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Early in the pandemic the CDC issued a No-Sail order on cruise ships - effective March 14, 2020 - due to the risk of introducing, transmitting, or spreading COVID-19, which was extended several times during 2020.
In late 2020, the CDC released a Framework for Conditional Sailing Order, which led to the resumption of cruise activity from U.S. ports under specific conditions.
Earlier this month, in Louisiana Dept of Health: COVID Outbreak On Cruise Ship Returning To New Orleans, we looked into the COVID status of Cruise ships (see CDC Cruise Ship Color Status), and at that time the CDC was monitoring 9 minor cruise ship outbreaks and actively investigating 24. outbreaks.
As to today, CDC is investigating roughly 90 Cruise Ship outbreaks (yellow), and monitoring an additional 3 (orange).
Today the CDC raised their travel advisory for Cruise Ships to its highest level - Red Level 4
Level 4: Very High Level of COVID-19
Summary of Recent Changes
December 30, 2021
The COVID-19 Travel Health Notice level has been updated from Level 3 to Level 4, the highest level. This reflects increases in cases onboard cruise ships since identification of the Omicron variant.
Avoid cruise travel, regardless of vaccination status.
If you travel on a cruise ship, make sure you are fully vaccinated before travel and get a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose if you are eligible. 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. People who are not fully vaccinated should follow additional recommendations before, during, and after travel.
