Cruise operators could restart sailings out of the U.S. by mid-July, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, paving the way to resume operations that have been suspended for longer than a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The CDC, in a letter to cruise-industry leaders Wednesday evening, also said cruise ships can proceed to passenger sailings without test cruises if they attest that 98% of crew members and 95% of passengers are fully vaccinated. The move was a result of twice-weekly meetings with cruise representatives over the past month, the agency said. Under the conditional-sail order put in place in October, cruise operators were required to conduct test cruises and apply for a certificate at least 60 days before offering passenger cruises. The CDC on Wednesday said it would now review and respond to applications for simulated voyages within five days.
“This puts cruise ships closer to open-water sailing sooner,” the CDC said.
The cruise industry and its stakeholders have been critical of the CDC’s approach in recent weeks, particularly after the agency lifted broader travel restrictions. The industry has accused the CDC of treating it differently than other hospitality sectors, and the state of Florida has sued the agency.