CDC removes COVID-19 risk advisory for cruise travel 

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) removed on Wednesday its COVID-19 travel advisory notice for cruise ships two years after it was implemented to help stop the spread of the pandemic.

"While cruising will always pose some risk of COVID-19 transmission, 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 CDC said in a statement.

The CDC issues “travel health notices” to inform travelers about natural disasters or pandemics that could affect an individual’s health.  

At the height of the pandemic, the CDC warned U.S. residents to avoid traveling on cruises because being in close quarters on ships could cause the virus to spread significantly. 

Since the measure was introduced, many cruise ship lines such as Carnival Corp. and Royal Caribbean group have struggled to keep up revenues and their businesses afloat. Collectively, the cruise industry lost over $63 billion and affected thousands of jobs. 

The removal of cruises from the CDC’s list of travel health notices comes as a relief to many in the industry.  

With this, the CDC "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,” said Cruise Lines International Association.

The CDC recommends passengers to be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines before taking a cruise.