Vulnerable people, even if they are fully vaccinated, should avoid cruising at present, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says in new guidance published on its web site. The warning, which includes river cruising, applies to people with a high risk of serious illness, including those with underlying health conditions, pregnant women, and the elderly.
In a subsection entitled “Key Information for Cruise Ship Travellers,” the CDC states: “The virus that causes COVID-19 spreads easily between people in close quarters aboard ships, and the chance of getting COVID-19 on cruise ships is high. Outbreaks of COVID-19 have been reported on cruise ships.”
It adds, “CDC recommends that people who are not fully vaccinated avoid travel on cruise ships, including river cruises, worldwide,” and additionally, “People with an increased risk of severe illness should also avoid travel on cruise ships, including river cruises, regardless of vaccination status.”
The CDC suggests that anyone at increased risk for severe illness who is considering cruise travel during the COVID-19 pandemic should discuss their plans with a healthcare professional, noting, “Older adults and people of any age with certain underlying medical conditions are more likely to get severely ill if they get COVID-19. People with weakened immune systems, including people who take medicines that suppress their immune systems, may not be protected even if fully vaccinated.”
Other CDC advice for cruisers includes:
• People who decide to go on a cruise should get tested 1-3 days before their trip and 3–5 days after their trip, regardless of vaccination status.
• Along with testing, passengers who are not fully vaccinated should self-quarantine for 7 days after cruise travel, even if they test negative. If they do not get tested, they should self-quarantine for 10 days after cruise travel.
• People on cruise ships should wear a mask to keep their nose and mouth covered when in shared spaces.
On its website, the CDC also offers a colour-coding list of currently operating cruise ships, rated from yellow to red (low risk to very high), plus green, as well as “ship status” comments, such as that the Carnival Vista, on which 26 crew and one passenger recently tested positive for COVID-19 on a western Caribbean cruise has been investigated by the CDC and is currently “under observation.”
Of the nearly 70 ships listed, almost half are green (no cases reported), though most of those are designated as not operating with passengers yet, while 30% present low risk and 20% moderate, according to the CDC. The chart is updated several times a week.