CDC warns against cruise ship travel

Saturday, Dec 31, 2022 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.

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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.

2 COMMENTS

Teresa SherrillDec 31, 2021 07:29 PM

You are absolutely right Toni, I believe the same way! Stop all of these gatherings with people breathing on each other before jumping right to restricting the cruise industry again! We need to stand up for all aspects of the travel industry being able to return to normalcy, for the sake of jobs and income loss, which concerns many of us.

Toni ReedDec 31, 2021 06:52 PM

If cruisers, even vaccinated ones, are advised to stay away from cruise ships, then fans should be advised to stay away from football stadiums, basketball games, and of course all New Years eve ball drops. They are more of a pitre dish than cruise ships.