruise line focusing on their private islands such as NCL’s Harvest Caye or Royal Caribbean’s Perfect day at Coco Cay.
Keep in mind also that smaller ships have resumed cruises in the U.S. including American Queen Steamboat, American Cruise Line and UnCruise Adventures.
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