Cruise ship crew member disembarkations

Updated May 7, 2021CDC is committed to helping cruise lines provide for the safety and well-being of their crew members while onboard cruise ships and as they disembark. CDC is allowing crew members to disembark from all cruise ships in U.S. waters with certain precautions. Cruise lines with complete and accurate response plans are able to use commercial travel to disembark crew members from certain ships if the ships meet certain criteria set by CDC. Criteria include no confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) or COVID-19-like illness onboard the ship within the last 14 days. These ships are also able to lessen certain social distancing restrictions onboard. Cruise lines with complete and accurate COVID-19 response plans but not meeting the above criteria will still be able to disembark their crew members using noncommercial travel. Cruise lines must have measures in place to ensure those involved in transport are not exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19 and follow all CDC requirements to prevent interaction of disembarking crew with the public. Additionally, CDC recommends that all eligible port personnel and travelers (passengers and crew) get a COVID-19 vaccine when one is available to them.2021961