Disney Cruise Line became the first cruise line to requirepassengers as young as 5 to be vaccinated for sailings starting Jan. 13. Norwegian Cruise Line Extends Vaccine Requirement Through End - Travel Norwegian Cruise Line will review reimbursement submissions in the event your insurance carrier denies the claim or you do not have travel insurance. Purchasing in-home testing kits is simple. The line doesn't allow kids younger than 8 years old to sail, so young-child exemptions aren't a . Onboard medical centres are also abundantly stocked with common prescription medications and remedies. One Cruise Planners franchise owner in San Diego, Calif. has yet to record an immediate boost in bookings. Royal Caribbean did not answer a question about whether its decision not to require vaccinations for passengers was a result of the states bans. Vaccines heavily reduce the chances that you'll become infected in the first place. Midway COVID tests and daily temperature checks have also been eliminatedhowever, there are exceptions for itineraries that include Spain, Barbados, St. Maarten, St. Vincent, and Morocco. Unable to cruise. Will I have to sign a COVID-19 waiver to board a ship? Travelers ages 11 and under will not be subject to any vaccination requirements or testing protocols. The pandemic after the pandemic: Long covid haunts millions of people. The cruise line continues to strongly recommend all guests be up to date on vaccination protocols and test at their convenience prior to travel. The first is scheduled to depart Miami on July 2, with more joining the fleet through Aug. 23. Starting September 2, 2022, for voyages from United States and Canadian ports, Disney Cruise Line requires that all vaccine-eligible guests (ages 12 and older) be fully vaccinated in order to cruise, including children. Check with Seabourn for protocols on your specific sailing. SeabournAs of September 6, fully vaccinated passengers will no longer be required to submit a precruise COVID-19 test. Wash your hands frequently. For other agents, the business benefits remain to be seen. It depends. Apparently, Dolven is referring to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently signing into law a ban on Covid-19 "vaccine passports." That means, as of July 1, the Florida state government could. (Rapid antigen tests are not accepted.) Local regulations may have vaccine requirements to enter certain countries make sure to checkTravel Requirements by Countryto understand country specific requirements about accepted vaccines. Unvaccinated people are now over 10 times more likely to get hospitalized with COVID-19 andover 10 times more likely to die from the diseasethan fully vaccinated people, according to a September CDC report. Some cruise lines, such as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, accept vaccines recommended or approved by the World Health Organization as well as the CDC. Disney also highly recommends vaccines for younger kids. Any information published by Cond Nast Traveler is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. There are still some cruise lines that have not yet indicated they will relax their COVID protocols, though their numbers are dwindling. Royal Caribbean just announced a flood of summer cruises. Temperature checks occur daily. Check your airline's protocols around testing, mask-wearing, vaccination, or quarantining if you're flying before or after the cruise. Should You Test for COVID Before Your Omicron Booster? No, guests will not be required to take a COVID-19 antigen test before continuing on the second leg of a back-to-back sailing unless symptomatic, unvaccinated or if a specific country requires it. Starting with departures from October 8, 2022, guests who are vaccinated will no longer have to take a pre-boarding antigen test 48 hours before departure, if the itinerary starts in South America, the Caribbean, the United Arab Emirates, and the Mediterranean (with the exception of Greece). Check with Cunard for information on your specific sailing. And the rules are constantly changing. Should the need arise, we also have partnerships with onshore medical institutions in place to provide clinical advice and assistance as needed. As to what percentage of his clients he thinks are unvaccinated and will be affected by this announcement, he estimates no higher than around 10%. Precruise testing is required for unvaccinated passengers. Some cruise lines, such as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, accept vaccines recommended or approved by the World Health Organization as well as the CDC. Presidents gain too much power when emergencies like covid hit, The Checkup With Dr. Wen: Three important studies shed light on long covid, We are not overcounting covid deaths in the United States, China, speeding through phases of covid, gets on with living with virus, FDA advisers favor retiring original covid shot and using newer version. Youll find expert advice for experienced and first-time cruisers, as well as port and destination guides. Children as young as age 5 are now able to get vaccinated, so your ability to cruise may depend on whether you've chosen to get your child vaccinated. Many popular cruise lines have eliminated the vaccine and pre-embarkation test as the industry is beginning to shift away from mandatory vaccines and testing. While Health is trying to keep our stories as up-to-date as possible, we also encourage readers to stay informed on news and recommendations for their own communities by using the CDC, WHO, and their local public health department as resources. So far, the CDC has approved nine ships for test cruises, operated by Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line and MSC Cruises. Many say this move has to do with the CDC not wanting to get into a legal battle with Florida, the largest cruise hub in America. Also enacted earlier this month on September 3, the Miami-based company will now allow guests over the age of 12 who are not vaccinated to board if they have a negative PCR or antigen test taken within 72 hours of embarkation. Like many businesses attempting to regain shape as we close out year two of a global pandemic, cruise lines have started setting sail again -- with some strict health measures in place. Spice up your small talk with the latest tech news, products and reviews. Otherwise, you will need a booster. Lets leave the covid origin mystery to scientists, Covid, flu, RSV declining in hospitals as tripledemic threat fades. This could include but is not limited to proof of a specific negative COVID-19 test result or Booster. After two years of first banning and then advising against cruising due to pandemic-related health and safety risks, in late March 2022, the CDC dropped its warning to travelers about the health risks of cruising during the COVID pandemic. Chances are if you're unvaccinated, you'll need to book a specific tour with the cruise line, such as Carnival's "bubble tour" for unvaccinated guests, which is mostly families with children who are too young to be vaccinated. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As of June 10, Viking highly recommends, but no longer requires, a pre-departure COVID-19 testunless one is required by the destination, Viking said in an updated statement about health and safety protocols. Still, there are exceptions. But as noted above, some lines make exceptions to vaccination rules for young children. Will any countries visited during the cruise require additional testing to enter the country? The new protocols do not apply to itineraries for countries where local regulations may vary, such as Canada, Australia, and Greece. More than 14 months after cruising restarted following a long pandemic pause, and with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) having last month ended the intense monitoring of the cruise industry that began in March 2020, major cruise lines are dropping both vaccine requirements and precruise testing of vaccinated passengers. If a guest follows health and safety protocols and tests positive during their cruise, the Cruise Line will help coordinate necessary onboard COVID-19-related medical consultation, standard/common prescription drugs, and required land-based quarantine. Carnival Cruise Line is joining Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line in dropping its COVID-19 vaccine requirement.. All rights reserved. Can You Get Omicron and Delta COVID-19 Variants at the Same Time? Carnival Cruise Line was very upfront about its motivations in announcing its decision to let anyone, vaccinated or not, to come onboard most of its sailings. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Are there any restrictions on pre-existing health conditions or limitations for guests due to COVID-19? Despite the law, two of the biggest cruise lines, Carnival and Norwegian have decided to impose proof-of-vaccination requirements, according to information published on their websites.. "You really should get vaccinated," added Dr. Russo. Starting Sept. 6, vaccinated guests sailing on voyages of less than 16 days will no longer have to test . The CDC has said vaccinated cruise passengers can remove their masks outdoors unless theyre in a crowd. Latest travel advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Schedule an on-line proctoring consultation, Any documentation required from the country where the guest is embarking. Present one of the following: Negative COVID-19 antigen test within 24 hours of the embarkation date. The CDC director answered your questions. However, we encourage all guests to follow the vaccination and testing guidance outlined above. "Currently, COVID-19 vaccination is required for all guests for all sailings departing on March 13, 2021, through April 10, 2021, at this time," American Cruise Lines said in a statement. All onboard venues and activities will be available unless staffing or other challenges onboard prevent normal operations. Unvaccinated guests are welcome on most voyages, except for those that visit destinations where local regulations vary, including Australia. International travel requirements and restrictions continue to evolve. This includes an increase in intensive care unit capacity, new and upgraded equipment, onshore medical institution partnerships, telemedicine capabilities and additional robust consultation and treatment options. It turns out that you can usually board a cruise ship without being vaccinated for COVID-19. Check out our variety of itineraries. Requirements may differ for guests traveling on voyages departing from or visiting destinations with specific local regulations, such as Canada, Greece, and Bermuda. By continuing to browse the site you agree to our use of cookies. As is true for most travel restrictions these days, your ability to book a cruise may depend on your vaccination status. Unvaccinated passengers are welcome to sail on all cruises departing from Europe and the U.S. Vaccination continues to be required on voyages to or from Australia, New Zealand, and the Galapagos Islands. Please note: Anti-viral COVID-19 therapeutics are readily available onboard and will be charged to the guests' account. Will I be required to take a COVID-19 test in order to embark on the second leg of a back-to-back sailing? This includes vaccines such as AstraZeneca and Sinovac. This includes vaccines. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives. See the full list of vaccines approved by the WHO here. Retesting three to five days after returning, and in particular, if symptoms have developed, is also advised, says Dr. Jasmin Valentin of Sameday Health. Travel news, guides and tips for anyone looking to get away. Royal CaribbeanAll passengers are welcome regardless of vaccine status as of September 5, on select routes such as cruises from Los Angeles, Galveston (though those age 12 and up need to be vaccinated to go ashore in Grand Cayman), and New Orleans (same rule with Grand Cayman), and in most destinations in Europe. The requirements depend on the cruise line. Vaccines must be approved for use by the country they are sailing from. The requirement was initially going to last until Oct. 31. Small ship company Windstar Cruises said Monday it also will require passengers to be vaccinated against COVID-19, The Miami Herald reported. Starting in September, a larger number of unvaccinated travelers will be allowed onboard cruise ships both big and small on select routes but will be required to be tested for COVID first. That's hard to say because it depends on the state of the pandemic at any given time. No documentation is required to board, but disclosure is required in advance, and those who are not vaccinated do still need to show a negative result on an antigen or PCR test within three days of departure. If you have a weakened immune system, talk to a healthcare provider about the risks of traveling. Additionally, starting this week, vaccinated passengers no longer need to test before embarking. Political buffoonery: Cruise lines head for showdown with DeSantis over vaccine requirement ban, Thanks in large part to the successful rollout of vaccines, the world of adventure is beginning to open up, and we are all excited to start delivering great vacations to our guests, who have increasingly told us they are getting vaccinated, Bayley said in the statement. Guests under the age of 12 dont have any vaccination or testing requirements. CDC Shares New Real-World Data on Updated Shots. Will all guests be required to be vaccinated prior to the cruise? Do bivalent boosters work against XBB.1.5? American Cruise Lines requires COVID-19 vaccine for cruises through In addition to staying up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines, the CDC recommends that people who plan to cruise do the following: Most major cruise lines do not require guests to be vaccinated unless they're traveling from or to a destination that requires it. As Disney Cruise Line (we, us) returns to sailing following the public health threat of COVID-19, we are changing some of our usual practices. Before you book -- and especially if you're looking at cruises months ahead -- it's important to consider the spread of COVID-19 in countries or ports where your ship will stop, and that's regardless of your vaccination status. The just-announced cruises will depart from Florida, which has passed a law prohibiting companies from requiring proof of vaccination, and Texas, where lawmakers just passed a similar bill, according to the Texas Tribune. Sarah has been writing about the cruise industry since 2015. When Will the Brightline to Orlando Open? Holland America LineAs of September 6, on most voyages of 15 nights or less, vaccinated guests age 5 and up do not need to be tested prior to cruising. As of this month, the majority of cruise passengers are required to be both fully vaccinated and tested for COVID-19 before getting on a ship; some exceptions to the vaccination rules applied only for kids under age 12 and a very small number of adults seeking exemptions. Norwegian Cruise Line, which has not been approved to restart, has said it will initially require everyone on board to be vaccinated. Royal Caribbean will require vaccinations for some. Here's what we know about cruising unvaccinated for now. At long last, cruise lines are finally starting to drop their vaccine mandates and allow all passengers inoculated or not to sail on their ships. For additional information, please visit Cruise Travel Requirements by Country. NAAT test (i.e., PCR) within 48 hours of embarkation date. Our Health Screening Measures (listed in section 2 below) promote health and safety onboard and help minimise the likelihood of spreading COVID-19. Do I need another booster? Once booked and on board, passengers should take the appropriate precautions, but they should also remember to have funit is a vacation!. Starting Sept. 3, 2022, unvaccinated passengers ages 12 and older (or guests who cannot or decline to present proof of vaccination), need to provide a medically administrated negative PCR or antigen COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of boarding. Copyright 2023 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. For an easy to use online tool for locating COVID-19 testing providers around the world, please visit www.testfortravel.com. American Medical Association. With eased restrictions that went into effect September 6 for most trips up to 15 nights, vaccinated passengers over the age of five no longer have to test, and unvaccinated guests can use a self-administered test within three days of departureexcept in areas where local restrictions deem otherwise (like Canada, Greece, and Australia) and on certain itineraries (like Panama Canal crossings, trans-ocean trips, and certain remote locales). Royal Caribbean will require vaccinations for some cruises: ships leaving Seattle for Alaska this summer, those sailing from the Bahamas and ships leaving from other international ports. FDA, CDC expand Pfizer & Moderna bivalent vaccines to kids 6 months and up with Sandra Fryhofer, MD. And as in the noncruise world, the changes in regulations are happening quickly and travelers will need to stay updated on the latest. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Cond Nast Traveler may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Masks are optional in all areas. Bottom line: If you've been vaccinated against COVID-19 outside of the US, check with your cruise line to make sure they accept your vaccine before putting any money down. In May, the CDC scaled back slightly on its tough restrictions for cruise lines by allowing ships to declare themselves as highly vaccinated if 90 percent of passengers and at least 95 percent of crew were vaccinated. Under pandemic-era rules for restarting cruising, ships need to take volunteers on a test cruise to show they can mitigate the risks of covid-19. Lindblad Expeditions is among the shrinking number of cruise lines that continue to require vaccination and testing. Overall, it's just better to get vaccinated against COVID-19 before going on a cruise, said Dr. Russo. If your cruise line does not have a specific testing requirement, get tested as close to time of cruise departure as possible (no more than 3 days before you travel). Remember: Vaccine exemptions and refunds are not guaranteed. Unvaccinated guests will only need to submit a self-administered test taken within three days of sailing. Starting March 11, 2023, proof of vaccination for sailings to or from Europe will no longer be required. Guests requiring proof of a negative COVID-19 test to return to their home country are directed to visit a clinic near the disembarkation terminal or airport. Cruise lines can skip that step if they will have 95 percent of crew and passengers vaccinated. Also called a "bivalent" booster, the updated booster became available for people aged 511 on October 12, 2022. River cruise line Avalon Waterways is requiring that prior to sailing, passengers show proof of COVID-19 vaccination completed at least 14 days before travel, proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR or antigen test taken no more than 72 hours before travel, or proof of recovery from a COVID-19 diagnosis within three months of travel. Masks and social distancing are now also optional, but surgical masks are still required for the first seven days of trans-oceanic and World Tour itineraries. Before you book, contact the cruise line to see if it'll accept an exemption and also look into the local laws of where you'll be visiting if and when you get off the ship for an excursion. Royal Caribbean said it still needs to complete simulation cruises before getting approval for the sailings it announced Friday. The cruise line . The world's second-largest cruise line late Friday said that effective Sept. 6 it no longer would require passengers to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccine for all voyages except those . Medical news, pregnancy topics and health hacks that don't cost money. Hubs, The Best Time to View D.C.s Cherry Blossoms This Year Is Sooner Than You Might Think, Low-Cost Carrier Norse Atlantic Adds London Routes From 4 U.S. Cities, Damon Dominique Believes Youre Already a Global Citizen, Stay Here Next: The Muir Hotel in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Stay Here Next: The Alpina Gstaad in Switzerland. Self-tests are accepted in some cases, but it's best to check the specifics on the site. While some cruise lines operating in Europe have been requiring all passengers to be vaccinated, the C.D.C. Most major cruise lines require proof of vaccination for all passengers age 12 and up, and some require them for kids as young as 5 years old (Pfizer's vaccine was authorized for kids ages 5 to 11 at the beginning of November). Medical centers will be equipped to test for COVID-19 onboard and if a positive case is identified, contact tracing for that individual will begin immediately and occur at the same time as treatment. These Cruises Will Require Guests to Have COVID Vaccinations Rules may be different depending on requirements of locales visited. - As of Dec. 1, 2022, guests traveling with Azamara no longer need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 on sailings starting and ending in the U.S. or Europe. Carnival Cruise Line Only passengers on sailings to Canada, Bermuda, Greece and Australia, plus cruises of 16 nights or more, need to be fully vaccinated. For an easy-to-use online tool for locating COVID-19 testing providers around the world, please visitwww.TestForTravel.com. Some Cruise Lines to No Longer Require COVID Vaccines - AFAR - AFAR Media Norwegian Cruise Line | Sail Safe | Health & Safety Protocols Some may also require pre-board testing for unvaccinated people. Unvaccinated guests are welcome to sail on all voyages except for those in Australia or some that are 16 nights or longer. If a guest tests positive for COVID-19 while on board, what costs are covered? In addition, guests will be required to agree to abide by all of the cruise line's health and safety protocols and acknowledge the risks associated with COVID-19 during their voyage and shoreside experiences. But this past July, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) dropped its COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships, letting individual cruise lines set their own standards. Confused about changing COVID-19 rules for cruise ships? Here's Passengers age 4 and under do not require a vaccination. The slow return was impacted by low consumer confidence, continued health and safety concerns, and issues with air travel to and from ports., After all, the entire industry was paused in the early days of the pandemic. For cruises longer than 15 nights, a medically supervised COVID-19 test is required for all guests, and most passengers are required to be vaccinated. I believe that eventually all cruise lines will drop as many restrictions as they can, Jones adds. Cruise giant Royal Caribbean International on Friday announced plans to bring back six more ships including some of its largest for U.S. sailings starting July 2. In order to facilitate pre-cruise testing requirements, Norwegian has partnered with Inspired Diagnostics lab to ensure that guests have access to a quick, efficient and easy way to access the required FDA-approved proctored in-home antigen test prior to embarkation from the comfort of their own home. The big question is, what cruise lines allow unvaccinated guests to sail? The change allowed more unvaccinated children who didnt yet qualify for a vaccine (currently those under the age of five) or had not obtained a vaccine to come onboard during the summer. The Coronavirus Outbreak Has Affected 4 Different Cruise ShipsHere's Why Illness Can Spread so Fast at Sea. Here's a quick breakdown of vaccination and testing policies as of December 2022 at several major cruise lines: At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020,cruise ships experienced major outbreaksof the SARS-CoV-2 virus as it spread across the globe. It's also important to know that while all adults in the US are now eligible for boosters, the definition of "fully vaccinated" hasn't changed and you don't need an extra shot to be considered fully vaccinated. Disney also highly recommends vaccines for younger kids. Even if your particular cruise line does not have a pre-travel testing requirement, test one to three days before your trip anyway to minimize the risk to others. I will have a better idea at the end of this week.. Otherwise, vaccines are required for passengers age 12 and up. Viking will continue to do onboard testings for any passengers who report symptoms. Lets get cruising! We will comply with all local regulations at all destinations we visit. Its pre-boarding tests requirements have also been scaled back. Unvaccinated guests are welcome but required to have a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to departure, subject to local regulations. It seems most cruise lines are following the CDC's definition of fully vaccinated, which means two weeks have passed since your second shot of Pfizer or Moderna, or since your one-dose Johnson & Johnson shot. These requirements will vary by country and is the responsibility of the guest and supersede our policy. NOTE: Carnival Spirit - April 16, 2023, & September 19, 2023: These sailings do not require proof of vaccination, vaccine exemption or testing. Paul Gauguin CruisesVaccinations are required for all passengers over age 5. Since then, cruise lines around the world have been cautiously dropping their pre-embarkation requirements. COVID-19 Cruise Health & Safety Protocols | Celebrity Cruises All passengers age 12 and up, who completed their primary vaccine series more than five months ago, are required to be boosted. While the Cruise Line will assist with arranging land-based quarantine accommodations if required, payment for all expenses incurred during any mandatory isolation period, including hotel stay, is the responsibility of the guest. Those who are unvaccinated or unable to verify vaccination will be required to undergo testing and follow other protocols, which will be announced at a later date.. These U.S. Cruise Lines Will Require Passengers Be Vaccinated - Travel All passengers age 4 and up must take a prearrival test and show a negative result to board. Jessica is a writer on the Wellness team with a focus on health news. These rules apply to cruises of under 16 nights. Children under 5 leaving the U.S. or under 12 leaving Europe also dont need to test. Other cruise lines are singing the same tune. A precruise test is no longer required on the river ships. 301 Route 17 N, Suite 1150, Rutherford, NJ 07070 USA | Telephone:(201) 902-2000. You may be required to arrive at your ship with a negative COVID-19 test result in hand or not. All Rights Reserved. Viking Cruises has decided to eliminate pre-voyage testing. It also allows you to search by test type PCR or Antigen. But like the latter lines, it'll still make you show proof of one for some sailings. Vaccine and pretrip testing requirements can be confusing, especially if you are cruising internationally. READ NEXT: 18 Most Unique Cruise Ship Bars in 2022. Should there be an annual coronavirus booster? Onboard medical centres are also abundantly stocked with common prescription medications, remedies, and virus-testing equipment as available. On August 8, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, parent company of Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, announced it was also loosening vaccine requirements. AFAR participates in affiliate marketing programs, which means we may earn a commission if you purchase an item featured on our site. 2023 AFAR Media, ended the intense monitoring of the cruise industry, U.S. Citizens Will Need to Register to Travel to Europe in 2024, Lufthansa Unveils New Cabins With Over-the-Top First and Business SuitesHeres a First Look, Need a New U.S. Passport? Ad Choices. As with so many cruises around the world, requirements will vary by itinerary, but new policies that went into effect earlier this month eliminated vaccination requirements for trips departing the U.S., as long as they dont stop in Bermuda or Canada.