Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) completely removed its Travel Health Notice for cruising. The shift follows the government agency’s previous risk reassessment for cruise travel from “Level 3: High” to “Level 2: Moderate.”
The travel industry response has been overwhelmingly positive, and customer confidence has skyrocketed.
The CDC change “recognizes the effective public health measures in place on cruise ships and begins to level the playing field between cruise and similarly situated venues on land for the first time since March 2020,” read a statement from Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).
“From the onset of the pandemic, CLIA’s cruise line members have prioritized the health and safety of their guests, crew and the communities they visit, and are sailing today with health measures in place that are unmatched by virtually any other commercial setting.”
Julia Simpson, president and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council, was equally excited by the news.
The cruise industry has gained strong momentum in recent months, with many travelers anxious to again begin enjoying holidays with family and friends.
“The cruise industry has gained strong momentum in recent months, with many travelers anxious to again begin enjoying holidays with family and friends,” she said. “This is also welcome news to the extensive network of suppliers, many of whom are small businesses that depend on cruises for their success, which will continue to help provide significant positive impacts for economies and employment in countries and regions around the world.”
Cruise Lines Respond to CDC’s Removal of Health Notice
Cruise lines themselves are already starting to see the impact of the CDC change. After the lifting of the health notice, Virgin Voyages witnessed its strongest day of bookings ever, and the line further recognizes that this now marks the transition back to pre-pandemic cruise operations.
It’s refreshing to see them meet us where we’re at, and clearly where our consumers are at, considering the major uptick in demand we’ve seen.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to see that the CDC recognizes that it’s time to remove the Travel Health Notice website,” said Tom McAlpin, CEO of Virgin Voyages. “While we feel this was a long time coming, we recognize this move as a demonstration of all of the hard work this industry has done to ensure that we’re offering the safest way to travel. It’s refreshing to see them meet us where we’re at, and clearly where our consumers are at, considering the major uptick in demand we’ve seen.”
While it did not specifically cite the CDC’s latest action, Carnival Cruise Line saw similar growth in its latest week-over-week reservations. In fact, March 28 to April 3 was the brand’s busiest period in the company’s history, thanks to a double-digit increase from the prior seven-day record.
Moving forward, the cruise industry remains committed to the well-being of its passengers.
“The CDC’s removal of its health notice related to cruise travel is an important step forward in recognizing the work we have done to protect our guests,” said Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line. “At Holland America Line, we continue to operate vaccinated cruises and have created a safe and healthy environment for our guests, our teams and the communities we serve, helping to ensure cruising is among the safest forms of socializing and travel.”
The remaining Holland America fleet is scheduled to come online in the coming weeks as guests depart for Alaska, Canada, New England and Europe, and the brand’s Worry-Free Promise ensuring flexible cancellations has been extended to reservations made by May 31, 2022, and sailing by Sept. 30, 2022.
Will Cruise Lines Require Vaccinations in 2022 and Beyond?
Currently most cruise lines are requiring some form of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to sail. Check out our guide to cruise line vaccination requirements for up-to-date details for every cruise line.
