The CDC eased off its warning that even vaccinated Americans should avoid cruise ships on Tuesday by downgrading its Travel Health Notice to a Level 3.

The decision comes as the Covid-19 positivity rates recede in the U.S. However, the CDC last week unveiled a set of Covid regulations that encouraged lines to require nearly all passengers to be boosted before sailing.

Cruise travel is now graded at Level 3, the third-highest in a four-level system that indicates health threats for travelers. The CDC upped the health notice to Level 4 in December, as the Covid-19 omicron variant began to sweep the country.

Level 3 signifies a destination with a “high level of Covid-19,” and advises that travelers ensure they are fully vaccinated before traveling and that unvaccinated people avoid nonessential travel. Level 4 had directed the public, regardless of vaccination status, to avoid cruise travel, indicating ships had a “very high level of Covid-19.”

CLIA has been at odds with the CDC over the warning system, calling the previous Level 4 notice “perplexing” because the percentage of cases on land outpace those on sea.

But CLIA on Tuesday applauded the downgrade, calling it a “step in the right direction” for the CDC in recognizing health and safety protocols onboard, including medical facilities and an environment where most people are fully vaccinated.

“As a result, cases of Covid-19 are very low, with the vast majority mild or asymptomatic — making cruise unequaled in its multilayered approach to effectively mitigating Covid-19,” CLIA said in a statement.

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