After several recent COVID-19 outbreaks aboard cruise ships, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have officially changed its guidance towards this specific form of travel. The agency is warning all people not to go on cruises, regardless of their vaccination status.

The warning came last week as the CDC has over 90 cruise ships under investigation or observation because of COVID-19 cases on board. The agency did not mention the number of patients on board, but several vessels with outbreaks are from cruise lines with vaccination requirements.

“The virus that causes COVID-19 spreads easily between people in close quarters on board ships, and the chance of getting COVID-19 on cruise ships is very high, even if you are fully vaccinated and have received a COIVD-19 vaccine booster dose,” the CDC said in its advisory.

Though the CDC now sees cruise travel as a “high risk” activity, the agency is still offering guidance for those who choose to go forward with their vacation at sea. The CDC encourages cruisers to “make sure” they are fully vaccinated and boosted before sailing, besides testing for COVID-19 before and after their trip. The CDC also recommended quarantining for five days after docking, even with symptoms.

The advisory also mentioned the CDC’s Framework for Conditional Sailing Order, which allows cruise lines to operate according to specific guidelines. The order was extended and will remain in effect until Jan. 15. It is unclear whether it will be extended or modified again at that point.

The cruise lines with recent outbreaks are Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean, prompting both companies to reinstate mask rules for passengers while onboard. Carnival Cruises also revved its mask policy while implementing a no smoking policy and a “sip and cover” rule for drinking in the casinos.

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), which has long disapproved of the CDC’s approach to the cruise industry, issued a statement saying they disappointed it with the new recommendations. CLIA believes it’s unfair that the cruises are being singled out when they are already subjected to stricter health protocols than other travel industry sectors.

The decision “is perplexing considering that cases identified on cruise ships consistently make up a very slim minority of the total population on board,” a statement said. “Most of those cases are asymptomatic or mild, posing little to no burden on medical resources onboard or onshore.”

Royal Caribbean recently stopped last-minute bookings from helping ensure social distancing on future sailings, but itineraries will continue as scheduled. So far, no U.S. cruise line has announced plans to cancel sailings, though some vessels have been denied entry at foreign ports.

Play is Iceland’s newest low-cost airline, and it’s kicking off U.S. service with a mega sale, offering flights to Europe for under $150.  

The airline will offer Boston and the Washington, D.C. area to 11 European destinations, including Berlin, Copenhagen, London, Paris, and Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital city. Though the flights won’t launch until the spring, travelers can start booking now through December 24 to take advantage of Play’s sale, with prices starting at $109 for a round-trip ticket, including taxes and fees. 

There is a bit of a catch to the ultra-low prices. Travelers purchasing flights at these bargain rates will have to lose onboard Wi-Fi and curated in-flight entertainment—a small trade-off for these unbelievably low prices for European spring and summer travel. 

Play’s first U.S. flights will take off from Baltimore to Washington International Airport on April 20 and Boston Logan International Airport on May 11.  

Like all other budget airlines, Play plans to charge its passengers for checking a bag or bringing a carry-on suitcase that requires overhead bin space. Carry-on bags will cost anywhere from $26 to $37 if purchased at the time of booking or between $30 and $43 if bought later. Pricing for checked bags varies widely—from $32 to $93—depending on the size of your bag and the timing of your booking. 

Even after the sale ends, travelers can still expect to find relatively low prices with this new carrier. Play’s regular fares for transatlantic flights will be around $300 to $400. Play already launched its services in Europe in June, with the airline’s CEO, Birgir Jónsson, telling Travel + Leisure that numbers were substantial despite challenges posed by COVID-19. 

For more information about Play and to book your next flight to Europe, check out the airline’s official website. 

Countries worldwide are reevaluating their travel regulations amid the rise in the cases of the new Omicron variant of COVID-19. On December 2, a day after they detected the Omicron variant in the U.S., President Joe Biden announced stricter rules for all travelers regardless of vaccination status.

Effective as of December 6, all international travelers and U.S. citizens returning from a trip abroad will be required to test for COVID-19 within 24 hours of departure. Previously, only unvaccinated travelers had to test within a day of departure, while vaccinated travelers were allowed a three-day window for testing. Now, everyone will be subjected to the same rules. Travelers who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the country must also be vaccinated to visit the U.S.

“A month ago, we announced requirements that they must vaccinate travelers if entering the United States. This week, I announced an additional action to strengthen international travel rules to give us more time to stop the spread and study a new variant,” the president said during his announcement.

President Biden is also working towards requiring insurance companies to cover the cost of at-home COVID-19 tests. He’s setting up family vaccination clinics across the country with the goal of these sites making it easier for Americans to have all their vaccination needs to be met in one place — from first doses to boosters.

President Biden is also working towards requiring insurance companies to cover the cost of at-home COVID-19 tests. He’s setting up family vaccination clinics across the country with the goal of these sites making it easier for Americans to have all their vaccination needs to be met in one place — from first doses to boosters.

The current administration also announced that it would extend the federal requirement that passengers wear face masks on airplanes and all forms of public transportation. It would have expired in January but will be enforced through March 18.

Update: The CDC issued a statement advising that the Omicron variant doesn’t appear to be as severe as the strain of the Delta variant. However, the government is also warning Americans not to let their guards down, as it has detected the Omicron variant in 18 states in the U.S. and 50 countries worldwide.