Posted on 02/11/2022 8:28:29 AM PST by Capt. Tom
'Unmerited and Unnecessary': Cruise Industry Reacts to CDC's New Voluntary Guidance February 10, 2022
-- Cruise lines and industry officials are reacting to the new voluntary regulations set forth late Wednesday evening by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which signaled it still considers cruising a high-risk activity despite having the most stringent protocols of any segment of the U.S.-based travel industry.
The new guidance -- which includes the creation of three new categories of "vaccinated cruises," along with testing, reporting and isolation requirements that extend far beyond anything required on land by the CDC or local health agencies -- has drawn the ire of industry officials and cruise operators, who have committed to working with the CDC on the safe resumption of cruising for the past two years, first through the No-Sail Order, then through the Conditional Sail Order, which the agency retired in January.
What was expected to be a soft transition into guidance similar to that from the Conditional Sail Order has morphed into what some are calling heavy-handed guidance that has surprised most industry watchers.
"Our first read is that the voluntary program is far more confusing to lines and consumers than even the previous guidelines at a time when restrictions are being reduced everywhere else as cases drop," Laziza Lambert, director of communications for the Cruise Lines International Association, told Crise Critic.
"All of this seems unmerited and unnecessary for an industry that is already one of the most highly regulated and has continued to be so even after the expiration of the CSO on January 15."
CDC Doubles-Down on Warnings Against Cruise, Even as U.S. Cities Open Up
The CDC has doubled-down on its warnings against taking a cruise, despite the fact the industry is the only one within the United States to require the vaccination of nearly all passengers along with precruise COVID-19 testing, reduced capacity limits and masking in most areas of the vessel.
"It is inexplicable why cruise would continue to be categorized at a Level 4 Travel Health Notice, which in theory discourages people from cruising even if they are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines," Lambert told Cruise Critic. "This discounts the importance of what the CDC has otherwise promoted as the single most important touchstone for public health and safety and is counter to what hard data shows as the cruise industry's effectiveness unmatched by virtually any other commercial setting."
Analysis conducted by the Finnish-based PBI Research Institute showed hospitalizations on cruise ships were 80 times lower than on land in the U.S. at the height of the omicron surge.
Between December 30, 2021, and January 12, 2022, only five cruise passengers were hospitalized out of more than 416,000 passengers carried, equivalent to 34 per 100,000 positive cases of COVID-19. During the same period, the U.S. saw 269,067 hospitalizations on land, according to data provided by PBI and CLIA. The rate of on-land hospitalization during the reflected time period was 2,786 people per 100,000 positive cases.
How Are Cruise Lines Responding to the CDC's New Voluntary Guidance? Norwegian Cruise Line funnel logo (Photo: Aaron Saunders)
For their part, cruise lines are largely staying silent on the CDC's new voluntary regulations program. So far, only one cruise company -- Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, parent company of Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania and Regent Seven Seas -- had committed to joining the CDC's voluntary program.
The CDC's guidance had not yet been released when Norwegian announced their participation. Since the announcement, NCLH has said it is evaluating the current guidance.
"We are aware that the CDC has posted its COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships Operating in U.S. Waters, the agency's voluntary COVID-19 risk mitigation program for foreign-flagged cruise ships operating in U.S. waters which replaces the agency's Conditional Sail Order which expired on January 15," an NCLH spokesperson told Cruise Critic in a written statement. "
"We are currently reviewing the requirements of the Program. The health and safety of our guests, crew and communities we serve remains our number one priority and we continue to believe that while the virus remains prevalent in our communities that cruising with all eligible guests and crew fully vaccinated and with universal testing provides a level of protection unparalleled in the travel industry."
Contacted Thursday morning, Carnival Corporation had much the same to say, commenting that it was reviewing the CDC's new protocols and had not yet decided about whether to join the program. Carnival Corporation's brands, like Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, have been operating successfully under strict health and safety protocols since restarting passenger operations last summer and have continued to do so since the CDC's Conditional Sail Order expired January 15.
"We have created an onboard environment in which virtually everyone on board is vaccinated, has shown proof of a negative COVID test and is wearing a mask in indoor places where people congregate," a Carnival Corporation spokesperson told Cruise Critic.
"These protocols, among others, have helped us become among the safest forms of socializing and travel, with far lower incidence rates than on land. In fact, we have safely sailed over 1.2 million guests and counting in the best interest of public health -- while delivering great and often long-awaited vacations for our guests. In turn, our guests are reporting historically high guest satisfaction scores. Our guests feel safe and they are having a wonderful time.
"In light of our highly effective protocols, we are disappointed that the CDC, with its latest travel health notice, continues to treat the cruise industry differently than other sectors, nor does the CDC's notice account for the cruise industry's stringent and enhanced health and safety protocols.
"Ultimately, we must always be in compliance, and we will continue to follow the science and comply with guidelines from global government and health authorities, including CDC.
"We, like the rest of the cruise industry, will evaluate whether to participate in the voluntary CDC program after further valuation and discussion. As we have learned during this pandemic, the situation constantly evolves, and we will continue to be well-prepared to comply and adjust to changing circumstances while serving the best interest of public health."
Cruise Critic will update this article with more information as it becomes available.
The CDC has an easy target in the cruise lines and seems to enjoy rattling their cages. - Tom
Capt. Tom wrote: “The CDC has an easy target in the cruise lines and seems to enjoy rattling their cages. - Tom”
I think the actions of the CDC wrt the cruise lines demonstrate what they would like to do for the rest of us if only they had the power.
“We’ve found the food to always be exceptional.”
If you want really good food you need to go to an extra-pay dining room.
The cruise lines are concentration camps with benefits.
“The Cruise ships are brimming Petri Dishes of disease without needing a Covid excuse.”
Yet for decades 99% of cruisers have lived on to tell about it, finally croaking by natural causes years later.
People get sick on cruises.
People get sick at work.
People get sick at church (where our Covid came from, I think.)
People who live life get sick.
There are very nice rooms on cruizes. There are also a lot of crap rooms in the interior. Every room in a motel six has a window and is larger than the interior rooms on cruise ships.
That’s all I was pointing out.
Yes, there are very nice rooms on cruise ships. I was just pointing out that the “lower grade” rooms on many cruise ships are worse than your lowest grade motel 6 rooms. And that makes sense. They are more expensive to build. But yes, you can get very nice rooms.
My sister and her husband have six VERY nice suites on their boat. Heck, they have more square footage on their boat thatn there is in most homes. It can be done. But it’s not typical.
And to be clear, I did enjoy the food on that one cruise. But we were careful about which places on the boat we ate.
We are now on Celebrity Reflection and tomorrow NO MASKS FOR PASSENGERS!!! The poor crew still has to wear KN95 masksj..YUK
We are now on Celebrity Reflection and tomorrow NO MASKS FOR PASSENGERS!!! The poor crew still has to wear KN95 masksj..YUK
We are now on Celebrity Reflection and tomorrow NO MASKS FOR PASSENGERS!!! The poor crew still has to wear KN95 masksj..YUK
YOU OBVIOUSLY don’t travel much, do you??
If you could SEE WHAT THEY Clean and HOW THEY Clean , you would CHANGE YOUR LITTLE mind!!!
YOUR house and MY HOUSEis not anywhere near as clean as Celebrity ships!
SHIPS! Are now going to be totally voluntary on most ship linea!
So are schools.
GOOD GOD!!! FIRST CLASS FOOD AND FIRST CLASS CABINS UNLESS your father in law was on CARNIVAL!!
BEEN ON HERE A WEEK AND HAVE HAD LOBSTER 5 TIMES FOR LUNCH AND DINNER TABLESIDE...AND FILET MIGNON FOR LUNCH AND DINNER ALSO......CAVIAR, SALMON ROE....VEAL...CREPES SUZETTE TABLESIDE..SAIL CELEBRITYAND YOU WILL CHANGE YOUR TUNE.
Not flying either....have done 7 cruises since they started back up.all in the Caribbean.....but we go for the ship and espe finally for the officers and crew members! Like old friends
OMG!!! You need to try a NICE CRUISELINE!
“go to an extra-pay dining room”
Done that several times....well worth it.
Quick story about where to eat, last ship we were on we met an elderly couple in the dining room during breakfast. As it turned out they only lived about 50 miles from us.
She began telling us about the cruises they’ve been on and the best trip was Alaska (I’ve heard that a lot BTW).
Since it sounded like they’d been on more than a few I had to ask how many.
Her answer....42.
42 freakin’ cruises!...can you imagine? SMH
Turns out he sold a very successful aviation electronics company.
Must be nice.
That and all our cruises were all way before covid.
I’m not gonna take a shot to get on a ship.
There’s a few more trips I’d like to take but not at that cost.
Found this older article 11/2020:
Cruise ship virus overreaction: What's the Problem?
Scroll to the comments and the Green New Deal is mentioned.
(There's another reason libs hate it too- Was it international waters? That people might be able to be free somewhere, must offend the dems.)
Anyway FYI.
Disembarked today from Carnival Liberty cruise at Port Canaveral. This was my 5th cruise since the pandemic arrived from China. And 40th cruise since I began cruising in 1988.
In my personal experience, I have gotten intestinal issues a few times from RESTAURANT meals. Never once I got sick from any cuisine from cruises. Not only I never got sick on any of my 40 cruises, I ALWAYS come back stronger because the food is highly nutritious and I have the opportunity to walk a lot and use the nice gym on every ship.
Last 4 cruises all had exemplary hygiene protocols, much beyond anything anything land based restaurant have. I am hoping to live long enough to do 100 cruises. Must speed up cruise schedules because I will soon burn 82 candles.
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