Even so, Celestyal suggests all guests test prior to travel, regardless of vaccination status, but test results will no longer be checked next year. The big question is, what cruise lines allow unvaccinated guests to sail? Many major cruise lines require anyone who is eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine to be fully inoculated . 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. The protocols do not apply to itineraries for countries where local regulations may vary, including Canada, Australia, and Greece. All passengers must also present a negative PCR test result at the pier. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. Requirements may differ for guests traveling on voyages departing from or visiting destinations with specific local regulations, such as Canada, Greece, and Bermuda. This does not supersede country specific requirements - Travel Requirements by Country. And as in the noncruise world, the changes in regulations are happening quickly and travelers will need to stay updated on the latest. 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. 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. Shes been on 10 cruises and counting, and her favorite onboard activities include trying out the water slides, spending time in the spas thermal suite, eating lots of food, and attending the love & marriage show. 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. 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. Check the cruise lines websites for the most up-to-date information.). 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Will all guests be required to be vaccinated prior to the cruise? All Rights Reserved. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Viking CruisesAll passengers and crew are required to be vaccinated on Vikings river and ocean shipswithout exception. 2023 Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. 11-Reasons to Cruise to Alaska this Summer | NCL Travel Blog, 14-Day Authentic Alaska - Northbound Cruise Tour | Norwegian Cruise Line, 14-Day Authentic Alaska - Southbound Cruise Tour | Deck Plans | Norwegian Cruise Line, 20-Day Transpacific from Tokyo (Yokohama) & Alaska | Norwegian Cruise Line, 11 Reasons to Cruise to Alaska this Summer | NCL Travel Blog. 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.. Cruise ship travel. 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. A couple of the factors in that unique combination are crowded spaces and tight quarters. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends updating people on their COVID-19 vaccines before going on a cruise. Check with Carnival for specific cruise requirements. It turns out that you can usually board a cruise ship without being vaccinated for COVID-19. Related: What happens if someone tests positive for COVID-19 on your cruise. Monitor yourself for symptoms after the trip, and isolate yourself if you have a positive test or develop symptoms. Additional travel restrictions for certain nationalities or countries may arise based on the quickly evolving public health environment. Fee is also hopeful that the remainder of cruise lines will follow suit soon. 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. Self-tests are accepted in some cases, but it's best to check the specifics on the site. It also varies based on different rules for cruise ships or territories, and evolving guidance from the CDC. 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. If you have a weakened immune system, talk to a healthcare provider about the risks of traveling. So far, the CDC has approved nine ships for test cruises, operated by Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line and MSC Cruises. If a guest tests positive for COVID-19 while on board, what costs are covered? Before CNET, she worked in local journalism covering public health issues, business and music. Masks are optional in all areas. 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. Are there any onboard activities that will not be available? Disney also highly recommends vaccines for younger kids. Royal Caribbean Reported a COVID-19 Outbreak on the World's Biggest Cruise Ship, A US Cruise Ship Had a COVID Outbreak Even Though Full Vaccination Was RequiredHere's What You Should Know, CDC Stops Reporting COVID-19 Cases on Cruise ShipsHere's How You Can Still Stay Safe. Still, there are exceptions. Travel news, guides and tips for anyone looking to get away. They're also easing rules for pre-boarding testing, making it easier for cruise-goers to sail the seas. Boosters are required for those age 18 and up who completed tests more than nine months prior to the cruise. 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 onboard venues and activities will be available unless staffing or other challenges onboard prevent normal operations. 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. There are a few reasons why viruses and diseases can spread quickly on cruise ships. In addition to a broad set of coverage benefits, our plans cover medical expenses for illnesses, including COVID-19. While other cruise lines may not officially require vaccinations for kids that young yet, they may in the future. The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Are children required to have a COVID-19 vaccine to cruise? 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). The cruise line continues to strongly recommend all guests be up to date on vaccination protocols and test at their convenience prior to travel. Yes, we welcome all guests to sail with us, regardless of vaccination status and age, and with no testing or masking requirements. While some cruise lines operating in Europe have been requiring all passengers to be vaccinated, the C.D.C. Effective for sailings 10/4/22 and beyond, all guests regardless of vaccination status are able to sail and with no testing requirements. That's hard to say because it depends on the state of the pandemic at any given time. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Overall, it's just better to get vaccinated against COVID-19 before going on a cruise, said Dr. Russo. 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. Viking will continue to do onboard testings for any passengers who report symptoms. All rights reserved. Additionally, starting this week, vaccinated passengers no longer need to test before embarking. Carnival Cruise Line Unvaccinated guests are welcome to sail on all voyages except. 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.. This is the news weve been waiting for, said Michelle Fee, CEO and co-founder of Cruise Planners. 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. 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. (The only"mix and match" approach to COVID-19 vaccinesin the US applies to boosters.). Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This includes vaccines such as AstraZeneca and Sinovac. Retesting three to five days after returning, and in particular, if symptoms have developed, is also advised, says Dr. Jasmin Valentin of Sameday Health. Before your trip, you will need to review your cruise lines health and safety protocols. Lets get cruising! Detours with locals. COVID-19 requirements may differ in destinations that have specific mandates, such as Canada, Greece and Bermuda. Paul Gauguin CruisesVaccinations are required for all passengers over age 5. The CDC has said vaccinated cruise passengers can remove their masks outdoors unless theyre in a crowd. It's possible a cruise line may accept one shot of a viral vector vaccine, such as AstraZeneca, and one shot of an mRNA vaccine, but this practice of mixing for a COVID-19 vaccine primary series isn't authorized yet in the US. All passengers age 4 and up must take a prearrival test and show a negative result to board. Travelers ages 11 and under will not be subject to any vaccination requirements or testing protocols. While some cruise lines state they'll accept medical exemptions, others do not, and it also might depend on the port. 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. Last week, the CDC announced new guidelines that won't require cruise lines to ask for proof of a COVID-19 vaccination from passengers. They included vaccination requirements for anyone age 12 and up (some companies such as Disney Cruise Line later went with a 5 and up requirement as vaccinations became available for younger children), precruise testing requirements, mandatory masking in public areas, social distancing, and other measures the CDC said would help contain the spread of COVID-19 on cruise ships. That means receiving a final primary dose and an updated booster shot, which became available for people older than 12 on September 2, 2022. 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. Lindblad ExpeditionsAll passengers age 5 and older must be vaccinated. COVID-19 shots are compulsory for all passengers cruising with Atlas, with proof of inoculation required before embarkation. Cruise lines have their own rules; countries have their own rules. 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. All guests, regardless of vaccination status, should expect to be tested for COVID-19 prior to boarding a cruise ship. Guests may also provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test by an accredited third-party with results from within two days of embarkation, if they choose. Carnival Cruise Line is joining Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line in dropping its COVID-19 vaccine requirement.. 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. Since then, cruise lines around the world have been cautiously dropping their pre-embarkation requirements. How Long Does It Take for the COVID-19 Booster To Be Effective? Cruise ships often have food buffets, which can be easily contaminated and lead to the rapid spread of illnesses like norovirus. 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. Masks are no longer required. Testing at home is safe, simple, and convenient. And you may have to be vaccinated or not. This article was published more than1 year ago. 2023 Cond Nast. 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. 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. Norwegian Cruise Line doesn't allow children under the age of 5 to cruise, for example, because they can't get vaccinated yet. If you have a weakened immune system, talk with your healthcare provider about your cruise travel plans. Related: Do I need a COVID-19 vaccine to cruise? There are no restrictions for those under the age of 11. 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.