On March 14, 2022, the CDC lowered their cruise Tavel advisory from Level 3 to Level 2 (archived). As a result, the CDC advisory to cruise passengers is that cruising is now ‘moderate’ and no longer considered a ‘high risk.’ The CDC’s lowering of the cruise travel advisory comes about a month after it was lowered from Level 4 to Level 3 and the 2-year anniversary of the industry shutdown.

According to the latest from the advisory pertaining to COVID-19 and Cruise Ship Travel the CDC recommends the following to passengers:

• Make sure you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines before cruise ship travel.
  • Getting vaccinated is still the best way to protect yourself from severe disease, slow the spread of COVID-19, and reduce the number of new variants.
  • The THN for cruise ship travel represents the status of the COVID-19 pandemic at this time. For travelers booking cruise travel now, be aware that the level may change as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves and may be different by the time of your cruise.
• If you are not up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and are at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19, avoid cruise ship travel. If you have questions or concerns, talk to your doctor.
• The virus that causes COVID-19 spreads easily between people in close quarters on board ships, and the chance of getting COVID-19 on cruise ships is moderate, even if you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines.
• Outbreaks of COVID-19 have been reported on cruise ships.
• Check your cruise ship’s color code and vaccination status classification before traveling.
• Get a COVID-19 viral test as close to time of cruise departure as possible (no more than 3 days) before you travel.
  • See more information about testing before boarding a shipparticipating in CDC’s COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships.
• During your cruise, wear a well-fitting mask to keep your nose and mouth covered when indoors (outside of your cabin) or in crowded outdoor settings. While CDC is exercising its enforcement discretion under CDC’s Mask Order to not require that persons wear a mask under certain circumstances on cruise ships participating in CDC’s COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships, individual cruise lines may require travelers (passengers and crew) to wear masks on board the ship.
• Get tested 3–5 days after your cruise, regardless of your COVID-19 vaccination status. Isolate if your test is positive or you develop COVID-19 symptoms.
• Along with testing, if you are not up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines, you should self-quarantine for a full 5 days after cruise travel.  
• All travelers should follow additional recommendations before, during, and after travel.

Travel Health Notices (THNs)

CDC uses Travel Health Notices (THNs) to alert travelers and other audiences to health threats around the world and advise them on how to protect themselves. The THN for cruise ship travel represents the status of the COVID-19 pandemic at this time. For travelers booking cruise travel now, be aware that the level may change as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves and may be different by the time of their cruise.

CDC uses COVID-19 data reported by cruise ships and relevant public health authorities to make determinations about THN levels.

The COVID-19 THN system categorizes cruise ship travel into the following four levels:

• Level 4: Very high level of COVID-19
  • Avoid cruise ship travel at this time.
• Level 3: High level of COVID-19
  • Make sure you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines before cruise ship travel.
  • If you are not up to date with COVID-19 vaccines, avoid cruise ship travel.
  • If you are at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19, avoid cruise ship travel even if you are up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.
• Level 2: Moderate level of COVID-19
  • Make sure you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines before cruise ship travel.
  • If you are not up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and are at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19, avoid cruise ship travel. If you have questions or concerns, talk with your doctor.
• Level 1: Low level of COVID-19
  • Make sure you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines before cruise ship travel.

For the most up to date information, please visit the CDC’s COVID-19 and Cruise Ship Travel page.