(If testing is required it can typically be either a PCR test or tele-health-monitored antigen test, paid for by the passenger. Cruise Lines With Covid Vaccine Requirements for Guests and Crew - Yahoo! Precruise testing is required for unvaccinated passengers. People can also pick up pathogens from port visits and bring them back onto the ship, infecting others. For specific country requirements, please visit Cruise Travel Requirements by Country. 2023 CNET, a Red Ventures company. This website uses cookies. Check with Carnival for specific cruise requirements. Lets get cruising! Precruise testing is required for all guests. Guests aged three and older may embark without testing or vaccination, if providing documentation that he/she has recovered from COVID-19 between ten to 90 days prior to the departure date. What if I test positive for COVID-19 before my cruise? The European Union's Digital COVID Certificate, for example, includes certification of recovery from COVID-19. For an easy-to-use online tool for locating COVID-19 testing providers around the world, please visitwww.TestForTravel.com. 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). Cruisers have been patiently waiting and there is pent-up demand. Our ships have been sailing very full all summer, but there is still room for more of our loyal guests and these guidelines will make it a simpler process and make cruising accessible to those who were not able to meet the protocols we were required to follow for much of the past 14 months, said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival. 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. 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. 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. Ad Choices. 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. Many major cruise lines require anyone who is eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine to be fully inoculated . 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. NAAT test (i.e., PCR) within 48 hours of embarkation date. Royal Caribbean announces cruises with no vaccine requirement - The CunardAll guests age 16 and up must be vaccinated, including with booster shots. "Currently, COVID-19 vaccination is required for all guests for all sailings departing on March 13, 2021, through April 10, 2021, at this time," American Cruise Lines said in a statement. Starting in September, a larger number of unvaccinated travelers will be allowed onboard cruise ships both big and small on select routes but will be required to be tested for COVID first. Monitor yourself for symptoms after the trip, and isolate yourself if you have a positive test or develop symptoms. As is true for most travel restrictions these days, your ability to book a cruise may depend on your vaccination status. These 3 Cruise Lines Don't Require Vaccination Against COVID-19 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. That enables a virus to spread more easily from person to person. All onboard venues and activities will be available unless staffing or other challenges onboard prevent normal operations. 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. Disney Cruise Line 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. Cond Nast Traveler may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. For Europe and Tahiti, your last COVID-19 shot is now required within the last 270 days. Respiratory illnesses like the flu, and COVID-19 and the common cold. There are a few reasons why viruses and diseases can spread quickly on cruise ships. Viking CruisesAll passengers and crew are required to be vaccinated on Vikings river and ocean shipswithout exception. All guests should assess their individual risk level and consult with their doctor if needed prior to sailing. Will any countries visited during the cruise require additional testing to enter the country? Viking will continue to do onboard testings for any passengers who report symptoms. How Safe Is It to Travel With Unvaccinated Children? All guests 18 and older must be vaccinated to sail, plus one booster shot if eligible. 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. 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. For cruises longer than 15 nights, a medically supervised COVID-19 test is required for all guests, and most passengers are required to be vaccinated. Here are some of the latest cruise lines that are pulling back on pandemic measures. 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. Vaccination will be critical in the safe resumption of cruising . All guests are required to accept the terms and conditions in our guest ticket contract. 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. Vaccines heavily reduce the chances that you'll become infected in the first place. 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. We have increased intensive care units (ICU) capacity onboard and ICUs are equipped with infusion pumps, IV treatments, cardiac monitors, defibrillators, cardiac pacemakers and ventilators. Unvaccinated guests are welcome but required to have a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to departure, subject to local regulations. We have improved our onboard medical capabilities with additional staffing directly related to sailing capacity, new and upgraded equipment and enhanced facilities. Cruise ships will not have to require vaccinations, CDC says but some Jessica is a writer on the Wellness team with a focus on health news. Will I be required to take a COVID-19 test in order to embark on the second leg of a back-to-back sailing? These rules apply to cruises of under 16 nights. 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. Vaccines must be approved for use by the country they are sailing from. The cruise line continues to strongly recommend all guests be up to date on vaccination protocols and test at their convenience prior to travel. Norwegian Cruise Line | Sail Safe | Health & Safety Protocols Since then, cruise lines around the world have been cautiously dropping their pre-embarkation requirements. Some ships can hold more than 5,400 passengers at two to a room. Can You Get Omicron and Delta COVID-19 Variants at the Same Time? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has kept cruise lines from U.S. sailings since March 2020, has recommended that passengers, crew and port workers be vaccinated. Wash your hands frequently. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Travel Requirements by Port & Country - Norwegian Cruise Line 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. 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. 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. "We have been waiting a long time for this moment to arrive, Oceanias president and CEO Howard Sherman said in a statement. Unvaccinated guests are welcome on most voyages. Norwegian Cruise Line will require all passengers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before boarding at least through the end of the . 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. As of today, 90 percent of all vacationers booking with Royal Caribbean are either vaccinated or planning to get vaccinated in time for their cruise.. Before boarding, you may need to present a vaccine waiver, wear a mask, or provide a negative test. That's hard to say because it depends on the state of the pandemic at any given time. If you have a weakened immune system, talk with your healthcare provider about your cruise travel plans. But even before the COVID-19 pandemic, cruise ships didn't have the best reputation for being disease-free. Local regulations may have booster requirements to enter certain countries make sure to check Travel Requirements by Country to understand country specific requirements. Starting March 11, 2023, proof of vaccination for sailings to or from Europe will no longer be required. Get tested for COVID-19 one to three days before your trip and three to five days after your trip, regardless of your vaccination status. Every ship has a team of experienced doctors and nurses trained to manage a broad range of medical conditions, including COVID-19. Our CareTeam will assist with daily wellbeing check-ins . 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. 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. Before you book, contact the cruise line to see if it'll accept an exemption and also look into the local laws of where you'll be visiting if and when you get off the ship for an excursion. For guests departing outside of the US who are cruising with Royal Caribbean, they may present a certificate of recovery. All rights reserved. Yes. However, as the situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to evolve, it's possible that some data have changed since publication. Specific destinations still require testing such as Canada, Greece, and Bermuda. COVID-19 vaccine exemptions at Carnival's Long Beach, California port will only be accepted for kids under age 12 and when "required by US federal law" due to religious beliefs or medical reasons. Outbreak updates for international cruise ships. 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. Vaccinations are optional. Guests are strongly recommended to set sail fully vaccinated, if they are eligible, the cruise line said in a news release. The new protocols do not apply to itineraries for countries where local regulations may vary, such as Canada, Australia, and Greece. Local regulations may have vaccine requirements to enter certain countries make sure to checkTravel Requirements by Countryto understand country specific requirements about accepted vaccines. And as in the noncruise world, the changes in regulations are happening quickly and travelers will need to stay updated on the latest. For additional information, please visit Cruise Travel Requirements by Country. Effective for sailings 10/4/22 and beyond, all guests regardless of vaccination status are able to sail and with no testing requirements. Yes, we welcome all guests to sail with us, regardless of vaccination status and age, and with no testing or masking requirements. Disney Cruise Line. In mid-June, Viking announced that 'travelers cruising with Viking are no longer required to take a pre-cruise test. 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. The cruise line may also require a test at the pier, paid for by the cruise line.) The line doesn't allow kids younger than 8 years old to sail, so young-child exemptions aren't a . 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. 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. COVID-19 shots are compulsory for all passengers cruising with Atlas, with proof of inoculation required before embarkation. Its hard to say how this will affect me, advisor Adam Martindale said. 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. If you have a cruise booked, you should keep checking the cruise lines website or contact the line for the latest rules. 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. Completed health questionnaire (prior to embarkation); Standard travel documents, including passport or any visas as required. That means receiving a final primary dose and an updated booster shot, which became available for people older than 12 on September 2, 2022. Royal Caribbean will require vaccinations for some cruises: ships leaving Seattle for Alaska this summer, those sailing from the Bahamas and ships leaving from other international ports. Here's what we know about cruising unvaccinated for now. Unvaccinated guests are welcome on most voyages, except for those that visit destinations where local regulations vary, including Australia. In addition to a broad set of coverage benefits, our plans cover medical expenses for illnesses, including COVID-19. 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.. Drug-sniffing dogs and $500 fines: Carnival tries to tame cruises, Battery fire on Spirit flight to Florida sends 10 to hospital, In a crowded place, a face mask or respirator keeps the virus away, The investigation into covids origins must continue, Your questions about covid-19, answered by Dr. Leana Wen, Lab leak report energizes Republicans covid probes, We are asking the wrong question about the origins of covid, Doctors who touted ivermectin as covid fix now pushing it for flu, RSV, First combination home test for flu and covid cleared by the FDA. 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. Guests can rest assured that their health and safety are our top priority and measures will be communicated in a timely manner ahead of our return to sailing., Latest on the cruise comeback: Rogue wave incident | Overboard passenger saved | Covid hits Sydney cruise | Carnival fining unruly passengers | Unvaccinated passengers welcomed | Cheap cruises | No more CDC stats | Record bookings | Rape lawsuit | Carnival fire | Passenger bill of rights | CDC drops cruise warnings | Passenger overboard | Crystal ships seized. In the event you or any member of your traveling party tests positive for COVID-19 in the 10 days before your cruise departs, or at the boarding terminal, you and your traveling p.