CDC warns against cruise ship travel

Wednesday, 31 Dec, 2021 2

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now advising people against taking cruises.

Cruise ships should be avoided regardless of vaccination status, the agency said.

"It is especially important that travelers who are at an increased risk of severe illness from Covid-19 avoid travel on cruise ships, including river cruises, worldwide," the new CDC guidance said.

The CDC warns the chance of catching the virus on a cruise is high, even those fully vaccinated and with booster shots.

It transmits relatively easily in close quarters on ships, it says.

It sent the stock price of Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, and Carnival Corp down.

It also irked trade group Cruise Lines International Association.

"We’re obviously disappointed at the CDC’s decision to raise the travel level for cruise today—especially given the overwhelming level of effectiveness of cruise protocols that are resulting in significantly lower level of cases on cruise as compared to land," said Brian Salerno, SVP for maritime policy.

The CDC said there have been about 5,000 Covid cases on ships operating in US waters in the past two weeks alone.

The agency is monitoring dozens of ships with recent Covid outbreaks.

below social share icons

TravelMole Editorial Team

Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.

Choose Chicago is the official destination marketing organization responsible for promoting Chicago as a global tourism and meetings destination—the city that’s Never ...

NSW, Australia Welcome to New South Wales – a place to feel free, feel alive, feel new. As the official tourism, destinations and events website, let us inspire your n...

Ensuring our guests have an unforgettable experience while sailing with us is paramount; however, your health and safety remains our top priority. We are proud to be t...

Welcome to Qatar Airways Qatar Airways is proud to be one of the youngest global airlines to serve all six continents, and thanks to our customers’ response to ...

At Visit California, our mission is to develop and maintain marketing programs – in partnership with the state’s travel industry – that inspire travel to, and within, ...

We are a global network of tourism experts, who create, launch and support highly specialized, individually branded travel services. All our services are led by passio...

ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES Mabuhay! Welcome to our archipelago of 7,641 islands where there are endless beaches, lively and fashionable cities, smouldering volcanoes, and u...

Since 1932, P&O Cruises has offered Aussies and Kiwis the opportunity to take to the seas and have the holiday experience of a lifetime. Whether venturing near or ...

Atout France guides and supports the French regions with their development strategy and helps set up investment projects in order to boost the tourism offering and rai...

Greater Fort Lauderdale’s assortment of adventures awaits you. Whether you want to relax on the beach as the sound of the waves lulls you to sleep or get your heart pu...

From the beginning, ATI’s philosophy has been “innovation, not duplication.“ Developing specialized technology solutions to connect over 30,000 accommodation, attracti...

The Florida Keys and Key West is a 126 mile long string of Islands connected to South Florida by the scenic Overseas Highway; a road that suspends the traveller in a p...

River cruising is a treat for the senses, allowing you to see, touch, feel and experience the world like never before. Sit on the intimate, open-air upper deck as you ...

At Wilderness Safaris we believe in creating life-changing journeys and have been doing so for over 39 years. Our purpose today is stronger than ever in our dedication...

Intrepid Travel is a world leader in sustainable experience-rich travel that has been taking travellers to discover the world’s most amazing places for more than...

Here at Elegant Resorts, luxury travel is in our DNA. True pioneers in the industry, we were the first specialist tour operator of our kind when we emerged back in 198...

Welcome to WTE Miami WTE Miami is an international travel and tourism expo that offers your company a platform to generate new business opportunities. WT...

We’re the number one choice for travelers to the Greek Islands and Eastern Mediterranean – a fact we love to share! Our guests tell us it’s because we offer the only g...