They fail to agree between the cruise lines and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)on the measures to be followed at this stage of the pandemic. The doubts are still as immense as the ocean, and there seems to be no consensus. The most recent update from the CDC, dated February 9, which highlights the continued avoidance of this type of travel, caused astonishment and discomfort among members of the industry.
That day, the CDC also announced its new guidelines for the voluntary program that cruise ships can take advantage of. When they were expected to relax the measures and highlight the low level of contagion on ships, the entity presented stricter and more confusing rules. It is voluntary, but it is surprising that, for example, there are new vaccination categories, and the requirement that everyone, passengers and crew, must wear masks is maintained.
Among the new categories are boats “Highly vaccinated”for those who have 95% of passengers and crew vaccinated.
another, the “Standard of Excellence in Vaccination”, is for those with 95% of the crew and passengers fully vaccinated and with ‘boosters’. Among the benefits of achieving this last designation is that the quarantine time will be shorter in this last category. One noticeable change is that those who test positive for COVID-19they should be isolated immediately, without testing them again to see if they were false positives or not.
Although ship lines have until February 18 to take advantage of the voluntary program, and notify the CDC Maritime Unit, Norwegian Cruise Holdings announced that it would, as soon as the CDC lifted the Conditional Sailing Order on January 15 of this year. But nevertheless, the company just announced this week, greater flexibility in its policies on COVID-19among them, that it will not be mandatory to wear masks on board on cruise ships Norwegian Cruise Lineand also, although they required in the past that 100% of their travelers be vaccinated, it will no longer be required for children under five years of age. Another change is that travelers will have to pay for their COVID-19 tests from March 1, instead of being covered by them.
In Royal Caribbean for his part, They have also made their policy more flexible and the use of masks will not be necessary in the areas designated for vaccinatedsuch as the casino and certain bars and restaurants.
They recommend the ‘booster’
Among all the new regulations that the CDC introduced, without a doubt the most controversial was the recommendation of vaccine boosters. Although the measure had already been adopted by luxury or premium cruise lines, such as Silversea, Azamara and Cunard, large ship companies such as Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Princess or Carnival do not require it.
According to the CDC, those who take advantage of its new voluntary program and demand reinforcement from their passengers and crew, will have more “freedoms” on board. The program applies to passenger ships with international registration (most cruise ships), sailing from the United States and with a capacity for a total of 250 people, between passengers and crew.
In addition to vaccinations, this program includes specific health and hygiene protocols, COVID-19 testing facilities for passengers and crew, notification of sick passengers to the CDC, plan for disembarking sick passengers, and agreements with ports to visit.
The cruise lines that take advantage of this, have to comply with all the rules, which will be evaluated again no later than March 18, to update them if necessary. Cruises that do not use this program will be included in the “grey” list, according to designated colors for the ships.
CLIA reacts
The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)immediately responded to the communication from the CDC, saying that the protocols adopted by the cruise lines are a highly effective model with proven mitigation and prevention measures for COVID-19 outbreaks.
“Unlike other types of travel, or the entertainment sector, cruise ships require testing of all passengers before boarding and have isolation and treatment facilities on board. In addition, almost all passengers are fully vaccinated”, CLIA said, in its reaction sent by Laziza Lambert, its director of Communications. There it was also highlighted that cruises have become the safest way to travel to mitigate COVID-19.
The association was surprised to learn of the new measures adopted by the CDCsome that he considered more complex, confusing and counterproductive for passengers.
It has not yet been made public which other cruise lines, in addition to those of Norwegian Cruise Holdings, will take advantage of the voluntary program.