The CDC has scrapped its Covid-19 Program for Cruise Ships, according to its website.

The CDC Cruise Ship Guidance page reads that the program is “no longer in effect.” The CDC also said, “Cruise ships have access to guidance and tools to manage their own Covid-19 mitigation programs.”

It goes on to say, “New guidance for cruise ships to mitigate and manage Covid-19 transmission will be available in the coming days.”

Along with the end of the Covid-19 Program for Cruise Ships, the CDC has retired its color-coding system for denoting Covid-19 cases aboard cruise ships.

The CDC said the color-coding system “depended upon each cruise line having the same Covid-19 screening testing standards, which may now vary among cruise lines. Therefore, the cruise ship color status webpage has been retired. CDC will continue to provide testing recommendations for cruise ship operators to follow and cruise ships will continue to report Covid-19 cases to CDC.” 

The CDC added that cruise travelers “have the option of contacting their cruise line directly regarding outbreaks occurring on board their ship.”

The decision to eliminate the Covid program for cruise ships comes after months of the CDC rolling back regulations as the severity of Covid-19 has eased.

CLIA applauds

CLIA applauded the decision to sunset the program and is looking forward to reviewing the details of guidelines the CDC will post online in the coming days. 

“This is an important step forward in the CDC aligning the guidelines for cruise with those it has established for other travel, hospitality and entertainment sectors,” CLIA stated. “The sunsetting of the CDC program is a testament to the effectiveness of the industry’s comprehensive and robust protocols.”

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