Despite increasing pressure to reopen the cruise industry, the USA's CDC agency (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) is still thinking cruising is a bad idea.
Its health notice for cruise travel remained at “Level 4: Very High COVID-19.”
“CDC recommends that all people avoid travel on cruise ships, including river cruises, worldwide. That’s because the chance of getting COVID-19 on cruise ships is high since the virus appears to spread more easily between people in close quarters aboard ships. It is especially important that people with an increased risk of severe illness avoid travel on cruise ships, including river cruises.”
The April 2 update of the CDC ‘Framework for Conditional Sailing Order’ gave cruise companies guidance on ‘Phase 2’ of a 4-phase plan to eventually allow cruise vessels to sail again from American ports. However, industry members were disappointed by the lack of a timeline as well as clear instructions on further phases.
In a recent TV interview, CCL-Carnival Cruise Line president Christine Duffy said they did not have "the details or transparency or engagement with the CDC" that they needed to begin sailing by this summer, which was an important season for the cruise industry and their vacationers.
Americans will have to fly to Europe or the Caribbean to board a ship this summer. The CDC's April 2 update offers advice to those who choose to sail, including both vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers.