NEWS: CDC Issues High Level Cruise Warning as "No Sail Order" Set to Expire Soon

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a “no sail order” towards the beginning of the global health crisis. The order prohibits cruise ships from sailing and meant to help prevent the spread of illnesses.

Disney Dream

The CDC has extended the order three times since March and it is currently set to expire on October 31st, 2020. In anticipation of the order expiring, cruise companies like Carnival Cruise Line have scheduled sailings for the end of 2020. The CDC warns that it’s still too early to schedule cruise departures.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website has issued a level 3 warning for all cruise ship travel. This is the highest-level warning and states that all non-essential travel should be avoided and “recommends that travelers defer all cruise travel worldwide.”

©CDC

The CDC reasons that “cruises highlight the risk of infections to cruise passengers and crew. Like many other viruses, COVID-19 appears to spread more easily between people in close quarters aboard ships and boats. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, there remains a risk of infected passengers and crew on board cruise ships.” Despite the increased warning, the CDC has yet to extend the order past October 31st.

Additionally, the new warning has yet to cause Carnival Cruise Line to cancel future sailings. We’ll continue to monitor the CDC’s response to the global health crisis and how it affects the cruise industry.