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SAILSAFE™ HEALTH AND SAFETY PROGRAM

Our vision is to be the vacation of choice for everyone around the world. That's why we've enhanced our commitment to your well-being while cruising with our SailSAFE™ Health and Safety Program .

SAFETY FOR OUR GUESTS & CREW

PRE-CRUISE REQUIREMENTS & CHECK-IN

• Subject to local requirements, all guests are welcome with no tests required, regardless of vaccination status.
• Specific requirements, if applicable, will be sent to all guests approximately 30 days prior to sailing. For sailings outside of 30 days, as the entry requirements by country continue to evolve, we encourage all guests to consult with local government websites to determine any additional requirements that may be required to travel.
• We’ve designed an enhanced, staggered embarkation process and new check-in system to streamline check in for guests by allowing documents to be signed electronically.

SAFETY ABOARD OUR SHIPS

ONBOARD — INCREASED SANITATION MEASURES, UPGRADED AIR FILTRATION SYSTEMS & ENHANCED MEDICAL FACILITIES

• All guests will be encouraged to engage in frequent handwashing.
• Hand sanitizer will be prominently placed and easily accessible throughout the ship.
• Comprehensive enhanced cleaning and sanitation protocols have been implemented throughout the cruise experience.
• Our 24/7 prevention schedule features continual disinfection of public areas and high-traffic touch points using EPA-approved disinfectants.
• Guest accommodations will receive intensive non-toxic microbial disinfection daily.
• To provide cleaner air for our guests we have strategically installed medical-grade air filters of the highest filtration grade, MERV 13 or HEPA according to the type of HVAC system installed on board.
• The upgraded H13 HEPA air filters are capable of removing 99.9% of airborne pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2 (coronavirus), the virus that causes COVID-19.
• A new air treatment technology, bio-polar ionization, has been adopted to continuously disinfect the air in occupied spaces.
• We’ve improved our onboard medical capabilities with new and upgraded equipment, onshore medical institution partnerships, telemedicine capabilities and additional robust consultation and treatment options.
• Onboard medical centers are abundantly stocked with common prescription medications, remedies, and virus-testing equipment.

SAFETY ASHORE

DESTINATIONS, ITINERARIES & SHORE EXCURSIONS

• We constantly monitor the health environment across the globe and will modify or cancel itineraries to affected areas as needed.
• We recommend that all guests consult with local government websites to determine any additional requirements, including additional pre-cruise testing that may be required to travel.

THOROUGH & EFFECTIVE MOBILIZATION PLAN

• If a positive case of COVID-19 occurs, we have various contact tracing methodologies to identify and notify those who may have been exposed.
• We have developed a thorough mobilization and response plan focused on providing medical treatment, collaborating with local authorities and coordinating safe passage home for all guests and crew should the need arise.
• We have established relationships with onshore medical institutions and enhanced our telemedicine consultation capabilities.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Our Health & Safety protocols and policies will be continually evaluated and we will modify requirements accordingly.

PRE-CRUISE REQUIREMENTS

Do guests need to be vaccinated to sail? Regent Seven Seas Cruises welcomes all guests onboard, regardless of vaccination status, subject to specific local health regulations. Vaccination requirements, if any, will be highlighted to guests approximately 30-days prior to sailing.

If local regulations require me to be vaccinated against COVID-19, what constitutes being “fully vaccinated”? In order to be considered fully vaccinated, unless otherwise noted, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), European Medicines Agency (EMA) and/or World Health Organization (WHO) authorized single brand vaccination protocol will be accepted, with the final dose having been received 14 days or more prior to embarkation. Vaccines include J&J Janssen, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca/Oxford (also known as Covishield and Vaxzervria), Sinopharm BIBP, Sinovac and Covaxin. These vaccines are listed as examples. Refer to FDA, EMA or WHO websites for full approved current list.

A mixed vaccination combination of two doses of an FDA or EMA approved/authorized or WHO Emergency Use Listed (EUL) COVID-19 two-dose series with a minimum interval of 17 days will also be accepted. Note: individuals receiving a Janssen COVID-19 vaccine before or after another COVID-19 vaccine are considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 14 days after receipt of the single dose of the Janssen vaccine.

On certain sailings, due to local regulations, a guest who’s primary COVID-19 vaccination will be beyond 270 days at the time of disembarkation from their voyage must have a COVID-19 “booster” dose prior to embarkation to be fully vaccinated.

Vaccination requirements for both fully vaccinated and unvaccinated guests will be highlighted to guests approximately 30-days prior to sailing.

Do guests need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test to sail? Testing requirements, if any, will be highlighted to guests approximately 30-days prior to sailing, and may vary based on vaccination status. If COVID-19 testing prior to the cruise is required, it is the guest’s responsibility to arrange and pay for.

How do I learn about any COVID-19 vaccine or testing requirements for a sailing that is outside 30-days? We are closely monitoring the evolving global public health environment and to the extent any itineraries are affected, we will notify impacted guests in a timely fashion and update our booking requirements. Additional travel restrictions for certain nationalities or countries may arise based on the quickly evolving public health environment, therefore all guests are strongly advised to monitor current travel requirements.

If I am required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination, what documentation do I need to provide? Proof of COVID-19 vaccination should be the original vaccination record document issued by either the country's health authority that administered the vaccination or the guest's medical provider that completed the vaccine administration; however, a photo of vaccination record document will also be accepted. Electronic vaccination records will be accepted for residents of countries where electronic documentation is the standard issued form. Confirmation email of vaccination appointment will not be accepted.

If I am required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test, what documentation do I need to provide? If due to local regulations tests are required, guests must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result from a registered test provider (printed or digital) taken within a specified timeframe at embarkation and should travel with a copy of their test result. There are no in-port testing facilities, therefore guests who do not bring proof of a negative COVID-19 test, if required, will be denied boarding.

Test result documentation must be provided in English and must include the following information:

• Your name, which should match the name on your travel documents
• Your date of birth
• The result of the test
• The date the test sample was collected
• The name of the test provider
• Confirmation of the type of test provided

If I am participating in a pre-cruise Land Program organized by Regent Seven Seas Cruises, will Regent offer COVID-19 testing for the required pre-embarkation test requirements? For guests on pre-cruise land programs who are unvaccinated against COVID-19, it is their responsibility to arrange and pay for any required pre-cruise COVID-19 test prior to arriving at the ship.

Since there is no testing at the pier, if I am required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test, how can I be tested? Should guests require assistance finding a COVID-19 testing location prior to departing home or while traveling, please visit the Test for Travel website by clicking here .

ONBOARD HEALTH & SAFETY

Are face coverings required? At this time, face coverings are not required on board Regent ships.

We will continue to update our face covering policy as protocols evolve and change as policies are subject to local oversight of authorities in the jurisdiction(s) in which the ships are sailing. Should local regulations change, guests may be required to wear face coverings with short notice.

Please note, certain airlines and in-destination venues and public transport services may implement their own policies, independent to the local jurisdiction, and we therefore recommend guests to travel with a supply of face-coverings.

What happens if I don’t comply with health and safety requirements? All guests and crew are required to comply with our health and safety requirements to protect everyone on board, at the terminal and at destinations we visit. Individuals who do not comply with requirements will be denied boarding or disembarked from the cruise.

Guests should refer to the Cruise Ticket Contract issue for their cruise for complete details.

Will I be required to take a COVID-19 test to disembark the ship? Will you offer testing to meet travel requirements for guests flying back to countries that require negative COVID-19 test results to re-enter the country post-cruise? For those guests whose country requires a COVID-19 test (PCR or Antigen) to return home, COVID-19 tests are the guest’s responsibility to arrange and pay for.

Should guests require assistance finding a COVID-19 testing location prior to departing home or while traveling, please click here to visit the Test for Travel website.

If I am participating in a post-cruise Land Program organized by Regent Seven Seas Cruises, will Regent offer COVID-19 testing for any country-specific test requirements needed to return home post-cruise? For those guests whose country requires a COVID-19 test (antigen or PCR) to return home after a post cruise land program , COVID-19 tests are the guest’s responsibility to arrange and pay for.

If I cannot sail because I test positive for COVID-19 before travelling to the ship, will I receive a refund? Guests who must cancel their cruise before arriving at the ship due to a positive COVID-19 test prior to leaving home, or in transit to the ship should submit an insurance claim.

Do guests need to be tested for COVID-19 at any point during the cruise? Guests may be required to test for COVID-19 during a voyage if deemed necessary by local authorities. Guests would be responsible for the cost.

If I test positive for COVID-19 during a cruise and have to quarantine onboard during my cruise, will I receive a refund? Guests who are quarantined onboard during their cruise and/or disembarked due to a positive COVID-19 test, immediate travel party or close contact as defined above should submit an insurance claim for trip interruption.

What happens if I test positive for COVID-19 during my cruise or at disembarkation? Guests will only be tested while on board if they report symptoms consistent with COVID-19, and it is deemed a medical necessity by the ship’s doctor, unless testing is required to disembark due to local public health requirements.

If a guest tests positive for COVID-19 while on board, contact tracing will be performed in cooperation with the Security and Surveillance Team.

If the guest(s) is symptomatic, they will receive treatment at their own expense by our onboard medical team and will then be quarantined in their own suite. Please note: Anti-viral Covid-19 therapeutics are readily available onboard and will be charged to the guests’ account. The length of their quarantine will depend on the severity of case, the number of days left in the voyage and if the guest(s) is symptomatic/asymptomatic. If the medical condition of the patient continues to deteriorate, the onboard medical team will determine proper course of action to safely disembark the guest(s) depending on the location of the vessel, and will engage Guest Relations team for follow up. Hospital and/or medical treatment after disembarkation will be at the guest’s expense.

If the guest(s) is asymptomatic, they will be quarantined in their own suite. The length of their quarantine will depend on the severity of the case, the number of days left if the voyage and whether the guest remains asymptomatic or becomes symptomatic.

Will all guests traveling in the same suite be required to quarantine if one member of the party tests positive during the cruise or at disembarkation? Guests traveling in the same suite as the confirmed COVID-19 positive case are considered close contacts and will receive an Antigen test for COVID-19. If the Antigen test is positive, a confirmatory PCR test will be given. If the Antigen test is negative, or if after a positive Antigen test the confirmatory PCR test is negative, the close contact will be able to continue to cruise. If the confirmatory PCR test is positive, the close contact will be quarantined and/or disembarked per standard operating procedure.

If a guest receives a positive COVID-19 test and is required to quarantine by local officials after disembarkation, Regent Seven Seas Cruises will not be responsible for any COVID-19 related costs and therefore we strongly encourage guests to purchase travel insurance that includes coverage for COVID-19.

SHORE EXCURSIONS

Can I explore on my own while in port? Guests are free to explore ports of call on their own or as part of a Regent organized excursion. Please keep in mind that this is dependent on local health authorities and the evolving regulations, which are subject to change.

ALLOW US TO TAKE CARE OF EVERY DETAIL

Our exceptional service begins long before you step aboard. Your Personal Consultant will help you or your Travel Advisor plan your next luxury cruise vacation.

Outbreak Updates for International Cruise Ships

The Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) requires cruise ships to log and report the number of passengers and crew who say they have symptoms of gastrointestinal illness. Learn more about illnesses and outbreaks reported to VSP and find information about outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness on cruise ships.

Medical staff on cruise ships under U.S. jurisdiction must send gastrointestinal illness case reports to VSP at specific times:

• Before arriving to a U.S. port from a foreign port. This report is required even when there are no cases of gastrointestinal illness. Cruise ship staff send this report between 24 and 36 hours before the ship arrives at a U.S. port.
• When 2% or more of the passengers or crew have gastrointestinal illness. Cruise ship staff send this report any time the ship is in the United States or within 15 days of arriving at a U.S. port.
• If 3% or more of the passengers or crew have gastrointestinal illness.

VSP posts cruise ship outbreaks when they meet all of the following criteria:

• Are on ships under VSP jurisdiction (see about VSP ).
• Are on ships carrying 100 or more passengers.
• Are on voyages from 3-21 days long.
• Are on voyages where 3% or more of passengers or crew report symptoms of gastrointestinal illness to the ship’s medical staff.

VSP may also post information on gastrointestinal illness outbreaks of public health significance that do not necessarily meet the above criteria.

Important Notes

Data on this page are from ship surveillance reports and from CDC-led investigations.

• The gastrointestinal illness cases reported are totals for the entire voyage.
• These cases do not represent the number of active (symptomatic) cases of gastrointestinal illness at any given port of call or at disembarkation.
• CDC has not verified all the case numbers represented in the following updates.

Learn how passengers can protect themselves with these  tips for healthy cruising .

Find  more information  about gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on land and at sea.

Top of Page

*There were an unknown but significant number of passenger cases who reported their illness by phone to the medical facility onboard but were not seen in a timely manner and disembarked the ship

• Inspection Reports
• About Inspections
• Cruise Ship Outbreak Updates
• About Noroviruses on Cruise Ships
• VSP Operations Manual   [PDF – 5 MB]
• VSP Construction Guidelines   [PDF – 4 MB]
• Illness Prevention Information
• Publications

Exit Notification / Disclaimer Policy

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
• Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
• You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
• CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website.

'I felt safer on the cruise than Walmart': COVID protocols on cruises prove effective, initial CDC data shows

• From June 26 through Aug. 26, there were 452 confirmed cases of COVID on cruise ships reported by cruise lines to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• CLIA "conservatively" estimates 262,000 passengers sailed in that time on ocean-going member lines.
• The protocol in place on ships to mitigate COVID-19 "absolutely has" worked to make cruise ships safer.

The coronavirus continues to be present on cruise ships sailing in U.S. waters, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention obtained by USA TODAY shows.

But travelers are feeling more secure with the protocols in place. 

In the two-month period spanning from when the first cruise sailed with paying passengers on June 26 through Aug. 26, there were 452 confirmed cases of coronavirus on cruise ships reported by cruise lines to the health agency.

The cases reported were spread among crew and passengers who tested positive via viral testing on ships belonging to cruise lines including Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line and Princess Cruises, among others.

It doesn't come as a surprise that coronavirus found its way back onto cruise ships after more than a year without cruising in U.S. waters due to the pandemic. 

"We've never said that cruising will be a zero-risk activity," Capt. Aimee Treffiletti, who leads the CDC's maritime unit, told USA TODAY in late October.  "I think we've all always expected that cases would be identified."

►COVID on cruises: What happens if the coronavirus gets on board?

►Here's why I didn't panic: Six COVID-19 cases emerged on my Royal Caribbean cruise.

"Unlike other forms of travel, a cruise ship is more like congregate residential setting where thousands of travelers (passengers and crew) are living for multiple days (or months for crew) on the same ship: eating, sleeping, and participating in activities together in one location. COVID-19, like other illnesses, can spread quickly in group settings like cruise ships," ​​​​​Caitlin Shockey, spokesperson for the CDC, added in an email to USA TODAY.

But just because cases are emerging on cruise ships doesn't mean that cruising is as risky as it was at the beginning of the pandemic when outbreaks forced ships, including the Diamond Princess and Grand Princess, into quarantine with more than 700 infected on Diamond Princess and dozens infected on the Grand Princess.

COVID-19 protocols make ship environment safer

The protocol in place on ships to mitigate COVID-19 "absolutely has" worked to make cruise ships safer as the world faces a global pandemic, Treffiletti said.

While there still remains some risk of transmission of COVID-19 on board cruise ships, robust protocols including testing and masking, among other elements, have reduced the risk of the pandemic's onboard spread. 

Alex Heller, who cruises frequently with his husband, Michael Bonham, on Royal Caribbean International ships, told USA TODAY they have been on five cruises since the pandemic began and have four more scheduled for this year.

Royal Caribbean International has required that all passengers ages 12 and over show proof of vaccination and a negative test for every passenger age 2 and older, a protocol which was put into place Aug. 1. As a result, Heller said they have felt safe.

"On one of the trips, we stayed a few nights in Florida after we disembarked," Heller said. "It felt like Florida had hardly any restrictions and a few people even approached us with snide remarks about wearing our masks, so we actually felt safer on the ship than we did on land."

Kathy Simmons, who sailed on the Carnival Magic in September, echoed Heller's statement.

"I felt safer on the cruise than Walmart," Simmons told USA TODAY. "I live in rural (Georgia) and next to no one masks or distances anymore."

Alex Winter added that he felt safer sailing on MSC Meraviglia this October than he did on a December 2019 Norwegian cruise thanks to additional protocols and lowered capacity.

As of Thursday, 52 cruise ships were sailing with paying passengers in U.S. waters following CDC guidance, according to the CDC's cruise ship status tracker , spokesperson Dave Daigle told USA TODAY.

"We've never expected that there would be zero risk of transmission," Treffiletti said. "But one thing that's really important is that we haven't seen medical resources overwhelmed on ships – we haven't seen high rates of hospitalizations or deaths that we saw early on in the pandemic related to cruise ships. So, I think we can consider that a success."

►A year without cruising: There was no ‘crystal ball’ to tell when sailing could restart amid COVID-19

What the data tells us

Cruise lines are required to report confirmed coronavirus cases and COVID-19-like symptoms reported on ships in U.S. waters to the CDC, but most cases of coronavirus on cruise ships have not been required to publicly report those numbers.

Crewmembers are also required to be tested on a weekly basis or at other intervals as required by the health agency after an initial testing requirement and testing of newly arriving crew.

Of the 452 cases confirmed, 146 were among crew members and 306 were among passengers. Fifty-seven ships reported COVID-19 data to the CDC within the two-month period, 11 of which reported no confirmed cases at all. 

The CDC repeatedly told USA TODAY it does not have a count of how many people sailed on cruise ships in total during that period.

Story continues below.

Cruise Lines International Association, however, "conservatively" estimates 262,000 passengers sailed between June 26 and Aug. 26 on member cruise lines that sail on the ocean. The number does not include crew members, Bari Golin-Blaugrund, vice president of strategic communications, told USA TODAY.

The association's cruise lines make up more than 90% of ocean-going cruise capacity.

"The relatively low occurrence of COVID-19 during that period, particularly when compared to the rest of the country, further demonstrates the leadership of the cruise industry and the effectiveness of the science-backed protocols that have enabled a successful return to operations around the world," Golin-Blaugrund continued.

During the time that these 452 cases of coronavirus were identified on cruises, about 4.9 million cases were reported in the U.S. in the 62 days between June 26 and Aug. 26, CDC data show. With an American population of about 332.8 million, about 1 in 68 Americans tested positive during the same time when 452 cases of coronavirus were identified on cruises.

The ships that reported cases to the CDC were traveling under different circumstances: Some were sailing on test cruises (sailing with volunteer passengers to test onboard protocols to mitigate the spread of COVID-19); some were on restricted revenue sailings (with paying passengers); and some were sailing with crew only.

Cruise lines are required by the CDC to submit information on coronavirus cases in its "Enhanced Data Collection During COVID-19 Pandemic Form" as a part of its Conditional Sailing Order, originally introduced in October 2020  and extended last month.

The CDC did not specify when over the two month period cases were identified, on what sailing the cases happened or the conditions of the sailing whether it be a test sailing, a sailing with paying passengers, or a sailing with crew only. This information is not asked for in the daily form required by the CDC, USA TODAY reviewed the form required by ships.

And the vessels that reported coronavirus cases to the CDC were sailing for varying amounts of time during the two-month period. Some cruise ships resumed operations earlier, others started at a later date in the industry's phased-in resumption.

People who tested positive during quarantine or upon embarkation were not counted as the CDC classified those cases as not contributing to the onboard spread.

It is not clear over   how many sailings the cases were spread out, nor is it clear how many sailings each ship has completed and the duration of each sailing. Not all cruise ships in the U.S. are back in operation yet and it has been a rolling start with ships slowly resuming service. 

There are many other variables at play too: Ship size, capacity filled, protocols, port stops and other factors could have contributed to coronavirus on board ships.

Cruise lines sharing coronavirus protocol results

Cruise companies have begun to share how their protocols have mitigated coronavirus on board as well.

During its third-quarter earnings call on Oct. 30, Royal Caribbean Group's chief financial officer Jason Liberty shared that out of 500,000 passengers who have sailed with the brand globally, only 150 have tested positive for coronavirus across the cruise company's five brands including Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises along with TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. Those 500,000 passengers have sailed around the globe since June not just in U.S. waters, spokesperson Jonathon Fishman told USA TODAY.

Jessica John, spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., parent company to Norwegian Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises, told USA TODAY that the company has identified positive cases on certain sailings since resuming operations but did not specify the exact count.

"Our rigorous SailSAFE health and safety protocols, including mandatory vaccination and universal pre-embarkation testing, are working as designed to greatly mitigate the risk of introduction and transmission of COVID-19 on board our ships and the prevalence of cases we have seen since resuming has been well below the general population during that time," John said.

Roger Frizzell, spokesperson for Carnival Corp., parent to Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, AIDA, Costa Cruises and P&O Cruises, told USA TODAY that onboard protocols are working to mitigate the spread of coronavirus.

"When those rare situations occur when there has been variant cases for fully vaccinated guests, they are typically extremely mild and our protocols in place have been effective."

Coronavirus cases identified on board don't mean cruising is unsafe

While coronavirus is on board cruise ships, that doesn't mean cruising is stopping again any time soon or that travelers should be discouraged from boarding.

"Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and development of variants of concern, including the delta variant, CDC has continued to collaborate with cruise ship operators to provide safe and healthy cruising environments for crew and passengers," CDC's Shockey said.

The CDC issued a "Level 3: High Level of COVID-19" notice warning on Aug. 20 for cruise travel that remains in place.

The number of cases shows that the coronavirus protocol implemented on ships is working.

"I was very impressed by their vaccine and testing requirements," Simmons said of her Carnival cruise. "I know things can still slip through the cracks, but knowing that all adults were vaccinated and everyone was tested prior to boarding gave me great peace of mind."

Heller, who prefers to cruise with Royal Caribbean International, said he "certainly wouldn’t feel safe" without the protocols in place.

If public health measures were not in place, Shockey said the CDC "would expect COVID-19 cases to increase on ships and potentially overwhelm their medical and public health resources."

►Cleaning a floating petri dish: How is a cruise ship sanitized after a coronavirus outbreak?

Contributing: Mike Stucka

1st cruise ship set for Saint John under U.S. COVID-19 investigation

Centers for disease control lists seven seas navigator, due to arrive april 28, at 'orange' level.

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The first cruise ship set to dock in Saint John in more than two years because of the pandemic is under investigation by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control because of COVID-19 cases on board.

Seven Seas Navigator, due to arrive on April 28, is listed at the "orange" level on the CDC's cruise ship status dashboard, which means at least 0.3 per cent of passengers or crew have suspected or confirmed cases.

"CDC has started an investigation and [the] ship remains under observation," the website states.

The cruise ship operator, Regent Seven Seas, did not respond Thursday to a request for an interview.

Seven Seas Navigator has a passenger capacity of 490, and the CDC lists the ship's vaccination status as "highly vaccinated."

There are currently 489 people on board — 115 passengers and 374 crew, according to Port Saint John's chief operating officer Andrew Dixon.

That means two positive or suspected cases would be enough to qualify for the CDC's orange status, he said.

"So a very low number. It's such a low cut off point, if you like, that 50 per cent of the active cruise ships on the water right now [under CDC jurisdiction] are, in fact, in orange status."

The dashboard lists 51 vessels operating in orange status, 28 in yellow, and 21 in green.

The ship, which departed Miami on Monday, on a 25-night round cruise, is currently in Jacksonville, Fla., with five other U.S. stops scheduled before Saint John, according to the company's website.

The CDC investigation does not prevent the vessel from continuing on to Saint John, said port spokesperson Paula Copeland.

The decision to deny access to a Canadian port authority because of a communicable disease on board a vessel is at the discretion of the Public Health Agency of Canada quarantine officer, she said.

"Just as there's cases of COVID in every city in Canada and the US, as you know, we work towards ending the pandemic, you can have incidents of small numbers of positive cases of COVID on board a vessel," said Dixon.

• Pharmacists call for easier access to COVID-19 medication Paxlovid

"The only time that it is of concern is when [the status] goes to red and for whatever reason, the vessel is unable to manage the situation without assistance." 

Any confirmed or suspected cases would be isolating, said Dixon.

The CDC says red status is triggered when more than 0.3 per cent of people on the ship have confirmed or suspected COVID, and other issues are present as well, including sustained transmission and factors that overwhelm onboard health services.

Dixon noted Seven Seas Navigator is more than a week away from Saint John, so anyone who's infected might recover by then or disembark at one of the other port calls along the way.

The ship is scheduled to be in Charleston, S.C., on Friday, with stops in New York, Newport, Cape Cod Canal and Boston before arriving in Saint John. The ship previously visited Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas and Port Canaveral, Fla.

What does investigation involve?

As part of its investigation, the CDC will obtain additional information from the cruise ship, such as case exposure histories, details about close contacts, proportion of travellers on board who are vaccinated against COVID-19, and the ship's medical capacities, according to the website.

"If warranted, CDC inspectors can conduct in-person inspections to verify that all public health interventions are being implemented as recommended to control onboard transmission."

In addition, CDC may, among other things: 

• Test all passengers mid-voyage, and/or prior to the end of the voyage, regardless of the passengers' vaccination status.
• Increase the frequency of routine screening testing of crew.
• Require mask use by all passengers and crew indoors and in crowded outdoor areas.

All cruise ship passengers and crew must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 under Transport Canada rules announced in March for the 2022 season.

Passengers must also take a COVID-19 molecular test within 72 hours before they board or take an antigen test within one day of boarding.

As of April 1, fully vaccinated travellers no longer need to take molecular test before disembarking in Canada. Passengers and crew must, however, continue to monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 for 14 days after arrival in Canada.

Cruise ship operators must inspect proof of vaccination and pre-boarding test results, test suspected cases, isolate positive cases and test close contacts of positive cases.

"Everybody's done a whole lot of work to make sure this is a very safe program," said Dixon. "And we believe it to be, you know, the safest method of having visitation open up … that will not be taxing on our own health system."

A cruise is the only mode of travel that still requires a negative COVID test for vaccinated travellers and comes with its own "medical facilities in tow," he said. 

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Every Cruise Line's Requirements for COVID Vaccines, Testing

A guide to every major cruise line's health requirements for safe sailing.

Cruise lines have shifted their requirements for passengers, making cruising accessible to practically everyone. Many popular cruise lines have eliminated the vaccine and pre-embarkation test as the industry is beginning to shift away from mandatory vaccines and testing.

The changes began shortly after the CDC ended a pandemic-era policy of publicly displaying COVID-19 cases onboard, different cruise lines to the public in July 2022. For those looking to check current COVID-19 trends onboard the CDC urges direct contact with the cruise line, and the organization will continue to monitor and offer guidelines to ships.

Below, we break down each line's list of regulations to sail as well as what travelers need to know to plan.

American Queen Voyages

Where they sail:

American Queen Voyages is known for its Mississippi River cruises as well as sailings down other U.S. rivers like the Columbia and Snake rivers, using classic paddle wheeler ships for a throwback, romantic vibe.

Who needs the vaccine: All guests and crew must be fully vaccinated (14 days after their final shot).

What other safety measures are in place: Luggage is then disinfected before being brought onto the ship and staterooms cleaned with electrostatic fogging.

Find out more : American Queen Voyages

Avalon Waterways

Where they sail: These small-ship river cruises sail throughout Europe, Asia, South America, and down the Nile River in Egypt.

Who needs the vaccine: All international travelers from the U.S. must be fully vaccinated before boarding. Beginning March 2023 the vaccine is no longer required (but strongly encouraged).

What other safety measures are in place: All guests will undergo a health screening upon arrival and luggage will be disinfected. Avalon will provide COVID-19 testing for travelers who need to show proof of a negative test to return home at no extra cost. Depending on the location of the cruise a pre-departure COVID-19 test may or may not be required.

Find out more: Avalon Waterways

Where they sail : Azamara sails mid-size ships all over the world, to all seven continents.

Who needs the vaccine : All guests and crew 12 and older will be required to be fully vaccinated at least two weeks before boarding a ship. Beginning Dec. 1, 2022, the company plans to drop the vaccine requirement for departures from the U.S. and Europe.

What other safety measures are in place : Depending on the port of embarkation guests may or may not to pre-test to travel. For a full list of ports and whether they require a test guests can check online .

Azamara's ships have been upgraded with new HVAC filtration systems, and EPA-certified disinfectants are used to clean the ship.

Find out more : Azamara

Carnival Cruises

Where they sail: Carnival sails large ships around the world, including popular trips to the Caribbean. The company sailed its maiden voyage on the Mardi Gras out of Florida in July.

Who needs the vaccine: All guests are encouraged to be vaccinated but unvaccinated travelers, or vaccinated guests without proof of vaccination, will have to present the negative results of a PCR or antigen test taken no earlier than 3 days before sailing.

What other safety measures are in place: For cruises five days or less, there will no longer be pre-cruise testing for vaccinated passengers unless a specific port requires it. Itineraries including Bahamas, Bermuda, or Grand Cayman will still be required to test. All guests will also be required to fill out a health screening 72 hours before embarkation and undergo health screenings prior to boarding. Unvaccinated travelers on a cruise to Bermuda will be required to purchase travel insurance (children under 12 are exempt as long as they are traveling with vaccinated parents).

Both vaccinated and unvaccinated guests who have recovered from COVID-19 within three months of their sailing date, do not need the required pre-cruise COVID test before embarkation, only if they are at least 10 days past their COVID-19 infection, have no symptoms and present documentation of recovery from COVID-19 from their healthcare provider.

Find out more: Carnival Cruise Line

Celebrity Cruises

Where they sail: Celebrity Cruises sails all over the world.

Who needs the vaccine: The vaccine is no longer required to sail on cruises from the U.S. and Europe. A vaccine is required for sailings visiting Canada.

What other safety measures are in place: A pre-embarkation test is no longer required for vaccinated guests on sailings nine days or less. Unvaccinated passengers will still be required to test three days prior to sailing. Self-tests are acceptable from European and U.S. ports that don't stop in Bermuda or Canada.

Find out more : Celebrity Cruises

Where they sail: Cunard, which sails all over the world, is known for its transatlantic journeys aboard the Queen Mary 2.

Who needs the vaccine: All guests 18 and older must be fully vaccinated. Unvaccinated passengers under 18 will be required to undergo a PCR test within 72 hours of their departure.

What other safety measures are in place: Cunard has "enhanced" their onboard ventilation systems and implemented mandatory mask-wearing policies indoors. All guests aged 4 and older are required to have a negative COVID-19 test before boarding. Crew will be tested regularly while on board. Guests who have certain pre-existing medical conditions, including those who are on supplementary oxygen, will not be allowed to board.

Find out more: Cunard

Disney Cruise Line

Where they sail: Disney sails family-friendly journeys including to the Caribbean, Europe, and Alaska.

Who needs the vaccine: Vaccination is no longer required by highly suggested.

What other safety measures are in place: Unvaccinated guests must provide results of a COVID-19 test taken 1 to 2 days before sail date, at home tests are not accepted. The Cruise line also has a full list of enhanced cleaning protocols.

Find out more: Disney Cruise Line

Grand Circle Cruise Line

Where they sail: Grand Circle Cruise Line sails small ships and river cruises all over the world, including an extensive list of European itineraries. The company plans to start sailing again in August, including to Greece, Turkey, and Italy.

Who needs the vaccine: All guests and crew are required to be fully vaccinated with the booster shot.

What other safety measures are in place: All ships have been equipped with High Efficiency Particular Air (HEPA) filters and buffets have been eliminated. The cruise line states some itineraries will require proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to travel , and that instructors will be sent out 30 days prior to travel.

Find out mor e: Grand Circle Cruise Line

Holland America

Where they sail: Holland America sails large ships all over the world, including to the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Europe, and more.

Who needs the vaccine: Unvaccinated guests are welcome but will be required to self-test three days before cruising.

What other safety measures are in place: Vaccinated passengers traveling on ships for less than 16 days excluding itineraries with the Panama Canal, trans-ocean, and other selected itineraries will no longer be required to test.

Find out more: Holland America

Lindblad Expeditions

Where they sail: Lindblad Expeditions is known for its adventurous trips to hard-to-reach destinations like Antarctica and the Russian Far East, partnering with National Geographic to add to the experience.

Who needs the vaccine: All guests 12 and older need to be vaccinated before boarding. Boosters are recommended but not required.

What other safety measures are in place: Pre-departure testing will not be required unless for a specific destination.

Find out more : Lindblad Expeditions

Margaritaville at Sea

Where they sail: Margaritaville at Sea offers 3-day cruises to Grand Bahama Island departing from the port of Palm Beach. The cruise line also offers the opportunity to take the ship one way to the Bahamas to allow guests to stay at the Margaritaville resort, and then take the ship back to the Bahamas at a later date.

Who needs the vaccine: All guests are welcome regardless of vaccination status, according to the cruise line.

What other safety measures are in place: All crew members must be vaccinated for COVID-19 and the cruise line states there are vaccination requirements on board (but does not specify).

Find out more: Margaritaville at Sea

MSC Cruises

Where they sail: MSC Cruises sails large ocean cruises around the world, including throughout Europe, South America, the Persian Gulf, and the Caribbean. In August, the company started sailing to the Bahamas with a stop at its private island, Ocean Cay.

Who needs the vaccine: Vaccinations are recommended but no longer required.

What other safety measures are in place: Fully-vaccinated passengers are no longer required to show proof of a negative test unless it is required of the destination. Unvaccinated children must show proof of a negative PCR test.

Find out more: MSC Cruises

Norwegian Cruise Line

Where they sail: Norwegian sails big ocean cruises all around the world, including popular itineraries all throughout the Caribbean and Greece.

Who needs the vaccine: All passengers may sail regardless of vaccination status.

What other safety measures are in place: Testing is no longer required for any passenger regardless of vaccination status with the exception of local government mandates.

Find out more : Norwegian Cruise Line

Oceania Cruises

Where they sail: Oceania Cruises sails all over the world, including offering several World Cruise itineraries.

Who needs the vaccine: All passengers regardless of vaccination status are allowed to sail.

What other safety measures are in place: Only unvaccinated guests will be required to show proof of a negative PCR or antigen test taken 72 hours prior to boarding. Unvaccinated children aged 12 years and younger are exempt.

Find out more : Oceania Cruises

P&O Cruises

Where they sail: The UK-based cruise line sails around Europe, including to the Canary Islands, as well as to the Caribbean from Southampton in the UK.

Who needs the vaccine: Although P&O Cruises' policy states that passengers over the age of 15 are required to be vaccinated, the latest update on its website says guests will be contacted directly in regards to vaccination protocol.

What other safety measures are in place: All guests are required to undergo a COVID-19 test at the terminal. Masks will be required on board indoors, and all shore excursions will be with vetted operators.

Find out more : P&O Cruises

Princess Cruises

Where they sail: The global cruise line sails large ocean ships all around the world, from Australia to Alaska.

Who needs the vaccine: All guests are welcome on board, but unvaccinated passengers will be required to test and may need an additional medical exemption at some ports.

Find out more : Princess Cruises

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Where they sail: Regent Seven Seas offers all-inclusive luxury cruises around the globe, which include perks like free airfare, free excursions, and complimentary unlimited drinks on board.

Who needs the vaccine: All guests are now welcome. Unvaccinated passengers will be required to test 3-days before embarkation.

What other safety measures are in place: Pre-departure testing may not be necessary depending on the port. Currently cruises leaving from Bermuda, Canada, and Greece will require a test.

Find out more : Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Royal Caribbean International

Where they sail: Royal Caribbean sails large ocean ships all over the world, including many popular itineraries throughout the Caribbean and Asia.

Who needs the vaccine: Everyone is welcome regardless of vaccination status, passengers traveling to Bermuda or Canada are required to be vaccinated.

W hat other safety measures are in place: Vaccinated travelers will no longer need a negative test on sailings shorter than 10 nights. Unvaccinated travelers aged 5 and older will need to take a test within 3 days of boarding. Self-administered tests are accepted.

Find out more : Royal Caribbean International

Where they sail: The British cruise line, exclusively for guests 50 and older, sails both ocean and river cruises around the globe.

Who needs the vaccine: All guests must be fully vaccinated, including a booster shot at least 14 days before boarding a ship. Saga was the first major cruise line to implement this vaccination policy.

What other safety measures are in place: Ocean Cruise guests will be required to get tested for COVID-19 in the terminal. Masks are required on bus transfers, in hotels, and on excursions.

Find out more : Saga

Where they sail: Seabourn's mid-size luxury cruises head all around the world, from Alaska to the Caribbean.

Who needs the vaccine: Vaccinations are not required on most cruise itineraries, unvaccinated guests will be required to present a negative test taken within three days of embarkation.

What other safety measures are in place: Masks are recommended onboard in most indoor venues and the casinos are frequently sanitized.

Find out more : Seabourn

Where they sail: Silversea brings guests all around the world in luxury and style , including to the Galapagos and Antarctica .

Who needs the vaccine: All guests are welcome, however, unvaccinated guests may not be welcome on all sailings depending on local regulations.

What other safety measures are in place: Vaccinated guests do not need a pre-departure test unless local regulations such as cruises leaving from Australia, Bermuda, Canada, or Greece require it. Unvaccinated travelers will need a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of embarkation.

Find out more : Silversea

UnCruise Adventures

Where they sail: This small-ship company is known for its Alaska journeys as well as adventures in places like the Galapagos and island hopping in Hawaii.

Who needs the vaccine: All guests 12 and older must be fully vaccinated at least 14 days before boarding. At least one booster is required to sail.

What other safety measures are in place: Guests are not required, but requested to test before departing from home (this policy is subject to change as COVID-19 trends change,) as the company states passengers should test to "be a good citizen". Each ship can perform rapid molecular tests on board. The cruise states they will not visit any destinations where vaccine rates are low.

Masks are required in public spaces, according to the company "bandana" and "buff" face masks will not be accepted.

Find out more : UnCruise Adventures

Victory Cruise Lines

Where they sail: Victory Cruise Lines is known for its Great Lakes cruises, providing all-inclusive sailings to see breathtaking sights from Niagara Falls to the iconic architecture of Chicago from Lake Michigan. Beyond the U.S., Victory Cruise Lines sails to Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula.

Who needs the vaccine: All guests and crew will be required to be vaccinated before boarding, and will be required to show physical proof prior to boarding.

What other safety measures are in place: Testing is no longer required on any river cruise.

Luggage is then disinfected before being brought onto the ship and staterooms cleaned with electrostatic fogging. Masks will be required during the embarkation process and while riding a shore excursion bus, but will not be required on board.

Find out more : Victory Cruise Lines

Viking Cruises

Where they sail: Viking sails ocean and river cruises all over the world, including throughout Europe. This summer, Viking will sail several voyages, including around England for UK residents, to Bermuda, and to Iceland in June.

Who needs the vaccine: All guests must be fully vaccinated to board a ship. Guests who are eligible must have a booster.

What other safety measures are in place: In addition to vaccines, all guests may be required to undergo a saliva PCR test at embarkation as well as "frequent" testing throughout the journey. All staterooms are equipped with independent air handling units.

Find out more : Viking Cruises

Virgin Voyages

Where they sail: The brand-new cruise line is launching mini sailings from England for UK residents, and has cruises throughout the Caribbean, and transatlantic options.

Who needs the vaccine: All are welcome regardless of vaccination status, unvaccinated passengers must have a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of embarkation.

What other safety measures are in place: Virgin Voyages was the first cruise line to eliminate pre-departure testing for vaccinated guests. The cruise line will continue to work with an advisory board to help ensure health and safety on board at all times, including the use of air filtration systems and sanitization of high touch surface areas.

Find out more : Virgin Voyages

Windstar Cruises

Where they sail: Windstar operates small-ship cruises and several sailing vessels all around the globe, including to places like Central America .

Who needs the vaccine: All guests will be required to be fully vaccinated at least 14 days before boarding one of Windstar's yachts. Boosters are highly encouraged and are recommended to be administered at least one week prior to travel.

What other safety measures are in place: Guests no longer need a pre-embarkation test unless a specific destination requires it.

Find out more : Windstar Cruises

Alison Fox is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure. When she's not in New York City, she likes to spend her time at the beach or exploring new destinations and hopes to visit every country in the world. Follow her adventures on Instagram .

U.S. CDC investigating nearly 70 cruise ships hit by COVID-19 cases

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As cruise ship passengers and crew contract COVID-19, cruise lines upgrade their protocols

Three passengers tested positive for COVID-19 at the end of the recent inaugural seven-night sailing from Port Canaveral of Carnival Cruise Line’s newest and largest ship, the Mardi Gras.

The discovery was among a series of positive COVID-19 tests among passengers and crew of ships operated by Carnival and other cruise lines in recent weeks.

The appearance of COVID-19 on the Mardi Gras as cruising returned to Port Canaveral is a sign of just how precarious the restart of cruising can be. It came even as Carnival required all its crew and its passengers age 12 and up to be vaccinated; kept passenger counts far below capacity; and took a host of other steps to guard against COVID-19 on its ships, in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance.

So far, Carnival and other cruise lines have dealt with the cases without disrupting their ship schedules. 

In the Mardi Gras incident, three Carnival Cruise Line passengers had COVID-19 on the inaugural sailing of the ship from Port Canaveral on July 31.

Carnival discovered the cases when doing required COVID-19 tests near the end of its cruise. Two of the passengers were children who did not have the COVID-19 vaccine, and the third was a vaccinated parent of one of the children, according to Port Canaveral officials.

Related: Cruise industry restarts at Port Canaveral with 'huge milestone' sailing of Mardi Gras

Previously: Disney, Royal Caribbean resume sailing from Port Canaveral after being idled since March 2020

In a statement, Carnival — the world's largest cruise line — said that, "as a standard practice, and consistent with CDC’s conditional sailing order, all unvaccinated guests who sail on voyages five days or longer are tested 24 hours before debarkation. Such is the case on Mardi Gras, given her seven-day itineraries. Guests who test positive are advised, must stay in isolation until arrival in the home port, and then either must complete their isolation locally or drive home. Close contacts are also identified, tested and isolated."

Carnival added that "our protocols are designed to manage and mitigate COVID amongst guests and crew."

According the Carnival, the Mardi Gras had about 4,000 passengers and 1,600 crew members on its first cruise.

Port Canaveral officials say they know of no other COVID-19 incidents on ships that have sailed from Brevard County's seaport since cruising resumed — although cruise lines are not required to inform the port of such instances, unless port assistance is needed in the medical care of passengers or crew with COVID-19.

There have been COVID cases on ships sailing from other ports. Among them, there were cases involving 26 crew members and one passenger on the Carnival Vista on a recent cruise that sailed from Galveston, Texas.

"The CDC’s conditional sail order and our own protocols anticipate the potential for COVID on board, and our procedures are designed to manage and mitigate any situation," Carnival said in a statement on that incident. "The health, safety and well-being of our guests, crew and the destinations we visit is our priority."

Carnival said the cases on the Vista occurred "despite all of our crew and almost all of our guests being vaccinated. We have managed the situation utilizing stringent health protocols, which included placing those who tested positive in isolation and close contacts in quarantine." 

Carnival said it also has a process in place to randomly test a large percentage of its crew on a rotating basis multiple days per week, even though all are vaccinated.  

Carnival asks that its passengers wear masks in certain indoor areas. Also, beginning Aug. 14, all vaccinated passengers, in addition to unvaccinated passengers, needed to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to embarkation, as the cruise line modified its protocols "to adapt to the changing public health situation."

Other cruise lines also have had COVID-19 cases on their ships.

For example, six passengers on a recent Royal Caribbean International Adventure of the Seas cruise sailing from Nassau, the Bahamas, tested positive for COVID-19. All were American citizens.

The tests came back as part of routine, end-of-cruise testing, which was offered as a courtesy by the cruise line, since most passengers need to show proof of a negative test in order to return home. 

Some cruise lines in recent days have announced new measures designed to keep COVID-19 off their ships.

For example:

• Norwegian Cruise Line announced Wednesday that it has extended its COVID-19 vaccine requirement through the end of the year. Passengers who are not old enough to be vaccinated — currently, anyone under age 12 — will not be allowed to sail. 
• Princess Cruises added a face mask requirement on board its ships, in addition to a COVID-19 testing requirement for passengers. Princess said all passengers will be asked to wear masks in spaces such as elevators, shops, the casino and other select areas, except when eating or drinking. Masks will be required during embarkation and disembarkation, too. All Princess ships that will sail in 2021 will have a passenger and crew vaccination requirement in accordance with the CDC. So, at least 95% of passengers and crew must show proof of vaccination to board.

Holland America Line also recently announced new requirements. Like Princess, Holland America has a vaccination requirement to sail. Additionally, now all passengers will be required to wear face masks in certain indoor areas on board. Holland America also has instituted a COVID-19 testing requirement, in effect from Aug. 14 through Oct. 31 for all passengers. A test must be taken within 72 hours of boarding.

Generally, cruise lines also are keeping passenger counts relatively low, in part, to help maintain a semblance of social distancing on the ships, as the pandemic continues, with record numbers of new cases in Florida in recent weeks, and the delta variant continuing to spread across the nation and globe.

Meanwhile,  Port Canaveral is being cautious in its outlook for the coming year, despite the resumption of cruises there at a steady pace. 

Federal grant helps port recover

Port Canaveral will be getting a major financial infusion to help improve its bottom line, after being approved for $72.21 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act.

The money will help cover its losses stemming from a 16½-month shutdown of the cruise industry locally because of COVID-19.

The port said it lost an estimated $113.6 million in cruise ship and cruise-related parking revenue during the shutdown, which began in March 2020. Pre-pandemic, about 80% of the port's revenue came from various fees it charged cruise ships and from cruise passenger parking.

Port Canaveral Chief Financial Officer Michael Poole said he expects the port to receive about $22 million of that money during the current 2020-21 budget year that ends Sept. 30, with the other $50 million arriving during the 2021-22 budget year.

Poole said the money will be received in monthly installments, and can be used for a variety of operating and capital expenses.

Even with the ARPA money, Port Canaveral expects to report losses of $39.48 million during the current budget year.

In the 2021-22 budget year, the port expects to have a profit of $69.26 million, thanks in large part to the ARPA money. The port calls this a "change in net position," rather than a profit.

Port Canaveral Secretary/Treasurer Robyn Hattaway expressed some frustration during Wednesday's Canaveral Port Authority meeting about how long it was taking for the port to get its ARPA money.

"This has been such a slow process," Hattaway said. "We haven't seen a dollar yet."

14 cruise ships will be based here

Port Canaveral is expecting a strong year ahead for cruising. During the port's 2021-22 budget year that begins Oct. 1, the port anticipates 729 sailings out of the port by its ships based here, plus 81 port-of-call stops by ships that are based at other ports.

In all, 14 ships operated by five cruise lines will be based at Port Canaveral either year-round or part of the year.

Additionally, there will be 630 half-day sailings of the Victory 1 gambling ship. 

Revenue from cruises and cruise-related parking will be an estimated $85.1 million in the 2021-22 budget year. 

Here is a breakdown of the anticipated multiday cruises, by cruise line. These are year-round deployments of the ships, except where noted:

CARNIVAL: 256 total calls. The ships based here will be:

• Elation: 75 calls (four- and five-day sailings).
• Liberty: 96 calls (three- and four-day sailings).
• Magic: 33 calls; seasonal service (six- and eight-day sailings).
• Mardi Gras: 52 calls (seven-day sailings).

DISNEY: 157 total calls. The ships based here will be: 

• Dream part of the year and Wish  part of the year: 105 calls (three- and four-day sailings).
• Fantasy: 52 calls (seven-day sailings).

MSC:  75 total calls. This will be MSC's first year with ships based at Port Canaveral. The ships based here will be: 

• Divina  part of the year and Meraviglia part of the year: 75 calls (three-, four- and seven-day sailings).

NORWEGIAN: 39 total calls, including 26 calls by a ship-based at Port Canaveral and 13 port-of-call stops. The ship-based here will be:

• Escape: 26 calls; seasonal service (seven-day sailings). 

ROYAL CARIBBEAN:  274 total calls, including 216 calls by ships based at Port Canaveral and 58 port-of-call stops. The ships based here will be:

• Allure of the Seas part of the year and Harmony of the Seas part of the year: 51 calls (seven-day sailings).
• Independence of the Seas:  95 calls (three- and four-day sailings).
• Mariner of the Seas:  70 calls (four- and five-day sailings).

During the current budget year, there will be a total of 66 cruise ship sailings with passengers in a period stretching from July 31 through Sept. 29, according to Port Canaveral Chief Executive Officer John Murray. 

That includes sailings on eight ships operated by four cruise lines.

Cautious passenger count estimates

Poole said he was conservative in his projections for port revenue from cruise operations.

He is using estimates of passenger counts that are much lower than the port has historically seen.

For example, he is projecting that ships sailing from Port Canaveral will operate at 50% of their double-occupancy capacity from October through December 2021. Then, he is projecting that they will operate at 75% of their double-occupancy capacity from January through September 2022.

"We feel like it's a very conservative approach," Poole told port commissioners on Wednesday, during their first of two budget hearings.

Related: Disney Cruise Line plans 'test sailing' on the Dream, departing Saturday from Port Canaveral

More: Disney Dream sails out on test cruise, first cruise ship out of port since March 2020

Poole noted that Port Canaveral-based cruise ships historically have sailed at 110% to 115% of their double-occupancy capacities, with three or more people occupying many cabins, typically parents and their children.

Murray said more ships will be based at Port Canaveral in the 2021-22 budget year than there were here before the pandemic began. And some are significantly larger than the ships that were here before.

So that will help make up for reduced passenger counts, Murray said.

Other port segments

Poole is projecting these amounts of revenue from other sectors of the port's business during 2021-22:

Cargo: Port fees of $11.1 million and rent of $4.1 million, with 5.3 million tons of total cargo.

The commodity categories with the most revenue are projected to be liquid bulk like petroleum ($2.8 million), lumber ($2.1 million), space cargo ($1.5 million), slag ($975,000) and limestone ($804,000).

Non-cargo leases: $4.4 million.

Recreation: $3.4 million, including at Exploration Tower and Jetty Park.

Miscellaneous: $1.8 million, including revenue from commercial vehicle fees from taxis; shuttle buses; Uber drivers and Lyft drivers; fire training operations; and permits.

Staffing ramping up

With cruising making a comeback, Port Canaveral is ramping up its staff, projecting it will have 238 employees during the 2021-22 budget year.

But that's still less than the port's pre-pandemic staffing level.

During the pandemic, the port reduced its staff by 43% — from 268 positions to 153. That was done through a combination of 68 permanent layoffs, 17 unpaid furloughs, and not filling 30 positions that were left vacant because of retirement or employees taking jobs elsewhere.

Poole said, with cruising resuming, the port will have increases in various other expenses, including for service contracts, utilities and public safety.

He said the port will continue reduced spending levels for promotions, advertising, travel, sponsorships and consultants.

After hearing the presentation, Port Authority Chairman Wayne Justice noted that there is excitement about the return of cruising at the port — which is expected to lead to a return to profits in the coming budget year.

"We're on our way back," Justice said.

Morgan Hines of  USA Today contributed to this report.

Dave Berman is business editor at FLORIDA TODAY . Contact Berman at [email protected]. Twitter: @bydaveberman .

If stories like this are important to you, please consider subscribing to FLORIDA TODAY. To subscribe: https://cm.floridatoday.com/specialoffer/

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Cruise lines dropped COVID-19 rules. How did that affect cases? We got numbers from the CDC.

David Hancock spent his September vacation doing things he'd never done. He went on a cruise for the first time, hugged a sloth at an animal park in Honduras, and at some point during the trip, likely contracted COVID-19.

The 36-year-old firefighter had avoided infection for two years, but tested positive the morning after he and his wife, Melissa, who had been celebrating their 15th wedding anniversary, returned home to Savannah, Tennessee.

But not even COVID-19 could put a damper on their Royal Caribbean International sailing. "I went all that time since COVID began without getting it ... so I went and got it on a cruise ship," he told USA TODAY.

"But because I was vaccinated and boosted, my symptoms were mild," he said, adding that he would definitely go on a cruise again.

Cruise lines change COVID-19 rules: Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line further lift requirements

'Was it worth the risk? I don't think so': What it's like to cruise with fewer COVID rules

Many recent cruise line policy changes reflect a shifting approach to the pandemic. Major cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, and Norwegian Cruise Line International dropped their vaccine requirements for many sailing in early September and eased testing rules, about two weeks before Hancock left for his seven-night voyage.

However, after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ended its COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships in July and stopped updating its related webpage , COVID-19 spread amid the more relaxed approaches has been a relative mystery.

But data from the CDC obtained by USA TODAY through a Freedom of Information Act request shed some light on the numbers cruise lines reported to the agency after the rules were changed.

What COVID-19 case numbers did cruise lines report to the CDC?

The numbers also only represent new COVID-19 cases identified by positive viral tests on cruise ships entering or leaving from the U.S. The data does not show the test positivity rate or the number of passengers on the sailings.

►Norwegian began welcoming all passengers regardless of vaccination status on Sept. 3 and dropped all pre-cruise testing requirements for vaccinated passengers 12 and older. In the weeks that followed, the cruise line reported similar numbers to the weeks leading up to the rule change. The week beginning Sept. 4, the cruise line reported 138 new cases, and reported another 161 the following week. For the week of Sept. 18, two weeks after dropping requirements , Norwegian reported 204 new cases, and just 25 the following week.

The cruise line had previously reported 234, 164 and 184 cases in the three weeks leading up to the change, respectively.

►Carnival made similar changes on Sept. 6, scrapping its requirement for unvaccinated passengers to apply for a vaccine exemption  and further easing its pre-cruise testing rule for vaccinated passengers on many sailings.

The cruise line reported 193 new cases for both the weeks of Sept. 11 and the following week and another 144 during the week beginning Sept. 25.

Carnival had previously reported 214, 265, and another 214 new cases in the three weeks leading up to the change, respectively, including the week of Sept. 4.

►Royal Caribbean also began welcoming all travelers regardless of vaccination status and further eased pre-cruise testing for vaccinated passengers for many sailings on Sept. 5.

The line reported 341 new cases the week of Sept. 11, and 306 the week after. The line then reported another 237 new cases for the week of Sept. 25. In the weeks preceding the change, Royal Caribbean had reported 448, 311, and 348 new cases, respectively, including the week of Sept. 4.

Dr. Peter F. Rebeiro, an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said,   generally speaking, if unvaccinated passengers who test negative – as they were required to at the time – are mixed in with a mostly-vaccinated group, the "overall risk is not going to spike a huge amount,"   he said. However, he noted that vaccinated passengers can still spread the virus.

Rebeiro also noted that if transmission among the general population is lower at the time a passenger boards a cruise, the likelihood they will spread the virus is lower.

Anne Madison, a spokesperson for the Cruise Lines International Association, the industry's leading trade group, emphasized the safety of cruise travel.

"CLIA-member cruise lines have a strong track record for effectively managing COVID-19 by making science-driven and medically informed decisions – and continue to have health protocols in place that exceed those of nearly any other venue or travel sector outside of healthcare settings," she said in an emailed statement.

Madison added that as a condition of their membership, cruise lines must keep up certain protocols, including "maintaining elevated public health measures to mitigate the introduction or spread of COVID-19 on board ships" and sailing with high vaccination levels among passengers and crew members, among others.

Story continues below.

What does that mean for passengers?

The data did not show a consistent pattern in new cases for other major cruise lines, including Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, or Holland America Line, either. Celebrity made similar changes on Sept. 5, while Princess and Holland America did so on Sept. 6.

During roughly the same period, the weekly COVID-19 case rate per 100,000 people steadily declined in the U.S., from 209 the week of Aug. 17 to 96.5 the week of Oct. 5, according to CDC data .

The "CDC has determined that the cruise industry has access to the necessary tools to prevent and mitigate COVID-19 on board," CDC spokesperson Tom Skinner said in an emailed statement. "While CDC provides guidance for cruise ships operating in U.S. waters under CDC’s jurisdiction, individual cruise lines will determine their own specific COVID-19-related requirements for cruise travel. Any decrease in the volume or frequency of routine screening testing of crew by cruise lines may result in lower counts of asymptomatic cases."

Victoria Alvarez knew Carnival had eased its protocols by the time she got on her Caribbean cruise in late September. Living in Florida, she said, she was used to more relaxed rules .

But the risk of getting COVID-19 did cross her mind during the trip. The 27-year-old business administration manager said the ship was crowded, particularly in the dining and entertainment venues.

Alvarez, who is vaccinated and boosted, said she and her friends took some extra precautions of their own, such as eating outside when they could and avoiding the pools, which were packed. "We just saved our swimming for the islands," she said.

"I don't know if I just haven't been in crowds like that in a while, but it was just, like, it's a lot," she added of the experience.

What precautions can people take?

Anna Bershteyn, an assistant professor in the Department of Population Health at New York University Grossman School of Medicine, said that there may be other factors the data does not reflect, "but it doesn't seem that this policy (change) had any consistent effect across cruise lines."

While there are still many COVID-19-related deaths across the country each day, she said, many people have been assessing their own risk tolerance. "It comes to this decision, what are the precautions that people should take versus going back and living life?" Bershteyn said.

Cruises will return to Japan: Country reopens to international cruise ships for first time since the pandemic

Sailing then and now: Holland America's anniversary transatlantic crossing highlights how cruising has changed

While not all passengers have felt completely safe on cruises since many lines relaxed their rules, Hancock said he and his wife are planning on taking another cruise with Royal Caribbean, even as it has further rolled back requirements .

"I feel as though COVID's not going to be going anywhere," Hancock said "It's kind of with us for the long haul. It's just a matter of preparations people take and what risks they're willing to take."

Bershteyn recommended travelers take steps to protect themselves, first by staying up to date on all the vaccine doses they are eligible for. She also recommended they make a plan with their doctor in case they do get sick, and contact the cruise line to see what options they would have.

If travelers have taken those steps, she said, she would advise travelers who want to take a cruise to go ahead. "We can't put our life on hold indefinitely, but we do want those safety nets in place in case something happens," she said.

Bershteyn also recommended travelers look for opportunities to take extra precautions when doing so "is not going to take away" from the experience, which she noted may be different for each traveler. In her case, she wears a face mask when she is in crowded places such as airports, while others may opt to eat outdoors when possible.

Have you gone on a cruise recently? What was your experience like?

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: CDC data shows COVID-19 numbers on cruises after vaccine rules dropped

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Cruises reported more than 1,350 covid cases since June, CDC report reveals

Coronavirus found its way on board despite strict public health measures.

A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers the first publicly available look at how many coronavirus cases were discovered on cruises in the United States following an industry-wide shutdown. Despite cruise lines’ efforts to impose strict public health rules , covid-19 has still found a way on board.

According to the CDC data, cruise operators confirmed 1,359 cases between June 26 and Oct. 21, a roughly four-month period that represents a rebound for the industry. Many of those involved breakthrough infections of people who were fully vaccinated. During that time, operators reported 49 hospitalizations and 38 medical evacuations for covid-19 or covid-like illnesses. At least one person died after testing positive during a cruise.

As the government allowed cruises to resume with some restrictions, ships added vaccine requirements, testing rules, capacity limits and mask mandates. Cruise lines have acknowledged positive cases over the past few months, but the full scope was not previously known. The CDC included the numbers in its extension of a “conditional sail order” that outlines operating rules for cruise lines during the pandemic; that order will shift from mandatory to voluntary on Jan. 15.

In making the case to extend the order beyond a Nov. 1 expiration date, CDC director Rochelle Walensky wrote that “despite the best efforts of cruise ship operators to provide a safer and healthier environment for crew and passengers,” outbreaks had continued.

Cruises will no longer be required to follow CDC rules starting in January

The document provides several examples, mostly involving breakthrough cases, including one in which a symptomatic passenger who tested positive on a ship in late July was linked to 20 more confirmed cases over two sailings. In that case, 18 service workers and two passengers were infected. One ship reported 58 positive cases between July 24 and Aug. 28, and another reported 105 confirmed cases on four back-to-back trips between Aug. 19 and Sept. 7. One reported 112 cases on four voyages between Aug. 21 and Sept. 7.

In each of those cases, the ships reported between 96.4 percent to 100 percent of people aboard were vaccinated.

Aimee Treffiletti, a captain in the U.S. Public Health Service and lead for the CDC’s maritime unit, told The Washington Post in an interview last week that vaccinations should continue to be “an essential part” of cruise line health plans even after the rules expire.

“That’s one of the main reasons we haven’t seen medical systems overwhelmed on board, because we have such high vaccination rates on board,” she said.

The CDC does not identify specific ships or companies in its order, but the public health agency does maintain a website showing whether there have been recent cases of covid-19 on ships sailing in U.S. waters.

In an email, Cruise Lines International Association spokeswoman Bari Golin-Blaugrund said the trade group estimates that about 600,000 customers sailed aboard ocean ships during the four months since the industry resumed in the United States.

“The relatively low occurrence of covid-19 during that period, particularly when compared to the rest of the country, further shows the leadership of the cruise industry and the effectiveness of the science-backed protocols that have enabled a successful return to operations around the world,” she wrote.

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Coronavirus Updates

The coronavirus crisis, a judge oks cruise lines' covid vaccination requirement for passengers in florida.

Jaclyn Diaz

The Norwegian Gem cruise ship leaves the Port of Miami in April 2020. The Norwegian Gem's first trip since a pandemic-induced hiatus is scheduled to sail from Miami on Aug. 15. Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images hide caption

The Norwegian Gem cruise ship leaves the Port of Miami in April 2020. The Norwegian Gem's first trip since a pandemic-induced hiatus is scheduled to sail from Miami on Aug. 15.

Norwegian Cruise Line can require that passengers show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination before boarding any of its ships in Florida, a federal judge has ruled.

The decision by U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams in Miami to grant Norwegian's request for a preliminary injunction comes despite a state law passed in May that fines businesses that require proof of such vaccinations.

The law, championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, slaps businesses with a fine of $5,000 per violation for asking customers to prove that they have been inoculated against the coronavirus.

In her decision, Williams said Norwegian would likely succeed in a court trial with its argument that Florida's so-called vaccine passport ban risks public health and infringes on the cruise line's First Amendment rights.

Williams' decision also allows Norwegian to proceed with its first trip from Miami since the pandemic widely disrupted the cruise line industry in March 2020. Norwegian Cruise Line is one of several companies that sail from ports in Florida.

Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, said in a statement Sunday that the company welcomes Williams' ruling. He said it "allows us to sail with 100% fully vaccinated guests and crew which we believe is the safest and most prudent way to resume cruise operations amid this global pandemic."

Confirmed coronavirus cases and hospitalizations in Florida are at an all-time high as the delta variant surges around the nation and the world. On Sunday, approximately 1 in 4 hospital beds in Florida had a COVID-19 patient in it.

Florida Hospitals Are Filling Up As COVID-19 Cases Hit An All-Time High

Despite this, DeSantis continues to fight more sweeping coronavirus measures such as mask mandates.

Norwegian said it implements a 100% vaccination level rule for guests and crew members in each port it sails out of around the world.

The company is relying on "robust science-backed health and safety protocols" in which vaccines are the "cornerstone" to provide what Norwegian believes is the safest experience for travelers.

Despite the ongoing pandemic, and the latest surge in Florida, the state prohibited Norwegian from implementing its vaccine documentation rule. The company filed its lawsuit in July against Florida's surgeon general and the head of the state's Department of Health after failing to reach an agreement with officials over vaccine requirements.

Neither the surgeon general nor the Florida Department of Health issued a statement on the judge's ruling Sunday.

To date, the halt in operations during the pandemic cost Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, which operates the Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands, more than $6 billion, the company claims in court documents.

Norwegian Cruise Line's first trip departing out of Florida since the pandemic disrupted business last year is scheduled to leave Miami on Sunday.

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CDC Stops Reporting the Number of COVID Cases on Cruise Ships

The agency has halted its program that kept track of covid cases and outbreaks on cruise vessels..

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Disney Cruise Line is among the cruise lines that continues to require vaccination.

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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) this week ended a program that closely monitored COVID-19 cases on cruise ships—and published the results online.

For months, the CDC had maintained a color-coded chart, which had indicated COVID cases on a ship-by-ship basis along with any outbreaks that warranted investigation. But the landing page for that chart now states that the program has ended, effective July 18.

The agency also issued new, more muted cruise ship guidance that leaves it up to each cruise company to develop protocols for the health and safety of passengers and crew.

So, what does the CDC’s latest approach to cruising mean for travelers? Well, prospective passengers will need to closely read the rules provided by each individual cruise line to find out exactly what they may or may not require with regard to things such as precruise testing, vaccine mandates, mask wearing, and other mitigation measures.

The evolving pandemic protocols for cruising

At the start of the pandemic, the CDC completely banned U.S. cruising due to health and safety concerns, a policy that lasted from March 2020 until June 2021. The restart of cruising last summer came with numerous requirements regarding passenger and crew vaccinations, testing, mask wearing, and how to handle quarantine should anyone onboard become ill. These were later modified from “requirements” to “strong recommendations” by the agency.

In pulling back even further this week, CDC officials say they are confident that the cruise lines’ own programs are now up to snuff.

“Over the past two years, CDC has worked closely with the cruise industry, state, territorial, and local health authorities, and federal and seaport partners to provide a safer and healthier environment for cruise passengers and crew,” the agency said in a statement sent to AFAR. “CDC has determined that the cruise industry has access to the necessary tools (e.g., cruise-specific recommendations and guidance, vaccinations, testing instruments, treatment modalities, and non-pharmaceutical interventions) to prevent and mitigate COVID-19 on board.”

Several cruise lines contacted by AFAR said they were still reviewing the latest CDC policy and deciding how to respond.

“As always, our top priority is the safety and security of our guests, crew and communities we visit, and that will be top-of-mind for anything we decide moving forward,” said a spokesperson for Royal Caribbean .

According to Michelle Fee, CEO of the home-based travel advisors’ network Cruise Planners , the move “was long overdue.” She said that this latest development from the CDC “gives us great hope that the future for cruising is bright and will be back on track sooner rather than later.”

How cruise lines are updating their regulations

Inspired by the CDC’s decision in June to drop the COVID-19 testing requirement for incoming international air travelers, several cruise lines have dropped their own precruise testing requirements—when they are sailing in destinations where it is not required by the local government. Among the lines making the change are Viking, Virgin Voyages, and small ship line Azamara.

“The easing of our testing policy marks a step in the right direction towards a return to normalcy for the travel and cruising industry,” says Carol Cabezas, president of Azamara. “Cruising is one of the safest ways to travel, and our existing health and safety protocols onboard will ensure peace of mind for our guests and crew as we move forward.” Azamara still requires proof of vaccination to sail .

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, parent of Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, is dropping its precruise testing requirement for most sailings as of August 1.

For now, most cruise lines still require those age 12 and up to be vaccinated—and some require all passengers to be vaccinated. Disney Cruise Line is among the few companies that require vaccinations for all passengers age 5 and up.

It is unlikely cruise lines will eliminate vaccine requirements altogether anytime soon, since the CDC still continues to recommend that cruise passengers be vaccinated, though some cruise lines may increase the number of unvaccinated guests they allow onboard.

As for the current CDC recommendations for cruising, as mentioned above, the agency continues to advise passengers to get their shots.

“While cruising poses some risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers can make their own risk assessment when choosing to cruise, much like they do in other settings,” says the agency. “CDC continues to recommend that cruise travelers remain up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines and get tested for COVID-19 before and after they travel, and after any known exposure to a person with COVID-19.”

The CDC also recommends wearing masks “in indoor travel settings.”

>> Next: Are COVID Vaccinations and Testing Still Required for Cruises?

All the cruise ships that have had confirmed cases of COVID-19 onboard

• Thousands of cruise ship passengers and crew members have fallen ill with COVID-19 since the global coronavirus pandemic began.
• Major cruise industry players like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian have all seen cases within their fleets.
• Are you a cruise line employee, cruise ship crew member, or passenger? Email [email protected] or [email protected].
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories .

The worldwide coronavirus pandemic hit the cruise ship industry like a rogue wave.

Cruise ships like the Diamond Princess , the Grand Princess , the Ruby Princess , the Oasis of the Seas, and the Zaandam became the focus of international headlines after crew members and passengers fell ill with COVID-19.

Those widely-publicized outbreaks have helped to upend the entire seafaring business, with shares plummeting for industry giants like Carnival . And government officials in the United States have taken action by extending a no-sail order for cruises for at least another three months.

It is likely that the number of COVID-19 cases linked to cruise ship crew members and passengers will only go up in the weeks to come, as thousands of crew members are still stranded on stricken ships. 

Here's a look at the cruise ships at the center of the coronavirus crisis on the high seas: 

Watch: What coronavirus symptoms look like, day by day

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Norwegian Cruise Line cancels sailings on 8 ships as COVID-19 cases soar

One of the world's biggest cruise lines on Wednesday canceled a wide swath of its soon-to-depart voyages as COVID-19 cases around the world continue to soar.

In a notice posted on its website, Norwegian Cruise Line said it had canceled sailings as far out as April on eight vessels, including trips on many of its Florida-based and Hawaii-based ships.

The cancellations were announced just a day after Norwegian ended an 11-night voyage out of Miami one day after the trip had begun, citing COVID-19 cases among the ship's crew. That sailing was taking place on the Miami-based line's 2,394-passenger Norwegian Pearl.

For more cruise guides, tips and news, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter

The cancellations come as cruise lines struggle along with all other types of travel providers to deal with the surge in COVID-19 cases sweeping the world. In the U.S., nearly 900,000 people tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday -- nearly 10 times the number that were testing positive just a few weeks ago.

While cruise ships have recorded relatively few cases of COVID-19 over the past year, in part due to unusually strict health protocols , the number of passengers and crew testing positive on ships has been rising sharply in recent weeks along with the greater surge on land. The rise in cases on ships has led to disruptions to sailings as some ports have balked at allowing ships to call or tightened entry requirements to a point that has makes it difficult for ships to comply.

Some cruise ships also have had to contend with crew shortages that have resulted from the need to isolate crew who have tested positive for COVID-19.

The Norwegian cancellations announced Wednesday include:

• The Norwegian Getaway departure of Jan. 5.
• Norwegian Pearl departures through Jan. 14.
• Norwegian Sky departures through Feb. 25.
• Pride of America departures through Feb. 26.
• Norwegian Jade departures through March 3.
• Norwegian Star departures through March 19.
• Norwegian Sun departures through April 19.
• Norwegian Spirit departures through April 23.

The vessels account for nearly half of Norwegian's 17-ship fleet.

Norwegian isn't the only line beginning to cancel sailings this week as COVID-19 cases surge, though no other line has canceled sailings in such large numbers.

Oceania Cruises on Wednesday canceled all sailings of its 1,250-passenger, South America-based Marina scheduled for January and February, citing new "onerous and prohibitive travel restrictions" in Argentina related to COVID-19. Regent Seven Seas Cruises on Tuesday said it would not operate a 120-day around-the-world cruise on the 700-passenger Seven Seas Mariner that was supposed to start Wednesday in San Francisco.

Both Oceania and Regent are owned by the same parent company as Norwegian.

In addition, a Hong Kong-based Royal Caribbean ship, the 4,905-passenger Spectrum of the Seas, cut a sailing out of the city short early Wednesday after being ordered back to port by Hong Kong authorities due to worries about the spread of COVID-19. The next sailing of the vessel, scheduled for Thursday, has been canceled.

The cancellations follow news earlier this week that five Brazil-based cruise ships operated by MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises would shut down operations through Jan. 21, following disruptions to earlier sailings related to COVID-19 cases. Several European lines that cater to German-speaking travelers also have canceled sailings in recent days.

The wave of cancellations are the biggest since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when the entire cruise industry shut down in a matter of days. Most of the world's major cruise lines remained shut down for well more than a year afterwards.

For now, there is little talk in the industry of such a widespread shutdown. Even the lines that are canceling sailings have said they expected the ships to be back in operation soon.

In the case of one of the vessels, Seven Seas Mariner, the ship still will depart from San Francisco on Wednesday -- just not on the same itinerary that it had been scheduled to sail.

Regent on Tuesday said the vessel would operate the initial segment of the canceled world cruise through the Panama Canal to Miami over the next 18 days. But after that, the line is replacing the remainder of the globe-circling voyage with four new, closer-to-home voyages out of Miami.

Regent isn't using the world cancellation to describe its change of plans for Seven Seas Mariner, instead writing to passengers that it was "modifying" the world cruise. Still, it is effectively a cancellation as the ship no longer will travel around the world.

Related: Will I need a vaccine to cruise? A line-by-line guide

Regent said passengers booked on the original 120-day world cruise who go ahead with Wednesday's truncated sailing and stay onboard for all of the new substitute voyages would receive a 30% refund of the fare they had paid. Passengers also have the option of just staying on board for the initial part of the new schedule, in which case they will get a pro-rated refund for the skipped days plus 15% of the total fare they had paid.

Seven Seas Mariner passengers also can say no to the revised itinerary, in which case they will receive a full refund of their fare.

Passengers on the canceled Norwegian sailings will receive a full refund, the line said. In addition, they'll receive a future cruise credit in the amount of 10% of the fare that they had paid. The credit can be applied to any sailing through May 31, 2023.

After restarting operations around the world over the past year, cruise lines have implemented unusually strict health protocols that go far beyond what is typical at land-based resorts and on airplanes. Many lines require all passengers and crew to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and to undergo COVID-19 testing before boarding ships.

Passengers often also have to wear masks while onboard ships and keep socially distant.

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Royal Caribbean shares huge onboard health and safety news

W hen you go to a hotel or a theme park and get infected with a virus, you don't know exactly what happened. Maybe you caught the virus at the airport, in a rest stop, on an airplane, or even at your hotel or in a restaurant.

That's generally because by the time you get sick, you're no longer at the place where you got infected. Cruise ships, however, lack the same plausible deniability, and historically viruses spread quickly on ships.

Related: Royal Caribbean bets big on new ships, private destinations

On a seven-day cruise, you might actually have picked up an illness at the supermarket or at work, but when you get sick on the ship, people blame the cruise line. When someone falls ill, cruise lines don't actually care where they got infected. They simply want to slow down the spread of the disease.

That has always been the case, but the Covid pandemic and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) shutting down the cruise industry from the U.S. for over a year put shipboard illness under a bigger microscope. For months, the federal agency reported on onboard Covid levels and did little to share all of the steps the major cruise lines had taken to mitigate outbreaks.

Now, with Covid becoming less of a concern, Royal Caribbean has shared some big news about its efforts to control another virus, norovirus, which spreads quickly on ships. 

Royal Caribbean has made ships safer

"Norovirus is a very contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea. Anyone can get infected and sick with norovirus. Norovirus is sometimes called the 'stomach flu' or 'stomach bug.' However, norovirus illness is not related to the flu, which is caused by influenza virus," according to the CDC.

The virus can cause problems on cruise ships, but it's actually a pretty rare occurrence.

"Norovirus is the most frequent (over 90%) cause of outbreaks of diarrheal disease on cruise ships and these outbreaks often get media attention, which is why some people call norovirus the 'cruise ship virus.' However, norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships account for only a small percentage (1%) of all reported norovirus outbreaks," the federal agency reported.

You are much more likely to get norovirus in a land-based restaurant or healthcare facility than on a cruise ship, but cruise outbreaks make for good stories and get widespread media attention.

Royal Caribbean began its Norovirus Eradication Campaign in 2023. It's a six-step program that has worked to stop outbreaks on its ships, the Royal Caribbean Blog reported.

Royal Caribbean's plan has worked

Royal Caribbean has enacted a comprehensive plan designed to contain norovirus and prevent its spread.

• Enhanced acute GI training for onboard medical teams and traveling doctors
• Increased doctor oversight of its Outbreak Prevention Plan, which covers requirements like hand washing, buffet oversight, and disinfectant mandates for all public areas aboard its ships.

Switching to PDI SaniCloth Prime hospital-grade disinfectant wipes, wipes certified to kill norovirus by the EPA.

New contactless tap technology, eliminating the need for crew to handle guest cards

Enhanced crew training on what to do when experiencing acute GI symptoms and how to avoid cross-contamination in food and beverage service areas

An update to Royal Caribbean's Safety & Quality Management system to stop self-service in buffets if the onboard norovirus rate exceeds 1.5%

"After the eradication campaign was implemented in June 2023, there was not a single norovirus outbreak onboard any Royal Caribbean International or Celebrity Cruise ship for the remainder of 2023," the report shared.

Celebrity Constellation, however, did have an outbreak in January 2024 that was listed on a CDC website, according to Royal Caribbean Blog.