CDC issues test cruise instructions

[caribill]

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2021/05/05/cdc-announces-new-instructions-cruise-lines-be-able-restart-cruises-united-states

[srpilo]

Published Cruise Industry News 5/5/21

For cruise lines wanting to operate from a U.S. port, they will need to adhere to a number of new regulations released on Wednesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for ships to sail under the Framework for Conditional Sailing Order (CSO).

While many cruise lines have already confirmed their buffets are on hold for the time being, the CDC has made it official by now requiring them to eliminate any self-serve food or drink options, such as buffets, salad bars, and drink stations.

The CDC will also require social distancing in all venues onboard and is recommending cruise lines provide alternative meal services options, such as prepackaged grab-and-go meals, for consumption on open decks or in individual cabins to minimize risks associated with congregate indoor dining.

Outdoor lounge seating around the pool will also have a different look, as loungers and chairs will need to be six feet apart, severely limiting outdoor seating space. These items can be grouped together for families and traveling companions, according to the CDC.

The CDC has also said cruise lines must "prohibit self-guided or independent exploration by passengers during port stops. Ensure all shore excursion tour companies facilitate social distancing to allow for at least 6 feet (2 meters) between individuals who are not traveling companions or part of the same family, mask wearing, cleaning and disinfection, and other COVID-19 public health measures throughout the tour."

This would require passengers to buy organized tours through the cruise line ahead of time.

Of note, the CDC also said cruise lines should limit shore excursions in foreign ports of call to countries listed as Level 1: COVID-19 Low in CDC’s COVID-19 Travel Recommendations by Destination, which would take a number of Caribbean destinations out of itineraries.

[iamaqt2]

Just read this article and came to post.  Thanks for sharing.

[joepeka]

Well, the shore excursions/independent exploration requirement is going to be a show stopper for us, unless it is rescinded before our 2022 cruises. 

Edited May 5, 2021 by joepeka

[memoak]

10 minutes ago, srpilo said:

Published Cruise Industry News 5/5/21

For cruise lines wanting to operate from a U.S. port, they will need to adhere to a number of new regulations released on Wednesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for ships to sail under the Framework for Conditional Sailing Order (CSO).

While many cruise lines have already confirmed their buffets are on hold for the time being, the CDC has made it official by now requiring them to eliminate any self-serve food or drink options, such as buffets, salad bars, and drink stations.

The CDC will also require social distancing in all venues onboard and is recommending cruise lines provide alternative meal services options, such as prepackaged grab-and-go meals, for consumption on open decks or in individual cabins to minimize risks associated with congregate indoor dining.

Outdoor lounge seating around the pool will also have a different look, as loungers and chairs will need to be six feet apart, severely limiting outdoor seating space. These items can be grouped together for families and traveling companions, according to the CDC.

The CDC has also said cruise lines must "prohibit self-guided or independent exploration by passengers during port stops. Ensure all shore excursion tour companies facilitate social distancing to allow for at least 6 feet (2 meters) between individuals who are not traveling companions or part of the same family, mask wearing, cleaning and disinfection, and other COVID-19 public health measures throughout the tour."

This would require passengers to buy organized tours through the cruise line ahead of time.

Of note, the CDC also said cruise lines should limit shore excursions in foreign ports of call to countries listed as Level 1: COVID-19 Low in CDC’s COVID-19 Travel Recommendations by Destination, which would take a number of Caribbean destinations out of itineraries.

That not allowing walking off the ship is a killer. We have been to some ports so many times that we like to go to our favorite restaurants

[srpilo]

Big question going forward, is do these cruise killing requirements expire with the CSO in November or will the CDC with their obvious anti-cruising slant extend their sabotage with additional time limits  ? 

 

No need to ban cruising all together, when you can make it so unappealing with rules that you accomplish the same thing anyway 

 

Apparently not out of the woods yet, stay tuned ......

 

 

 

.

Edited May 5, 2021 by srpilo

[iamaqt2]

5 minutes ago, srpilo said:

Big question going forward, is do these cruise killing requirements expire with the CSO in November or will the CDC with their obvious anti-cruising slant extend their sabotage with additional time limits  ? 

 

Why ban cruising all together, when you can make it so unappealing that you accomplish the same thing ?

 

Apparently not out of the woods yet, stay tuned ......

 

 

 

.

I certainly hope they expire.  I have a cruise booked in December, and while not a deal breaker for me, I much prefer to arrange my own excursions.

 

[JABTPS]

Remember these CSO conditions only apply if the ship sails from a USA port.  If it leaves from say Europe, they won't apply.

[gorge girl]

Another option would be to have cruise lines require all passengers be vaccinated and/or sail from Puerto Rico or another non-US port.  We've flown to PR before and taken cruises and would gladly do it again.

[richsea]

Just now, gorge girl said:

Another option would be to have cruise lines require all passengers be vaccinated and/or sail from Puerto Rico or another non-US port.  We've flown to PR before and taken cruises and would gladly do it again.

Puerto Rico IS a US  port!

[trbarton]

52 minutes ago, srpilo said:

Published Cruise Industry News 5/5/21

For cruise lines wanting to operate from a U.S. port, they will need to adhere to a number of new regulations released on Wednesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for ships to sail under the Framework for Conditional Sailing Order (CSO).

While many cruise lines have already confirmed their buffets are on hold for the time being, the CDC has made it official by now requiring them to eliminate any self-serve food or drink options, such as buffets, salad bars, and drink stations.

The CDC will also require social distancing in all venues onboard and is recommending cruise lines provide alternative meal services options, such as prepackaged grab-and-go meals, for consumption on open decks or in individual cabins to minimize risks associated with congregate indoor dining.

Outdoor lounge seating around the pool will also have a different look, as loungers and chairs will need to be six feet apart, severely limiting outdoor seating space. These items can be grouped together for families and traveling companions, according to the CDC.

The CDC has also said cruise lines must "prohibit self-guided or independent exploration by passengers during port stops. Ensure all shore excursion tour companies facilitate social distancing to allow for at least 6 feet (2 meters) between individuals who are not traveling companions or part of the same family, mask wearing, cleaning and disinfection, and other COVID-19 public health measures throughout the tour."

This would require passengers to buy organized tours through the cruise line ahead of time.

Of note, the CDC also said cruise lines should limit shore excursions in foreign ports of call to countries listed as Level 1: COVID-19 Low in CDC’s COVID-19 Travel Recommendations by Destination, which would take a number of Caribbean destinations out of itineraries.

Thanks!  Do you have a link to the new regulations?

 

Thanks!

 

Tom😀

[HBCcruiser]

1 minute ago, trbarton said:

Thanks!  Do you have a link to the new regulations?

 

Thanks!

 

Tom😀

Remember, the new regulations are for simulated voyages only: From CDC:

 

Today’s guidance provides technical instructions for simulated voyages. This includes:

• Eligibility and requirements for conducting a simulated (trial) voyage in preparation for restricted passenger voyages.
• Guidance for inspections of cruise ships conducted by CDC during simulated and restricted passenger voyages.
• Operational procedures to assist cruise ship operators in mitigating the risk of spreading COVID-19, including requirements and recommendations on prevention measures, surveillance for COVID-19 on board, laboratory testing, infection prevention and control, face mask use, social distancing, passenger interactive experiences, and embarkation and disembarkation procedures.

https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s0505-conditional-sailing-order.html

[trbarton]

1 minute ago, HBCcruiser said:

Remember, the new regulations are for simulated voyages only: From CDC:

 

Today’s guidance provides technical instructions for simulated voyages. This includes:

• Eligibility and requirements for conducting a simulated (trial) voyage in preparation for restricted passenger voyages.
• Guidance for inspections of cruise ships conducted by CDC during simulated and restricted passenger voyages.
• Operational procedures to assist cruise ship operators in mitigating the risk of spreading COVID-19, including requirements and recommendations on prevention measures, surveillance for COVID-19 on board, laboratory testing, infection prevention and control, face mask use, social distancing, passenger interactive experiences, and embarkation and disembarkation procedures.

https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s0505-conditional-sailing-order.html

Thanks!

 

Tom😀

[joepeka]

5 minutes ago, HBCcruiser said:

Remember, the new regulations are for simulated voyages only: From CDC:

 

Today’s guidance provides technical instructions for simulated voyages. This includes:

• Eligibility and requirements for conducting a simulated (trial) voyage in preparation for restricted passenger voyages.
• Guidance for inspections of cruise ships conducted by CDC during simulated and restricted passenger voyages.
• Operational procedures to assist cruise ship operators in mitigating the risk of spreading COVID-19, including requirements and recommendations on prevention measures, surveillance for COVID-19 on board, laboratory testing, infection prevention and control, face mask use, social distancing, passenger interactive experiences, and embarkation and disembarkation procedures.

https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s0505-conditional-sailing-order.html

The Cruise Industry News item posted by the OP makes no reference to simulated voyages, so unless they got it wrong, this applies to all cruises departing from U.S. ports. Correct?

Edit: unless the CDC was terribly disjointed in their simulated voyages communications today?

Edited May 5, 2021 by joepeka

[Syracusefan44]

2 minutes ago, joepeka said:

The Cruise Industry News item posted by the OP makes no reference to simulated voyages, so unless they got it wrong, this applies to all cruises departing from U.S. ports. Correct?

The guidelines, though, also offered an alternative to cruise lines, stating they could simply attest to the CDC that 98% of the crew are fully vaccinated and submit a plan that would limit cruise ship sailings so its passengers are 95% verified as having been fully vaccinated.

 

For those that opt to go with simulated sailings, cruise lines must submit a copy of the health warning volunteers will get that advise them “they are participating in health and safety protocols that are unproven and untested in the United States for purposes of simulating a cruise ship voyage and that sailing during a pandemic is an inherently risky activity.”

[joepeka]

1 minute ago, Syracusefan44 said:

The guidelines, though, also offered an alternative to cruise lines, stating they could simply attest to the CDC that 98% of the crew are fully vaccinated and submit a plan that would limit cruise ship sailings so its passengers are 95% verified as having been fully vaccinated.

 

For those that opt to go with simulated sailings, cruise lines must submit a copy of the health warning volunteers will get that advise them “they are participating in health and safety protocols that are unproven and untested in the United States for purposes of simulating a cruise ship voyage and that sailing during a pandemic is an inherently risky activity.”

Very true regarding the vaccination levels of crew and passengers but again, the OP's original story makes no reference to simulated cruises or documented exemptions for vaccination levels.... unless the CDC was poorly communicating all their simulated voyage restrictions.

[Syracusefan44]

6 minutes ago, joepeka said:

Very true regarding the vaccination levels of crew and passengers but again, the OP's original story makes no reference to simulated cruises or documented exemptions for vaccination levels.... unless the CDC was poorly communicating all their simulated voyage restrictions.

Here is a link to the CDC website and the portion pertaining to options in lieu of simulated voyages.

 

https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/cruise/ti-simulated-voyages-cso.html

Option in Lieu of a Simulated Voyage

In lieu of conducting a simulated voyage, cruise ship operator responsible officials, at their discretion, may sign and submit to CDC an attestation under 18 U.S.C. § 1001 that 98 percent of crew are fully vaccinated and submit to CDC a clear and specific vaccination plan and timeline to limit cruise ship sailings to 95 percent of passengers who have been verified by the cruise ship operator as fully vaccinated prior to sailing.

Edited May 5, 2021 by Syracusefan44

[CynCyn]

7 minutes ago, joepeka said:

Very true regarding the vaccination levels of crew and passengers but again, the OP's original story makes no reference to simulated cruises or documented exemptions for vaccination levels.... unless the CDC was poorly communicating all their simulated voyage restrictions.

Or maybe the original story wanted a lot of clicks..........

 

OP.....or mods.......can you edit the first post to include the important information that these restrictions are for simulated voyages?

[joepeka]

10 minutes ago, CynCyn said:

Or maybe the original story wanted a lot of clicks..........

 

OP.....or mods.......can you edit the first post to include the important information that these restrictions are for simulated voyages?

I have to apologize, this is my bad in referring to the OP's link, I meant the copy/paste story in post #2. That story is on Cruise Industry News today with new CDC restrictions that do not mention simulated cruises. Here's the link to that story although I cannot find a matching announcement on the CDC web site:

 

https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/24942-cdc-will-eliminate-cruise-ship-buffet-require-organized-shore-excursions.html

Edited May 5, 2021 by joepeka

[NavArch64]

Read COVID-19 Operations Manual for Simulated and Restricted Voyages under the Framework for Conditional Sailing Order | Quarantine | CDC

[NavArch64]

This applies to both CSO Phase 2B "simulated passenger voyages" and CSO Phase 4 "restricted passenger voyages".

[joepeka]

6 minutes ago, NavArch64 said:

This applies to both CSO Phase 2B "simulated passenger voyages" and CSO Phase 4 "restricted passenger voyages".

 

9 minutes ago, NavArch64 said:

Read COVID-19 Operations Manual for Simulated and Restricted Voyages under the Framework for Conditional Sailing Order | Quarantine | CDC

So perhaps the Cruise Industry News story just lifted the buffet, distancing and shore excursion items from that operations manual without mentioning that it was only for simulated or restricted passenger cruises? 

Edited May 5, 2021 by joepeka

[ontheweb]

59 minutes ago, richsea said:

Puerto Rico IS a US  port!

And it has been for a long time. (We did sail once from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and it was a lively fun cruise.

[NavArch64]

See Framework for Conditional Sailing Order: Phased Approach (Print-only) (cdc.gov)

[NavArch64]

All of this appears to be under the CSO time frame until Nov 1. Maybe all of this goes away on Nov 1 ... or maybe the CSO gets extended. Who knows?