0920-1335 COVID-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate Application

Application for a CDC COVID-19 Conditional
Sailing Certificate
Eligibility:
As a condition of applying for a COVID-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate, a cruise ship operator must verify
that it has completed the previous phases and remains in compliance with the requirements of CDC’s
Temporary Extension & Modification of the Framework for Conditional Sailing. This includes, as further
described in this application:
1. Acknowledging that a complete and accurate COVID-19 response plan is observed. 1
2. Establishing adequate health and safety protections for crew members while building onboard
laboratory capacity needed to test crew and future passengers (Phase 1);
3. Conducting laboratory testing for every crew member on a weekly basis or at other intervals as
required by CDC after completing initial crew testing (Phase 2A);
4. Documenting the approval of all U.S. port and local health authorities where the ship intends to
dock or make port during one or more simulated voyages or restricted passenger voyages (Phase
2A); and
5. Conducting at least one simulated voyage that insofar as practicable test the efficacy of the cruise
ship operator’s ability to mitigate the risks of COVID-19 onboard its cruise ship, including having
submitted an after-action report to the CDC (Phase 2B).
a) In lieu of conducting a simulated voyage, cruise ship operator responsible officials have
signed and submitted to CDC an acknowledgement that 95 percent of crew are fully
vaccinated and submitted to CDC a clear and specific vaccination plan and timeline to
limit cruise ship sailings to 95 percent of passengers who will be confirmed by the cruise
ship operator as fully vaccinated prior to sailing.
b) In lieu of conducting a simulated voyage under this paragraph, cruise ship operators, at
their discretion, have choosen to follow the procedures for modified simulated voyages
(as described in the Order) if transitioning to voyages with less than 95% of passengers
fully vaccinated or if operating cruise ships outside of U.S. waters and intending to
operate with less than 95% of passengers fully vaccinated after repositioning to U.S.
waters.
Instructions:
A cruise ship operator should submit this application and all supporting documentation at least 5 business
days prior to intending to commence restricted passenger operations. CDC will review and provide a
written decision regarding the application on a timely basis.
To facilitate CDC’s review, please ensure that the following materials are either included as part of this
application or have been previously submitted to the CDC:
COVID-19 response plans were formerly referred to as “No Sail Order” response plans. Cruise ship operators that previously submitted a
signed “Acknowledgment of No Sail Order Response Plan Completeness and Accuracy” to CDC have fulfilled the requirements of this section
and do not need to re-submit a COVID-19 response plan.

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Application for a CDC COVID-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate
1. Statement of intent stating the name, carrying capacity for passengers and crew, itineraries, ports of
call, length of voyages, and expected onboard or shoreside activities, for the cruise ship being
certified for restricted passenger operations;
2. Written agreement for all U.S. port and local health authorities (or statement of nonparticipation) where the cruise ship intends to dock or make port during a restricted passenger
voyage; and
3. After-action report(s) detailing any deficiencies in health and safety protocols found or observed
during at least one simulated voyage that describe how the cruise ship operator will address those
deficiencies prior to commencing restricted passenger voyages.
CDC review of this application:
CDC will review this application and all accompanying documentation for completeness and accuracy. CDC
will grant or deny this application, in whole or in part, based on its determination as to whether the cruise
ship operator has met CDC’s standards for mitigating the risk of COVID-19 onboard the cruise ship for which
the operator intends to commence restricted passenger operations. CDC will notify the cruise ship operator
of its decision in writing.
If CDC requires additional information to determine whether the cruise ship operator has met CDC’s
standards for mitigating the risk of COVID-19 on board cruise ships, or if it determines that the
application is incomplete, it may hold the application in abeyance pending the submission of such
additional information as required by CDC to make such a determination.
CDC will assess the cruise ship operator’s application for a COVID-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate in regard
to passenger and crew capacity, itineraries, ports of call, length of voyages, onboard or shoreside activities,
or any other activity relating to passenger or crew operations. CDC will make decisions regarding these
components based on scientific criteria such as vaccination coverage in travelers and U.S. communities,
trajectory of the pandemic, and the cruise ship operator’s continued success at mitigating COVID-19
onboard its cruise ships as demonstrated through at least one simulated voyage.
Applications that are denied in their entirety may be appealed administratively to the CDC Director. CDC
will provide additional information regarding how to submit an appeal if it decides to deny an application in
its entirety.
Amendments and modifications:
A cruise ship operator may seek to amend or modify a COVID-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate by
submitting a proposed amendment or modification to CDC for review and determination. CDC will review
the cruise ship operator’s request to amend or modify a COVID-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate and either
grant or deny the request in writing.
If CDC requires additional information to ascertain whether the cruise ship operator’s proposed
amendment or modification meets CDC’s standards for mitigating the risk of COVID-19 on board cruise
ships, or if it determines the request to be incomplete, it may hold the request in abeyance pending the
submission of such additional information as required by CDC to make such a determination.
CDC may require or allow a cruise ship operator to amend or modify its COVID-19 Conditional Sailing
Certificate after one has been issued based on public health considerations specific to the cruise ship, cruise
ship operator, or affecting the health or safety of cruise travel as a whole. Such public health considerations
may include improved vaccination coverage in travelers and U.S. communities, trajectory of the pandemic,
and the cruise ship operator’s continued success at mitigating COVID-19 onboard its cruise ship.
Denials of requests to amend or modify a COVID-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate may be appealed

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Application for a CDC COVID-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate
administratively to the CDC Director. CDC will provide additional information regarding how to submit an
appeal if it denies a cruise ship operator’s request to amend or modify a COVID-19 Conditional Sailing
Certificate.
Revocation or suspension:
CDC may deny an application for a COVID-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate, or revoke or suspend
a COVID-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate after one has been issued if:
1. The cruise ship operator is not in compliance with CDC’s standards for mitigating the risk
of COVID-19 on board cruise ships; or
2. The cruise ship operator is not in compliance with the terms of its COVID-19 Conditional
Sailing Certificate; or
3. Necessary to protect human health or safety based on public health considerations
specific to the particular cruise ship operator, cruise ship, or those that affect cruise
travel as a whole.
Reinstatement:
CDC may reinstate a suspended or revoked COVID-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate after:
1. Inspecting the cruise ship operator’s properties and records, including, but not limited to,
its ships, facilities, vehicles, equipment, communications, manifests, and employee and
passenger health records;
2. Conferring with the cruise ship operator, its responsible officials, or other persons under
the cruise ship operator’s employ or acting on behalf of the cruise ship operator; and
3. Receiving information and written assurances from the cruise ship operator and/or its
responsible officials that any deficiencies have been rectified and actions taken to ensure
future compliance.

CDC COVID-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate Requirements
Cruise Ship Operator and Ship Information
Name of Cruise Ship Operator:
Name of Cruise Ship Parent Company:
Name of Cruise Ship:
Verification of Eligibility
Effective date(s) of agreement with all U.S. port and local health authorities:
Date(s) of simulated voyage(s) (if applicable):
Date(s) “after-action” report(s) was/were submitted to CDC for each simulated voyage (if applicable):
Date(s) acknowledgement and vaccination plan and timeline were submitted to CDC in lieu of a simulated
voyage (if applicable):
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Application for a CDC COVID-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate
Proposed Restricted Voyages
Date cruise ship operator intends to commence restricted passenger operations:
Proposed carrying capacity for passengers and crew:
Proposed length of voyage(s):
Proposed itineraries (attach additional sheets as needed):

Proposed ports of call (attach additional sheets as needed):

Proposed onboard activities (attach additional sheets as needed):

Proposed shoreside activities (attach additional sheets as needed):

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CDC COVID-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate Application
Responsible Officials Information
The Chief Executive Officer (or equivalent), Chief Compliance Officer (or equivalent), and the highest-ranking
Medical Officer, of the cruise ship’s operating company and all parent companies must provide their contact
information and signatures below.
Operating Company
Chief Executive Officer (or Equivalent) of Operating Company
Last name:
First name:

Middle initial:

Title:
Telephone number:

Email:

Address:
Chief Compliance Officer (or Equivalent) of Operating Company
Last name:
First name:

Middle initial:

Title:
Telephone number:

Email:

Address:
Highest-Ranking Medical Officer of Operating Company
Last name:
First name:

Middle initial:

Title:
Telephone number:

Email:

Address:
Parent Company
Chief Executive Officer (or Equivalent) of Parent Company
Last name:
First name:

Middle initial:

Title:
Telephone number:

Email:

Address:
Chief Compliance Officer (or Equivalent) of Parent Company
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CDC COVID-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate Application
Last name:

First name:

Middle initial:

Title:
Telephone number:

Email:

Address:
Highest-Ranking Medical Officer of Parent Company
Last name:
First name:

Middle initial

Title:
Telephone number:

Email:

Address:
Conditional Sailing Certificate Requirements
The Cruise Ship Operator must meet the requirements in this application prior to receiving permission to
commence restricted passenger operations. These requirements apply as a condition of obtaining or retaining
a COVID-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate and apply to any cruise ship operating in U.S. waters and to cruise
ships operating outside of U.S. waters if the cruise ship operator intends for the ship to return to operating in
U.S. waters under a COVID-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate at any time while these requirements remain in
effect.
The cruise ship operator submitted a complete statement of intent stating the
name, carrying capacity for passengers and crew, itineraries, ports of call, length
1.
of voyages, and expected onboard or shoreside activities, for the cruise ship that I
intend to have certified for restricted passenger operations.
General CSO Requirements
2.
3.

Cruise ship operator observes a complete and accurate COVID-19 response
plan.
Cruise ship operator submits the daily Enhanced Data Collection (EDC) During
COVID-19 Pandemic form to CDC.

Phase 1 Requirements
4.
5.
6.

All crew were tested for COVID-19 via viral tests (NAAT or antigen test) approved
by CDC.
The cruise ship developed onboard COVID-19 diagnostic testing capabilities for
symptomatic travelers and their close contacts. Ship medical staff are competent
in specimen collection and testing.
On the day of the crew members’ embarkation, cruise ship operators collect specimens for
SARS-CoV-2 viral testing from all newly embarking land-based crew who do not have
documentation of recovery from COVID-19. Specimens are collected on the day of
embarkation and crew who are not fully vaccinated

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CDC COVID-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate Application

7.

immediately begin a 7-day quarantine, and end quarantine if NAAT-negative on
day 7.
The cruise ship has continued to follow their COVID-19 response plan.

Phase 2A Requirements

8.

The cruise ship operator has a written agreement (or a multi-port agreement)
with all U.S. port and local health authorities (or a statement of non-participation)
where the cruise ship intends to dock or make port during a restricted passenger
voyage. The written agreement
specifically includes the name of the cruise ship listed in this application and meets
the standards of the CSO and CDC’s technical instructions for Phase 2A of CDC’s
CSO. The written agreement includes:
a) Port component (including a vaccination component) between the cruise
ship operator and port authority to determine the number of cruise ships
operating out of any single port to not overburden the public health
response resources of any single jurisdiction in the event of a COVID-19
outbreak;
i. Include in this application the current status of the cruise ship
operator’s proposals regarding how it intends to incorporate
vaccination strategies to maximally protect passengers and crew
from introduction, amplification, and spread of COVID-19 in the
maritime environment and land-based communities.
b) Medical care component between the cruise ship operator and health care
entities, addressing evacuation and medical transport to onshore hospitals
for passengers and crew in need of medical care, in accordance with CDC
technical instructions and orders; and
c) Housing component between the cruise ship operator and one or more
shoreside facilities for isolation and quarantine of passengers or crew
members with COVID-19 and close contacts, identified from the day of
embarkation through disembarkation for each voyage.
d) Any amendments or modifications to this written agreement have been
notified and submitted to the CDC.

Phase 2B Requirements

9.

At least one simulated voyage was designed and conducted insofar as practicable
to test the efficacy of the cruise ship operator’s ability to mitigate the risk of
COVID-19 onboard the cruise ship. The following activities were at a minimum
simulated onboard the ship:
a) Embarkation and disembarkation procedures, as approved by U.S. port and
local health authorities as per the terms of the cruise ship operator’s Phase
2A agreements, including procedures for terminal check-in.
b) Onboard activities, including seating and meal service at dining and
entertainment venues.
c) Evacuation procedures.
d) Transfer of symptomatic passengers or crew, or those who test positive for
SARS-CoV-2, from cabins to isolation rooms.
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CDC COVID-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate Application

e) Onboard and shoreside isolation and quarantine of passengers and non- essential
crew, as per the terms of the cruise ship operator’s Phase 2A agreements.
f) Recreational activities that the cruise ship operator intends to offer as part
of any restricted passenger voyages, e.g., casinos, spa services, fitness
classes, gymnasiums.
g) Private-island shore excursions if any are planned during restricted
passenger voyages.
h) Port of call shore excursions if any are planned during restricted passenger
voyages.

During the simulated voyage, the following laboratory testing was conducted:

10.

11.

a) Day of embarkation for passengers and crew who were not fully vaccinated
or did not have documentation of recovery from COVID-19
b) Day of disembarkation for passengers and crew who were not fully
vaccinated or did not have documentation of recovery from COVID-19
c) Symptomatic travelers and close contacts
d) At least 75% of all passengers, who were not fully vaccinated or did not
have documentation of recovery from COVID-19, provided their post
disembarkation specimens for laboratory testing and these results were
submitted to the CDC
Cruise ship operator submitted an after-action report detailing any deficiencies in
its health and safety protocols and addressed how the cruise ship operator intends
to address those deficiencies prior to commencing restricted passenger voyages.

Phase 2B Vaccination in Lieu of Simulated Voyage Requirements

12.

13.

In lieu of conducting a simulated voyage, cruise ship operator responsible officials
have signed and submitted to CDC an acknowledgement that 95 percent of crew
are fully vaccinated and submitted to CDC a clear and specific vaccination plan
and timeline to limit cruise ship sailings to 95 percent of passengers who will be
confirmed by the cruise ship operator as fully vaccinated prior to sailing.
In lieu of conducting a simulated voyage under this paragraph, cruise ship operators, at
their discretion, have choosen to follow the procedures for modified simulated voyages
(as described in the Order) if transitioning to voyages with less than 95% of passengers
fully vaccinated or if operating cruise ships outside of U.S. waters and intending to operate
with less than 95% of passengers fully vaccinated after repositioning to U.S. waters.

Phase 4 Acknowledgments
The cruise ship operator agrees to continue the following activities:

14.

a) Submit the daily Enhanced Data Collection (EDC) During COVID-19
Pandemic form to CDC.
b) Adhere to requirements in CDC’s Technical Instructions for Mitigation of
COVID-19 Among Cruise Ship Crew
c) Adhere to requirements in CDC’s COVID-19 Operations Manual for
Simulated and Restricted Voyages under the Framework for Conditional
Sailing Order.
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CDC COVID-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate Application
d) Adhere to the written agreements of all U.S. port and local health
authorities where the cruise ship intends to dock or make port during a
restricted passenger voyage.
e) Adhere to the cruise ship operator’s health and safety protocols.

Certification and Signatures
I certify that I am submitting this form as part of an application to obtain permission to
commence cruise ship passenger operations in U.S. waters and that the statements contained
herein are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.
I acknowledge that any false or misleading statements or omissions may endanger health and
safety, including but not limited to the loss of lives and other irreparable harm.
Chief Executive Officer (or Equivalent) of Operating Company
Last name:
First name:

Middle initial:

Signature:

Date:

Chief Compliance Officer (or Equivalent) of Operating Company
Last name:
First name:

Middle initial:

Signature:

Date:

Highest-Ranking Medical Officer of Operating Company
Last name:
First name:

Middle initial:

Signature:

Date:

Chief Executive Officer (or Equivalent) of Parent Company
Last name:
First name:

Middle initial:

Signature:

Date:

Chief Compliance Officer (or Equivalent) of Parent Company
Last name:
First name:

Middle initial:

Signature:

Date:

Highest-Ranking Medical Officer of Parent Company
Last name:
First name:

Middle initial:

Signature:

Date:

For official use only:

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