Cruise ships are no longer required to abide by a series of COVID-19 safety restrictions issued last year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which expired on Jan. 15, allowing cruise lines discretion in applying the protocols. The CDC has announced the expiration of its Temporary Extension and Modification of Framework for Conditional Sailing Order (CSO), a set of mandatory rules for foreign-flagged cruise ships operating in U.S. waters, including strict protocols on vaccination, testing, and mask-wearing. “After the expiration of the Temporary Extension & Modification of the CSO, CDC intends to transition to a voluntary program, in coordination with cruise ship operators and other stakeholders, to assist the cruise ship industry to detect, mitigate, and control the spread of COVID-19 onboard cruise ships,” the CDC said in a statement. While the CDC made clear the new program is voluntary, it recommended cruise lines continue to follow its …