MIAMI — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned people on Thursday (Dec. 30) not to go on cruises, regardless of their vaccination status, because of onboard outbreaks fueled by the omicron variant.
The CDC said it has more than 90 cruise ships under investigation or observation as a result of COVID-19 cases. The agency did not disclose the number of infections.
“The virus that causes COVID-19 spreads easily between people in close quarters onboard ships, and the chance of getting COVID-19 on cruise ships is very high,” even if people are fully vaccinated and have received a booster, the CDC said.
The Cruise Lines International Association said it was disappointed with the new recommendations, saying the industry was singled out despite the fact it follows stricter health protocols than other travel sectors.
The decision “is particularly perplexing considering that cases identified on cruise ships consistently make up a very slim minority of the total population on board,” a statement said. “The majority of those cases are asymptomatic or mild in nature, posing little to no burden on medical resources onboard or onshore.”
The CDC on Thursday also recommended that passengers get tested and quarantined for five days after docking, regardless of their vaccination status and even if they have no symptoms..
U.S. cruise lines have not announced any plans to halt trips, though vessels have been denied entry at some foreign ports.
