CDC will let cruise rules expire

[DCLMP]

Because the possibility of being turned away at port is a huge deterrent to cruising, and DCL needs customers, and because it's part of a move away from trying to contain Covid, which is impossible. If you're vaccinated, you're much safer getting Covid, which is why I think they'll require vaccination for years, to reduce the chance of people becoming seriously ill onboard. I said "gradually", because as the islands DCL visits gradually build up natural immunity (aka protection from severe illness, because that's the extent of "immunity" to Covid) due to the massive spread of Omicron, they'll become less militant about keeping people out & reorient towards bringing tourist dollars in.

I think all of that is yet to be determined.

 

[DCLMP]

Because the possibility of being turned away at port is a huge deterrent to cruising, and DCL needs customers, and because it's part of a move away from trying to contain Covid, which is impossible. If you're vaccinated, you're much safer getting Covid, which is why I think they'll require vaccination for years, to reduce the chance of people becoming seriously ill onboard. I said "gradually", because as the islands DCL visits gradually build up natural immunity (aka protection from severe illness, because that's the extent of "immunity" to Covid) due to the massive spread of Omicron, they'll become less militant about keeping people out & reorient towards bringing tourist dollars in.

There’s a lot of vulnerable people that cruise.

 

[happycamper47]

These aren't the rapid tests you get at the drug store. They're still PCR tests like the ones that normally take 2-3 days, but they're processed on site and not sent off to a lab. That's why they can turn them around so fast like a rapid test. I could be wrong, but there might be a special machine they needed to purchase as well.

Very much so. The RAPID PCR can be gotten at many of the local testing facilities, but they cost $150 and insurance will not cover it. Here in Orlando most of the emergency clinics offer them and you have to pay out of pocket, The regular 2 day PCR is free.

 

[tvguy]

I am as covid cautious as anyone but I’d love to see them dropping testing at the port for vaccinated passengers, preferably before my April cruise. It’s such an added stress and I’m sure plenty of people are exposed the day or two before (at Disney or the hotel or whatever) but still test negative. Testing at the port seems arbitrary if they’re not testing the first 3-4 days of the cruise as well, and is really screwing things up for asymptomatic pspoke who probably aren’t contagious anyhow,

But I think that was driven by Disney not the CDC so I don’t think the conditional sail order impacts it one way or the other.

Not the least bit arbitrary, a business necessity. Can you imagine the mess they would have if they had an outbreak among children on the cruise line that probably has more children than any other.? And a reminder, asymptomatic people are JUST as contagious as someone with symptoms.
Although at this point the ports are in charge of those determinations. They have closed to ships because they feel the current protocols aren't enough.

 

[MomOTwins]

To OP’s question, given the status of the Flordia court case, the CDC’s order has not actually been in effect at all for sailings put of Florida since cruising resumed. Cruise ships have just been complying voluntarily to avoid bad press. So really, this changes nothing to the status quo. Cruise ships will do what they think best.

 

[Cheburashka]

There’s a lot of vulnerable people that cruise.

That's their choice.

Every day in all types of situations, people assess their own risk level and risk tolerance for various activities. Going on a certain vacation is no different.

 

[AquaDame]

Because the possibility of being turned away at port is a huge deterrent to cruising, and DCL needs customers, and because it's part of a move away from trying to contain Covid, which is impossible. If you're vaccinated, you're much safer getting Covid, which is why I think they'll require vaccination for years, to reduce the chance of people becoming seriously ill onboard. I said "gradually", because as the islands DCL visits gradually build up natural immunity (aka protection from severe illness, because that's the extent of "immunity" to Covid) due to the massive spread of Omicron, they'll become less militant about keeping people out & reorient towards bringing tourist dollars in.

As long as the pandemic is ongoing what matters is positive cases and spreading it. Now that we have omicron spreading easily amongst the vaccinated as well as the unvaccinated its not enough. They won't drop testing until its decided spread is immaterial.

That's their choice.

Every day in all types of situations, people assess their own risk level and risk tolerance for various activities. Going on a certain vacation is no different.

It's not a choice once those people go home and expose others. This is the same narrative we've all been debating since covid popped up. Cruiselines have decided to require vaccines and testing to do as much as they can to stop the spread while still sailing.

I'm going to close the thread as the debating about why cruise lines are doing this is against the rules:
https://www.disboards.com/threads/policy-on-covid-related-discussions.3840344/