The cruise industry’s governing body, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), has reassured cruisers over 70 years of age that they should not need to provide doctor’s notes in order to be able to cruise going forward.
While cruise operations are currently suspended across the world, the last update from CLIA before it was enforced saw them mandate that passengers aged over 70, or those with underlying health conditions, would required a signed not from a doctor confirming that they were fit to sail. The requirement, issued as an early response to the COVID-19 pandemic, would have seen those with immunodeficiency disorders such as cancer or diabetes, as well as those with heart, lung, liver and kidney diseases, unable to cruise.
“We found out that CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) did actually change this requirement on April 3rd. So a health form is no longer required for those travellers ages 70 plus, nor are there restrictions for those guests with underlying health conditions,” she said.
“In our current environment, everything can change at a moment’s notice, so this is very fluid. But as of today, there are no requirements for doctor’s notes.”
“We are working on our return to service protocols, and they may look very different in the next couple weeks or months. Until that’s finalised, we can’t say for sure this is never going to happen, but we will keep you informed.”
Cruise lines are yet to release details of health regulations expected to be put in place once sailings resume, with additional safety enhancements developed in conjunction with government health authorities and medical experts set to bolster existing hygiene measures to ensure the wellness of guests. More information is expected to be released over the coming weeks as lockdown measures begin to ease.
