All passengers must also present a negative PCR test result at the pier. Testing is required on sailings of six nights or more. NAAT test (i.e., PCR) within 48 hours of embarkation date. It also allows you to search by test type PCR or Antigen. I believe that eventually all cruise lines will drop as many restrictions as they can, Jones adds. Boosters are required for those age 18 and up who completed tests more than nine months prior to the cruise. 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). Can You Get Omicron and Delta COVID-19 Variants at the Same Time? These Cruise Lines Are Ending Vaccine Requirements A couple of the factors in that unique combination are crowded spaces and tight quarters. Norwegian Cruise Line Extends Vaccine Requirement Through End - Travel 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. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives. The line doesn't allow kids younger than 8 years old to sail, so young-child exemptions aren't a . But now cruise lines are starting to drop those vaccine and testing requirements, making it easier for cruise-goers to sail the seas. Royal Caribbean announces cruises with no vaccine requirement - The 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. Please keep in mind that this is largely dependent on the local health authorities and the evolving regulations, which are subject to change. 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. RELATED: Carnival Drops Pre-Cruise Testing & Vaccination Requirements. The information in this story is accurate as of press time. 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, said Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line, in announcing that the cruise line would be dropping its vaccine requirements as of September 6, 2022. 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. A precruise test is no longer required on the river ships. They're also easing rules for pre-boarding testing, making it easier for cruise-goers to sail the seas. Masks are no longer required. It turns out that you can usually board a cruise ship without being vaccinated for COVID-19. Guests who fail to agree to these terms and conditions will not be permitted to board. The European Union's Digital COVID Certificate, for example, includes certification of recovery from COVID-19. 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. The testing and masking requirement specifics may differ by cruise or length of sail, but everyone age 2 and older should be prepared to be tested for COVID-19 before boarding, or during the journey when applicable, regardless of vaccination status. 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. CDC, FDA Investigating PotentialBut 'Unlikely'Link Between Pfizer Booster and Stroke Risk, This Year's Flu Shot Is a 'Good Match,' CDC SaysBut Cases and Hospitalizations Continue to Rise, Omicron vs. Delta: How the 2 COVID-19 Variants Compare, Omicron Boosters Could Save 90,000 Lives This WinterBut Only if People Get Them. If you have a weakened immune system, talk to a healthcare provider about the risks of traveling. The pandemic after the pandemic: Long covid haunts millions of people. Here's what you need to know about going on a cruise if you're notvaccinatedfor COVID-19. As of December 2022, if it has been at least2 monthssince their last dose, children as young as 6 months who completed the Modernaprimary series can receive one updated bivalent booster dose. Unvaccinated guests will only need to submit a self-administered test taken within three days of sailing. 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 . The relaxation of protocols, coupled with continued easing of travel restrictions and the reopening to cruise in more ports around the globe are meaningfully positive for our business as it reduces friction, expands the addressable cruise market, brings variety to itineraries and provides additional catalysts on the road to recovery.. Since then, cruise lines around the world have been cautiously dropping their pre-embarkation requirements. To make sure the experience remains safe only vaccinated adults will. It wasnt clear Friday how many people would be able to sail on each of the just-announced cruises, which will visit the Caribbean and the Bahamas. Even so, Celestyal suggests all guests test prior to travel, regardless of vaccination status, but test results will no longer be checked next year. Viking will continue to do onboard testings for any passengers who report symptoms. When Will the Brightline to Orlando Open? 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. Vessels are equipped with an onboard laboratory, which can administer Complete Blood Counts (CBC), Blood Chemistry, Coagulation tests, and Influenza tests. It's also important to consider who's coming with you. Disney also highly recommends vaccines for younger kids. COVID-19 shots are compulsory for all passengers cruising with Atlas, with proof of inoculation required before embarkation. Celebrity CruisesBeginning September 5, all passengers regardless of vaccination status can cruise from the U.K., Europe, and Los Angeles. Guests under the age of 12 dont have any vaccination or testing requirements. International travel requirements and restrictions continue to evolve. As Guidelines Change, Heres What Its Like to Cruise Right Now, The 2023 Cruise Itineraries to Book Before They Sell Out, The Best New Cruises in the World: 2022 Hot List, These Airlines Are Finally Letting Families Sit Together, Free of Charge, A Proposed Federal Law Could Give Bumped Airline Passengers At Least $1,350 in Compensation, dropped its COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships, guests who are vaccinated will no longer have to take a pre-boarding antigen test. All rights reserved. This doesnt apply to select destinations where local regulations vary, including Australia. We have improved our onboard medical capabilities with additional staffing directly related to sailing capacity, new and upgraded equipment and enhanced facilities. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Unvaccinated guests are welcome on most voyages, except for those that visit destinations where local regulations vary, including Australia. Related: What happens if someone tests positive for COVID-19 on your cruise. Will I have to sign a COVID-19 waiver to board a ship? For an easy-to-use online tool for locating COVID-19 testing providers around the world, please visitwww.TestForTravel.com. And the CDC also recommends testing before boarding a cruise ship. Ron DeSantis whose staff has said cruise lines could be fined $5,000 per violation for requiring proof of vaccination for their support and for helping crew get vaccinated. That enables a virus to spread more easily from person to person. Vaccinated guests are required to provide proof of negative COVID-19 test in addition to vaccination documentation, as listed above, only when embarking in Australia. The new protocols do not apply to itineraries for countries where local regulations may vary, such as Canada, Australia, and Greece. The company announced the requirement as it plans. 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. 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. What You Need to Know About Norwegian Cruise Lines Premium+ Drink Package, 12 Things to Know Before Sailing Royal Caribbean, Carnival Drops Pre-Cruise Testing & Vaccination Requirements, NCLH Drops COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements, Welcomes Everyone to Sail, Cruise News Recap | Week of February 5, 2023, Philippines Welcomes First International Cruise Ship in Three Years, Pre-Cruise Entertainment Reservations Now Available on Norwegian Cruise Line. Unvaccinated guests are permitted to sail on most MSC voyages. Outbreak updates for international cruise ships. Yes, we offer guests the option to purchase travel protection plans. Norwegian Cruise Line, which has not been approved to restart, has said it will initially require everyone on board to be vaccinated. A cruise can be a fun way to visit certain areas of the world at a slower pace. 2023 Cond Nast. 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 have a weakened immune system, talk with your healthcare provider about your cruise travel plans. The agency provided the cruise lines with greater leeway to set and monitor their own policies. 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. Disney Cruise Line. 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. The cruise industries have seen a slower return to normal since the pandemic, but are definitely making a comeback, says Dr. Jan Jones of the University of New Havens hospitality and tourism department. The added Florida requirement comes on the heels two unvaccinated passengers under age 16 tested positive for COVID on board the cruise line's Adventure of the Seas ship and after sister. (Unvaccinated guests will have to undergo special testing onboard to visit Spain or Greece.) First Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and MSC Cruises all announced they would eliminate precruise testing requirements for vaccinated guests on cruises of six nights or less, while hinting that there would be additional loosening of requirements once they got the necessary approvals from the governments of countries the ships visit. Still, there are exceptions. Before CNET, she worked in local journalism covering public health issues, business and music. As is true for most travel restrictions these days, your ability to book a cruise may depend on your vaccination status. "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. SeabournAs of September 6, fully vaccinated passengers will no longer be required to submit a precruise COVID-19 test. All guests are required to accept the terms and conditions in our guest ticket contract. Norwegian Cruise Line will require all passengers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before boarding at least through the end of the . Medical news, pregnancy topics and health hacks that don't cost money. For additional information, please visit Cruise Travel Requirements by Country. Safety protocols for unvaccinated passengers have also not been announced. Guest may also be required to present the negative results of a COVID-19 test taken prior to embarkation day. All guests 18 and older must be vaccinated to sail, plus one booster shot if eligible. However, as the situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to evolve, it's possible that some data have changed since publication. If you chose not to get a COVID-19 vaccine, can you still go on your favorite cruise vacation? But like the latter lines, it'll still make you show proof of one for some sailings. 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. 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. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Putting it all together: If your cruise line is even accepting medical exemptions around a COVID-19 vaccine, presenting valid proof of the exemption is critical. Lindblad ExpeditionsAll passengers age 5 and older must be vaccinated. This article was originally published in May 2022; it was most recently updated on August 17, 2022, with current information. Every ship has a team of experienced doctors and nurses trained to manage a broad range of medical conditions, including COVID-19. The Crystal Symphony. Health.com uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. A guest is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after the required number of doses in their vaccine series have been fully administered (e.g. Disney Cruise Line became the first cruise line to requirepassengers as young as 5 to be vaccinated for sailings starting Jan. 13. Which Cruise Lines Require COVID-19 Vaccinations? Destination specific requirements will still need to be met. Norwegian Cruise Line | Sail Safe | Health & Safety Protocols 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 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. Vaccination for sailings starting and ending in the U.S. is not required. And you may have to be vaccinated or not. The changes began shortly. People can also pick up pathogens from port visits and bring them back onto the ship, infecting others. If you're an adult in the US, the answer is probably not, unless you're one of the few people with a medical or religious exemption (and whether you'll be offered an exemption depends on the cruise line). The cruise line . Travel tips you can trust. 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. All guests will continue to receive a COVID-19 test just prior to embarkation, arranged by Lindblad, and all guests must test negative to board. In mid-June, Viking announced that 'travelers cruising with Viking are no longer required to take a pre-cruise test. Precruise testing is required for all guests. Were thrilled that NCLH has updated their sailing guidelines to welcome unvaccinated guests and adjust testing requirements.. These regulations are continuously evolving and if an additional test is required at a port of call we will provide advanced notice to all guests. Are there any onboard activities that will not be available? 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. Some countries issue "certificates of recovery" if someone has been infected with COVID-19 and recovered, issuing a certificate that proves a positive COVID-19 test and recovery, instead of vaccination as someone's proof of immunity. Royal Caribbean said it still needs to complete simulation cruises before getting approval for the sailings it announced Friday. 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. Yes. Which Cruise Lines Have a COVID Vaccine Requirement? READ NEXT: 18 Most Unique Cruise Ship Bars in 2022. All Rights Reserved. Guests on cruises longer than 16 nights will have to test if stopping in destinations that require tests locally (like Canada, Bermuda, Greece and Australia; these destinations require the tests to be supervised). Disney Cruise Line When people are in a small space, keeping distance from one another is more difficult. According to the CDC, "cruise ship travel presents a unique combination of health concerns.". Check with the cruise line for protocols on pre-board testing and vaccination. The family-focused cruise line has been rolling out new regulations this month. All guests must be vaccinated to sail with Viking. Unable to cruise. Norwegian Cruise Line, which has not been approved to restart, has said it will initially require everyone on board to be vaccinated. Specific destinations still require testing such as Canada, Greece, and Bermuda. The cruise lines join Saga Cruises, a company catering to passengers 50 and older, which said last month it would require all guests to be fully vaccinated at least 14 days before boarding. So, if you're planning your next vacation to include traveling by cruise ship, consider staying up-to-date on your COVID-19 vaccines. All guests are advised to monitor and comply with applicable travel restrictions. 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. Effective for sailings 10/4/22 and beyond, all guests regardless of vaccination status are able to sail and with no testing requirements. We know from our advisors that their unvaccinated clients have been waiting for this announcement, and I have no doubt that we will see a spike in cruise bookings. 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. That's because cruise ships, with their tight quarters, buffet-style living and international travel, can be a breeding ground for the coronavirus. On March 19, 2021, Celebrity Cruises announced that Celebrity Millennium would begin cruises out of St. Maarten on June 5, 2021. The CDC also has detailed recommendations for travel during the pandemic, both for vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers as well as for cruise travel. These rules apply to cruises of under 16 nights. 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. Additionally, some cruise lines require unvaccinated people to present a negative test taken within a few days of boarding. Can I go on a cruise if I'm not vaccinated? - CNET 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. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH) is officially the first company to welcome unvaccinated travelers onboard its cruise brands Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises without any capacity limits, and the industry response is one largely of praise. Cruise ships often have food buffets, which can be easily contaminated and lead to the rapid spread of illnesses like norovirus. Vaccinated and unvaccinated. 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. The reasons for the changes are clear: 1) the CDC is no longer requiring specific COVID protocols for cruising; 2) cruise lines want more business. While some cruise lines state they'll accept medical exemptions, others do not, and it also might depend on the port.