(CNN) – There is hope on the horizon for travelers who have been waiting on a cruise from the United States.
Crossings on numerous cruise lines are slated to call at US ports within the next month, nearly 15 months after a no-sail order from the US Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention brought cruises to a standstill.
Most of the ships are still awaiting approval from the CDC to sail. Since October last year, the agency has issued a number of evolving requirements and guidelines in the form of conditional sailing regulations.
However, a lawsuit filed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis against this order is still unsolved. The two sides could not reach an agreement in mediation, the DeSantis office announced on Thursday.
Last month, as vaccination rates rose in the U.S., CDC requirements gave increasingly more leeway to ships on which the majority of passengers and crew – 95% in both cases – are fully vaccinated.
Summer cruises with vaccination requirements, which many cruise lines have announced, are expected to bring some normalcy to the cruises to come.
“If you look at what’s going to happen on these cruises and what the CDC allows, honestly cruising looks a lot like it did before the pandemic,” said Chris Gray Faust, managing editor of the cruise website Cruise critic.
However, vaccine requirements can be hampered by “vaccine passport” bans in Florida and Texas, which prohibit companies from requesting proof of Covid-19 vaccination.
Ships that want to sail without meeting these 95% vaccination thresholds must perform Trial rides with volunteer passengers to test safety protocols before being cleared by the CDC.“It can of course be a very confusing situation,” said cruise expert Stewart Chiron of The cruise guy Website.Indeed. As with so many things related to travel during the pandemic there is a jumble of requirements.Here is something CNN knows so far what to expect:
Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas sails past beachgoers as it prepares to dock in PortMiami on May 28, 2021.
Joe Raedle / Getty Images
When can I cruise from US ports?
Major cruise lines have started announcing departures from US ports in late June and July.
As noted, the situation is in flux as cruise ships await approval from the CDC for plans to launch ships with almost fully vaccinated voyages or sea trials, and the sailing regulation litigation remains unresolved.
When asked about the Florida situation, Celebrity Cruises said, “We are grateful to the Governor for his industry support and efforts to resume operations in US ports this summer, and look forward to continuing productive discussions to ensure a smooth resumption the Florida cruise. ”
The cruise company is working to finalize security measures with the CDC, local and state agencies and the destinations the cruise company is calling, the Celebrity statement said.
Which ports are in the game?
Carnival Cruise Line on Monday announced plans to resume voyages from Port of Galveston, Texas and PortMiami, Florida with vaccination requirements. The company’s announcement came on the same day that Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed law banning vaccine passports.
“We are evaluating recent Texas vaccine information legislation,” Carnival Cruise Line said in a statement. “The law provides exemptions if a company implements COVID protocols in accordance with federal law that is in line with our plans to comply with guidelines from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”
Royal Caribbean International announced on Friday that six of its “ships will depart from major US cruise ports in Florida and Texas in July and August,” a Press release by the company.
No vaccinations will be required on these cruises, the company said, reversing previous announcements that vaccinations are required.
This route, which normally requires ships flying a foreign flag to stop in Canada under maritime law, is thanks to the recently adopted route this year Alaskan Tourism Restoration Act. It allows cruises to temporarily bypass docking in Canada en route to Alaska.
The major cruise lines are busy positioning ships and vaccinating crews for these and other routes that have yet to be announced and cleared for sailing.
But while companies are preparing and waiting for CDC approval for cruises from US ports, some major cruise lines have arranged to leave the Caribbean. The first major cruise in the Caribbean since operations ceased due to the pandemic was planned for June 5 on the Celebrity Millennium from St. Maarten, with further voyages on other lines to follow.
However, Chiron, The Cruise Guy, warns that these ships and departures could return to U.S. ports once CDC clearance is in place.
“So you could be back in Miami or Fort Lauderdale or Port Canaveral. So if I were booked on one of these ships I would be aware of that and make sure the airline allows me to cancel and rebook my flights,” he said devices.
Carnival Cruise Line is working on arrangements to resume departures from Miami and other US ports.
DANIEL SLIM / AFP / AFP via Getty Images
Will vaccination be required?
It depends on whether. As mentioned earlier, policies vary by cruise line and ship, and are still wrapped up with issues related to the ban on vaccination records.
Vaccination requirements apply to the Alaska cruise lines listed above from Seattle. Some require all on board vaccinated, effectively excluding children under the age of 12 who are not yet eligible for vaccination.
Others require that everyone aged 16 and over be vaccinated, with plans in many cases to lower that age to 12 later in the summer as vaccines become more widely available. Tests would be required for younger passengers.
Current CDC updates on his Conditions for sailing have outlined relaxed requirements that would make cruises far less restrictive for vaccinated passengers.
Some ships, especially those that sail with more than 5% of passengers under the age of 12, are likely to need to take the sea trial route for CDC permit and enforce stricter restrictions.
The CDC does not require cruise lines to test fully vaccinated passengers. A check is required on departure and disembarkation (when traveling for more than four nights) for unvaccinated passengers.
Check with the shipping company for your specific itinerary for details on the requirements of each cruise.
Do passengers have to wear masks on cruises from US ports?
The CDC mask mandate remains in effect for transport hubs, so masks are required in the port. There is no mask requirement in the cabins.
Whether masks are required outdoors is up to the cruise lines. Otherwise, the rules likely depend on whether or not you are vaccinated.
The CDC’s latest guidelines for cruise lines are in line with its broader recommendations for fully vaccinated individuals, the agency confirmed.
The guideline “gives the cruise ship operator discretion to require masks in the open air, in crowds, in areas only for crew members, in areas only for vaccinated passengers and on ships with at least 95% of the crew and 95% of the passengers who are fully vaccinated” . the CDC said in a statement.
For sails that do not meet the 95% vaccination requirement, more mask rules apply to unvaccinated passengers.
What will my time be on board the ship?
This also depends on your vaccination status. The CDC allows cruise lines to designate specific areas that are only accessible to fully vaccinated passengers – spaces such as casinos, bars, spas, and dining rooms.
This and other expanded access for vaccinated passengers “where no masks and no physical distancing are required” are to be determined by “cruise ship operators at their own discretion”.
Self-service buffets are listed among the areas where only fully vaccinated passengers without masks or social distancing are allowed to congregate.
Otherwise, physical distancing must be observed on most cruise lines.
MSC is one of the cruise lines that have already started sailing in Europe.
Courtesy of MSC Cruises
Which shore excursions are possible?
Many shipping companies base their shore excursions on the rules of the destinations the ships call at.
“Our tours meet the highest health and safety standards that we follow on board. Most experiences take place outdoors and guests are encouraged to stick with their group. The buses have a reduced capacity and are often disinfected, ”the cruise company said on the website.
The CDC says cruise lines can “at their own discretion” advise fully vaccinated passengers that independent excursions are okay during port stops.
What if the cruise is canceled or I have to change my plans?
Some cruise lines have accepted more flexible Cancellation policy during the pandemic. And when a cruise is canceled, cruise lines usually offer refunds or future cruise credits.
But travel insurance is more important than ever, said Angel Wilson, travel advisor at Dream Journeys in Indianapolis.
While travel insurance didn’t cover the pandemic at all last year, many companies have adjusted their policies to cover Covid-related events.
But a cover for Covid is not a matter of course, says Chiron. “You want to be able to clearly understand how you are covered because they will all be different.”
Insurance against cancellation for any reason provides the most complete protection in the event that a situation or uncertainty causes a passenger to rethink their trip, Wilson said.
Her best advice for cruising this summer: “Be open minded and ready in case anything changes.”
