CRUISING IN 2022? Changes to Cruises & What to Expect (masks, pre-cruise tests, boosters, CDC)

Editorial Summary

The creator discusses recent updates to the CDC voluntary program for cruise ships operating in United States waters. She explains that major cruise lines have opted into this program, which categorizes ships into three vaccination statuses: the vaccination standard of excellence, highly vaccinated, and not highly vaccinated. The creator notes that most ships currently fall into the highly vaccinated category, which requires 95 percent of passengers and crew to be fully vaccinated. A significant change mentioned is that children under the age of five are no longer counted toward these vaccination percentages, meaning families traveling with young children may no longer need to apply for exemptions. Additionally, the creator highlights increased flexibility regarding isolation and quarantine protocols, as well as a reduction in the CDC travel warning level for cruises. The video also covers potential changes to pre-cruise testing windows, specifically noting that Carnival may allow testing within three days of departure for boosted passengers. Finally, the creator addresses mask protocols, noting that several lines like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Norwegian have moved toward recommending rather than requiring masks on board. She concludes by advising travelers to monitor individual cruise line websites for specific updates regarding boosters and requirements.

Written by TripBacon from this video's transcript.