In the latest blow to the cruise industry, the CDC updates its travel restrictions for the Bahamas today. With the ongoing negotiations between the CDC and cruise lines still preventing cruising from U.S. homeports, many cruise lines have begun announcing plans to cruise from other North American homeports this summer.
Royal Caribbean and Crystal Cruises are two brands that have announced cruises from Nassau, Bahamas. Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas is scheduled to begin cruising from the Bahamas on June 12th. Many loyal to Royal fans are eager to get back onboard a cruise ship and are willing to make the trek to the Bahamas to do so.
Related Post: All the Cruises Americans Can Take This Summer
CDC Updates Travel Recommendations for Bahamas
However, it is clear that the CDC is trying to discourage such travel. Today, the government agency provided updates to its travel recommendations for the Bahamas. Mainly, the Bahamas is now classified as “Level 4: Very High Level of COVID-19”. This is the same level assigned to all cruise travel.
The CDC is now officially recommending that individuals avoid all travel to the Bahamas.
Key Information for Travelers to the Bahamas
- Travelers should avoid all travel to the Bahamas.
- Because of the current situation in the Bahamas even fully vaccinated travelers may be at risk for getting and spreading COVID-19 variants and should avoid all travel to the Bahamas.
- If you must travel to the Bahamas, get fully vaccinated before travel. All travelers should wear a mask, stay 6 feet from others, avoid crowds, and wash their hands.
If you are fully vaccinated:
- You do NOT have to get tested before leaving the United States, unless your destination requires it.
- You do NOT have to self-quarantine after you arrive in the United States.
- All air passengers coming to the United States, including U.S. citizens and fully vaccinated people, are required to have a negative COVID-19 test result no more than 3 days before travel or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 in the past 3 months before they board a flight to the United States.
- You should get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel
- Self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms; isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms.
If you are unvaccinated:
- Get tested with a viral test 1-3 days before your trip.
- Get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel AND stay home and self-quarantine for a full 7 days after travel. Even if you test negative, stay home and self-quarantine for the full 7 days.
- If your test is positive, isolate yourself to protect others from getting infected.
- If you don’t get tested, stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel.
- Avoid being around people who are at increased risk for severe illness for 14 days, whether you get tested or not.
So, what does this mean for the cruise lines? Since this status was just updated today, we have yet to come across any response from the Bahamas and/or the cruise lines regarding the summer sailings. Stay tuned as more updates emerge.
Comments
The CDC updates its travel recommendations for the Bahamas, what do you think this means for summer cruises? Do you think this is another ploy to keep travelers from cruising? Drop us an anchor below to share your thoughts on this recent cruise news.
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2 comments
DIANA RUSHTON
FIRST PIORITY IS FOR EVERYONE TO BE SAFE WHILE CRUISING!!!!!! THERE IS NOTHING THE CDC CAN DO AS LONG AS THEIR MAIN CONCERN(S) IS SAFTY FOR ALL. WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT IT.
Colleen
Like honestly people! Nearly anyone in the USA who wants a Covid vaccine can obtain one. Let get back to life people. The cdc is as crooked as they come… the “increased travel advisory” for visiting the Bahamas smells fishy to me (and it’s not the fresh ocean air I’m getting a whiff of). Get yourself vaccinated and continue to seek fun and freedom! Cheers to future sun and fun??