TAMPA, Fla — Days before the rule was set to expire, federal health officials are extending COVID-19 protocols on cruise ships until mid-January.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday the extension to Nov. 1 makes only minor modifications to current rules.
The agency says after Jan. 15, it plans to move to a voluntary program for cruise companies to detect and control the spread of COVID-19 on their ships. An industry trade group pledged to continue working with CDC on health measures onboard ships.
Earlier this month, Port Tampa Bay saw its first cruise set sail since the pandemic began in Mar. 2020. The Serenade of the Seas required all passengers and crew to be vaccinated or show a negative COVID-19 test.
A federal judge let Royal Caribbean keep that requirement, despite Governor Ron DeSantis' ban on companies in Florida requiring proof of vaccination.
Port Tampa Bay has been busy this year. Before cruises even resumed, the port has been working overtime to ease supply chain backlogs worldwide.