​CDC Updates Cruise Travel AdviCe

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its advice on cruise travel, due to the ongoing issued and alarm caused by the latest Covid-19 variant, Omicron.
 
The Covid-19 travel health notice level has also been updated from Level 3 to Level 4, the highest level, reflecting the significant increase in cases on board cruise ships in recent weeks. The CDC is now advising to avoid cruise travel even if fully vaccinated.  

 The CDC website gives the following advice and key information to cruise passengers:

• Avoid cruise travel, regardless of vaccination status.
• Even fully vaccinated travelers may be at risk for getting and spreading COVID-19 variants.
• The virus that causes COVID-19 spreads easily between people in close quarters on board ships, and the chance of getting COVID-19 on cruise ships is very high, even if you are fully vaccinated and have received a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose.
• ​If you travel on a cruise ship, make sure you are fully vaccinated before travel and get a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose if you are eligible.
• People who go on a cruise should get tested 1–3 days before their trip and 3–5 days after their trip, regardless of vaccination status or symptoms.
• Along with testing, passengers who are not fully vaccinated should self-quarantine for a full 5 days after cruise travel.  ​

The CDC goes on to again advise to Avoid cruise travel, regardless of vaccination status and requests all cruise passengers make sure they are full vaccinated before travel and get a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose if you are eligible, to protect from severe disease, slow the spread of COVID-19, and reduce the number of new variants.