WASHINGTON D.C.: After more than two years, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has dropped its warnings for travelers regarding the dangers of contracting COVID-19 on cruise ships.

“The CDC is removing the COVID-19 Cruise Ship Travel Health Notice,” said CDC spokesperson Dave Daigle, as reported by USA TODAY.

The CDC issues Travel Health Notices to inform travelers about current health situations that could impact travelers, but their removal does not mean the agency considers cruises to be without risks.

“Travelers will make their own risk assessment when choosing to travel on a cruise ship, much like they do in all other travel settings,” Daigle added, noting that the CDC’s decision was based on the current state and a drop in COVID-19 cases on cruise ships over “the past several weeks.”

Cruise Lines International Association, the industry’s leading trade group, lauded the removal of health notices by the CDC.

In a statement, Laziza Lambert, the group’s director of strategic communications and public affairs, said, “Today’s decision by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to altogether remove the Travel Health Notice for cruising recognizes the effective public health measures in place on cruise ships and begins to level the playing field between cruises and similarly situated venues on land.”

The announcement comes just over two weeks after the agency lowered its risk assessment level for cruises from Level 3 to Level 2, indicating a moderate COVID-19 risk.

However, it is still urging travelers to stay up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccinations before traveling on cruise ships, and to follow cruise line requirements and recommendations.

Daigle stressed that the CDC also advises travelers to check on the color code of the ship they plan to sail on, which indicates its vaccination status, noting that travelers can also determine if the ship they plan to sail on has opted out of the CDC’s program.