The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends no Americans travel on a cruise, regardless of vaccination status.

What You Need To Know

  • The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends no Americans travel on a cruise, regardless of vaccination status

  • The CDC on Thursday raised its COVID-19 Travel Health Notice from Level 3 to Level 4, its highest tier, as omicron cases continue to surge

  • On Wednesday, the CDC released data showing it was investigating COVID-19 outbreaks on 88 ships; by Thursday, that number increased to 91

  • Thanks to the highly-transmissible omicron variant, cases of COVID-19 in the United States have skyrocketed in recent weeks

The CDC on Thursday raised its COVID-19 Travel Health Notice from Level 3 to Level 4, its highest tier, as omicron cases continue to surge around the world. Health officials say the risk of catching COVID, even for fully vaccinated travelers that have received a booster shot, is very high while in close quarters on a cruise ship.

"Since the identification of the Omicron variant, there has been an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases among cruise passengers and crew reported to CDC," the agency's update read in part. "Additionally, there has been an increase in the number of cruise ships meeting the COVID-19 case threshold for CDC investigation."  

Thanks to the highly-transmissible omicron variant, cases of COVID-19 in the United States have skyrocketed in recent weeks. The U.S. is averaging 265,000 new COVID cases per day, the highest new average caseload on record.

On Wednesday, the CDC released data showing it was investigating COVID-19 outbreaks on 88 ships; as of Thursday, that number had increased to 91. 

The agency did not specify how many COVID-19 cases have been reported on any of the ships.

Restricted voyages, or ships with paying passengers, must meet several criteria in order to be elevated to the “Yellow” standard: At least 0.1% of the passengers on board tested positive for COVID-19 in the previous 7 days or if there are one or more cases reported to the crew. 

For example, an investigation into a ship with 6,500 passengers – which is the capacity of the largest commercial cruise ship – would be triggered by just 7 confirmed cases of COVID-19. 

For officials to launch investigations into simulated voyages (i.e. cruises with volunteer passengers in which the ship proves to the CDC it is in compliance with all COVID-19 mitigation requirements) there must be cases reported in 1.5% or more of passengers, or 1.0% or more of crew.

If you still plan on embarking on a cruise anytime soon, the CDC strongly recommends you be fully vaccinated, receive a COVID booster, physically distance from other passengers and wear a face mask when possible in shared spaces.

You should also get tested for the virus within three days of embarking on your trip, as well as when you return. Travelers that are unvaccinated are encouraged to self-isolate for 5 days after returning from the cruise.