On March 10, 2023, CDC removed the requirement for air passengers from China, Hong Kong or Macau to show a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of recovery before boarding a flight to the United States. WHO and world leaders: How we're building better, more equitable vaccine systems. If you have questions about a cruise ship's specific policies, please contact them directly. Ships can submit a daily form, but ships that do not are required to report individual cases of Covid-19. CDC Has Ditched Its Covid-19 Program For Cruise Ships - Forbes CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. CDC ends Covid-19 program for cruise ships - Royal Caribbean Blog English [JPG 1.06 MB] | Spanish [JPG 1.16 MB]. "It seems unnecessarily discriminatory against cruise to maintain that the chances of getting COVID-19 on a cruise 'is very high' even if you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines," the statement said. While cruising poses some risk of COVID-19 transmission, CDC will continue to publish guidance to help cruise ships continue to provide a safer and healthier environment for crew, passengers, and communities going forward. Solo cruising:Is it worth it to go on a cruise by yourself? Updating the physical distancing requirements for shore excursions and transportation. New CDC Guidelines for Cruise Ships 2022 and Other COVID Updates. If You Develop Symptoms or Use a Self-Test on Board with a Positive Result. Whether you cruise multiple times per year or you're new to cruising, the goal of Royal Caribbean Blog is for it to bea useful resource for keeping up to date with what's new and exciting with Royal Caribbean. 1:45. 301 Route 17 N, Suite 1150, Rutherford, NJ Saving Lives, Protecting People, Check CDCs destination pages for travel health information, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Division of Global Migration and Quarantine (DGMQ), Obtencin de atencin mdica en el extranjero, Zika: A CDC Guide for Travelers infographic, Guidelines for US Citizens and Residents Living in Areas with Zika, Cholera Information for Health Care Professionals, Introduction to Travel Health & the CDC Yellow Book, Genomic Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 Variants. Common Health Concerns During Cruise Travel. I am sick with or tested positive for COVID-19 and am recommended to isolate. Coronavirus CDC offers new guidelines on COVID-19 vaccinations, recommending booster amid new variant. There are no entry restrictions for U.S. citizens entering Mexico, but travelers may be subject to health screenings upon arrival. Cruise ships are split into three tiers under the new program: "Highly vaccinated" ships haveat least 95% of passengers and crew fully vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced new guidance for the cruise industry Wednesdayand will give cruise lines until Feb. 18 to decide whether they want to opt in or not. Todays expiration of the program marks the start of a new era for the cruise lines, in which they can establish their own set of health and safety protocols. ", I got COVID while traveling: Here's what I wish I knew (and what I needed) to go back home, First vacation since the pandemic? ". CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. Sign up for EPIC newsletters and announcements. All Rights Reserved. U.S. ports will still be required to have port agreements withlocal health authorities, but signed contracts between medical and housing facilities will no longer be required. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. All rights reserved. Those travelers may need to quarantine in their staterooms until they are cleared by the medical team. Join Travel Weekly, TravelAge West and leaders from top river cruise companies to get the latest updates on your clients Cruise North America with More Value Than Ever. CDC spokespersonTom Skinner told USA TODAY on Fridaythat additional guidance for travel would be coming soon. Avoid contact with other people while you are sick. contentRoot: "/coronavirus/2019-ncov/health-bot/travel-assessment/", Travelers can check with their cruise line for its latest protocols. If your cruise line does not have a specific testing requirement. Following the end of the CDC program, Azamara announcedit will drop its COVID-19 embarkation testing rule on July 25,"excluding ports where it is still required in accordance with country regulations," according to a Tuesday news release. The Norwegian Gem cruise ship is shown docked in Miami. Copyright 2023 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. Cruise travelers have the option of contacting their cruise line directly regarding outbreaks occurring on board their ship. CDC adjusts COVID-19 rules for cruise ships - New York Post Consider buyingadditional insurancethat covers health care and emergency evacuation, especially if you will be traveling to remote areas. CDC relaxes quarantine guidelines: What travelers should know - USA Today Find out more about health issues on cruises and steps you can take to stay safe and healthy during your trip. CDC Ends COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships The new guidance replaces the Covid-19 Program for Cruise Ships, which the CDC ended on July 18. Cruise lines operating to, from or calling on U.S. ports, have since adhered to all CDC directives and have worked in conjunction with the organization to ensure that U.S.-based cruises can resume unimpeded. CDC drops its COVID-19 risk advisory for cruise ship travel - NPR Stay informed with Emergency Partners Information Connection (EPIC) Newsletters. Photo Credit: Virrage Images/Shutterstock. September 2022 Cruise lines are still required to submit data to the CDC on confirmed Covid-19 and Covid-19-like cases. CDC cruise guidelines 2022: New distancing, quarantine updates - USA Today Aimee Treffiletti,who leads the CDC's maritime unit, told USA TODAY in January. He did not provide a timeline for those updates. In addition to identifying and testing the close contacts of those infected, the CDC said cruise ships may consider a number of measures, including quarantineuntil at least 5 full days after their last exposure, among other steps, according to its website. The CDC plans to reevaluate its guidance "based onpublic health conditions and available scientific evidence" by March 18 and update "as needed.". The new guidelines also encourage ships to consider suspending operations in the event of sustained transmission of Covid. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. Crew members and fellow travelers often board a cruise ship from destinations where some diseases are more common than in the United States or where vaccination is not routine. And if the CDC isconcerned about COVID-19 on a ship that isn't under the new program? Two weeks (14 days) after you received two doses of any mix-and-match combination ofaccepted COVID-19 vaccinesadministered at least 17 days apart. They can help you get destination-specific vaccines, medicines, and information. (11:11 a.m. EST) -- As the February 18, 2022 deadline for ships to voluntarily opt in or out of the new U.S. Centers for Disease Control and . Just six months later, the CDC has ended the program with a statement on its website, which reads: "As of July 18, 2022, CDC's COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships is no longer in . The highly vaccinated program, along with its policies and protocols, went into effect on February 25, 2022. "Not highly vaccinated" ships have less than 95% of passengers and crew fully vaccinated. Cruise lines can resume approved "passenger interactive experiences" that had to be suspended before because of COVID-19. Travel | CDC Learn How You Can Sell Alaska This Summer: Part 3. To receive email updates about COVID-19, enter your email address: We take your privacy seriously. Started in 2010, Royal Caribbean Blog offers daily coverage of news and information related to the Royal Caribbean cruise line along with other relevant topics of cruising, such as entertainment, news, photo updates and more. The CDC announced Monday it would do away with the program, saying it . More information is available. CDC cruise ship COVID guidelines updated, warning dropped. April 2021 The CDC said on its website that it will keep givingtesting recommendations for cruise ship operators, and that vessels will keep reporting cases to the agency. March 2021 The CDC recommends that cruise lines require guests to undergo pre-embarkation testing no more than three days before a sailing but "highly" recommends that lines require testing within one day of embarkation. If you already had COVID-19 within the past 90 days, see. During this time, the new omicron variant had been running rampant throughout the U.S. and cruise lines were navigating the spread of a more contagious variant both on land and at sea. Travel Requirements for Non-U.S. Citizen, Non-U.S. "After the expiration of the Temporary Extension & Modification of the CSO on January 15, 2022, CDC intends to transition to a voluntary program, in coordination with cruise ship operators and other stakeholders, to assist the cruise ship industry to detect, mitigate, and control the spread of COVID-19 onboard cruise ships," a CDC spokesperson told Cruise Critic via email. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced new guidance for the cruise industry Wednesday and will give cruise lines until Feb. 18 to decide whether they want to opt in or not. For more information, see Requirement for Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination for Air Passengers. American Queen 16 Day - Chicago Roundtrip (2023-2024), American Queen 13 Day - Montreal to Chicago (2023-2024), American Queen 11 Day - Montreal to Detroit (2023), American Queen 11 Day - Toronto to Chicago (2023-2024), Pearl Seas 12 Day - Great Lakes & Georgian Bay (2022-2023), Pearl Seas 8 Day - Great Lakes Cruise (2022-2023), Ponant 8 Day - Voyage Along the Great Lakes with Smithsonian Journeys (2022-2023, Ponant 8 Day - Great Lakes of North America (2022-2023), Viking 15 Day - Great Lakes Collection Cruise (2023), Viking 8 Day - Great Lakes Explorer Cruise (2022), Viking 8 Day - Niagara & the Great Lakes Cruise (2022), Viking 8 Day - Undiscovered Great Lakes Cruise (2022), Pearl Seas 16 Day - Canadian Maritime & St Lawrence Seaway (2022-2023), Pearl Seas 11 Day - Canada & New England Fall Foliage (2022-2023), Ponant 13 Day - St Lawrence River to the American East Coast, Viking 16 Day - Canada & the Atlantic Coastline (2023), Viking 13 Day - Canadian Discovery Cruise (2022), Windstar 12 Day - Southeast Canadian Explorations (2022-2023), American Queen 11 Day - Montreal to Boston (2022-2024), American Queen 9 Day - Boston to St John (2022-2023), American Queen | Ocean Voyager & Ocean Navigator, Native American Cultures of the Great Lakes Region. The end of U.S. government Covid-19 cruise ship protocols is here. This is a shift from the CDC's previous directive that classified ships based on their vaccination rate such as by "standard of excellence," "highly vaccinated" or "not highly vaccinated." Cruise lines have proactively adapted to the changing threat posed by COVID-19, tightening masking, smoking and testing rules as a result of the spread of the new omicron variant. During that time, cruise lines have managed each new turn, from adhering to various government and local mandates to tackling the new Omicron variant. The CDC reserves the right to issue a "no sail" order for a particularshipif the agency has concerns about what is happening on board. Check directly with your cruise line about their COVID-19 testing or vaccination protocols before travel. Much of the new guidance is optional. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday published an update to its guidance for . Shortly after the CDC made the announcement, the cruise industry had an overall positive reaction to the news. For more information about this message, please visit this page: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Here's what travelers should know. On ships that do not meet the vaccination standard of excellence, isolation must last at least 10 days. With few exceptions, onlyfully vaccinated foreign nationalsmay enter Canada. Are COVID tests required on cruises with new CDC guidance? Regardless of vaccination status, the CDC advises people who test positive to quarantineat least five days, instead of the previous 10. If not, just leave blank, CDC ends Covid-19 program for cruise ships, South Florida Mayors ask Governor to lift ban on cruise ships asking for vaccine proof, It looks like Royal Caribbean will vaccinate its crew members, Royal Caribbean has not decided on any more cancellations following Norwegian Cruise Line announcement, Cruise ship passenger shares what it's like on 4 cruises in a row during Omicron, Royal Caribbean releases cruise ship health protocols for U.S. sailings June 30, 2022, CDC releases new cruise ship guidelines for disembarking passengers during COVID-19. If you need to go back and make any changes, you can always do so by going to our Privacy Policy page. If you need medical care abroad, see Getting Health Care During Travel. Cruise Lines International Association, the industry's largest trade organization, welcomed the end of the program "in favor of a set of guidelines for public health operations on cruise ships,"spokesperson Anne Madison told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. July 18, 2022 at 5:50 p.m. EDT. Canada has banned all cruise traffic through February 28, 2022, effectively cancelling any departures to or from Canadian ports of call for the remainder of the 2021 season. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed it would transition to a voluntary program for COVID-19 mitigation on cruise ships Wednesday. The CDC confirmed the CSO will officially end as a mandated program as of 12:01 a.m. January 15, 2022, and will then transition into a voluntary program. The sunsetting of the CDC Program effective 18 July 2022 is a testament to the effectiveness of the industry's comprehensive and robust protocols. If you have questions about a cruise ships specific policies, please contact them directly.