The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gave the go-ahead for Royal Caribbean to set sail in a step to restart cruising.
A spokesperson for the CDC confirmed to USA Today, “CDC has provisionally approved one cruise ship from Royal Caribbean to begin simulated voyages in June, following a request to conduct a simulated voyage and the submission of an accurate and complete port agreement.”
The test cruises are required for ships carrying non-vaccinated passengers prior to resuming revenue-generating cruises.
Royal Caribbean will operate a test cruise with volunteer passengers in late June on its Freedom of the Seas ship. Vaccines will not be required to board, but any passenger who isn’t vaccinated must have written documentation from a health professional or self-certify that they are not at risk for COVID.
All passengers are required to do a COVID symptom screening before boarding and after disembarking. They must also receive another COVID test three to five days after their cruise.
The CDC recommends that all crew members, passengers and port workers be vaccinated when cruises restart, but a Florida law passed by the Republican-controlled state Legislature and promoted by Gov. Ron DeSantis complicates things.
The law prevents cruise companies from asking passengers for proof of vaccination.
In a celebratory Facebook post on Tuesday, Royal Caribbean International CEO Michael Bayley announced the CDC’s decision and said he was “proud and pleased to share some bright and wonderful news.”
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