The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in the US has raised its COVID-19 warning for cruise ships to its highest level after a surge of cases onboard ships.

The new warning stands at level 4, its highest level, and implores the public to “avoid cruise travel, regardless of vaccination status”.

However, Joel Katz, Managing Director of Cruise Line International Association Australasia says their are measures to prevent spread breakouts onboard.

“The important thing is also to recognise that the number of cases identified on those cruise ships … they actually make up a very small minority of the total population on board, and in fact fewer than land,” he said on 6PR Breakfast.

“So, if anything it demonstrates  that the protocols that the industry has introduced are actually working.”

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