While it's by no means clear when U.S.-based cruise lines will sail their first voyages under new Centers for Disease Control rules for recertification, the first passengers to board won't be paying for their cruises. One of the CDC rules requires cruise lines to prove their Covid preparations with 'mock cruises' to test out the procedures and equipment.
The cruise lines have been banned from operation since March after major Covid-19 outbreaks on a number of ships. CDC and industry groups have worked together on new protocols that include rules for testing, requiring passengers to stay with their shore excursion groups and to wear masks and keep social distance.
For the mock cruises—no details yet on how to volunteer or when—CDC says that “volunteers (will) play the role of passengers to test cruise ship operators’ ability to mitigate Covid-19 risk."
CDC director Robert R. Redfield said: “This framework provides a pathway to resume safe and responsible sailing. It will mitigate the risk of Covid-19 outbreaks on ships and prevent passengers and crew from seeding outbreaks at ports and in the communities where they live."
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