Center for Disease Control Outlines The Rules For US Cruising to Return

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention set the stage for the return of U.S. cruising with the release Friday of a detailed series of requirements that could put ships back in operation in the coming months.

The cruise lines are required to Provide PROOF. (Article Coming later in the week outlining the CDC's Definition of Proof).

The decision from the CDC to let its no-sail order expire in exchange for a conditional sail order is a win for the cruise industry, which has been paralyzed since it shut down passenger operations on March 13 amid COVID-19 outbreaks on several ships. As a prerequisite to returning to service cruise companies will have to prove to the CDC that COVID protocols are in-place, working and sufficient enough to limit passenger exposure. In addition the cruise lines will be required to meet specific testing requirements and trial runs before passengers can return.

Although the ban has been lifted the CDC still has its Level 3 travel notice for cruise ships in place, which warns against anyone taking a cruise because of the high risk of COVID-19 infection on ships. The agency first put the notice in place on March 8, nearly one week before cruise companies decided to shut down passenger operations amid outbreaks on several ships.