The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that travelers who are at high risk of severe complications from Covid-19 should avoid taking cruises, regardless of their vaccination status.
The updated guidance also recommended that travelers who are not fully vaccinated avoid taking cruises, reports CNBC.
The new advice follows several coronavirus outbreaks that have been reported aboard cruise ships, according to the CDC.
In addition, although the agency is not putting in place the same type of masking requirements that exist for planes, trains and other public transportation, it suggested cruise passengers wear a face covering in shared spaces.
“The virus that causes Covid-19 spreads easily between people in close quarters aboard ships, and the chance of getting Covid-19 on cruise ships is high,” the CDC said in its updated guidance.
The agency advised all travelers to get tested one to three days before taking a cruise and three to five days after returning, regardless of their vaccination status. Those who take a cruise should also quarantine for seven days after returning, even if they test negative for the virus.
