RELATED: Carnival Drops Pre-Cruise Testing & Vaccination Requirements. As is true for most travel restrictions these days, your ability to book a cruise may depend on your vaccination status. If you have a cruise booked, you should keep checking the cruise lines website or contact the line for the latest rules. Sign Up for Our Monthly Cruise Newsletter. Paul Gauguin CruisesVaccinations are required for all passengers over age 5. 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. We will comply with all local regulations at all destinations we visit. 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. Respiratory illnesses like the flu, and COVID-19 and the common cold. And as in the noncruise world, the changes in regulations are happening quickly and travelers will need to stay updated on the latest. Carnival, for example, says it'll accept some vaccine exemptions from those ages 12 and younger, as well as adults who have "written confirmation from their medical provider" that they can't be vaccinated -- but only at their Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Maryland, South Carolina and Alabama ports until the end of March 2022. Royal Caribbean just announced a flood of summer cruises. Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters, FDA, CDC expand Pfizer & Moderna bivalent vaccines to kids 6 months and up with Sandra Fryhofer, MD, Outbreak updates for international cruise ships. 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). While other cruise lines may not officially require vaccinations for kids that young yet, they may in the future. Since September 6, passengers on itineraries that are 16 nights or less, and who show proof of vaccination, no longer have to test before boarding. Otherwise, vaccines are required for passengers age 12 and up. 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. AzamaraPrecruise testing is no longer required for vaccinated guests, except in ports where testing is required. Last week, the CDC announced new guidelines that won't require cruise lines to ask for proof of a COVID-19 vaccination from passengers. This article was originally published in May 2022; it was most recently updated on August 17, 2022, with current information. Want CNET to notify you of price drops and the latest stories? 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. 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. 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. If you're not in the US and have a certificate of recovery, contact your desired cruise line before purchasing the cruise. 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. 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. It can be confusing to keep track of which lines require what, and in which regions unvaccinated guests can sail if there are still destination limitations. 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. Check out our variety of itineraries. But now cruise lines are starting to drop those vaccine and testing requirements, making it easier for cruise-goers to sail the seas. 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%. Can You Get Omicron and Delta COVID-19 Variants at the Same Time? Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. 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.. Travel news, guides and tips for anyone looking to get away. All guests are advised to monitor and comply with applicable travel restrictions. 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. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends updating people on their COVID-19 vaccines before going on a cruise. 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. (The only"mix and match" approach to COVID-19 vaccinesin the US applies to boosters.). In you are an unvaccinated adult, some cruise lines will now let you sail, others will not. Norwegian Cruise Line, which has not been approved to restart, has said it will initially require everyone on board to be vaccinated. COVID-19 requirements may differ in destinations that have specific mandates, such as Canada, Greece and Bermuda. 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. A cruise can be a fun way to visit certain areas of the world at a slower pace. Check with the cruise line for protocols on pre-board testing and vaccination. Carnival Cruise Line: For cruises that are 15 days or less, the cruise line does not require vaccination and pre-board testing.Still, the cruise line encourages guests 5 and up to do both. Also, crew members may work multiple voyages, passing on germs transmitted from previous passengers. Be sure to review the latest requirements prior to boarding. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives. The big question is, what cruise lines allow unvaccinated guests to sail? Additionally, some cruise lines require unvaccinated people to present a negative test taken within a few days of boarding. (Unvaccinated guests will have to undergo special testing onboard to visit Spain or Greece.) The cruise line may also require a test at the pier, paid for by the cruise line.) Retesting three to five days after returning, and in particular, if symptoms have developed, is also advised, says Dr. Jasmin Valentin of Sameday Health. Viking strongly recommends passengers receive a booster dose before departing. When Will the Brightline to Orlando Open? Spice up your small talk with the latest tech news, products and reviews. Also called a "bivalent" booster, the updated booster became available for people aged 511 on October 12, 2022. All guests, regardless of vaccination status, should expect to be tested for COVID-19 prior to boarding a cruise ship. The information in this story is accurate as of press time. Health.com uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Booster shots are not required. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. 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. Monitor yourself for symptoms after the trip, and isolate yourself if you have a positive test or develop symptoms. 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. Cruise ships have been under the CDC's Conditional Sail Order since October 2020. Should you need to locate a testing provider prior to beginning travel or while traveling prior to your cruise, please visit TestForTravel.com, an easy-to-use online tool for locating COVID-19 testing providers around the world. The European Union's Digital COVID Certificate, for example, includes certification of recovery from COVID-19. 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. 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. Norovirus. 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. Lets get cruising! Children may or may not be able to cruise, depending on the ship. Vaccines heavily reduce the chances that you'll become infected in the first place. No, we do not currently have any restrictions or limitations for guests with pre-existing health conditions. Unvaccinated guests are required to be tested. Youll find expert advice for experienced and first-time cruisers, as well as port and destination guides. Unvaccinated guests are welcome on most voyages, except for those that visit destinations where local regulations vary, including Australia. Norwegian Cruise Line will review reimbursement submissions in the event your insurance carrier denies the claim or you do not have travel insurance. Onboard medical consultations and treatments are provided at a charge for all respiratory illnesses. 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. All passengers age 4 and up must take a prearrival test and show a negative result to board. 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? However, as the situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to evolve, it's possible that some data have changed since publication. Every ship has a team of experienced doctors and nurses trained to manage a broad range of medical conditions, including COVID-19. 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. It's also important to consider who's coming with you. Many major cruise lines require anyone who is eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine to be fully inoculated . There are a few reasons why viruses and diseases can spread quickly on cruise ships. Are children required to have a COVID-19 vaccine to cruise? 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. 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. 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. All guests 18 and older must be vaccinated to sail, plus one booster shot if eligible. For additional information, please visit Cruise Travel Requirements by Country. 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. In many cases, yes. 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). Sarah has been writing about the cruise industry since 2015. In order to keep our guests as safe as possible, we highly recommend taking our company organized shore excursions as a more controlled environment for you to enjoy your time in each of the destinations. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. Overall, it's just better to get vaccinated against COVID-19 before going on a cruise, said Dr. Russo. Check with Seabourn for protocols on your specific sailing. People . The first is scheduled to depart Miami on July 2, with more joining the fleet through Aug. 23. 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. 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, Fee said. Mask Policy Masks on board are recommended but not required indoors or outdoors. Crystal Cruises. 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. Its hard to say how this will affect me, advisor Adam Martindale said. 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. For full Panama Canal transits, trans-ocean, and select remote voyages, testing and vaccines are still required. It also varies based on different rules for cruise ships or territories, and evolving guidance from the CDC. 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. It turns out that you can usually board a cruise ship without being vaccinated for COVID-19. Unvaccinated guests are welcome with a medically supervised or self-test within three days of sailing. The exception are trips on the Disney Magic that depart New York City from September 30 through October 31 that may have different requirements. 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. The Miami-based operator will not require passengers to be vaccinated. For specific country requirements, please visit Cruise Travel Requirements by Country. Our crew will continue to maintain our stringent hygiene protocols based upon the most up-to-date guidelines from the European Healthy Gateways, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), and Greek health authorities.. How long will the vaccine requirement be in place for cruise passengers? Copyright 2023 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. *Terms & Conditions Package not available on sailings less than 5 days or charter sailings. 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. Those eligible for boosters are also required to have received them. Guests are strongly recommended to set sail fully vaccinated, if they are eligible, the cruise line said in a news release. Norwegian Cruise Lines 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. The new protocols do not apply to itineraries for countries where local regulations may vary, such as Canada, Australia, and Greece. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine before your cruise is not only cost effective, but it could save your life. Will I be required to take a COVID-19 test in order to embark on the second leg of a back-to-back sailing? Viking River Cruises and Viking Ocean Cruises require all guests to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at least 14 days before travel. 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. Related: Do I need a COVID-19 vaccine to cruise? What testing and treatment capabilities are there onboard? Before boarding, you may need to present a vaccine waiver, wear a mask, or provide a negative test. Cruises that are 16 nights or longer may have additional requirements based on the itinerary. Here's what to know about setting sail without a COVID-19 vaccination. Please note: Anti-viral COVID-19 therapeutics are readily available onboard and will be . 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. A precruise test is no longer required on the river ships. Completed health questionnaire (prior to embarkation); Standard travel documents, including passport or any visas as required. Viking Cruises has decided to eliminate pre-voyage testing. Unvaccinated guests are permitted to sail on most MSC voyages. Should the need arise, we also have partnerships with onshore medical institutions in place to provide clinical advice and assistance as needed. Cond Nast Traveler does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Testing at home is safe, simple, and convenient. Beginning September 2, for sailings departing U.S. and Canadian ports, guests ages 12 and older are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at the time of sailing. Check with Cunard for information on your specific sailing. Additional terms and conditions may apply, see our COVID- 19 Policies and Procedures and your Cruise Ticket Contract for details. 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. For departures through 2022, proof of vaccination or certificate of recent recovery is no longer required, though testing protocols will still be in place. As delivering the best experience for our guests is always a top priority, after working closely with our destination partners, we anticipate that guests will be free to explore certain ports of call on their own. 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. Onboard medical consultations and standard treatments are provided for COVID-19-related illness at a charge. This does not supersede country specific requirements - Travel Requirements by Country. 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. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Celestyal also recommends all passengers over 60and guests of any age with an underlying conditionto check with their doctors first to ensure theyre fit to travel. Vaccinations are optional. 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. Not only will being fully vaccinated help protect you from getting seriously ill with COVID-19, but it can also help protect those around you,Thomas Russo, MD,professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo, toldHealth. But like the latter lines, it'll still make you show proof of one for some sailings. Some cruise lines encourage vaccination even though they don't require it. 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. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Unable to cruise. 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. While guests over the age of five previously had to be vaccinated, starting in early September, unvaccinated passengers under the age of 12 are now allowed to board. 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? But as noted above, some lines make exceptions to vaccination rules for young children. Cruisers have been patiently waiting and there is pent-up demand. Travel tips you can trust. All passengers must also present a negative PCR test result at the pier. Before your trip, you will need to review your cruise lines health and safety protocols. In the specific event that you have a child turning 5 during the voyage, check in with your cruise line before buying a ticket. There are still some cruise lines that have not yet indicated they will relax their COVID protocols, though their numbers are dwindling. If you feel ill in the days before your cruise, you should not travel. Cruise ship travel during COVID-19. Get your annual flu shot and get up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines. This is the news weve been waiting for, said Michelle Fee, CEO and co-founder of Cruise Planners. But ever since theCOVID-19 pandemicbegan, it's understandable to wonder whether you can go on a cruise if you're not vaccinated. Precruise testing is required for all guests. 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). Unvaccinated guests are welcome to sail on all voyages, except for those to or from Australia and on transatlantic and transpacific cruises. The CDC has said vaccinated cruise passengers can remove their masks outdoors unless theyre in a crowd. Yes, we offer guests the option to purchase travel protection plans. All departures from the U.S. that are nine nights or less dont require any testing, unless they stop in Canada or Bermuda. Other cruise lines are singing the same tune. Lindblad ExpeditionsAll passengers age 5 and older must be vaccinated. NOTE: Carnival Spirit - April 16, 2023, & September 19, 2023: These sailings do not require proof of vaccination, vaccine exemption or testing. Do bivalent boosters work against XBB.1.5? Previously, the number was 95 percent for passengers. The changes began shortly. 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.. Specific destinations still require testing such as Canada, Greece, and Bermuda. COVID-19 shots are compulsory for all passengers cruising with Atlas, with proof of inoculation required before embarkation. Check the cruise lines websites for the most up-to-date information.). 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. American Medical Association. Disney also highly recommends vaccines for younger kids. Children age 12 to 15 must have received two initial doses of the vaccination. Windstar CruisesAll passengers must be fully vaccinated. This news is very exciting for us and our industry.. 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. On March 19, 2021, Celebrity Cruises announced that Celebrity Millennium would begin cruises out of St. Maarten on June 5, 2021. 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 new, simplified protocols recognize the evolving nature of COVID-19 while still ensuring we protect the health of our guests, team members and the communities we visit.. 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. Unvaccinated passengers will need to test via a rapid or lab-based PCR or nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT). Vaccinated and unvaccinated. 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. The CDC also has detailed recommendations for travel during the pandemic, both for vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers as well as for cruise travel. Fee is also hopeful that the remainder of cruise lines will follow suit soon. That enables a virus to spread more easily from person to person. This does not supersede country specific requirements - Travel Requirements by Country. It depends. Effective for sailings 10/4/22 and beyond, all guests regardless of vaccination status are able to sail and with no testing requirements. Check with Carnival for specific cruise requirements. Unvaccinated guests are welcome but required to have a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to departure, subject to local regulations. 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). Norwegian Cruise Line doesn't allow children under the age of 5 to cruise, for example, because they can't get vaccinated yet. I will have a better idea at the end of this week.. Children under 5 leaving the U.S. or under 12 leaving Europe also dont need to test. 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. Disney Cruise Line. However, since cruise operations have resumed, a large portion of social media comments and discussions among cruise travelers have centered around vaccinations, and COVID-19 restrictions more broadly. Guests who have symptoms of COVID-19 whilst onboard should immediately contact the onboard medical centre for further instruction. 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.. While some cruise lines state they'll accept medical exemptions, others do not, and it also might depend on the port. For an easy-to-use online tool for locating COVID-19 testing providers around the world, please visitwww.TestForTravel.com. If you're not comfortable vaccinating your child under 12, hold off on buying them a ticket or get confirmation on a timeline for requirements from your desired cruise line. The protocols do not apply to itineraries for countries where local regulations may vary, including Canada, Australia, and Greece. To make sure the experience remains safe only vaccinated adults will. The line doesn't allow kids younger than 8 years old to sail, so young-child exemptions aren't a . Unvaccinated guests are welcome on most voyages. Kashif J. Piracha, MD, FACP, FASN, FNKF, is a practicing physician at Methodist Willowbrook Hospital. 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.

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