CDC Allow Cruises Return by summer with 95% of Passengers Fully Vaccinated

Summer vacation is just around the corner and the cruise industry is gearing up to welcome passengers as early as July, according to a USA Today report .

The report says the CDC has advised that cruises can resume if 98% of the crew and 95% of the passengers are fully vaccinated. Social distancing and Covid-19 testing upon boarding will be part of the new normal on board.

“We recognize that cruise ships will never be a zero risk activity … the goal is to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission aboard cruise ships and through port communities,” said Aimee Treffiletti, head of the Maritime Unit for COVID response. -19 from the CDC within its Global Mitigation Task Force for COVID-19, in a letter to the cruise industry on Wednesday.

This letter was prompted by the recent lawsuit filed by Florida against the CDC to overturn the cruise restrictions.

Many itineraries will be shorter, with 5 days or less offered for travel from the United States.

At a briefing at the White House earlier this month, Transportation Secretary Buttigieg said he hopes cruise lines will be able to resume crossings in American waters by mid-summer.