The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued new operating guidance for cruise lines, with at least one company just three days later submitting its plan to possibly resume sailings in July.
An industry group, however, strongly criticized the instructions.
The new federal guidance does not change the reality for Alaska that Canada has not lifted or amended its ban on cruise ships. Without a change in Canada, or a temporary waiver from U.S. law requiring a stop in a Canadian port for the foreign-flagged cruise ships that serve Alaska, it will be a second summer without the large ships which in past years brought 1.3 million visitors to the state.
Under the guidance issued by the CDC last Friday, cruise lines must give 30 days notice to the agency before starting test cruises and then will have to apply for a conditional sailing certificate 60 days before a regular voyage with paying passengers.
Norwegian Cruise Line, one of the industry's largest operators and a big player in Alaska, submitted a letter to the CDC on Monday, outlining its plan to resume cruises from U.S. ports on July 4, the soonest restart possible under Friday's order.
The company did not announce whether its plans include Alaska.
The cruise line told the CDC it would require mandatory vaccination of all guests and crew.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings represents Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
While some lines in Europe have been requiring all passengers to be vaccinated, the CDC guidance does not go that far. The agency recommends all eligible port personnel, crew and passengers get a COVID-19 vaccine.
By recommending rather than requiring vaccinations, the CDC has avoided conflict with Florida, one of the cruise industry's biggest bases of operations, which has banned businesses from requiring customers to show proof of vaccinations, The New York Times reported Monday.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has threatened to sue the CDC if cruise ships are not allowed to resume operations soon.
The Cruise Lines International Association criticized the CDC guidance on Monday, calling it"disappointing."
"The new requirements are unduly burdensome, largely unworkable, and seem to reflect a zero-risk objective rather than the mitigation approach to COVID that is the basis for every other U.S. sector of our society,"the industry group said in a prepared statement.
"The irony is that today an American can fly to any number of destinations to take a cruise, but cannot board a ship in the U.S.,"the association said.
Cruise ships have been shut down in the United States for more than a year, waiting for the CDC to give permission and set rules to resume operations.
Friday's technical instructions from the CDC will allow cruise lines to prepare their ships for test voyages to check out health and safety protocols and operational procedures with volunteers before sailing with paying passengers.
The CDC's latest guidance requires daily instead of weekly reporting of COVID-19 cases, routine testing of all crew based on a ship's COVID-19 status, and holding contracts with onshore medical facilities for passengers who fall ill during a voyage and working with health officials in port calls to develop a plan in case of an outbreak aboard a ship.
In addition to providing more information on what will be required to restart cruise line operations, the CDC on Friday updated its guidance to say fully vaccinated people can travel within the U.S. without getting tested for the Coronavirus or going into quarantine afterward.
However, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky urged caution and said she would "advocate against general travel overall"given the rising number of infections.
"If you are vaccinated, it is lower risk," she said.
Almost 110 million people in the U.S. - almost one third of the population - had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine as of Monday. A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the last required dose.
For people who haven't been fully vaccinated, the CDC is sticking to its recommendation to avoid unnecessary travel. If they do travel, the agency says to get tested one to three days before the trip, and three to five days after. People should also stay home and quarantine for seven days after travel, even if their COVID-19 test is negative, the agency says.
According to data through March 31 from Johns Hopkins University, the U.S. is averaging 66,000 daily new cases this past week, up from 55,000 two weeks ago.
The new guidance says:
Fully vaccinated people can travel within the U.S., without getting tested for the Coronavirus or quarantining. People should still wear a mask, socially distance and avoid crowds, the agency says.
For international travel, the agency says vaccinated people do not need to get a COVID-19 test before leaving, unless the destination country requires it.
For travelers coming into the U.S., vaccinated people should still get a negative COVID-19 test before boarding a flight, and be tested three to five days after arrival. They do not need to quarantine. The agency noted the potential introduction of virus variants and differences in vaccine coverage around the world for the cautious guidance on overseas travel.
Reader Comments(0)