CDC Launches New COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevent has finally released its new COVID-19 program for cruise ships operating in U.S. waters.

The program is recommended, and cruise lines have until Feb. 18 to opt-in.

There will continue to be a colour status system for COVID-19 cases on ships, which will be frowned upon by the industry. 

Cruise lines choosing to opt in to this program will be required to follow all recommendations and guidance as a condition of their participation in the program (i.e., they will not be able to pick and choose which recommendations they follow). 

Cruise lines must again have detailed COVID-19 response plans, and port agreements, plus continued onboard testing for passengers and crew, and must continue to have other policies and procedures in place. 

US CRUISE SHIPS TO MOVE TO VOLUNTARY SYSTEM OF COVID RULES

Cruise ships operating in the US are no longer be required to follow Covid-19 guidance from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) health agency.

The CDC’s guidance on Covid measures, known as the Conditional Sailing Order, has been in place for cruise ships since October 2020. But it was finally allowed to expire on Saturday (15 January), as planned and it has become voluntary for cruise lines to follow.

CDC director Dr Rochelle Walensky told US Senate politicians last week the sailing order would automatically lapse, as the health agency “transitions to a voluntary Covid-19 risk mitigation programme”.

Walensky told US senators that the cruise industry had “stepped up” in the way it had implemented Covid procedures and was now “interested in exceeding the compliance” necessary to meet the sail order’s requirements.

From 15 January, cruise lines can decide to voluntarily follow the sailing order, with the CDC continuing to carry out oversight and provide technical support.

Less positively, Walensky also revealed that US cruise ships had seen a “30-fold” increase in onboard Covid-19 infections in the past two weeks, due to the spread of the Omicron variant.

Clia said the CDC’s decision to move to a voluntary system showed the industry’s “unwavering commitment” to implementing Covid health procedures.

“Cruise is the only segment of travel and tourism that requires – prior to embarkation for both passengers and crew – exceedingly high levels of vaccination and 100% testing of every individual,” added Clia in a statement.

COVID Cases Found on Norwegian Cruise Ship Returning to New Orleans

A cruise ship set to dock in New Orleans with over 3,000 passengers has detected 10 cases of COVID-19 among its crew and guests, the Louisiana Department of Health said late on Saturday.

The cruise ship Norwegian Breakaway, owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd, departed New Orleans on a weeklong cruise on Nov. 28 and had stops in Belize, Honduras and Mexico, the health agency said.

"NCL has been adhering to appropriate quarantine and isolation protocols," the department said in a tweet.

The ship is set to reach New Orleans on Sunday morning, according to its itinerary.

Everyone on board will be tested for COVID-19 before leaving and will be provided with post-exposure and quarantine public health guidance by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

People who test positive for COVID-19 will either travel to their homes or self-isolate according to CDC guidelines, the health agency said.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular business hours.

(Reporting by Ann Maria Shibu in Bengaluru; Editing by Frances Kerry)