Could a CDC change to pre-cruise testing requirements be coming soon?

[Ken the cruiser]

The following are some interesting entries in the Cruise Hive article posted today.

 

It has been a week since the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) dropped the requirement for international travelers to present a negative COVID-19 test before flying into the United States, yet no progress has yet been made on a similar stricture being dropped for cruise travelers.

 

How is cruise travel different, and what options may be available to ease testing requirements for cruise travelers? The CDC has stated that the situation is being reevaluated and changes may soon be forthcoming.

 

A possible option is for testing requirements to be maintained for unvaccinated passengers, or those who are not “up to date” on COVID-19 vaccines with the appropriate booster shots.

 

Guests who are vaccinated might then be able to forgo the pre-cruise testing, particularly since the approved vaccines have proven effective at minimizing symptoms and severity of the illness, preventing more severe complications that would be difficult to deal with onboard a cruise ship.

 

The CDC Is Reevaluating Testing for Cruise Ships, Are Changes Coming? (cruisehive.com)

 

 

[TeeRick]

Thanks Ken.  Some change or changes are needed for sure.

[Ken the cruiser]

Just now, TeeRick said:

Thanks Ken.  Some change or changes are needed for sure.

 

🤞🤞

[AbbyCruiser45]

If we sailed last summer without pre-arrival testing and no masks with very few issues, then we certainly should be able to do so now with boosters available. 

[Ken the cruiser]

This statement is the one that has us cautiously optimistic. You would think the cruise lines would also appreciate the "motivation factor" behind getting more folks "up to date" on their vaccine prior to going on a cruise in the hopes to continually reduce the potential for severe cases being encountered while on the ship.

 

A possible option is for testing requirements to be maintained for unvaccinated passengers, or those who are not “up to date” on COVID-19 vaccines with the appropriate booster shots.

[Mark_T]

4 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

This statement is the one that has us cautiously optimistic. You would think the cruise lines would also appreciate the "motivation factor" behind getting more folks "up to date" on their vaccine prior to going on a cruise in the hopes to continually reduce the potential for severe cases being encountered while on the ship.

Agreed, that would seem like a sensible and proportionate change.

[Redtravel]

Strangely, cruises were never subject to Covid testing to enter USA.  Neither was entering anyway except by plane.  That was a glitch in the safety system.  During the pandemic, testing before entering the USA may have stopped spread of Covid. No that there is no mandatory testing to enter, anyone can enter.  Only time can tell if  it will work.  

[radtel]

11 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

This statement is the one that has us cautiously optimistic. You would think the cruise lines would also appreciate the "motivation factor" behind getting more folks "up to date" on their vaccine prior to going on a cruise in the hopes to continually reduce the potential for severe cases being encountered while on the ship.

 

A possible option is for testing requirements to be maintained for unvaccinated passengers, or those who are not “up to date” on COVID-19 vaccines with the appropriate booster shots.

We went to Alaska on the Eclipse, a few weeks ago.  All 4 of us have been vaxed to the max.  All 4, even though all wore n95 mask when possible, got covid.  I am at day 14 and still testing positive. 

 

I think that cruise lines should make testing mandatory every few days.  That way it would be hard to hide the fact that one has covid on board.  But they won't (it advertises a problem).  We know for a fact that some people self tested (positive) and said 'the hell with it I am going to enjoy this cruise, with or without covid" and went about their normal day.

 

We were on a Oceania cruise in March were probably half the passengers and crew had covid and were confined to quarters (or escorted off the ship).  Moon suites where everywhere.

 

I vote for tougher restrictions and safer sailing!

[RichYak]

This positive and inevitable change needs to be accompanied by more sensible quarantine protocols. What exists currently is a disincentive to self reporting to medical.

[AbbyCruiser45]

8 minutes ago, radtel said:

I vote for tougher restrictions and safer sailing!

But we have to ask ourselves, what is the goal for Covid mitigation? Is it to eradicate Covid or to make sure our hospitals/medical facilities are not overwhelmed? The answer the world has come to is the latter because as it stands now, Covid will not disappear. The US dropping requirements came down to the fact that our hospitals were not overwhelmed, not the number of cases per area. This is still how they determine if a county in the US is high risk, based on the capacity of the hospital, not raw number of cases. If this is how other areas are viewing Covid, the cruise lines should not be the exception. The medical facilities on board are not overwhelmed, a doctor on the Apex reported that the symptoms they see are all mild. 

[TeeRick]

3 minutes ago, Redtravel said:

Strangely, cruises were never subject to Covid testing to enter USA.  Neither was entering anyway except by plane.  That was a glitch in the safety system.  During the pandemic, testing before entering the USA may have stopped spread of Covid. No that there is no mandatory testing to enter, anyone can enter.  Only time can tell if  it will work.  

What we have learned over 2 1/2 years is that pretty much nothing stops the spread of the virus and its variants.  Not vaccines.  Not natural infections.  Not herd immunity. Not borders.  Maybe some measures delay the spread a bit.  Nothing stops it.  So we must learn to live with it.  Period.  The CDC finally acknowledged this and eliminated the testing entry requirement.

 

Unless there is a new more-severe variant identified elsewhere that is capable of out-competing Omicron and it's crop of sub-variants, there is not much need for testing to enter the USA.  We are literally awash with these Omicron variants which are mostly mild but are highly infectious.  How would a few people entering the US already infected with Omicron change this picture at this point?  That being said, if one accepts that, then pre-cruise testing is pretty much useless at this point in time.  Hopefully the CDC will come to that conclusion too.

[canderson]

2 minutes ago, AbbyCruiser45 said:

The medical facilities on board are not overwhelmed, a doctor on the Apex reported that the symptoms they see are all mild. 

In fact, I'd argue that it's the current protocols that are causing the extra stress for shipboard medical facilities!  That said, if the line believes it necessary to isolate passengers, the periodic wellness checks that are being performed are a good thing, and initially, the lines weren't doing them.

 

[TeeRick]

20 minutes ago, AbbyCruiser45 said:

But we have to ask ourselves, what is the goal for Covid mitigation? Is it to eradicate Covid or to make sure our hospitals/medical facilities are not overwhelmed? The answer the world has come to is the latter because as it stands now, Covid will not disappear. The US dropping requirements came down to the fact that our hospitals were not overwhelmed, not the number of cases per area. This is still how they determine if a county in the US is high risk, based on the capacity of the hospital, not raw number of cases. If this is how other areas are viewing Covid, the cruise lines should not be the exception. The medical facilities on board are not overwhelmed, a doctor on the Apex reported that the symptoms they see are all mild. 

Way back in the very beginning of the pandemic, we were all told that the goal was to manage the virus and not overwhelm hospitals, staff, equipment (ventilators), ICU beds, etc.  That obviously did happen in parts of the country (and world) for sure.  Nursing homes were hit hard. Then we got tied up in reporting positive test numbers as the key metric.  That metric is useless now as we have come a very long way since those early days.  In particular, Omicron and variants are not overwhelming our medical facilities.  We have vaccines to reduce severe illness and various drug treatments.  The numbers do not lie.  Vaccinated people on cruise ships follow this same general trend.  Probably even better since everybody is vaccinated and most are Up To Date.  So pre-cruise testing should be eliminated.  But people with symptoms on board still do need to be tested - no way around it.  But maybe in the future a self test if they are feeling lousy- just like what most people would do at home.  If positive, stay in your cabin - again just like staying at home.  We will eventually need to use the honor system and hope most respect that.   We need to learn to live with this virus forever.

[lv2cruisgrl]

I think the bigger issue is the crew getting sick. If they relax guest requirements to cruise it could lead to more covid on ships. Which then effects the guest experience if crew is sick. It's a crazy situation for the cruise lines. I myself don't want to pay for a cruise and have bad service. 

[upwarduk]

It’s not only CDC, as many of the ships are in Europe.

[Ken the cruiser]

40 minutes ago, upwarduk said:

It’s not only CDC, as many of the ships are in Europe.

That’s what we’re also monitoring as we board our 21 day Princess cruise in Barcelona on July 2. Right now Princess is requiring a negative test taken no later than 3 days prior to embarking the cruise in Barcelona, if you’re at least fully vaccinated, where as Celebrity has a more complex set of testing rules depending on your vaccination status.

 

https://www.princess.com/plan/cruise-with-confidence/cruise-health/frequently-asked-questions/eu-cruises/

 

https://www.celebritycruises.com/healthy-at-sea/barcelona-spain-travel-requirements

 

But, at the same time Spain has no requirement for a negative test to enter the country and the EU only “recommends” passengers produce a negative test taken no later than 48 hours prior to embarking.

 

It will be interesting to see how cruise ship testing requirements change, both in the US and Europe, if the CDC eases up on the testing guidelines, especially for passengers that are up to date on their vaccinations.

Edited June 19, 2022 by Ken the cruiser

[Virginia100]

3 hours ago, TeeRick said:

Way back in the very beginning of the pandemic, we were all told that the goal was to manage the virus and not overwhelm hospitals, staff, equipment (ventilators), ICU beds, etc.  That obviously did happen in parts of the country (and world) for sure.  Nursing homes were hit hard. Then we got tied up in reporting positive test numbers as the key metric.  That metric is useless now as we have come a very long way since those early days.  In particular, Omicron and variants are not overwhelming our medical facilities.  We have vaccines to reduce severe illness and various drug treatments.  The numbers do not lie.  Vaccinated people on cruise ships follow this same general trend.  Probably even better since everybody is vaccinated and most are Up To Date.  So pre-cruise testing should be eliminated.  But people with symptoms on board still do need to be tested - no way around it.  But maybe in the future a self test if they are feeling lousy- just like what most people would do at home.  If positive, stay in your cabin - again just like staying at home.  We will eventually need to use the honor system and hope most respect that.   We need to learn to live with this virus forever.

I couldn’t agree more. In the beginning we were worried about hospitals being overwhelmed and people on ventilators. Then mysteriously it all changed about positive cases only. Not severity or symptoms for the large majority. I would say if cruise lines would just require passengers being  up to date by age (3 shots under 65, 4 if over 65) the need for pre cruise tests is significantly irrelevant.

[PatC]

The 2 original shots are considered "fully vaccinated".  I won't do boosters, I don't trust them.  If those coming from across the pond do not need the boosters, neither do I.  We were told the 2 original shots were sufficient.  We sailed Equinox in May,  My friends had the boosters.  My son, daughter-in-law and I did not.  THEY got covid and a really bad case of it.  No boosters for me.  

[RFerrington]

8 minutes ago, PatC said:

The 2 original shots are considered "fully vaccinated".  I won't do boosters, I don't trust them.  If those coming from across the pond do not need the boosters, neither do I.  We were told the 2 original shots were sufficient.  We sailed Equinox in May,  My friends had the boosters.  My son, daughter-in-law and I did not.  THEY got covid and a really bad case of it.  No boosters for me.  

😍🤩

[tallnthensome]

4 hours ago, radtel said:

We went to Alaska on the Eclipse, a few weeks ago.  All 4 of us have been vaxed to the max.  All 4, even though all wore n95 mask when possible, got covid.  I am at day 14 and still testing positive. 

 

I think that cruise lines should make testing mandatory every few days.  That way it would be hard to hide the fact that one has covid on board.  But they won't (it advertises a problem).  

 

.

 

I vote for tougher restrictions and safer sailing!

I hope they don't listen to your opinion. If this is how you want yourself and other to be forced to cruise please stay home because it's ridiculous. 

[LGW59]

34 minutes ago, PatC said:

The 2 original shots are considered "fully vaccinated".  I won't do boosters, I don't trust them.  If those coming from across the pond do not need the boosters, neither do I.  We were told the 2 original shots were sufficient.  We sailed Equinox in May,  My friends had the boosters.  My son, daughter-in-law and I did not.  THEY got covid and a really bad case of it.  No boosters for me.  

Ok then 

[Mark_T]

57 minutes ago, Virginia100 said:

I would say if cruise lines would just require passengers being  up to date by age (3 shots under 65, 4 if over 65) the need for pre cruise tests is significantly irrelevant.

Keep in mind that the age ranges vary a bit by country, for example in the UK you would have to be one of the following to have the 4th shot... aged 75 and over, people who live in a care home for older people, or people aged 12 and over who have a weakened immune system...

[Virginia100]

42 minutes ago, PatC said:

The 2 original shots are considered "fully vaccinated".  I won't do boosters, I don't trust them.  If those coming from across the pond do not need the boosters, neither do I.  We were told the 2 original shots were sufficient.  We sailed Equinox in May,  My friends had the boosters.  My son, daughter-in-law and I did not.  THEY got covid and a really bad case of it.  No boosters for me.  

Somehow a sample size of 5 people is a little light. The boosters are the same vaccine as the original except Moderna which was 1/2 strength and Pfizer was full strength. Of course I’m sure your aware at this point the original 2 shots if done more than 6-9 months ago have a very reduced effect now and the boosters are not nearly as effective if is older than few months. We are scheduling our 2nd booster 4 weeks prior to our cruise. Getting Covid has a lot variables, how old your shots are, how close your contact with infected persons was, your own personal immunity system which varies widely by each person and more. There not a simple answer.

[Ipeeinthepools]

The real question is:  How many people are identified with Covid with the pre-cruise testing?  Does anyone really want to sail with more Covid positive people on the ship?   As long as pre-cruise testing is finding a significant number of people, pre-cruise testing is a good idea.

[Ken the cruiser]

4 minutes ago, Mark_T said:

Keep in mind that the age ranges vary a bit by country, for example in the UK you would have to be one of the following to have the 4th shot... aged 75 and over, people who live in a care home for older people, or people aged 12 and over who have a weakened immune system...

Right now in the US here is what the CDC recommends.

 

Who Can Get a Booster

Recommended

1 Booster

---

• Everyone ages 5 years and older should get 1 booster after completing their COVID-19 vaccine primary series.

Learn when you should get your 1st booster below.

Recommended

2 Boosters

---

• Adults ages 50 years and older
• People ages 12 years and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised

Learn when you should get your 2nd booster below.

 

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html