CHICAGO (NewsNation Now) — The “No Sail Order” banning U.S. cruise ships is now lifted, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Friday.
The CDC says it will use a “phased approach to resuming cruise ships passenger operations in U.S. waters” which will consist of COVID-19 testing and additional safeguards for crew members.
The initial phases will also include simulated voyages to test cruise ship operators’ ability to handle coronavirus risk, certification of ships that meet specific requirements and a gradual return to passenger trips that “mitigates COVID-19 risk among passengers, crew members and U.S. communities.”
The CDC’s no-sail advisory for cruise ships carrying passengers of 250 or more has been in place since March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In August, the U.S. cruise industry announced it was voluntarily suspending operations through October 31, along with the CDC’s extension of the no-sail advisory through the same time frame.