Following two years of giving warnings to tourists about the likelihood of getting COVID-19 onboard a cruise, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention withdrew its risk advisory for cruise liner travel on Wednesday.
The FDA withdrew its “Cruise Ship Travel Health Notice,” which advised people against going on cruise ships, in an online revision.
Following studies of ships with COVID outbreaks, the CDC raised its travel warnings for cruises to Level 4 – the highest level — three months ago.
Although the CDC has dropped its travel health advisory, officials advise travelers must assess their personal health risks before embarking on a cruise liner.
“While traveling will always pose some risk of COVID-19 transmission,” the agency said in a statement to NPR. “Travelers will make their own risk assessment when choosing to travel on a cruise ship, much like they do in all other travel settings.”
The agency says it will continue to provide guidance to the cruise ship industry in order for cruise lines to operate in a way that will provide “safer and healthier” environments for crews, passengers and communities.
