The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will be letting its “Temporary Extension and Modification of Framework for Conditional Sailing Order” (CSO) expire on January 15, when it will be transitioning to a COVID-19 risk mitigation program for foreign-flagged cruise ships (i.e., those registered in a foreign country) operating in U.S. waters. The new program includes recommendations and guidance for cruise ships to continue to operate in a way that provides a safer and healthier environment for crew, passengers, and communities.
According to a statement by the CDC, cruise ships operating in U.S. waters choosing to participate in the program must agree to follow all recommendations and guidance issued by CDC. These recommendations are aimed at reducing the introduction and spread of COVID-19. The Maritime Unit will work closely with cruise ships participating in the program and continue to monitor COVID-19 preventive measures and cases onboard these cruise ships through daily enhanced data collection and inspections.
Cruise ships operating in U.S. waters and sailing on international itineraries choosing not to participate in the program will be designated as “gray” on the Cruise Ship Color Status webpage. The “gray” designation (or not being listed) means that CDC has not reviewed or confirmed the cruise ship operator’s health and safety protocols.
Following the news, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) said in a statement: “Today’s announcement by the CDC regarding the planned transition of the Conditional Sailing Order (CSO) to a voluntary program recognizes the cruise industry’s unwavering commitment to providing some of the highest levels of COVID-19 mitigation found in any industry. Cruise is the only segment of travel and tourism that requires, prior to embarkation for both passengers and crew, exceedingly high levels of vaccination (approaching 100 percent compared to only 63 percent of the U.S. population) and 100 percent testing of every individual (21 times the rate of the U.S. on land).”
It added, “Given this oversight and the uniquely high vaccination rate required on board, the incidence of serious illness is dramatically lower than on land, and hospitalizations have been extraordinarily rare even during a time landside hospitalizations are peaking. CLIA ocean-going cruise line members will continue to be guided by the science and the principle of putting people first, with proven measures that are adapted as conditions warrant to protect the health of cruise passengers, crewmembers, and destinations.”
The CDC sent information about this voluntary program to the cruise industry and are anticipating cruise ship operators to choose to participate or not in the coming week. More information about this voluntary program will be released at the expiration of the CSO.
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