Cruise lines will be have to follow the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) protocols for COVID-19 on ships through January 15, 2022. Following that date, the agency intends to transition to a voluntary program.
With its 'Framework for Conditional Sailing Order' (CSO) set to expire on October 31, the CDC has extended it with minor modifications. The CSO is the CDC's phased approach to allowing cruise ships to resume operations from the United States.
Effective November 1, updates to the CSO will allow cruise lines to offer sailings longer than seven nights from U.S. ports. In another beneficial change, cruise lines will no longer be required to include CDC travel advisories or warnings in its marketing materials.
The public health agency says there's still a need to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 on cruise ships. Even with high vaccination rates among crew and passengers, between June 26 and Oct. 21, 1,359 laboratory-confirmed cases were reported to the agency by cruise ships. Thankfully, however, there have been no major outbreaks.
"The pandemic isn't over. We've seen what the Delta variant can do," said CDC environmental health scientist Capt. Aimee Treffiletti in an interview with USA TODAY.
"Despite, you know, really what have been the best efforts of the cruise industry to provide a safer and healthier environment for crew, passengers and communities, COVID-19 has still been a challenge, particularly with the Delta variant," Trefilletti added.
After a rocky start following the imposition of a 'No Sail Order" in March, 2020, the CDC and the cruise industry have worked together to find ways for the industry to slowly resume operations. Initially, the two parties weren't even talking, but the relationship has evolved and improved over time.
Cruise Lines International Association, which represents the bulk of the global cruise industry, said in a statement that the changes show that the CDC recognizes the industry's successful resumption of operations.
"Cruising has successfully resumed in the United States, with leading public health measures that have enabled our ocean-going cruise line members to effectively mitigate the risk of COVID-19 amongst cruise passengers, crewmembers and destinations," CLIA said in a statement.
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