US Health Agency Asks Travelers to Avoid Cruises

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) raised on Thursday (30) its warning level for cruise ships, the highest on the scale. “Avoid this type of trip, regardless of the vaccination situation,” the agency said in a statement.

The measure was announced after the number of cases on cruises grew in recent weeks, leading some ports to refuse vessels. Last week, dozens of people on a Royal Caribbean International company ship tested positive after the vessel departed Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Another Carnival Cruise Line ship returned to Miami on Sunday (26) after infections “among a small number of people on board”.

Calling the CDC’s decision “amazing,” the cruise industry group, the International Cruise Lines Association, said in a statement that the number of cases on board formed a very small minority of the total population, and that “the majority of cases it was asymptomatic or mild in nature, posing little or no burden to medical resources on board or ashore.”

Ahead of the CDC’s warning on Thursday, the Royal Caribbean Group, one of the world’s largest cruise lines, said its ships had carried 1.1 million passengers since it resumed operations in June, with 1,745 people infected. While most travelers had mild or no symptoms, 41 people were admitted to hospitals.

“Omicron is having a short-term impact on everyone, but many see it as a big step toward Covid-19 becoming endemic rather than epidemic,” said Richard Fain, chief executive of Royal Caribbean Cruises.

Despite the increase in cruise cases, the Mexican government announced this week that it will let ships dock at its ports, even if passengers have tested positive for coronavirus, and will also allow asymptomatic travelers to disembark.

The announcement came after two Covid outbreak ships were turned down by Jalisco state authorities last week for landing in Puerto Vallarta, a popular tourist destination on Mexico’s Pacific coast.

“Our country maintains its policy of solidarity and fraternity, as well as the principle of non-discrimination towards all people,” the government said in a statement. “The health and tourism authorities remain vigilant in providing the necessary medical assistance to those who visit us.”

The coronavirus wreaked havoc in the cruise industry in the early stages of the pandemic, infecting hundreds of passengers and workers and requiring the industry to shut down for 18 months. To start sailing, the ships had to agree to the CDC’s Conditional Shipping Order, which is valid until January 15th.

On most cruises departing from US ports, nearly all crew members and adult passengers are vaccinated, and masks are required indoors, except when passengers are eating or drinking.

Among the security measures the order requires — in addition to reporting the daily number of coronavirus cases — is a control and prevention plan for each ship.

Most airlines do not publicly announce the number of coronavirus cases identified during voyages, but all cruise ships operating to and from US ports must submit daily numbers to the CDC, which uses a color system to inform the public of the number. of cases is above or below the agency threshold for an investigation.

Currently, 88 cruise ships are being monitored by the CDC for coronavirus cases recorded on board. The agency does not publicly specify the number of cases on each vessel.