TAMPA, Fla. — Cruisers talked with Spectrum Bay News 9 about the decision to proceed with their vacations as planned despite the State Department’s advisory against taking cruises.

The bags are packed, plans made.

“We had this planned for six months and we're not worry warts,” said Chad Duerkop, who flew to Tampa from Wisconsin. "You gotta live."

Passengers heading to Carnival’s Paradise had no idea they would be boarding amid coronavirus concerns when they booked.

The U.S. Department of State has issued an advisory warning against cruise travel. It says:

"U.S. citizens, particularly travelers with underlying health conditions, should not travel by cruise ship.  CDC notes increased risk of infection of COVID-19 in a cruise ship environment. In order to curb the spread of COVID-19, many countries have implemented strict screening procedures that have denied port entry rights to ships and prevented passengers from disembarking.  In some cases, local authorities have permitted disembarkation but subjected passengers to local quarantine procedures.  While the U.S. government has evacuated some cruise ship passengers in recent weeks, repatriation flights should not be relied upon as an option for U.S. citizens under the potential risk of quarantine by local authorities.”

The warning didn't stop cruisers from heading out Monday to five days at sea on their way to Cozumel and Grand Cayman.

"We're all pretty healthy, it's starting to go around the whole country anyway, so I think along the way everyone's gonna handle it a little smoother in the next few weeks,” said Phil Bleier who flew in from New York to take the cruise.

The Good family from Jacksonville takes a cruise every spring break.

"I looked at the pros the cons, we discussed it as a family,” said Darren Good.

That family discussion ended with the Good family vacation going on as planned but with a plan in place.

"Maybe a little more cautious. It's gotta be in the back of your mind,” said Good.

Carnival is reassuring guests, saying in part, the cruise line continues to implement increased monitoring, screening and sanitation protocols to protect the health of our guests, crew and and residents of the guests they serve.