US CDC drops Covid-19 warning for cruises

The warning was first issued by federal health officials in March 2020 and provided guidance to consumers on restrictions on cruise travel, grading systems and protocols for sailing safety.

However, the authority still expressed reservations about cruising and urged travellers to "make their own risk assessment" before taking a cruise. 

According to The Guardian, CDC spokesperson Dave Daigle said in an email: "While cruising will always pose some risk of Covid-19 transmission, travellers will make their own risk assessment when choosing to travel on a cruise ship, much like they do in all other travel settings."

He reportedly said the decision was based on "the current state of the pandemic" and decreases in Covid-19 cases onboard cruise ships over the past several weeks. 

Virgin Voyages welcomed the move on Twitter, saying: "Nothing like getting a call that the CDC has lifted the Cruise Travel Health Notice to get us through hump day"