Should the need arise, we also have partnerships with onshore medical institutions in place to provide clinical advice and assistance as needed. 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. This includes vaccines such as AstraZeneca and Sinovac. 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. The pandemic after the pandemic: Long covid haunts millions of people. Here's what to know about setting sail without a COVID-19 vaccination. Lindblad ExpeditionsAll passengers age 5 and older must be vaccinated. In you are an unvaccinated adult, some cruise lines will now let you sail, others will not. Check with Carnival for specific cruise requirements. 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. Viking strongly recommends passengers receive a booster dose before departing. 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. And as in the noncruise world, the changes in regulations are happening quickly and travelers will need to stay updated on the latest. For specific country requirements, please visit Cruise Travel Requirements by Country. The requirement was initially going to last until Oct. 31. Vaccinated and unvaccinated. Cruise ship travel during COVID-19. Local regulations may have booster requirements to enter certain countries make sure to check Travel Requirements by Country to understand country specific requirements. 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. A cruise can be a fun way to visit certain areas of the world at a slower pace. Vaccination for sailings starting and ending in the U.S. is not required. 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. Unvaccinated guests are welcome to sail on most voyages, except for itineraries that feature destinations with local regulations that may continue to require vaccination including Australia. 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. Disney Cruise Line. Onboard medical centres are also abundantly stocked with common prescription medications, remedies, and virus-testing equipment as available. A precruise test is no longer required on the river ships. We will comply with all local regulations at all destinations we visit. All passengers must also present a negative PCR test result at the pier. Cruises that are 16 nights or longer may have additional requirements based on the itinerary. Political buffoonery: Cruise lines head for showdown with DeSantis over vaccine requirement ban, Thanks in large part to the successful rollout of vaccines, the world of adventure is beginning to open up, and we are all excited to start delivering great vacations to our guests, who have increasingly told us they are getting vaccinated, Bayley said in the 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. 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. All guests must be vaccinated to sail with Viking. Vaccine questions, answered. Royal Caribbean said it still needs to complete simulation cruises before getting approval for the sailings it announced Friday. Guests who have symptoms of COVID-19 whilst onboard should immediately contact the onboard medical centre for further instruction. 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. How do I know if there are any travel restrictions that could impact my cruise? River cruise line Avalon Waterways is requiring that prior to sailing, passengers show proof of COVID-19 vaccination completed at least 14 days before travel, proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR or antigen test taken no more than 72 hours before travel, or proof of recovery from a COVID-19 diagnosis within three months of travel. Remember: Vaccine exemptions and refunds are not guaranteed. "We have been waiting a long time for this moment to arrive, Oceanias president and CEO Howard Sherman said in a statement. FDA, CDC expand Pfizer & Moderna bivalent vaccines to kids 6 months and up with Sandra Fryhofer, MD. Unable to cruise. Requirements may differ for guests traveling on voyages departing from or visiting destinations with specific local regulations, such as Canada, Greece, and Bermuda. Travelers ages 11 and under will not be subject to any vaccination requirements or testing protocols. Unvaccinated guests are welcome but required to have a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to departure, subject to local regulations. But even before the COVID-19 pandemic, cruise ships didn't have the best reputation for being disease-free. Before your trip, you will need to review your cruise lines health and safety protocols. Local regulations may have vaccine requirements to enter certain countries make sure to checkTravel Requirements by Countryto understand country specific requirements about accepted vaccines. Which Cruise Lines Require COVID-19 Vaccinations? Get tested again after cruise travel. And documented guests ages 12 and older who are fully vaccinated (according to the destination they are embarking and/or traveling to) no longer need to be tested for the coronavirus prior to sailing. Here's what you need to know about going on a cruise if you're notvaccinatedfor 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. 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). Despite the law, two of the biggest cruise lines, Carnival and Norwegian have decided to impose proof-of-vaccination requirements, according to information published on their websites.. did not go that far. Are there any onboard activities that will not be available? What completed travel documents do I need to board the ship? Onboard medical consultations and standard treatments are provided for COVID-19-related illness at a charge. 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. 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. Effective for sailings 10/4/22 and beyond, all guests regardless of vaccination status are able to sail and with no testing requirements. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. COVID-19 requirements may differ in destinations that have specific mandates, such as Canada, Greece and Bermuda. We strongly recommend that fully vaccinated guests . One Cruise Planners franchise owner in San Diego, Calif. has yet to record an immediate boost in bookings. Additionally, some cruise lines require unvaccinated people to present a negative test taken within a few days of boarding. 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. Any information published by Cond Nast Traveler is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. Most cruise lines kept requirements for vaccinations and precruise testing in place, but that changed in late July, after the CDC backed off even further from its monitoring of the cruise industry. Onboard medical consultations and treatments are provided at a charge for all respiratory illnesses. 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. For additional information, please visit Cruise Travel Requirements by Country. 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. Still, there are exceptions. The cruise line . Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This includes vaccines. Check with Cunard for information on your specific sailing. Depending on the cruise line, fully vaccinated can mean having received the original series at least 14 days prior to your cruise, or the original series plus a booster shot. Lindblad Expeditions is among the shrinking number of cruise lines that continue to require vaccination and testing. Hubs, The Best Time to View D.C.s Cherry Blossoms This Year Is Sooner Than You Might Think, Low-Cost Carrier Norse Atlantic Adds London Routes From 4 U.S. Cities, Damon Dominique Believes Youre Already a Global Citizen, Stay Here Next: The Muir Hotel in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Stay Here Next: The Alpina Gstaad in Switzerland. It wasn't uncommon to see reports of outbreaks ofnorovirus, a very contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And the rules are constantly changing. Should there be an annual coronavirus booster? Can You Get Omicron and Delta COVID-19 Variants at the Same Time? 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. 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. Other cruise lines are singing the same tune. There are still some cruise lines that have not yet indicated they will relax their COVID protocols, though their numbers are dwindling. Will any countries visited during the cruise require additional testing to enter the country? Please refer to. 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. While Health is trying to keep our stories as up-to-date as possible, we also encourage readers to stay informed on news and recommendations for their own communities by using the CDC, WHO, and their local public health department as resources. 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. But like the latter lines, it'll still make you show proof of one for some sailings. The change allowed more unvaccinated children who didnt yet qualify for a vaccine (currently those under the age of five) or had not obtained a vaccine to come onboard during the summer. 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%. 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. "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. 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. We encourage all guests to file a claim with their travel insurance carrier for reimbursement inquiries. American Queen VoyagesOn this lines river, ocean, Great Lakes and expedition ships, all passengers are required to be vaccinated. *Please note, in the event a port included as part of an itinerary requires additional COVID-19 testing in order for guests to disembark, Norwegian Cruise line will facilitate the testing onboard. The CDC has said vaccinated cruise passengers can remove their masks outdoors unless theyre in a crowd. Rules may be different depending on requirements of locales visited. International travel requirements and restrictions continue to evolve. When Will the Brightline to Orlando Open? Also called a "bivalent" booster, the updated booster became available for people aged 511 on October 12, 2022. Cruise ships have been under the CDC's Conditional Sail Order since October 2020. FDA proposes switching to annual coronavirus vaccine, mimicking flu model. Booked guests will be provided full details specific to their port of departure before sailing, Royal Caribbean spokeswoman Lyan Sierra-Caro said in an email. 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. Check the cruise lines websites for the most up-to-date information.). But specific policies vary, and sometimes unvaccinated people have extra requirements. For an easy-to-use online tool for locating COVID-19 testing providers around the world, please visitwww.TestForTravel.com. 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. Norwegian Cruise Line, which has not been approved to restart, has said it will initially require everyone on board to be vaccinated. Guests over the age of six will need to show a negative rapid antigen test within 48 hours, or a negative PCR test within 72 hours. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives. If you have a cruise booked, you should keep checking the cruise lines website or contact the line for the latest rules. Check with Seabourn for protocols on your specific sailing. (Note: This information is accurate as of February 7, 2023. Health and safety is our top priority, and we will continue to modify our robust SailSafe program as the public health environment evolves. Results need to be uploaded before boarding. 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. People . The company also recently relaxed its mask-wearing policies, making them optional, even in indoor and crowded settings. And you may have to be vaccinated or not. 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. Please note: Anti-viral COVID-19 therapeutics are readily available onboard and will be . I need help securing a pre-cruise COVID-19 test, does NCL offer any testing services? In addition to a broad set of coverage benefits, our plans cover medical expenses for illnesses, including COVID-19. The Coronavirus Outbreak Has Affected 4 Different Cruise ShipsHere's Why Illness Can Spread so Fast at Sea. In mid-June, Viking announced that 'travelers cruising with Viking are no longer required to take a pre-cruise test. Royal Caribbean did not answer a question about whether its decision not to require vaccinations for passengers was a result of the states bans. If you chose not to get a COVID-19 vaccine, can you still go on your favorite cruise vacation? 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. The cruise line continues to strongly recommend all guests be up to date on vaccination protocols and test at their convenience prior to travel. Monitor yourself for symptoms after the trip, and isolate yourself if you have a positive test or develop symptoms. 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. 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. And if you're not vaccinated, it's important to check the guidelines for your cruise line. Bottom line: If you've been vaccinated against COVID-19 outside of the US, check with your cruise line to make sure they accept your vaccine before putting any money down. If you're not in the US and have a certificate of recovery, contact your desired cruise line before purchasing the cruise. All guests are advised to monitor and comply with applicable travel restrictions. For an easy to use online tool for locating COVID-19 testing providers around the world, please visit www.testfortravel.com. For departures through 2022, proof of vaccination or certificate of recent recovery is no longer required, though testing protocols will still be in place. Vaccine and pretrip testing requirements can be confusing, especially if you are cruising internationally. Otherwise, vaccines are required for passengers age 12 and up. In a statement, the cruise lines president and CEO, Michael Bayley, thanked elected officials including Gov. 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). COVID-19 shots are compulsory for all passengers cruising with Atlas, with proof of inoculation required before embarkation. This website uses cookies. FDA Panel Endorses Updated COVID Shots for All, Regardless of Vaccination Status, When To Get Boosted After Having a COVID-19 Breakthrough Infection, How Effective Are the Bivalent Boosters? Previously, the number was 95 percent for passengers. If you are allowed onboard, you will need to be tested precruise, which is required for unvaccinated children as well. All passengers age 4 and up must take a prearrival test and show a negative result to board. But ever since theCOVID-19 pandemicbegan, it's understandable to wonder whether you can go on a cruise if you're not vaccinated. Cruise ship travel. 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. Mask Policy Masks on board are recommended but not required indoors or outdoors. At long last, cruise lines are finally starting to drop their vaccine mandates and allow all passengers inoculated or not to sail on their ships. CDC also continues to recommend mask wearing in indoor travel settings.. So far, the CDC has approved nine ships for test cruises, operated by Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line and MSC Cruises. Do You Need To Be Vaccinated To Go on a Cruise? Cruisers have been patiently waiting and there is pent-up demand. 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. Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, shopping, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Womens Health, Self, Prevention, Forbes, Daily Beast, and more.