Video above: Royal Caribbean marks 2021 return to Caribbean with cruises from the BahamasCruise lines could soon begin sailing from U.S. ports again with simulated voyages meant to test the ship’s readiness post-COVID-19. The trial voyages will embark with volunteer passengers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday released guidance for cruise ships to undertake simulated voyages with volunteer passengers as part of its COVID-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate application. 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.Simulated voyages must have at least 10% of the maximum number of passengers permitted on board a ship. Passengers must all be at least 18 years old and confirm in writing that they’re participating in a simulation voyage.The CDC guidelines state the volunteer passengers must be able to furnish proof of vaccination or provide a letter from a physician that they are not in a high-risk category for COVID-19. And all volunteers must be willing to get a COVID-19 test three to five days after the voyage is over.The CDC’s new guidance also includes operational procedures for cruise ship operators to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including onboard surveillance, laboratory testing, face mask use, social distancing, passenger interactions and procedures for embarking and disembarking.With the issuance of these documents, cruise lines now have all the necessary requirements and recommendations they need to start simulated voyages. The CDC said the steps outlined Wednesday align with the goals of many major cruise lines to resume passenger operations in the United States by mid-summer. Cruise lines have not been able to sail from U.S. ports since March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. CNN contributed to this report.
Video above: Royal Caribbean marks 2021 return to Caribbean with cruises from the Bahamas
Cruise lines could soon begin sailing from U.S. ports again with simulated voyages meant to test the ship’s readiness post-COVID-19. The trial voyages will embark with volunteer passengers.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday released guidance for cruise ships to undertake simulated voyages with volunteer passengers as part of its COVID-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate application.
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.
Simulated voyages must have at least 10% of the maximum number of passengers permitted on board a ship. Passengers must all be at least 18 years old and confirm in writing that they’re participating in a simulation voyage.
The CDC guidelines state the volunteer passengers must be able to furnish proof of vaccination or provide a letter from a physician that they are not in a high-risk category for COVID-19. And all volunteers must be willing to get a COVID-19 test three to five days after the voyage is over.
The CDC’s new guidance also includes operational procedures for cruise ship operators to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including onboard surveillance, laboratory testing, face mask use, social distancing, passenger interactions and procedures for embarking and disembarking.
With the issuance of these documents, cruise lines now have all the necessary requirements and recommendations they need to start simulated voyages.
The CDC said the steps outlined Wednesday align with the goals of many major cruise lines to resume passenger operations in the United States by mid-summer.
Cruise lines have not been able to sail from U.S. ports since March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
CNN contributed to this report.
