In another important step towards returning to sailing, the CDC has updated its virus testing rules. Once a passenger is fully vaccinated, they no longer need to be tested before boarding or disembarking at the end of the cruise.
The new update comes from the CDC Operations manual, a document that sets out the rules and requirements for life on board cruise ships when they return to sailing. This document was published about two weeks ago, but it has been updated significantly since then.
In particular, there was hardly any reference to vaccines or vaccinated passengers in the operations manual when it was first published. Even if you were completely protected from the virus, the CDC made no difference in how you enjoyed yourself on the ship. The original document even went as far need masks by the poolwhether you got the shot or not.
However, this changes with several updates.
Already the The mask rules for vaccinated passengers have been relaxedas well as what protected passengers are allowed to do in port (they can now become self-employed instead of having to be in a “bubble”).
With the simplified test rules, another important rule that was enforced with the Conditional Sailing Ordinance has now been repealed.
Will Cruise Lines test scrap?
For months the cruise industry has been pushing for new standards and protocols for sailing, and the foundation on which those rules were built tested all passengers before boarding.
In fact, cruise lines like Norwegian initially planned to sail fully vaccinated cruises while meeting the testing requirements. This essentially resulted in two layers of protection for the people on the ship – something not found anywhere else in the travel industry.
What remains to be seen, however, is whether cruise ships will lift or move on to testing requirements after the CDC change. On the one hand, raising the requirement would bring cruising so much closer that it would return to normal. On the other hand, one of the best ways would be to keep testing all passengers to make sure no cases get on the ship.
In any case, according to the CDC, passengers who have not been vaccinated must continue to be tested with a NAAT or antigen virus test. The antigen tests are also referred to as “rapid tests”.
Cruise lines seem to like the news as it is a huge hurdle that may be lifted. On Facebook, Michael Bayley, CEO of Royal Caribbean International, posted the following:
“We received several updates for the CSO from the CDC late last night. All reflect the significant advances that have been made with the vaccines. Reading the updates last night and this morning gives me more optimism. Today the light at the end of this long dark tunnel is bright. One step at a time! “
Can Florida cruise lines require proof?
There is still a big hurdle in terms of proof of vaccination. Above all, Florida has a law that doesn’t allow companies to request proof of a gunshot to get services.
While the CDC makes it a lot easier to return once a passenger has received the dose, the state of Florida makes it difficult.
This has put cruise lines in the middle. At least one company has said they can even skip sailing from Florida if no arrangement is made.
“We had talks with the governor’s office. They go on. It is a classic problem between the state and the federal government. Legally, lawyers believe that federal law applies, not state law. I am not a lawyer. And we hope this won’t become legal or political football, ”said Frank Del Rio, CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., on a recent investor call.
“But at the end of the day, cruise ships have engines, propellers, and rudders, and God forbid we can’t operate in the state of Florida for some reason. Then there are other states from which we operate and from which we can operate in the Caribbean for ships that would otherwise go to Florida. “
“We definitely hope that it doesn’t come to that. Everyone wants to operate from Florida. It’s a very lucrative market. It’s a tight market. But there is a problem. Can’t ignore it. “
It is not exactly clear how to solve this. Florida’s leadership went to great lengths to get back to sailing Filing a lawsuit for the cruise to return. The state also benefits economically from cruises.
At the same time, the cruise lines benefit from sailing out of Florida, where they conduct large-scale operations. We believe there is reason to compromise on both sides of the problem.
We’d be surprised if cruises skipped sailing from Florida, but it seems clear that any return in the coming months must be with vaccinated passengers. The CDC just makes it a lot easier to sail again when passengers have the dose.
Popular: 39 Useful Things to Pack (17 You Wouldn’t Think of)
Continue reading: Park & Cruise Hotels for every port in America
Popular: 107 Best Cruise Tips, Secrets, Tricks, and Freebies
