Volunteers will set sail on Royal Caribbean 'trial voyage'

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Royal Caribbean International will embark on the first CDC-approved test cruise in June. The trial voyage is one of the first steps cruise lines need to take before allowing paying passengers to travel through US waters.

The cruise received CDC approval on May 25, according to a post Royal Caribbean CEO Michael Bayley shared on Facebook, and will leave from Miami. After the CDC's No Sail Order was lifted in October -- which has restricted cruises through US waters since March 2020 -- the agency issued new guidance in May for cruise lines to resume business, including conducting test cruises with volunteers in order to obtain a Conditional Sailing Certificate. Then, cruise lines may welcome passengers aboard for restricted trips.

"CDC has provisionally approved one cruise ship from Royal Caribbean to begin simulated voyages in June, following a request to conduct a simulated voyage and the submission of an accurate and complete port agreement," a CDC spokesperson told USA Today.

Volunteers on the Royal Caribbean simulation cruise must meet requirements set by the CDC, including being at least 18 years old and informed of the risks of setting sail on a test cruise during a pandemic. Volunteers may or may not be vaccinated against COVID-19. If they aren't vaccinated, they'll have to self-certify that they aren't at risk of critical illness due to COVID-19, or give documentation from a healthcare provider. (Cruise lines that can certify that at least 95% of all passengers will be vaccinated are allowed to skip the test cruise requirement, per the CDC.)

https://www.cnet.com/health/volunteers-will-set-sail-on-royal-caribbean-trial-voyage/

You too can be a human guinea pig.

[gratuitous]

1. Cruises are not my cup of tea

But I know there are some people who are practically addicted to it. Good for them. I guess I don't want them to die of some preventable contagion, so I'm glad the cruise companies are trying to keep their customers safe.

[underpants]

2. Will there be a buffet?

[dawg day]

3. I don't like ocean cruises (too much water)

But I'd volunteer for a European river cruise. (Fully vaxxed!)

[lindysalsagal]

4. This is my favorite thread. We already know these are petri dishes

For norovirus. WTF?

[Sgent]

5. I wouldn't do RC

because they are family oriented and thus not enforcing vaccines for anyone. I'd pick a ship where 99%+ people are vaccinated.