All passengers must also present a negative PCR test result at the pier. No precruise testing is required for vaccinated guests on sailings of five nights or less. - All other cruises still require proof of initial vaccination and a booster until further notice. The reality is even if you booked a cruise with the assumption you were going to be on a ship where everyone is vaccinated and tested, that may no longer be the case. This website uses cookies. Rules may be different depending on requirements of locales visited. Norwegian Cruise Line will require all passengers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before boarding at least through the end of the . Unvaccinated guests are welcome on most voyages, except for those that visit destinations where local regulations vary, including Australia. All guests are required to accept the terms and conditions in our guest ticket contract. Are children allowed to sail on your ships if they are not vaccinated? Guests can expect to provide the following: We are closely monitoring the evolving global public health environment and to the extent any itineraries are affected, we will notify impacted guests in a timely fashion and update our booking requirements. Otherwise, vaccines are required for passengers age 12 and up. Unvaccinated guests are welcome but required to have a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to departure, subject to local regulations. There are a few reasons why viruses and diseases can spread quickly on cruise ships. Now many brand loyalists are chatting about jumping ship, so to speak, to a Norwegian company if their otherwise preferred cruise line does not also do away with vaccine requirements in the near future. And other cruise brands, such as Carnival Cruise Line, currently make way for select exemptions, but they have yet to permit them across the board. For those departing Europe or for longer U.S. itineraries, self-administered tests will be accepted (with the exception of those that stop in Australia, Bermuda, Canada, Greece or New Zealand). New Details Released, What to Know About Riding on the Alaska Railroad, 14 of the Best New Cruise Ships Launching in 2023, Katmandu Park Punta Cana Is Opening March 15, The Top Hotels in Mexico for a Romantic Getaway. 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. How Long Does It Take for the COVID-19 Booster To Be Effective? How long will the vaccine requirement be in place for cruise passengers? Additionally, some cruise lines require unvaccinated people to present a negative test taken within a few days of boarding. How Safe Is It to Travel With Unvaccinated Children? All onboard venues and activities will be available unless staffing or other challenges onboard prevent normal operations. For departures through 2022, proof of vaccination or certificate of recent recovery is no longer required, though testing protocols will still be in place. FDA, CDC expand Pfizer & Moderna bivalent vaccines to kids 6 months and up with Sandra Fryhofer, MD. Temperature checks occur daily. Note: There may be additional requirements if you are traveling internationally, and the rules can changesometimes overnight. In mid-June, Viking announced that 'travelers cruising with Viking are no longer required to take a pre-cruise test. With that in mind, weve put together this list of cruise lines allowing unvaccinated guests to sail, as well as what the other lines currently require regarding vaccinations. While much of the travel industry has returned to a pre-pandemic state, cruising has been slower to rebound from some of the tightest restrictions over the last two and a half years. Unvaccinated guests are welcome with a medically supervised or self-test within three days of sailing. Vaccinations are optional. Destination specific requirements will still need to be met. Vacationers can finally plan to take their precious time off this summer and truly get away after what has been a challenging time for everyone.. 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. All guests, regardless of vaccination status, should expect to be tested for COVID-19 prior to boarding a cruise ship. Disney Cruise Line. Those eligible for boosters are also required to have received them. Vaccines are still required for cruises in the Bahamas and Caribbean; precruise testing is not required for vaccinated guests on cruises of less than six nights. Vaccines must be approved for use by the country they are sailing from. Added coconut oil to cheap coffee before keto made it cool. While other cruise lines may not officially require vaccinations for kids that young yet, they may in the future. In addition to a broad set of coverage benefits, our plans cover medical expenses for illnesses, including COVID-19. Unvaccinated guests are welcome to sail on most voyages, except for itineraries that feature destinations with local regulations that may continue to require vaccination including Australia. It's also possible that cruise lines could ease up on their pandemic measures in the near future and stop requiring proof of vaccination for passengers. For Europe and Tahiti, your last COVID-19 shot is now required within the last 270 days. Completed health questionnaire (prior to embarkation); Standard travel documents, including passport or any visas as required. Starting March 11, 2023, proof of vaccination for sailings to or from Europe will no longer be required. The US doesn't issue certificates of recovery at this time, so telling the cruise line you already had COVID-19 won't get you a vaccine exemption. According to the CDC, "cruise ship travel presents a unique combination of health concerns.". Cruise ship travel. Travelers ages 11 and under will not be subject to any vaccination requirements or testing protocols. For an easy-to-use online tool for locating COVID-19 testing providers around the world, please visitwww.TestForTravel.com. Check with Cunard for information on your specific sailing. 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). 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%. Booked guests will be provided full details specific to their port of departure before sailing, Royal Caribbean spokeswoman Lyan Sierra-Caro said in an email. International travel requirements and restrictions continue to evolve. But as noted above, some lines make exceptions to vaccination rules for young children. CDC lifts some mask rules for vaccinated cruise passengers, This is it, Bayley said in the statement. The CDC director answered your questions. 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. Last week, Disney Cruise Line became the first cruise line to require passengers as young as 5 to be vaccinated for sailings starting Jan. 13. Are there any restrictions on pre-existing health conditions or limitations for guests due to COVID-19? Here's what to know about setting sail without a COVID-19 vaccination. 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.. 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. Unvaccinated guests will only need to submit a self-administered test taken within three days of sailing. (The only"mix and match" approach to COVID-19 vaccinesin the US applies to boosters.). Unvaccinated guests are welcome to sail on all voyages. 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. For additional information, please visit Cruise Travel Requirements by Country. While . Two ships, operated by Royal Caribbean sister line Celebrity Cruises, will go straight to voyages with paying passengers since the company has said it will meet the vaccine threshold. The company also recently relaxed its mask-wearing policies, making them optional, even in indoor and crowded settings. You also might need to purchase travel insurance with emergency evacuation coverage if you have an unvaccinated guest in your party and you're departing from a Florida or Texas port. "Traveling Party" means (1) your family members living with you in the same household and (2) traveling companions assigned to your stateroom on the ship. Trips that are 16 days or longer will still require a medically supervised COVID test with written results within three days of travel.Our guests have been excited to return to cruising, and these changes will make it easier for more guests to explore the world in a safe and enjoyable environment, the companys president Gus Antorcha said in a statement last month. In you are an unvaccinated adult, some cruise lines will now let you sail, others will not. This does not supersede country specific requirements - Travel Requirements by Country. Ad Choices. All rights reserved. Effective for sailings 10/4/22 and beyond, all guests regardless of vaccination status are able to sail and with no testing requirements. It wasn't uncommon to see reports of outbreaks ofnorovirus, a very contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea. 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. AzamaraPrecruise testing is no longer required for vaccinated guests, except in ports where testing is required. SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (August 12, 2022) - Princess Cruises today announced updated COVID-19 protocols and guidelines, removing the vaccine requirement for most voyages of less than 16 days so that anyone can cruise, and adjusting pre-travel testing requirements to make it less complicated. *Terms & Conditions Package not available on sailings less than 5 days or charter sailings. 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. Regent Seven Seas CruisesAs with sister lines Norwegian and Oceania, vaccinated guests age 12 are not required to have any precruise COVID-19 testing or other protocols. 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. 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. 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. While some cruise lines operating in Europe have been requiring all passengers to be vaccinated, the C.D.C. This could include but is not limited to proof of a specific negative COVID-19 test result or Booster. Still, there are exceptions. Many US-based cruise lines say they're currently following the regulations put forth by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and those are subject to change as the coronavirus pandemic does. Vaccinated and unvaccinated. CunardAll guests age 16 and up must be vaccinated, including with booster shots. If you have a cruise booked, you should keep checking the cruise lines website or contact the line for the latest rules. On February 18, Crystal Cruises said it would require guests to receive both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days before a cruise. Medical news, pregnancy topics and health hacks that don't cost money. Our long-awaited revisions to our testing and vaccination requirements bring us closer in line with the rest of society, which has learned to adapt and live with COVID-19, and makes it simpler and easier for our loyal guests to cruise on our three best-in-class brands, said Frank Del Rio, president and CEO of NCLH. Guests who fail to agree to these terms and conditions will not be permitted to board. Do bivalent boosters work against XBB.1.5? Guests over the age of six will need to show a negative rapid antigen test within 48 hours, or a negative PCR test within 72 hours. FDA proposes switching to annual coronavirus vaccine, mimicking flu model. Kashif J. Piracha, MD, FACP, FASN, FNKF, is a practicing physician at Methodist Willowbrook Hospital. This includes vaccines. Disney Cruise Line became the first cruise line to requirepassengers as young as 5 to be vaccinated for sailings starting Jan. 13. People can also pick up pathogens from port visits and bring them back onto the ship, infecting others. 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. 2023 CNET, a Red Ventures company. Fee is also hopeful that the remainder of cruise lines will follow suit soon. Or will NCL offer testing onboard to meet travel requirements for guests flying back to countries that require negative COVID-19 test results to re-enter the country post cruise? 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. Do I need another booster? Please note: Anti-viral COVID-19 therapeutics are readily available onboard and will be charged to the guests' account. 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. Unvaccinated guests are welcome to sail on all voyages, except for itineraries that feature destinations that continue to require vaccinations. When cruise lines restarted operations in summer 2021, after being banned by the CDC from operating for 15 months due to COVID-19-related safety concerns, it was with strict CDC-imposed regulations. But now cruise lines are starting to drop those vaccine and testing requirements, making it easier for cruise-goers to sail the seas. 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.. And the CDC also recommends testing before boarding a cruise ship. This doesnt apply to select destinations where local regulations vary, including Australia. Earlier this month, Oceania dropped testing requirements for vaccinated passengers; unvaccinated guests need to show proof of a negative antigen or PCR test taken within 72 hours. Cruise lines can skip that step if they will have 95 percent of crew and passengers vaccinated. Wash your hands frequently. Travel is making its grand comeback, and were looking forward to the continued momentum from consumers around the world, Celebrity President and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo said last month. The exception are trips on the Disney Magic that depart New York City from September 30 through October 31 that may have different requirements. We encourage all guests to file a claim with their travel insurance carrier for reimbursement inquiries. 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. 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. If you feel ill in the days before your cruise, you should not travel. All Contents Copyright 2022 Cruise Radio, Inc. | Website Designed by Insider Perks, Inc. Get the real facts delivered straight to your inbox, with trustworthy cruise related news. "We have been waiting a long time for this moment to arrive, Oceanias president and CEO Howard Sherman said in a statement. Small ship company Windstar Cruises said Monday it also will require passengers to be vaccinated against COVID-19, The Miami Herald reported. Norwegian Cruise Line, which has not been approved to restart, has said it will initially require everyone on board to be vaccinated. On ocean, lakes, and expedition ships that visit Canada, there is a free COVID-19 test (antigen) at the precruise hotel check-in on the day prior to embarkation until further notice. Earlier this month, the Miami-based cruise line dropped vaccination requirements for passengersunless their cruise itinerary stops at ports in destinations that require the inoculation (Canada, Australia, and New Zealand for those 12 and older; Galapagos for those three and older). Norovirus. Here's what we know about cruising unvaccinated for now. This is the news weve been waiting for, said Michelle Fee, CEO and co-founder of Cruise Planners. Outbreak updates for international cruise ships. How do I know if there are any travel restrictions that could impact my cruise? Precruise testing is required for all guests. For other agents, the business benefits remain to be seen. Once booked and on board, passengers should take the appropriate precautions, but they should also remember to have funit is a vacation!. Additional terms and conditions may apply, see our COVID- 19 Policies and Procedures and your Cruise Ticket Contract for details. Yes, we welcome all guests to sail with us, regardless of vaccination status and age, and with no testing or masking requirements. Will I have to sign a COVID-19 waiver to board a ship? That enables a virus to spread more easily from person to person. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Oceania CruisesVaccinated guests age 12 are not required to procure a precruise COVID-19 test, and unvaccinated guests may embark with a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to departure, subject to local regulations, beginning on September 3, 2022. These guidelines will make it a simpler process, and make cruising accessible for those who were not able to meet the protocols that we were required to follow for much of the past 14 months, Carnivals president Christine Duffy said in a statement last month. Vaccination will be critical in the safe resumption of cruising . One Cruise Planners franchise owner in San Diego, Calif. has yet to record an immediate boost in bookings. The agency said that after working closely with the cruise industry for two years, it believed cruise lines had access to the necessary tools to prevent and mitigate COVID-19 onboard., While cruising poses some risk of COVID-19 transmission, consumers can make their own decisions as they would in any other setting, the agency said in a statement.