The CDC has announced technical guidelines for the test cruise phase of the conditional sailing order.
The CDC action is one of the final steps toward resuming cruises in US waters.
The test cruises will operate for a duration of between two to seven days and must have at least 10% occupancy rate based on the ship’s capacity.
Volunteer guests must be adults and are either fully vaccinated or do not have any underlying medical conditions that could make them high risk for Covid-19.
The cruise line must make it clear to volunteers that they are taking part in an untested safety exercise and ‘sailing during a pandemic is an inherently risky activity.’
All guests must be checked for Covid symptoms before and after the cruise and at least three-quarters must be tested before disembarking.
They must wear face masks and social distancing measures will be in place, and guests will be able to go ashore but only guided excursions.
Ships must conduct at least one test cruise before being approved to sail revenue voyages again but there is an exemption.
Cruise lines can bypass the test cruise phase if they can prove 98% of crew and 95% of all passengers are vaccinated.
