Cruise lines will have to mandate masks even by the pool and nix buffets for trial sailings without vaccine requirements, CDC says bchang@businessinsider.com (Brittany Chang)
The CDC has unveiled the next two phases of its Conditional Sailing Order.
The new phases detail how a cruise s simulated trail sailings should look.
New requirements include masking up when poolside, and the potential ceasing of buffet services.
On May 5, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new guidelines on how cruise lines should go about trial voyages, providing some insight into how cruising could look when it finally returns after over a year of no-sailing.
CDC Warms to the Idea of July Cruising April 29, 2021
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) may be warming to the idea of the cruise industry restarting in July from the United States, according to a report by USA Today. We acknowledge that cruising will never be a zero-risk activity and that the goal of the CSO s (Framework for Conditional Sailing Order) phased approach is to resume passenger operations in a way that mitigates the risk of COVID-19 transmission onboard cruise ships and across port communities, said Aimee Treffiletti, head of the Maritime Unit for CDC’s COVID-19 response within its Global Mitigation Task Force for COVID-19, a letter obtained by USA Today.
CDC issues test cruise guidance for cruise lines
(KYMA, KECY/CNN) - Cruise ship operators may begin simulated voyages with volunteer passengers, according to an order from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The guidelines are a new phase in the CDC s Framework for Conditional Sailing Order, released in October as a phased approach for preventing Covid-19 transmission aboard cruise ships and eventually resuming cruises with paying passengers.
The instructions include eligibility and requirements for conducting a trial voyage, which would help prepare for future restricted passenger voyages, and guide cruise ship inspection on those voyages.
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Florida governor calls on cruise lines to return to sailing
Briona Arradondo reports
TAMPA, Fla. - With cruise lines are already sailing in other parts of the world, Florida’s governor said it’s time for Florida to immediately return to sailing.
Governor Ron DeSantis said he does not agree with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines on cruising, and the state’s new ban on vaccine passports puts Florida at odds with CDC’s guidelines on cruises.
Cruises may resume as soon as July. On Wednesday, the CDC released more details on how companies can test voyages with volunteers before starting up paid cruises. CDC officials said ships can skip the test sailings if 98% of crew and 95% of passengers are vaccinated, and there are COVID-19 testing requirements.
CDC Will Eliminate Cruise Ship Buffet, Require Organized Shore Excursions May 05, 2021
For cruise lines wanting to operate from a U.S. port, they will need to adhere to a number of new regulations released on Wednesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for ships to sail under the Framework for Conditional Sailing Order (CSO).
While many cruise lines have already confirmed their buffets are on hold for the time being, the CDC has made it official by now requiring them to eliminate any self-serve food or drink options, such as buffets, salad bars, and drink stations.