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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has dropped its warning against cruise ship travel.
For the past two years, the CDC has issued a COVID-19 warning for travelers wishing to take a cruise vacation amid the pandemic, but thanks to the waning number of cases that warning has now been lifted.
However, the CDC’s announcement that they have lifted their warning doesn’t mean a cruise vacation is without risk.
“Travelers will make their own risk assessment when choosing to travel on a cruise ship, much like they do in all other travel settings,” CDC spokesperson David Daigle told USA Today.
The CDC recommends travelers stay up to date with their COVID vaccines before taking a cruise vacation and follow any protocols, or recommendations the cruise line has in place.
According to USA Today, the CDC’s decision is a relief for the cruise line industry, with the Cruise Lines International Association releasing a statement, saying, “Today’s decision by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to altogether remove the Travel Health Notice for cruising 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.”