Aug. 14, 2022 Four major cruise lines are dropping their COVID-19 vaccination requirements for some sailings next month, according to USA Today. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ended its COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships on July 18, after which many cruise lines that had opted in eased their protocols. Dont Miss: What Time Does The Victory Casino Cruise Sail. Despite Floridas law, Norwegian Cruise Line is also insisting it will require everyone on board its ships to be fully inoculated against Covid-19. Cruise lines have their own rules countries have their own rules. MSC is a popular choice for passengers looking for relatively affordable fares. If you know a bit about which brands belong to which company, youll recognize that these are all cruise lines under the Carnival Corporation and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings umbrellas. All passengers will undergo a complimentary COVID-19 test during the pre-cruise hotel stay prior to embarkation. Azamara. Will Lines Still Require a Pre-Cruise COVID-19 Test Before a Cruise? According to Royal Caribbeans website, the cruise line is working with local governments in the Eastern Caribbean to align on vaccination requirements for more itineraries.. Disney Cruise Line joins the majority of cruise operators that have done away with COVID-19 vaccination requirements on some ships. Also Check: 7 Night Western Mediterranean Cruise. Aida Cruises, Ama Waterways, American Queen Steamboat Company, Azamara, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, Carnival Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours and Viking are all open or planning to open soon. Its understandable why many voyagers can get muddled on what they need to do in relation to COVID-19 vaccination requirements for their next cruise. Disney Cruise Line, which recently welcomed a new ship to its fleet, requires unvaccinated children to wear their masks when using shared onboard youth centers, and also asks all travelers to wear a mask at all times when at the cruise terminal. No precruise testing is required for vaccinated guests on sailings of five nights or less. All guests and crew will be required to wear a mask onboard. Others have eliminated both Covid vaccination requirements and testing requirements for some, but not all, passengers based on itineraries or cruise lengths. These Cruise Lines Are Requiring Passengers To Wear Masks Again All The Details. No. As protocols change rapidly, here is our rundown of current cruise line COVID-19 practices and policies: There are a number of vaccines available around the world. All passengers will undergo a complimentary COVID-19 test during the pre-cruise hotel stay prior to embarkation. However, some cruise lines have recently revoked the obligation to wear masks on certain ships this summer. Recommended Reading: What Is The Best Cruise Line. Keep in mind that each cruise line determines its own health and wellness protocols. However, the cruise line did recently relax testing requirements for vaccinated passengers, with a reference that vaccine rules could also drop sometime in the future: MSC Cruises will continue to monitor pandemic conditions and port requirements outside of the U.S., with a goal to relax testing and vaccination protocols to open cruising to all guests, while prioritizing the health and safety of its guests, crew and destinations. Cruise ship operators, at their discretion, may designate areas as only accessible to fully vaccinated passengers and crew where masks and physical distancing are not required (e.g., casinos . MSC Cruises As of September 1, 2022, MSC Cruises no longer requires U.S. citizens to be vaccinated. Also Check: Best Hotels Near Miami Cruise Port. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Crew Vaccinated? For now, none of the cruise lines that have a vaccine requirement have announced any plans to rescind that rule in the future. On voyages that visit Greece or Italy, they are required on. Kids two to five years old will still be required to wear masks in the kids club spaces and Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. If youre flying to Caribbean islands like Barbados or the Bahamas, or Canadian homeports, such as Vancouver and Montreal, you will need to carry a passport. For domestic sailings, this will be entirely dependent on your chosen cruise line and their cruise vaccination requirements and the current laws of the state or territories you plan on travelling from/to. As well, even if not required, Royal Caribbean asks that you still bring proof of vaccination to your cruise. Carnival, for example, says itll accept some vaccine exemptions from those ages 12 and younger, as well as adults who have that they cant be vaccinated but only at their Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Maryland, South Carolina and Alabama ports until the end of March 2022. Carnival has also removed the mask mandate from its ships. It must be noted, however, that there have been no reports of cases reported from cruise ships having severe symptoms or requiring hospitalization, with most individuals who return positive test results reporting no symptoms or only mild discomfort. However, before they cruise, those without the shot will need to have a negative test taken within three days of cruising . Its almost unheard of for a vaccinated person to get seriously ill with Covid-19, she said in an email. If you have a weakened immune system, talk to a healthcare provider about the risks of traveling. As always, your safety is our first priority, so we will continue with our other protocols to keep you well while enjoying your relaxing vacation, the cruise line shared in the email. Do Non-US Citizens Need to Be Vaccinated to Enter the US During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Given the significant, positive progress in the public health environment, the Cruise Line updated its health and safety guidelines, which are now more aligned with other global travel organizations. Policy: In general, masks are not required onboard. If you are allowed onboard, you will need to be tested precruise, which is required for unvaccinated children as well. Some lines, however, may still require one or more protocols to be adhered to, either on a voyage-by-voyage basis or on a destination-basis. Major cruise lines that continue to have a masking policy in place for indoor public areas of their ships include Azamara, Cunard, Disney Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, and Viking. For instance, a Panama Canal cruise making a stop in Colombia triggers vaccine requirements for ports later in the itinerary. Guests who choose not to be vaccinated or not willing to verify vaccination will be subject to testing and additional health protocols which will be at their expense. Enjoy your cruise. MSCs policy toward vaccination for sailing from the United States is that while kids under 12 years old are allowed to sail unvaccinated, those older than that must have the shot. Cruise lines have been making changes to their requirements for passengers in order to make cruise ships accessible to virtually everyone. As a result, people are able to get back to the things they love and cruises have had a successful restart with millions heading back to sea. The cruise line states some itineraries will require proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to travel, and that instructors will be sent out 30 days prior to travel. Can I Travel if I've Been Exposed to COVID-19? Olsen Cruise Lines. Specifically, guests should wear face masks in nearly all public settings regardless of physical distancing measures but will not be required to wear face masks in their own stateroom. Check your airlines protocols around testing, mask-wearing, vaccination, or quarantining if youre flying before or after the cruise. We feature properties from a specially selected list of trusted operators who are of a standard that we believe our readers expect. Norwegian Cruise Line , the innovator in global cruise travel, today announced that it has updated its global health and safety protocols by removing all COVID-19 testing, masking and vaccination requirements effective Oct. 4, 2022. Pre-boarding tests are not required for vaccinated guests. Norwegian Cruise Line*, Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean* International, for example, are all headquartered in the US, which means they must follow the guidelines set out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention even when theyre sailing outside of the country. Compare and find the best cruise deals. Given the significant, positive progress in the public health environment, the Cruise Line updated its health and safety guidelines, which are now more aligned with other global travel organizations. Health and safety are always our first priority in fact, we were the health and safety leaders from the very start of the pandemic. A number of cruise lines have reviewed their policies following the change. 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 . Children who are not old enough to be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine must present a negative antigen or PCR test result taken within 72 hours of embarkation. The CDC updated its guidelines on July 18 so that vaccination is no longer a requirement instead, its merely recommended. Children age 12 to 15 must have received two initial doses of the vaccination. 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. Starting Sept. 6, Princess Cruises will require passengers on sailings of 16 nights or longer to take a test within three days of leaving, as well as those on full Panama Canal transits. Using the searchable directory at the International Society of Travel Medicinecan connect you with a provider based on your location or specific needs.When you book an appointment with a travel medicine clinic, theyll ask you for your specific itinerary and vaccination history, and can usually provide any necessary vaccines on-site. Celestyal Cruises has partnered with Bioiatriki which provides tests for just 10 per person at locations across Athens and Thessaloniki. 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. These included recommendations that ships continue to require pre-cruise testing and for passengers to be vaccinated. In addition to the protection COVID-19 vaccines provide to individual travelers in preventing severe illness or death from COVID-19, having a high proportion of travelers on board who are up to date with COVID-19 vaccines reduces the likelihood that cruise ships medical centers are overwhelmed by cases of COVID-19.. Is A Pre-Arrival COVID-19 Test Required? Youll find expert advice for experienced and first-time cruisers, as well as port and destination guides. Keep in mind that even though face masks are no longer required for ships from the above cruise lines, they still may be required in specific venues such as the theater or kids clubs. CunardAll guests age 16 and up must be vaccinated, including with booster shots. In turn, each operator has prepared their own cruise vaccination policy that is designed to work across all destinations they service. AzamaraPassengers no longer need to take pre-travel Covid tests except where required by local restrictions. : Yes American Queen is even vaccinating its shoreside employees. A precruise test is no longer required on the river ships. : Yes American Queen is even vaccinating its shoreside employees. However, some cruise lines have recently revoked the obligation to wear masks on certain ships this summer. How long will the vaccine requirement be in place for cruise passengers? For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPGs new cruise newsletter. Younger passengers are not subject to any vaccination requirements or testing protocols. View Best Prices on Carnival, Celebrity Cruises Starting on Monday, September 5, 2022, all guests will be able to sail on Celebrity cruise ships, even if not vaccinated. The three major cruise lines sailing from U.S. ports Royal Caribbean International , Carnival Cruise Lines CCL, and Norwegian Cruise Line NCLH still require pre-cruise covid tests taken no more than two days before your cruise and that all guests ages 12-and-over provide proof of vaccination. Our Crew will remain fully vaccinated as they are now. The cruise line states some itineraries will require proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to travel, and that instructors will be sent out 30 days prior to travel. As the cruise industry has made its way back from its covid-related March 2020 through July 2021 closure, a lot of people have put off cruising until it returned to normal. Thats a relative word, however, as your normal and my normal may not be the same. Other sources include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Travelers Health site that maintains up-to-date information on current health situations around the world, general healthy travel tips and help in finding a travel health clinic. The guidance also makes it clear that 90% is what a high proportion of travelers means. Pre-voyage testing is not required for guests with proof of vaccination unless local regulations stipulate otherwise. Vaccinated passengers dont need to test unless visiting Canada, Bermuda, Greece or Australia and on trips of 16 nights or longer. Currently, more than 120 countries have dropped all restrictions, including many popular cruise destinations in the Caribbean and Europe. Can I still have sex during the coronavirus pandemic? Additionally, many cruise lines are still enforcing social distancing measures onboard and in public areas.When planning a cruise vacation, it's important to research the safety protocols of each cruise line before booking. Additionally, it's important to check the latest travel advisories and restrictions for your destination before booking a cruise. The company shared that information in an email that was sent to people booked on upcoming sailings. 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. 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. And, I would say that nobody wearing or not wearing masks were ever made to feel uncomfortable. Policy: Masks are not required onboard, except for in a few select indoor locations. So, will you need a vaccine to cruise? Many travelers have been patiently waiting to take their long-awaited vacation at sea and we cannot wait to celebrate their return.. Starting in late February, Virgin Voyages adjusted its policies from requiring masks when indoors to going completely mask-free. There is no requirement for passengers to mask on board, but 100% of the crew is masked. Democrats have denounced the new law and accused DeSantis of undermining both public health and the cruise industry. And, as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to evolve, vaccination requirements shift as well. The TSA no longer requires face. Read Also: How Much Are Cruises Out Of Galveston. For general information on testing, please refer to our article on cruise testing requirements. Editors note: This post has been updated with new information. In the fall of 2022, many popular cruise lines dropped the requirement for passengers to be up-to-date on Covid-19 vaccinations. Every other cruise line has a tough decision to make. View Best Prices on Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line For cruises that depart on or after September 6, 2022, Carnival Cruise Line will allow all guests to once again sail on their Fun Ships. Click on your favorite cruise line below to find out. Judge sides with Norwegian in bid to require COVID-19 vaccination, What Is Included In Concierge Class On Celebrity Cruises, What Cruise Lines Sail From Jacksonville Florida, You can view Carnivals latest policies here, You can view Virgin Voyages latest policies here, ropped the pre-cruise testing requirement. Vaccine requirements are starting to change, however. Vaccinated passengers dont need to test unless visiting Canada, Bermuda, Greece or Australia and on trips of 16 nights or longer. Guests who have certain pre-existing medical conditions . Note: Some destinations still require it and cruises that visit these countries will still have the COVID-19 vaccination requirement due to local laws. However, before they cruise, those without the shot will need to have a negative test taken within three days of cruising . With more and more cruise lines dropping all COVID-related travel requirements, its back to cruising as usual. Is A Pierside, Pre-Embarkation COVID-19 Test Required? It's important to note that while some cruise lines have relaxed their mask policies, they still require travelers to follow other safety protocols. You can keep up with her on Instagram at @IAmSarahJaneB. Recommended Reading: When Are Cruise Ships Sailing Again. Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. Carnival Splendor setting sail on October 1, Carnival Luminosas first sailing on November 6, approximately 100 cases were reported onboard, Worlds Largest Cruise Ship Oversold for Spring Break, Carnival Cruise Ship Will Offer Transatlantic Voyage After Dry Dock, Photos Reveal Progress at Carnival Cruise Lines New Port. These Cruise Lines Will Still Require Face Masks This Summer - Travel Off Path, Mask mandate: Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean set to drop masks, Cruise Lines Mandating Vaccines: What You Need to Know, Cruise Lines Reopening: What You Need to Know. As the threat of Covid-19 begins to diminish, there is a possibility cruise lines may relax health protocols, including allowing unvaccinated people to go on 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. There is no mention of needing a reason to be eligible for an exemption. In fact, the cruise line requires all passengers to have the shot to sail. Its also important to know that while all adults in the US are now eligible for boosters, the definition of fully vaccinated hasnt changed and you dont need an extra shot to be considered fully vaccinated. The cruise line currently requires unvaccinated guests to have a vaccine exemption before they sail. No. Guests are strongly recommended to set sail fully vaccinated, if they are eligible, said Royal Caribbeans news release. That creates a peace of mind you dont get on other types of vacations. American Queen VoyagesOn this lines river, ocean, Great Lakes and expedition ships, all passengers are required to be vaccinated. Unvaccinated passengers will be required to show a negative test for all trips. There are, of course, also some passengers who have not sailed because they are not vaccinated or dont care to share their vaccination status with a cruise line. Carnival Cruise Line and local health authorities will continue to monitor local COVID-19 case levels and will make appropriate adjustments to the policy, as well as to other onboard protocols, to safeguard cruise guests, crew members, and port communities. The company plans to start sailing again in August, including to Greece, Turkey, and Italy. Do I need a vaccine to cruise? You can keep up with her on Instagram at @IAmSarahJaneB. In compliance with U.K. guidance, Fred. Also, fully vaccinated passengers now no longer need to provide a negative COVID-19 test prior to setting sail on many voyages. 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.