Today, CDC announced, effective July 18, 2022 they are ending their COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships which has been in effect for cruise ships operating within the United States. However, at this time, Disney Cruise line is assessing the recent announcement from the CDC, but no changes have been announced on DCL’s Know Before You Go pages. It is important to understand no changes have been announced, hence the ALL CAPS TITLE.
In an updated posted on the Crusie Ship Travel During COVID-19 page, the CDC issued the following statement
As of July 18, 2022, CDC’s COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships is no longer in effect. CDC will continue to publish guidance to help cruise ships continue to provide a safer and healthier environment for passengers, crew and communities going forward. For more information, please see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
Crusie Ship Travel During COVID-19 page (archived)
According to the FAQ referenced on the CDC website. The CDC worked closely with the cruise industry, state, territorial, and local health authorities, and federal and seaport partners to provide a safer and healthier environment for cruise passengers and crew. Cruise ships have access to guidance and tools to manage their own COVID-19 mitigation programs. Additionally, cruise travelers have access to recommendations that allow them to make informed decisions about cruise ship travel. While cruising poses some risk of COVID-19 transmission, CDC will continue to publish guidance to help cruise ships continue to provide a safer and healthier environment for crew, passengers, and communities going forward.
Additionally, the previous color-coding system under CDC’s COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships depended upon each cruise line having the same COVID-19 screening testing standards, which may now vary among cruise lines. Therefore, the cruise ship color status webpage has been retired. CDC will continue to provide testing recommendations for cruise ship operators to follow and cruise ships will continue to report COVID-19 cases to CDC.How can travelers find out about COVID-19 outbreaks on cruise ships?
Cruise travelers have the option of contacting their cruise line directly regarding outbreaks occurring on board their ship.
I’m not sure how much this will or won’t change anything. They still need to abide by the laws and regulations for all countries they want to dock at in cruising itineraries. Most of the other countries have been far more strict then the US.
Wow! Interesting decision by CDC with uptick in positive cases. Thank you for your excellent reporting as always.
Disney will likely need to see what the Bahamas and other countries will do before deciding next steps
Historically Disney has adjusted their own protocols a few weeks/months after such announcements. For us, being with a very young and unvaccinated child, a change would probably mean cruise could again be possible.
Anne, many families are in the same “boat”, and hoping will be able to cruise again in the not too distant future.
DCL should drop all vaxx and testing requirements today! 7/19/22. But, the cruise line that typically gets best in the industry awards will follow behind other cruise lines as they begin to fill their ships soon. We’re ready to get back to DCL unmasked, untested, unvaxx!
I would be shocked if that happens. They wouldn’t be allowed to go to a number of ports. Most of the other countries are even more strict then we are and won’t allow them to dock unless they have a minimum of passengers vaccinated, plus won’t let people off if they aren’t vaccinated.
What a truly ridiculous comment. Tell me you don’t know how any of this works without telling me you don’t know how any of this works. At absolute minimum, DCL doesn’t rule the world or get to tell other counties what to do. DCL will also always, thankfully, keep the safety and health of their crew, cast members and guests paramount – exactly the opposite of what your comment suggests.
Do you know how any of this works? Enlighten us, genius.
You shouldn’t need to be enlightened on basic facts and common sense. Have a magical day.
Because you have neither facts nor common sense. Got it.
Hopefully if you’re fully vaxed and boosted, you won’t need to continue to test to get on the ship.
Why not? Everyone who is vaxxed is still getting and spreading covid. The vax has nothing to do with transmission, they’ve already said as much at the CDC.
If the vaxed weren’t getting it, I would agree. But they ARE still getting it and pretesting has stopped some positive cases from boarding the ship. AND AGAIN, they are vaccinated.
Open cruising to everyone – but test first.