The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) lowered its warning for going on a cruise ship for the first time since the global health crisis began.
The warning has gone from Level 4 to a Level 3 warning of "Very High" to "High".
The CDC's 4-level system categorizes destinations, including international destinations and United States Territories, into the following four levels:
Level 4: Very high level of COVID-19
Level 3: High level of COVID-19
Level 2: Moderate level of COVID-19
Level 1: Low level of COVID-19
The CDC noted the warning change is aimed at non-vaccinated passengers, "Lowered from Level 4 to Level 3, and specified the notice is for travelers who are not fully vaccinated."
The CDC recommends that people who are not fully vaccinated avoid travel on cruise ships, including river cruises, worldwide.
New Level 3 Warning
Previous Level 4 Warning
In its revised verbiage, they specify unvaccinated passengers face a greater threat going on a cruise than someone who is vaccinated,"It is especially important that people who are not fully vaccinated who are more likely to get severely ill avoid travel on cruise ships, including river cruises.
"Cruise passengers who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are at increased risk, since the virus spreads person-to-person, and outbreaks of COVID-19 have been reported on cruise ships because of their congregate (group) settings where COVID-19 spreads easily."
The CDC raised the warning level for cruise ship travel to its highest point of Level 4 in November 2020, and it remained at that level until today.
Just like the cruise lines, the CDC recommends that anyone going on a cruise ship get vaccinated before their trip, which means being fully vaccinated before travel begin.
The CDC also advocates anyone going on a cruise during the pandemic do the following:
- Get tested with a COVID-19 viral test 1–3 days before your departure, even if you are fully vaccinated.
- Get travel insurance
