Cruise ships are poised to return to Hawaii waters.
The state Department of Transportation has finalized agreements with Carnival and Norwegian cruise lines to enable them to call at Hawaii ports.
The agreements set out protocols for how to deal with COVID-related medical emergencies onboard, as well as policies on quarantining passengers.
The cruise lines also acknowledge pandemic rules and regulations of local jurisdictions.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requires all ships to have on-board testing capabilities and medical staff available to respond to an outbreak. Carnival and Norwegian must ensure that all passengers are fully vaccinated and oversee on-board cleaning and safety procedures.
In addition, cruise ships will have to abide by the state’s Safe Travels program, which requires passengers to upload their vaccination status.
The requirement will not apply to ships traveling interisland.
More information on vaccine and testing sites can be found at hawaiicovid19.com
