Testing the waters: CDC lays out rules for cruises to run trial voyages with volunteer passengers

-- SAILING OUT OF THE U.S., THEY WILL BE PRETTY CLOSE. AS WESH 2’S PAUL RIVERA REPORTS, IT’S BRINGING HOPE FOR A RETURN TO CRUISING. PAUL: WANT TO CRUISE AGAIN? YOU’LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT IN THE SUMMER BUT YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET FULLY VACCINATED AGAINST COVID. ROYAL CARIBBEAN AND ITS BRAND CELEBRITY CRUISES ARE AMONG THE FIRST TO TAKE THE STEP FORWARD. >> ANY RETURN TO CRUISING IS HUGE FOR US BECAUSE PORT CANAVERAL IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST CRUISE PORTS IN THE U.S. TO GET SHIPS AGAIN, BUT THIS WAY, THEY ARE GOING TO LEARN AND THEY CAN APPLY THOSE LEARNINGS TO OUR SITUATION. PAUL: PETER CRANIS WITH BREVARD COUNTY’S TOURISM OFFICE SAYS THIS MOVE BRINGS HOPE TO A RESTART OF VOYAGES OUT OF OUR LOCAL PORTS, AND HELPING ECONOMIES LIKE THAT OF PORT CANAVERAL. PETER: OBVIOUSLY, NOT EVERY PERSON WHO TAKES A CRUISE STAYS HERE, BUT A LOT OF THEM DO. PAUL: ROYAL CARRIBEAN WHO WILL SAIL OUT OF THE BAHAMAS, WILL OFFER BOOKINGS NEXT WEEK. FIRST SAILING IS EXPECTED ON JUNE 12. ASIDE FROM NEEDING TO BE VACCINATED, THOSE UNDER 18 WILL NEED A NEGATIVE COVID TEST RESULTS. IN ADDITION TO ANY COVID PROTOCOLS THE BAHAMAS MIGHT REQUIRE. THE COMPANY POSSIBLY GETTING A JUMP ON ITS COMPETITORS WHO ARE ALSO I -- ALSO EYEING A U.S. RETURNING. RECENTLY DISNEY MENTIONED THE FALL AS A POTENTIAL TIME RANGE FOR THEM. PETER: FOR THOSE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN CRUISING, I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A GOOD DEMONSTRATION FOR THEM. IF THEY’RE SUCCESSFUL, T

Video above: Royal Caribbean marks 2021 return to Caribbean with cruises from the BahamasCruise lines could soon begin sailing from U.S. ports again with simulated voyages meant to test the ship's readiness post-COVID-19. The trial voyages will embark with volunteer passengers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday released guidance for cruise ships to undertake simulated voyages with volunteer passengers as part of its COVID-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate application. The instructions include eligibility and requirements for conducting a trial voyage, which would help prepare for future restricted passenger voyages, and guide cruise ship inspection on those voyages.Simulated voyages must have at least 10% of the maximum number of passengers permitted on board a ship. Passengers must all be at least 18 years old and confirm in writing that they're participating in a simulation voyage.The CDC guidelines state the volunteer passengers must be able to furnish proof of vaccination or provide a letter from a physician that they are not in a high-risk category for COVID-19. And all volunteers must be willing to get a COVID-19 test three to five days after the voyage is over.The CDC's new guidance also includes operational procedures for cruise ship operators to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including onboard surveillance, laboratory testing, face mask use, social distancing, passenger interactions and procedures for embarking and disembarking.With the issuance of these documents, cruise lines now have all the necessary requirements and recommendations they need to start simulated voyages. The CDC said the steps outlined Wednesday align with the goals of many major cruise lines to resume passenger operations in the United States by mid-summer. Cruise lines have not been able to sail from U.S. ports since March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. CNN contributed to this report.

Video above: Royal Caribbean marks 2021 return to Caribbean with cruises from the Bahamas

Cruise lines could soon begin sailing from U.S. ports again with simulated voyages meant to test the ship's readiness post-COVID-19. The trial voyages will embark with volunteer passengers.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday released guidance for cruise ships to undertake simulated voyages with volunteer passengers as part of its COVID-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate application.

The instructions include eligibility and requirements for conducting a trial voyage, which would help prepare for future restricted passenger voyages, and guide cruise ship inspection on those voyages.

Simulated voyages must have at least 10% of the maximum number of passengers permitted on board a ship. Passengers must all be at least 18 years old and confirm in writing that they're participating in a simulation voyage.

The CDC guidelines state the volunteer passengers must be able to furnish proof of vaccination or provide a letter from a physician that they are not in a high-risk category for COVID-19. And all volunteers must be willing to get a COVID-19 test three to five days after the voyage is over.

The CDC's new guidance also includes operational procedures for cruise ship operators to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including onboard surveillance, laboratory testing, face mask use, social distancing, passenger interactions and procedures for embarking and disembarking.

With the issuance of these documents, cruise lines now have all the necessary requirements and recommendations they need to start simulated voyages.

The CDC said the steps outlined Wednesday align with the goals of many major cruise lines to resume passenger operations in the United States by mid-summer.

Cruise lines have not been able to sail from U.S. ports since March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

CNN contributed to this report.

Testing the waters: CDC lays out rules for cruises to run trial voyages with volunteer passengers

TRACKING THE COVID-19 VACCINE

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